Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shropshire - Admission Free
Admission is free to the museum in the West Midlands, which houses 70 aircraft and is home to War Planes, Missiles, Transport & Training and Research & Development collections. The National Cold War Exhibition with its interactive kiosks and hotspots gives visitors a chance to see what life was like behind the Iron Curtain.
Latest News: 10 March 2010
Scout Raises Money For Museum
Local Scout Sam Poultney has been busy raising money for the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford whilst working for his Scout's Air Activity Badge.
Sam who successfully earned his badge raised a total of £79.00 which he kindly donated to the Museum.
Well done Sam, and thank you.
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Find out more about donating to the Museum
Our Battle Of Britain Podcast Series Continues
This month we have released as part of our Battle of Britain podcast series, two new podcasts: 'The RAF in 1939' and 'Robert Stanford Tuck - Battle of Britain Ace'
The RAF in 1939: As early as 1933 Winston Churchill had warned Parliament of the resurgent threat from Germany. This warning was initially dismissed only for fears about Britain's national security to resurface when, in direct convention of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany announced in 1934 the formation of the Luftwaffe, thus beginning an arms race between both nations for supremacy of the skies.
Robert Stanford Tuck was considered to be one of the luckiest pilots of his generation by his fellow airmen and cemented his reputation as a highly skilled fighter pilot and one of the best Hurricane Pilots in the country with the public thanks to his acts of bravery during the Battle of Britain. In this podcast we examine the man, his exploits and his post war friendship with Adolf Galland, his Luftwaffe opponent.
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Listen to our Battle of Britain podcast series
Cosford Volunteers Receive Outstanding Award
The Aerospace Museum Society were flying high over the weekend after winning the Best Friends/Supporters Group award. The accolade was received at the Renaissance West Midlands, Best of the West Awards, hosted last Friday at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
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Find out about the Aerospace Museum Society
March's Navigator Highlights
This month Navigator, the Museum's online collection, offers you two new highlights 'Escape and Invasion Aids' and 'Medals'.
Escape and Evasion Aids:
Alongside regular training, members of the RAF also received training in escape and evasion.
During the Second World War, 2,803 RAF aircrew that were shot down either escaped from captivity or evaded capture completely. This gave hope to the Allied Forces that were operating in enemy territory that it was possible to get home.
Medals:
The Museum's medal collection comprises a large variety of orders, decorations, campaign medals, long service medals, commemorative medals and international awards.
These range from the Air Crew Europe Star, the rarest of the British Second World War campaign medals, awarded for a two month period of operational flying from United Kingdom bases over Europe between 3 September 1939 and 4 June 1944, to the Order of Lenin, the highest decoration awarded by the former Soviet Union.
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View Navigator Online Collection.
Aircraft Restoration On Show To Visitors
15 – 20 March 2010
10.15am to 1.00pm
FREE Admission
One of Shropshire’s hidden gems, the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be opening its doors to visitors in March for one special week. From Monday 15th to Saturday 20th March 2010 a range of aircraft in various states of restoration will be on display, including the Centre’s latest arrival, the Percival Prentice.
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Find out what else is happening next month
Bikers Bring Easter Cheer To The Troops
Sunday 28th March 2010
Thousands of bikers from across the United Kingdom will join together for a massive ‘Ride Out’ next month in support of the Armed Forces.
The ‘RAF Wings Appeal Easter Egg Run’ will take place on Sunday 28th March and funds raised will go to the RAF Wings Appeal, providing help for past and present members of the RAF, including our troops currently serving in Afghanistan.
The bikers will ride out from a huge variety of points across England and Wales, meeting up with thousands of others at the Meole Brace Park & Ride in Shropshire, before finally going on to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford at 11.30am as one huge group.
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James May To Greet Visitors
Visitors to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be in for an extra treat this half term when they are greeted by a life size model of James May from Top Gear. The model of James as a pilot is now on display in the Museum’s Visitor Centre with easy access for photos.
The World’s first 1:1 scale Spitfire kit was on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford for a short period before returning to the makers, Gateguards, however the model of James May used as the replica pilot will remain on display at the Museum.
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Podcast Competition - Who Has The Spirit Of ' The Few ' ?
Yesterday we launched the latest podcast in our Battle of Britain series, with Sir Richard Branson narrating "Bader: Fighter,Pilot".
We are currently in the process of recording the other podcasts in this series, to be uploaded late Spring, and, as a bit of fun, we would like to hear from you who you think should next 'celebrity' to record a podcast for our Battle of Britain Series.
This person can be from popular culture, business, sport, politics or from one of the 3 Services - someone who you feel embodies the Bulldog Spirit of 'The Few', their dogged determination, or who ,like the RAF did in 1940, has overcome insurmountable odds to achieve success.
If you would like to make a suggestion, please do so by either entering your nomination on our Facebook Fan Page together with your reason why or by going to Twitter and hashtagging 'rafmpodcasts'
(#rafmpodcasts)with your suggestion by the end of February.
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View Facebook Fan Page with Competition Terms and Conditions
“ Women Of The Air Force” Temporary Exhibition
Temporary Exhibition
10th February – 27th June 2010
A new temporary exhibition: “Women of the Air Force” dedicated to Women’s service in the Royal Air Force will be unveiled at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on Wednesday 10th February. The exhibition will be on display to the public in the Museum’s temporary exhibition gallery, Hangar 1 until Sunday 27th June.
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Branson Narrates Bader's Biography
The Royal Air Force Museum is delighted to announce that as part of its monthly podcast series aviation entrepreneur and the founder of the Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson has generously given his time to narrate this month’s podcast “Bader: Fighter,Pilot”.
The podcast was specially commissioned to mark the centenary of Bader’s birth on 21st February 2010 and forms part of the Museum’s commemoration of the former Battle of Britain pilot. It examines the life of Douglas Bader from his near fatal air crash in 1931 - with the loss of both his legs at the knee - through his wartime service as one of the highest scoring aces in the Battle of Britain and his subsequent efforts to escape from German captivity after being shot down and captured in August 1941.
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Listen to Sir Richard Branson narrating "Bader: Fighter, Pilot"
Britain Loves Wikipedia
Britain Loves Wikipedia is a scavenger hunt and free content photography contest running in museums and cultural institutions across the UK through out February. The aim is to increase the number of pictures available to illustrate Wikipedia articles, and to inspire new articles.
The themes for this year will be Communication and Love, Conflict and Transport, Daily Life and Freedom.
Which of our objects on display at our London site best illustrates these themes? Why not take a picture and submit it to Britain Loves Wikipedia? Which ever image from our London site is judged to be best by Britain Loves Wikipedia will win £100 worth of prizes from the Museum’s shop.
Also to give you a little extra nudge on the weekend of 27th & 28th February we will be offering all photographers at the Museum a free tea or coffee with each hot main meal purchased.
For competition rules and to download your voucher please go to www.britainloveswikipedia.org and get snap happy!
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Museum Launches Battle Of Britain Podcast Series
2010 marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. To commemorate this defining moment in the history of the Royal Air Force, the Royal Air Force Museum has, today, launched the first of twelve monthly podcasts which will explore throughout 2010 the history and mythology behind this legendary aerial conflict.
Deputy Director of the Museum, Air Vice-Marshal retired, Peter Dye states:
“The Battle of Britain is so engrained in our national memory that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between fact and mythology. It was the RAF’s Finest Hour, when its fighter pilots, The Few, were all that stood between this small island nation and subjugation. The image of white contrails against the fierce blue sky of the English summer has come to symbolise the Battle. Such is popular memory; yet the fighting actually took place across much of the country – and not always against a blue sky."
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Listen to an "Introduction to the Battle of Britain"
Museum Launches Mobile Phone Website
The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to announce the launch, today, of its mobile phone website – www.rafmuseum.mobi
Aimed at the potential visitor who has to juggle family life with the various challenges of today’s frenetic lifestyle, this website tells them clearly and concisely the latest news and events taking place at the Museum’s London and Cosford sites; gives directions on how to reach either site via public or private transport and contains a direct dial option to either Museum’s switchboard in case they require further assistance.
Deputy Director of the Museum, Peter Dye, comments:
“ The launch of the Museum’s mobile phone website is in keeping with our policy of using technology to make our London and Cosford sites more accessible. With the increasing sophistication and reliability of mobile handsets we aim to enhance the experience of our many existing visitors and attract new users.
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Visit www.rafmuseum.mobi
Birthday Party Packages Now Available
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is now offering Birthday party packages.
Suitable for children age 5 and above this all inclusive package consists of invitations, entrance to the Museum, a Birthday Party Lunch, Goody Bags and Activity Trails for each guest, plus a special gift for the Birthday Boy or Girl, all for a very affordable £9.50 per child.
What more could any future pilot ask for than to have a birthday party at their favourite museum with their friends and closest family members?
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Book your Birthday party now!
A Million Visitors For Award-Winning Exhibition
Since Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened the National Cold War Exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in February 2007, one million visitors have passed through the Museum doors, ending a busy year on a high.
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Click here for National Cold War Exhibition
Chief Of Air Staff Opens New Exhibition
The 12th November 2009 saw the launch of the Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low exhibition at the National Cold War Exhibition at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.
The combat Search & Rescue Helicopter is the first aircraft of its type to go on display in the UK and was kindly donated by the United States Air Force. The supporting exhibition which greatly enhances the display was made possible by sponsorship from Sikorsky.
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Museum's Newsletter Now Available To Download.
The last 12 months have flown by and looking back on them, it is truely amazing how much we have packed into the last year.
Our latest newsletter,which looks at some of the highlights of the past year, is now available to view in a downloadable pdf from the link below.
To access it, please click on the link below, "Download latest newsletter."
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Download latest newsletter.
Museum Launches Online Book Of Remembrance
As part of its latest online exhibition, Lest We Forget, the Royal Air Force Museum has opened an electronic Book of Remembrance to commemorate the memory of those who have served in the Royal Air Force and its sister services, the Royal Flying Corps, the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and the Women’s Royal Air Force.
Speaking about the online exhibition, Air Vice Marshal (retired) Peter Dye, the Head of the Museum’s Collections Division, stated:
“ Lest We Forget is a poignant and unflinching exhibition that highlights the sacrifices made by those that have served in the Royal Air Force since its formation more than 90 years ago. It invites us to reflect on the impact on families and loved ones; whilst exploring the invaluable work of the agencies and support networks that bring practical aid and comfort to those who have suffered bereavement."
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Visit the Lest We Forget online exhibition
Percival Prentice Arrives At Cosford
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford recently took delivery of an RAF Percival Prentice that was flown in to RAF Cosford by pilot Ben Cross from Coventry.
The aircraft was then towed up to the Museum’s Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) where it will undergo a short period of conservation and preparation work before it goes on permanent display to the public.
This latest acquisition is one of 349 Prentice two-seat basic trainer aircraft built for RAF service in 1949 and is now one of only 17 Prentice survivors worldwide. Most pilots who trained during the 1948-1953 period did their basic flying instruction on this type of aircraft until it was replaced by the more powerful and effective Percival Provost in 1953.
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New Permanent Exhibition Honours Boy Entrants.
A newly refurbished and extended exhibition dedicated to the RAF Boy Entrant Scheme has been unveiled at the RAF Museum Cosford. Produced in collaboration with the Boy Entrants Association, the new display highlights the role played in the RAF by boys aged between 15 and 17 ½.
Beginning in 1934 with 150 boys the scheme ran until 1965, with a break from 1940-1947, during which time over 38,000 boys had been trained. Entrants underwent 18 months of trade training in a myriad of roles ranging from wireless operators and armourers to nursing attendants and stewards, as well as continuing their education and participating in unrivalled social and leisure time pursuits.
Many of these boys went on to adult careers in the RAF; a significant number were commissioned and earned promotion to senior rank and an equally significant number were regularly included in the annual New Year’s Honours List.
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Learn more about Hangar 1
New Appointments In Conservation Centre
The Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is delighted to announce the following appointments:
New Positions:
MBCC Deputy Manager - Mr Darren Priday
MBCC Training Manager - Mr Michael Shepherd
Darren Priday has been promoted from within the MBCC to fulfil this role in the face of increased efforts to address growing conservation tasks and the need for year-round engineering management cover. He commences his responsibilities on the 1st September.
Warrant Officer Michael Shepherd retired from the Royal Air Force to join the Museum on the 17th August to assist with the further development of the MBCC Apprentice Scheme. He will be tasked with heading up the mentoring programme targeted at young people and attracting aviation enthusiasts from across the globe to participate in planned MBCC Conservation Skills Workshops.
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Free Audio Tour Now Available
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has recently relaunched its National Cold War Exhibition Website.
As part of this revamp and inorder to help you get the most out of your visit to us we have placed online a free audio tour that will guide you through our award-winning National Cold War Exhibition.
All that you need to do is to go to the website and download the tour to your Ipod or MP3 Player, and play it when visiting the Exhibition. It's as simple as that!
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Visit NCWE Website to download free audio tour
The exhibitions at Cosford contain only a fraction of the overall holdings of the RAF Museum. In London, at Hendon, the Royal Air Force Museum London displays an equally large and important part of our collection.
Visit Navigator to discover more...
