The East Essex Aviation Society and Museum has been housed in the historic Martello Tower at Point Clear since it’s first opening to visitors in 1986.  The Tower is one of the first Napoleonic Forts built in 1806 on the East Coast to repel any possible invasion from France and is one of the few Martello Towers still open to the public.

The Society was formed in 1985 when interest grew locally in the recovery of a crashed American P51 Mustang of the U.S. 479th Fighter Group that was forced to ditch in the sea off the coast of Clacton on 13th January, 1945 with the loss of the pilot’s life.  The Tower was the ideal place to store and preserve the wreckage after it was retrieved from the sea.

The remains of this aircraft now takes pride of place along with a memorial display to the pilot but in addition to this, the Museum also houses a large collection of displays covering the major conflicts of the 20th century.