History of Aviation at Hendon - Part 6

1968 saw the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the RAF, and a small display was held to celebrate the occasion. Later that year the last aircraft to use Hendon's runways, a Blackburn Beverley, arrived and was put on display. Most of the airfield site was sold for housing but Hendon remained a busy RAF station, accommodating the Supply Control Centre and the Joint Services Air Trooping Centre.

The RAF Museum began acquiring objects in 1965. It had a store at RAF Henlow but needed a more suitable location. It was allocated the two remaining Auxiliary Air Force hangars near the railway. Once construction was completed aircraft were moved to Hendon. Gallery displays were produced with the help of the resident Exhibition Design and Display Unit of the RAF. On 15 November 1972 the RAF Museum was opened by Her Majesty The Queen. Further expansion took place in 1978 with the opening of the Battle of Britain Museum and again in 1983 with the opening of the Bomber Command Museum.

On 1 April 1987 RAF Hendon officially closed although personnel were still present until 1988. East Camp remained until 1993 when most remaining buildings were demolished except for the Grahame-White factory buildings, the former Officers' Mess and a few RAF buildings from the 1930s.

New uses will be found for the former RAF station and the buildings but the RAF Museum will continue to preserve Hendon's links with its aeronautical heritage.