For one week only the nose section of a very rare warplane is on display at the Manx Aviation and Military Museum.

It is the nose of a Bristol Bolingbroke bomber, the Canadian-built version of the Royal Air Force’s Bristol Blenheim Mark IV of which many were based at RAF Jurby in the early years of the Second World War where to train bomber crews.

The nose was donated to the museum in 2004 by a Canadian museum and has been undergoing a lengthy restoration.

’This is an exciting development for the museum as this is a genuine "warbird" with an operational history,’ said museum director Ivor Ramsden.

’When we first got the Bolingbroke in 2004 we fully intended to put it on permanent display inside the museum but during the intervening years our collections have grown so much that we don’t have indoor space for it now.

’It will deteriorate if left outside in Ronaldsway’s salty atmosphere for any length of time so we can only display it for a few days during half-term.

’After then it will be going to a new temporary location until such time as we have extended the museum to provide it with a permanent home.’

Ivor explained: ’The Blenheim is almost extinct, with only one complete and original example in existence in Finland. A small number of Bolingbrokes survive, one of which has been restored to flying condition as a Blenheim in England and is a regular sight at airshows.

Most of the Bolingbrokes were used in training in Canada but the museum’s Bolingbroke is very rare because not only is it the oldest example in existence but it has got an operational history - it went into service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1941 and was used on patrols over the Pacific Ocean searching for Japanese submarines.

It was damaged twice in ground collisions but survived the war to be sold for scrap to a Canadian farmer who adapted parts of it for agricultural use but fortunately the aircraft’s main structure was never destroyed and it was rescued for restoration in 1988.’

The nose section is on display to Sunday, November 4. The museum is open every day during half-term, from 10am to 4.30pm and admission is free.