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.
Please note: The Warplanes hangar will be closed from Monday 13th September through to Friday 24th September 2010 for aircraft movements. We apologies for any inconvenience.
Latest News: 11 September 2010
Museum Unveils Its Battle Of Britain Weekend
11th & 12th September 2010
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, considered the most important event in Royal Air Force history, with a weekend of events and exhibitions for the whole family to enjoy including a flypast on both days from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota (weather permitting).
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Find out what else is happening at the Museum this Autumn
Glider Challenge To Mark Anniversary Of Battle Of Britain
To mark the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, instructors from RAF Cosford have designed a Glider Challenge for local youngsters. The STEM Ambassadors event will take place on 15th September 2010 at the RAF Museum Cosford.
Several Shropshire and West Midlands schools have accepted the challenge to design and build a 2 metre long glider from basic materials such as willow, tape and plastic sheets. The gliders, which will transport a bottle of water, will best test flown from a raised platform. Each team will be judged on the distance travelled by their glider; glider design, build quality and team organisation.
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New Apprentices Join Conservation Centre Team
The Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is delighted to welcome the arrival of two new apprentices, who will join the growing conservation team and award winning Apprenticeship Programme.
The new appointments are part of the MBCC Apprentice Scheme which is now in its 5th successful year and which has recently won the National Apprenticeship Service ‘Small Employer of the Year 2010’.
For the first time, an Apprentice Aircraft Carpenter was recruited and another first was the recruitment of an Apprentice General Engineering Workshop Technician.
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Battle Of Britain Pilot Attends Event At Cosford
FREE EVENT 11-12 September 2010
Dakota Flypast 14.40hrs (weather permitting)
Sqn Ldr Tony Pickering, a Battle of Britain Hurricane Pilot will be the guest of honour at an event taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford this weekend. Tony, aged 90 from Rugby will be talking to visitors alongside the Museums Hurricane in a Question and Answer session on Saturday 11th September at 12noon and 2pm.
Tony was aged just 19 when he was fast tracked into active service to take on the Luftwaffe in July 1940, after just three short flights in a Hurricane. Two months later Tony’s aircraft was hit by enemy fire and he was forced to use his parachute before the plane crashed to the ground.
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Update On Dornier 17 Conservation Project
As reported in The Times on Saturday 28th August The Royal Air Force Museum has been working with Wessex Archeology and English Heritage on a German bomber that was shot down in the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Sidescan geophysical sonar survey showed that the Dornier 17, known as ‘The Flying Pencil’, is very well preserved.
Further announcements about the project will be made by the Museum on this website in the near future.
In the meantime, the museum has now launched a micro-site which gives further details about this project. To view it please select the link below.
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View the Dornier 17 Conservation Project Microsite
Hangar Dance Competition - Now Closed For Entries
The annual 1940's Hangar Dance is taking place on Saturday 18th September 2010. Guests are encouraged to don wartime clothing and dance late into the evening, surrounded by a backdrop of wartime aircraft. Music will be provided by Paul Drakeley and his All Stars band and singers.
We have two pairs of adult tickets for the hangar dance to give away to the value of £34.00 (per pair).
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Dance ticket information
Win A Copy Of ' Heroes And Sweethearts '
With September around the corner and the Museum's Battle of Britain Weekend (11th - 12th September) almost upon us , we felt that now would be the ideal opportunity to offer our online visitors the opportunity to win 1 of 3 copies of 'Heroes and Sweethearts' an album released by the Royal Air Force Museum in conjunction with Union Square Music to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Containing a series of rousing hits and patriotic songs from the summer of 1940, this 2 disc CD and DVD offers an ideal way to re-capture the spirit and hopes of nation during this tumultuous period in our island's history.
To enter the competition just click on the link below, and answer a simple question. Entries are open until midnight on 12th September.
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Enter 'Heroes and Sweethearts' Competition
August's Podcast Now Live: The Other Few
The Battle of Britain is best known as a famous victory for Fighter Command, but the role of two other Services within the RAF is often overlooked. This podcast tells the story of how Bomber Command and Coastal Command mounted difficult operations, and made enormous sacrifices, to repel the invasion of Hitler's forces.
To listen to this podcast, please click on the link below.
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Listen to August's podcast: The Other Few
Local Artist Supports 1940’s Hangar Dance
18th September 2010
7pm
Renowned local artist, Steve Harper is supporting the Aerospace Museum Society’s popular 1940’s Hangar Dance at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on Saturday 18th September 2010. Steve has kindly donated this year’s star raffle prize, a framed print called ‘Honouring the Few’, which depicts the Battle of Britain Memorial flight flying over the RAF Museum and is one of only ten artist reserved prints worth over £400.
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Battle Of Britain Podcast For Children
FREE downloadable podcast
Key Stage Level 2
The Royal Air Force Museum is delighted to announce that as part of its monthly podcast series they have created a Battle of Britain Podcast for children aimed at helping them to understand the most significant event in Royal Air Force History.
The podcast, aimed at Key Stage Level 2, gives an introduction to the Battle of Britain explaining how in 1940 Britain prepared for invasion by German forces and that her defence was to be the Royal Air Force’s finest hour. It covers the significant events that took place between June to September 1940 in easy to understand stages.
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Cosford Makes Top Ten U K Free Attractions List
With the school summer holidays in full swing, TripAdvisor, one of the world’s largest travel sites, reveals the UK’s top ten free attractions - as ranked by real travellers through the site’s Popularity Index.
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford came in within the top ten in 7th place.
Alex Medhurst, General Manager RAF Museum Cosford says:
“To be highlighted as one of the Nations top ten free attractions is excellent news. We always felt we were popular within our region but to have this National recognition is very rewarding for the staff and volunteers”.
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Dance Takes Guests Back To Battle Of Britain Era
18th September 2010
7pm
Members of the public are invited to join the Aerospace Museum Society’s popular 1940’s Hangar Dance at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on Saturday 18th September 2010. The event will take guests back in time to 1940 and the Battle of Britain, in a tribute to the brave men and women some 70 years after this defining moment in the history of the Royal Air Force.
The event will be located in the Museum’s Warplanes Hangar set against a backdrop of wartime aircraft and artifacts including two of the most significant Battle of Britain aircraft, a Hurricane and the world’s oldest Spitfire.
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Free Battle Of Britain Desktop Wallpapers Now Available
As As part of our commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force Museum has today launched a series of free desktop wallpapers for you to download onto your personal computer.
Choose from 1 of 15 stunning images ranging from the pilots of 303 (Polish) Squadron to the Operations Room at Bentley Priory plus our stunning vision for our future development dedicated to the Battle of Britain, the Battle of Britain Beacon.
Just click on the link below and follow the instructions to claim your free Battle of Britain memento.
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Download your free Battle of Britain desktop wallpaper
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford Wins Top National Award
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford was last night crowned Winners of the ‘Small Employer of the Year Award 2010’ at The National Apprenticeship Awards 2010, an Oscar style awards ceremony in London.
Currently five apprentices are employed in the Museum’s Michael Beetham Conservation Centre. MBCC Manager Mr Tim Wallis and Training Manager, Mick Shepherd, were presented the award by Mr Peter Butler of BT, who sponsored the Small Employer of the Year category.
Image: left to right are Mr Peter Butler (BT Sponsor) Mr Mick Shepherd (MBCC Training Manager) Mr Simon Waugh (NAS CEO)
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New Online Exhibition - A History Of The Battle Of Britain
To commemorate the beginning of the second phase of the Battle of Britain the Royal Air Force Museum has,today (16th July), launched its latest online exhibition 'A History of the Battle of Britain'.
The second phase of the Battle of Britain commenced when Hitler issued his Directive No.16 to the Luftwaffe on 16th July 1940 stating that, "The English Air Force must be so reduced morally and physically that it is unable to deliver any significant attack against the German crossing (of the English Channel)".
On 17th July 1940 daylight bombing commenced of strategic British targets, leading to a substantial increase in the Battle's ferocity.
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View 'A History of the Battle of Britain'
R A F Museum's Heroes And Sweethearts
War heightens everything. It sharpens the senses and makes life more vivid. It was, and is, a complete way of living and its music mirrors all the hope, innocence, tragedy, romance and commitment of its people.
Those stories resonate perfectly with Heroes And Sweethearts, a unique package about the original heroes and sweethearts.
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Battle Of Britain Gala Dinner
The RAF Museum Cosford is hosting an exclusive Gala Dinner on 11th of September to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
For the first time ever, this is an opportunity to dine in the multi award winning National Cold War Exhibition, in the shadow of the three V Bombers.
A champagne reception will be followed by entertainment and a four course dinner in this poignant sunset ceremony.
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Learn more about the world's oldest Spitfire
Museum To Launch Battle Of Britain Blog
From 10th July, the Royal Air Force Museum will be publishing a daily blog about the Battle of Britain on its website www.battleofbritainbeacon.org. Entries for this blog will be taken from the diary of a young pilot John Bisdee of No.609 (West Riding) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force; and will describe not only his combat sorties but also his hopes and fears as well as life off duty.
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Visit The Battle of Britain Beacon Website
Battle Of Britain Lesson Plans For Teachers
The Access and Learning Department of the Royal Air Force Museum has devised two free downloadable lesson packs for teachers who wish to prepare lessons for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 pupils about the Battle of Britain in the run up to this year’s 70th anniversary.
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Download lesson plans
Museum Unveils The Battle Of Britain Beacon
As part of its modernisation and development plan the Royal Air Force Museum has undertaken the initial planning for a new Battle of Britain Exhibition at its London site.
The new building will allow wider public access and ensure that they Museum's unique collection of Battle of Britain aircraft memorabilia and archives is preserved for future generations.
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Learn more about the Battle of Britain Beacon
Museum Launches Battle Of Britain 70th Anniversary Photography Competition
Today the Royal Air Force Museum launches a national photography competition as part of its calendar of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Accordingly, it is inviting members of the public to submit photographs taken at various Battle of Britain events that will be taking place around the country this summer. Entries should be made via the Museum’s website, www.rafmuseum.org.
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New Director General Appointed
The Royal Air Force Museum Trustees are pleased to announce that Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye OBE has been selected as the Director General, Royal Air Force Museum with effect from 9th June 2010.
Peter Dye is the current Director Collections and Deputy Director General. He has been Acting Director General since 1st February.
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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
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
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...
