Royal Air Force Museum London - Admission Free

London Museum To Recapture Battle Of Britain Spirit

FREE EVENT
11th and 12th of September

The Royal Air Force Museum London, the site of Battle of Britain station RAF Hendon, is to transport itself back to September 1940 with a spectacular free weekend of activities that commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Consisting of an open air living history festival that demonstrates the story of the “Few” who defended London in 1940 from enemy attack, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters of all ages are invited to watch and interact with costumed interpreters who will bring to life this momentous period in the capital’s history.

Image reproduced by kind permission of Dominik McHarrie.

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Learn more about our Battle of Britain Bus Service

Battle Of Britain Bus Service, 11 And 12 September

As part of the Museum's Battle of Britain Weekend on 11th and 12th of September we will be running a free bus service for the public from Colindale Underground Station to the Museum and onto Mill Hill Broadway.

Each of the buses that will be operating throughout out the weekend, operated 70 years ago during the Battle of Britain.

So why not leave the car at home, and start your Battle of Britain experience early by taking the Northern Line to Colindale or a main line train to Mill Hill Broadway and hopping on one of these wonderous vehicles, which served London so valiantly during its darkest hours.

For a timetable of when and where these buses will be running, please read more.

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New Update On Dornier 17 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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Visit the Dornier 17 Conservation Project's Microsite

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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August's Battle Of Britain Podcast: 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 'The Other Few'

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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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

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'.

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

July's Navigator Highlights

This month Navigator, the Museum's online collection, offers you two major new highlights 'The Battle of Britain' and ' Charles Brown Photographs 1929 - 1940'.

The Battle of Britain:
The Battle of Britain was a pivotal moment in the history of the world. The Luftwaffe's failure to destroy RAF Fighter Command between July and October 1940 proved to be a major turning point in the Second World War.

The RAF Museum holds some of the most important objects relating to the Battle of Britain, including the medal groups of Fighter Command's only Battle of Britain VC, Flt Lt Eric James Brindley Nicolson, and ACM Hugh Dowding, commander of Fighter Command. Here you will find a small range of objects, some of which can now be seen in the Battle of Britain upper gallery at RAF Museum London.

Charles Brown Photography:
Charles Edward Brown (1896-1982) was an active aviation photographer from the 1920's to the 1960's. His collection of aviation photographs is one of the largest compiled by a single photographer and he is reknowned as one of the finest air-to-air photographers.

So far the Museum has catalogued over 16,000 Charles Brown photographs, mainly 4x5in glass plate negatives, from the collection and all these records and images can now be found on Navigator. Here can be found a sample from the period 1929 - 1940.

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Visit Navigator Online Collection

Don't Forget, When Visiting, Our Society Of Friends' Museum Tours

Don't forget that our Society of Friends offer informal tours of the Museum on a regular basis throughout the week which provide added insight into the aircraft in our collection.

To find out when these tours take place remember to examine the "What's On Today" boards located in the entrance areas of the Battle of Britain Hall and our Bomber Hall.

If the idea of working on one of our aircraft, marine craft or vehicles in your spare time appeals to you, our Society of Friends are looking for able bodied individuals to assist our curatorial team in their preservation and upkeep. No need for experience as training will be given - just the willingness to muck in and make new friends. For further information click on the link below

Much Loved Wimpy Packs Her Bags And Moves North.

Our Wellington bomber, Wimpy, has been on display at RAF Hendon since the museum opened in 1972. The old lady is getting tired and is starting to show her age.

Following a series of extensive engineering inspections, by museum technicians, it was decided that she should be dismantled and taken to the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at Cosford for a major restoration programme.

Until the aircraft has been completely stripped it is impossible to say how long our Wimpy will be away - certainly several years. Present planning will see the last parts leave the Hendon site on 1st July. You may no longer be able to see her at our London site but do remember the Museum runs ‘open’ weeks at its MBCC facility at Cosford.

The RAF Museum has been fortunate in being able to shortly bring in a replacement for the Wellington. Big Nig III is an A-20 Havoc recovered some years ago from jungles in New Guinea and completely rebuilt and restored for the museum in Australia.

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Battle Of Britain Lesson Plans For Teachers Launched

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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The Royal Air Force Museum Unveils The Battle Of Britain Beacon

At a fundraising dinner last night, The Royal Air Force Museum announced its vision for the future.

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 building at its London site.

The new building will allow wider public access and ensure that the Museum’s unique collection of Battle of Britain aircraft, memorabilia and archives is preserved for the education of 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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Now Open, The Battle Of Britain Art Exhibition

13th May onwards: FREE ADMISSION

The Battle of Britain was a seminal event for the history of the United Kingdom and, indeed, of the world. Had it not been won, the second half of the twentieth century would have been very different to the period through which we have just passed.

The Royal Air Force Museum commemorates the Battle every ten years with new displays in the Battle of Britain Hall which is devoted particularly to that brief period in 1940.

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Learn what else is happening this Spring

4th Plinth Statue Arrives At Museum

The 5 metre high statue of Sir Keith Park, which was formerly on view to the public on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth, has arrived at the Royal Air Force Museum London; taking its rightful position in the Museum’s newly refurbished Battle of Britain Hall.

Sir Keith Park was a New Zealander, who fought in the First World War at Gallipoli, and then the Somme, before joining the RAF. At the outbreak of the Second World War Keith Park commanded the Royal Air Force 11 Group Fighter Command. These squadrons bore the brunt of the Battle of Britain; and Park was credited by many with devising the strategies that led to the Luftwaffe’s defeat by the RAF in the summer of 1940. It was this major setback that forced Hitler to call off his planned invasion of Britain.

Another hero who fought in the Battle of Britain, the RAF pilot Douglas Bader, said that “the awesome responsibility for this country’s survival rested squarely on Keith Park’s shoulders. British military history of this century has been enriched with the names of great fighting men from New Zealand, of all ranks and in every one of our Services. Keith Park’s name is carved into history alongside those of his peers.”

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Learn more about the Battle of Britain Hall

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 Awarded Guinness World Record.

The Royal Air Force Museum is delighted to announce that its attempt to obtain the world record for the most model Spitfires constructed in a day has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The attempt, run with the support of Airfix and Ebury Publishing, took place on 19th December 2009 with participants arriving from afar a field as Singapore and Australia to participate. Members of the public worked throughout the day at the Museum, with each individual who successfully completed their model rewarded by taking it home to keep.

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View what other events are taking place at Museum

Battle Of Britain Reception Package Launched

The summer of 1940 is forever engrained in our national memory, as are the young men who banded together, from12 nations, to protect Britain’s skies and her people during the aerial conflict that became known as the Battle of Britain. Not only was this battle a desperate struggle against overwhelming odds; the price of failure was no less than the end of freedom and democracy in Europe.

This year, 70 years on, Britain will be commemorating the sacrifice of those brave young men and women who fought, and often died, in the RAF’s most memorable conflict. As part of these celebrations the Royal Air Force Museum London is offering you the opportunity to raise a toast to ‘The Few’ and, in the process, help us to maintain the iconic aircraft that flew in the battle.

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Learn more about Corporate Facilities at the Museum

Douglas Bader Online Exhibition Launched

By popular request the Museum has launched today a new online exhibtion 'Douglas Bader: Fighter, Pilot' which examines the life and legacy of the Battle of Britain Pilot and disabled rights campaigner plus the on-going work of the Douglas Bader Foundation in the provision of help and practical aid for those suffering from limb loss.

In this exhibition we display personal papers and artefacts, including pages from Bader's log book - items which are not normally on show to the public.

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View Douglas Bader: Fighter, Pilot

Car Parking Charges To Be Introduced From 1st April 2010

From 1st April 2010, a small car parking charge will be payable by visitors to the Royal Air Force Museum’s London site. The income generated will be used to assist in meeting the costs of maintaining the Museum’s national collection and of operating its sites.

The decision has been taken by the Museum’s Trustees in order to help maintain the national collection. Free admission to the museum will continue as normal. The fees for vehicles will be introduced on the 1st April 2010 and will be £2.50 for up to 3 hours parking and £3.50 for 3-6 hours.

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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"

Calling All Group Travel Organisers

This year is the 70th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain.

Accordingly, we have planned at our London site a full programme of events and exhibitions which will answer many of the questions that people will have about the Battle of Britain. All of these events, like entry to the museum will be free.

To give your group an added incentive to visit us we have frozen until 31st March 2011 our 2009 catering charges on all pre-booked catering for groups made through our Refuel Meal Deal package and will be offering all coach drivers of groups over 20 who pre-register their visit with us a free lunch.

To request information about our catering packages and our calendar of events, please call 020 8358 4849 or request a Groups Information Pack by clicking on the link below.

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For further information request a groups information pack

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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Enjoy London Conferencing Not London Pricing!

In these straightened times we all want value for money and quite often when hospitality budgets are being slashed that can mean settling for a venue that get's the job done rather than one that entertains and delights your guests and delegates.

With this in mind the Royal Air Force Museum London has launched a range of affordable Day Delegate Rates and Meetings Packages starting from only £40.75 per person inclusive of VAT as we believe your delegates will be as delighted with the venue and the service that they receive as you will be with the price.

Better yet, given that the Museum is only 10 minutes from Junction 4 of M1 and just 30 minutes from Central London reaching the venue quick and convenient...and unlike some London venues we are able to offer free secured parking for up to 200 delegates which, in the capital, is a real boon.

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Learn more about our great value Day Delegate Rates

Women, The Royal Air Force Museum Needs You!

The Royal Air Force Museum would love to hear anecdotes from any current or former female service personnel through the electronic version of its popular Women of the Air Force exhibition.

All that you need to do is to submit your personal tale to the Women of The Air Force interactive forum. We'll check it for spelling and then post it online for visitors to our website to view sending you a quick email to let you know that it can now be seen.

Nina Burls, the exhibition's Curator, stated:

"The aim of Women of the Air Force is to address what has been perceived by many of our visitors to be a lack of representation given in the Museum's displays specifically to women whilst educating the public about how the roles of women in the Service have changed since the creation of the Women's Royal Air Force in 1918."

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Tell your story to Women of the Air Force

Historic Watchtower To Be Relocated And Renovated

St.George, London's leading mixed-use developer, and the Royal Air Force Museum, today on Monday 7 December, held a turf cutting ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the relocation and refurbishment of the historic Grahame-White Watchtower building from Beaufort Park to the Museum’s site.

The redundant Watchtower building, built in 1911, was once the centre piece of the aviation pioneer Claude Grahame-White’s aircraft factory in Hendon and was home to the birth of British aviation. Flying from Hendon ceased in the late 1960’s and since then, the Watchtower has fallen into disrepair and is to be renovated and relocated to the adjacent museum by St. George.

Image: Sir John Day unveiling project plaque(r), with Mayor of Barnet Councillor Brian Coleman and Ross Faragher Managing Director of St. George applauding.

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Learn more about the Aircraft of the Grahame-White Factory

Bomber Hall Audio Tours Now Avaliable

The Royal Air Force Museum London is proud to announce that it is the first museum in the country to install a new mobile phone based audio tour. Visitors to the Bomber Hall at the Museum can now dial a number on their phones and receive a commentary on the different exhibits by keying in the relevant number. The cost of such calls will be only at local rates or automatically deducted from your minutes plan. Alternatively, the tour can be downloaded from this website onto your Ipod or MP3 player and can be used in conjunction with the Museum's printed Guide Book to give you further insight into the Museum's historic collection.

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