Latest News from RAF Museum London: 4 July 2009
The RAF Museum occupies two public sites in the UK at Hendon in North London, and Cosford in Shropshire, West Midlands. Find out the latest news for RAF Museum Cosford below.
Now Live - Americans In The Royal Air Force
With Independence Day in the US just around the corner we thought that our American cousins and British fans of all things from 'across the pond' might be interested to learn that the Museum launched today a new online exhibition 'Americans in the Royal Air Force'.
This exhibition explores the contribution that the Eagle Squadrons, the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) and Billy Fiske,amongst others, made to the defence of Britain during World War II.
As part of the exhibition the Museum invites its online visitors to narrate any stories that they may have about Americans who served in the RAF and from any Americans who have served in and worked alongside members of the RAF.
Read more...
Visit 'Americans in the Royal Air Force'.
Our Latest Restoration Is Unveiled
At 2.15 pm on 1st July the Royal Air Force Museum's latest restoration, the FE2b, was unveiled to an invited audience of press and the public in the Museum's Bomber Hall.
The FE2b was first introduced as a night bomber on the Wesern front in 1915 and saw front line service against occupying forces until 1919.
The exhibit will be on permanent display in the Royal Air Force Museum's Bomber Hall daily from 10 am to 6pm with admission to Bomber Hall and the rest of the Museum site being free of charge.
If you would like to learn more about the FE2, we have recorded a podcast to celebrate its unveiling which people can access below.
Read more...
Listen to our podcast about the FE2
Battle Of Britain Hall Update - Our Finest Hour Open From 2nd July
As part of an ongoing programme of continuous investment in its Estate the Royal Air Force Museum London is conducting a major refurbishment of its Battle of Britain Hall.
From 1st June until 1st July the Hall will be closed in its entirety, whilst a new glass wall is fitted to the East end of the Hall.
From the 2nd of July, Our Finest Hour and the Hall's Battle of Britain Maze will re-open to the public. The Sunderland Hall and the Upper Mezzanine areas of the Hall are currently scheduled to reopen by 24th July, once the fitting of a glass wall to the east gable end of the Hall is completed.
Whilst this work takes place the Museum will open the Grahame White Factory from 10am to 6pm each day.
Read more...
Find out which parts of the Hall are open when.
July's Navigator Highlights
This month Navigator, the Museum's online collection, offers 3 new set of highlights for your perusal: US Air Force Equipment, Reconnaissance Photographs plus a selection of Charles Brown photographs from 1955 to 1965.
Existing Highlights that are still available to view include Vehicles, Aircraft and Medals.
Read more...
Visit Navigator Online Collection
Picnic By The Pad, 1st July Onwards
Summer is almost here and it’s predicted to be glorious. To help you make the most of this rarest of events, a warm and welcoming British Summer, our team at Wings Restaurant has devised a range of affordable and enticing menus that will tantalise your tastebuds - all of which you will be able to enjoy in our 1940s themed outdoor picnic area, located next to our helipad.
Enjoy a filling bowl of our Pasta of the Day perfectly accompanied with a glass of fruity red wine for only £5 per person, courtesy of our “Pasta Express” range. Children can make up their own picnic box to eat outside from our range of fresh fruits and juices, and nutritionally balanced sandwiches.
On Saturdays, subject to the weather, we will fire up our “1940s Blackmarket Barbeque”; and given that our helipad is used by the Royal Air Force on a regular basis you might just have the added bonus of witnessing a helicopter landing whilst you enjoy the sunshine and your lunch!
Read more...
Learn more about our Summer Activities
Did You Successfully Work Out Our Mystery Objects?
We would like to say thank you to everyone who visited our stand at the Biggin Hill Airshow on 27th and 28th June. Your comments and feedback about the Museum were very deeply appreciated.
During the course of the show we ran a Mystery Objects Competition enabling everyone who participated in the quiz to go into a prize draw to win £100 worth of products from the Museum's Shop.
The draw took place this afternoon at 12:30 pm with the Head of the Museum's Retail Division, Frances Galvan, picking out the lucky winner.
Accordingly, the Museum is delighted to announce that Rianna Beaton of Shirley in Surrey won the Prize Draw. £100 worth of prizes of her choice from the Museum Shop will be sent out to her in the next few days.
The Museum will be back at Biggin Hill 2010 and will run a similar competition then. So to all of our entrants who missed out on winning this time hopefully next year could be lucky for you.
Read more...
Look at 2008's review
Women Of The Air Force Podcast Now Live
On 2nd of June the Royal Air Force Museum London officially opened its temporary exhibition "Women of the Air Force" which is currently on display at the RAF Museum's London site until the end of the year.
This podcast, which gives added insight in this exhibition and its electronic version which can be viewed in the Online Exhibitions section of this website, includes recordings made at the launch event plus archive material and interviews relating to the important role played by women in the RAF.
Read more...
Listen to official opening of Women of the Air Force.
601 Squadron Podcast Now Live
The Royal Air Force Museum London, as part of its Veterans’ Day celebrations of May 2009, unveiled a memorial to the members of 601 Squadron.
The Squadron itself was stationed intermittently on the Museum’s site between 1927 and 1949 and was known affectionately as ‘The Millionaire’s Squadron’.
Sir Torquil Norman, a veteran of the Squadron in its later days, tells, in this podcast, the story of 601 Squadron and some of the extraordinary ‘Millionaires’ who served with distinction in the Battle of Britain and over the skies of Africa and Malta during the Second World War.
Read more...
Listen to this month's podcasts
Women Of The Air Force Interactive Forum Now Live
The Royal Air Force Museum has launched, today, an electronic version of its popular Women of the Air Force exhibition, inviting current and former female personnel who served in the RAF, WRAF or the WAAF to share their stories through the online exhibition’s interactive forum.
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."
Read more...
Visit and Contribute to Women of the Air Force
D-Day And The R A F
A special podcast for D-Day that explores the story of the Royal Air Force in the D-Day landings which brought about the freedom of Europe and the end of the Second World War.
Read more...
Listen to D-Day and The RAF
Official Launch Of Women Of The Air Force Recorded
The afternoon of Tuesday 2nd June saw the official launch of the Royal Air Force Museum London's latest temporary exhibition Women of the Air Force.
Honoured guests from the service included Air Commodore B. Cooper, Gp Capt Kath Sherritt plus Squadron Leader Carolyn Browing who all attended the official launch which commenced at 14:30 hours.
The opening ceremony was recorded for posterity and will be posted on the Royal Air Force Museum's website in the near future; as will an electronic version of the exhibition inclusive of a forum where current and former female members of the WAAF, WRAF and RAF plus their friends and families are invited to post their reminisces together with their photographs on the site.
Read more...
Learn more about Women of the Royal Air Force
Women Of The Air Force
2009 marks 70 years since the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) was formed. To commemorate the anniversary, the RAF Museum London is offically launching its newest temporary exhibition: “Women of the Air Force” on 2nd June 2008.
For those who can't wait until this date "Women of the Air Force" can currently be viewed in our Historic Hangars and will be available online from the end of June after its official launch.
In addition to this if you have any youngsters in your party 12 years old or younger don't forget to pick up our free puzzle sheet about Women of the Royal Air Force. Each child who completes the form and drops it into the post box located at the exhibition will go into a monthly prize draw to win £25.00 worth of prizes from the museum shop!
Read more...
View online exhibition " A Bohemian in the WAAF "
A Trailblazing Return Made By Popular Demand
5th May to 31st December 2009
Many people identify the Golden Age of aviation as the period between the two World Wars, a time when young men and women sought thrills, danger and, ultimately, international recognition through trailblazing aviation exploits that set the world alight during the 1920s and 1930s.
This small group of pioneers were the first to conquer oceans and seas or just the physical and mental demands of long distance flying without the comfort of the modern technologies that we take for granted today, making their achievements, for many, even more wondrous.
Read more...
Learn more about "Wonderful Amy!"
Be Streets Ahead With Streetmap!
Thanks to the clever boffins at Streetmap the would-be first time visitor can now view, in a new service, a taster of what our London Museum has to offer.
All that you have to do is go to www.streetmap.co.uk, type in our postcode "NW9 5LL" and click on the film projector symbol located on the map to see a short video about us.
Alternatively, just select the link below. Enjoy.
Read more...
Watch www.streetmap.co.uk video
Latest News from RAF Museum Cosford: 4 July 2009
Now Live - Americans In The Royal Air Force
With Independence Day in the US just around the corner we thought that our American cousins and British fans of all things from 'across the pond' might be interested to learn that the Museum launched today a new online exhibition 'Americans in the Royal Air Force'.
This exhibition explores the contribution that the Eagle Squadrons, the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) and Billy Fiske,amongst others, made to the defence of Britain during World War II.
As part of the exhibition the Museum invites its online visitors to narrate any stories that they may have about Americans who served in the RAF and from any Americans who have served in and worked alongside members of the RAF.
Read more...
Visit 'Americans in the Royal Air Force'
Podcast Celebrating Latest Restoration Unveiling Now Live
At 2.15 pm on 1st July the Royal Air Force Museum's latest restoration, the FE2b, was unveiled to an invited audience of press and the public at ouur sister Museum's Bomber Hall in London.
The FE2b was first introduced as a night bomber on the Wesern front in 1915 and saw front line service against occupying forces until 1919.
The exhibit will be on permanent display in the Royal Air Force Museum London Hall daily from 10 am to 6pm. Admission is free of charge.
If you would like to learn more about the FE2, we have recorded a podcast to celebrate its unveiling which people can access below.
Read more...
Listen to Podcast about the FE2
Record Number Of Pilots Booked For Large Model Aircraft Rally
The Large Model Association have announced that a record number of pilots are booked for the annual two-day event at Cosford next month. To date, 140 pilots are due to attend and fly models on the 18/19th July with all the activity taking place on the airfield.
Read more...
See What's On page for admission prices
Museum Apprentice Wins Engineering Student Achiever Award
Daniel Perks, a junior apprentice at the Royal Air Force Museum's Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, was recently presented with the 'Engineering Student Achiever Award' 2009 as part of the Celebration of Work Awards managed by the Telford College of Arts and Technology (TCAT).
Daniel, aged 20 from Telford, was nominated for the 'Engineering Student Achiever Award' by his company representative Mr Tim Wallis, Manager of the Museum's Michael Beetham Conservation Centre. Daniels award recognises the increasing and progressive development that he has shown throughout his 2 years in the scheme.
Read more...
July's Navigator Highlights
This month Navigator, the Museum's online collection, offers 3 new set of highlights for your perusal: US Air Force Equipment, Reconnaissance Photographs plus a selection of Charles Brown photographs from 1955 to 1965.
Existing Highlights that are still available to view include Vehicles, Aircraft and Medals.
Read more...
View Navigator Online Collections Highlights.
Coming Soon - R A F Photograph Of The Year
The winning images from the Royal Air Force’s Photograph of the Year Competition will be on view to members of the public at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford from Monday 6th July 2009.
Consisting of 12 categories ranging from “The RAF Experience” to “Technical & Engineering”, this exhibition gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of RAF Personnel at work, rest and play both at home and in the field.
Read more...
Women Of The Air Force Podcast Now Live
On 2nd of June, our sister museum, the Royal Air Force Museum London officially opened its temporary exhibition "Women of the Air Force" which is currently on display at the RAF Museum's London site until the end of the year.
This podcast, which gives added insight in this exhibition and its electronic version which can be viewed in the Online Exhibitions section of this website, includes recordings made at the launch event plus archive material and interviews relating to the important role played by women in the RAF.
Read more...
Listen to official opening of Women of the Air Force.
Women Of The Air Force Interactive Forum Now Live
The Royal Air Force Museum has launched, today, an electronic version of its popular Women of the Air Force exhibition, inviting current and former female personnel who served in the RAF, WRAF or the WAAF to share their stories through the online exhibition’s interactive forum.
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."
Read more...
Visit and Contribute to Women of the Air Force
D-Day And The R A F
A special podcast for D-Day that explores the story of the Royal Air Force in the D-Day landings which brought about the freedom of Europe and the end of the Second World War.
Read more...
Listen to D-Day and The RAF
New Maritime Air Trust Display In Warplanes Hangar
With the installation of a DVD player, the final piece of the Maritime Air Trust sponsored display in the Warplanes hangar is now complete. Visitors can watch, in seated comfort, three short films about the history and operations of maritime patrol aircraft in the RAF.
The films cover the periods 1914 -1939, WWII and post - WWII. In all, they last for 31 minutes and repeat continuously. The display is located under the tail of Catalina, an aircraft which features prominently in the sections of film dealing with the Atlantic convoys in WWII.
Read more...
See our Warplanes Collection
Restaurant Re-Launch Goes Down A Treat
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, in conjunction with Aramark Catering, officially re-launched its restaurant and menus yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Museum’s Visitor Centre.
Catering for Cosford visitors has been transformed with a new range of healthy and satisfying menus including, for the health conscious, a fresh salad bar and seasonal daily specials. The restaurant will offer a range of affordable hot savouries including for the first time a traditional hot roast bap of the day, whilst more adventurous tastes will be catered for with a new range of tantalising and filling hot paninis.
Read more...
Visit Our Restaurants Online
Giant Helicopter Goes On Display
Despite a week of high winds and rain, staff at the RAF Museum Cosford have successfully moved the Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low helicopter into the National Cold War Exhibition (NCWE), the first aircraft of its type to go on display in the UK. This combat Search and Rescue Helicopter is the first new airframe to be added to the Exhibition since the Royal Opening in February 2007 and not even the poor weather was going to halt the move.
Following the acquisition of the aircraft in December, the Museum’s technical team of the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) have completed a considerable amount of inspections, safety checks, remedial maintenance, restoration and anti-corrosion work, plus several deep-cleans to prepare this historically significant aircraft for display.
Read more...
See what other aircraft are on display
New You Tube Video Launched As Part Of 30th Anniversary Celebrations
On the 1st May 1979 the Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum took over management of the airframe collection located at RAF Cosford from the RAF and appointed a civilian Curator thus establishing the Cosford’s original Museum, the Aerospace Museum.
To celebrate this occasion, and demonstrate the Trustees' ongoing commitment to the preservation of the collection and the continuing development of the Cosford site, the Museum has launched for this anniversary, an official YouTube video which gives a behind the scenes look at how the National Cold War Exhibition and its collection was constructed.
Read more...
View " How the National Cold War Exhibition was constructed."
Mini Ticket Prices Announced For Large Model Air Show
18 – 19 July 2009
Admission Charges Apply
Gates open 8.30am
The Large Model Association and the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford are pleased to announce that they have held ticket prices for this year’s event, for the fourth year running. An absolute must see for any aviation enthusiast, the annual Large Model Aircraft Rally will be held at Cosford on 18/19 July.
This famous Air Show in miniature attracts in excess of 10,000 visitors and this year over 150 scale models of various iconic aircraft will take to the skies during the two-day event.
Read more...
Full Steam Ahead For Savings
The RAF Museum Cosford is proud to announce that Wrexham and Shropshire rail passengers can now enjoy discounts on all items in the Restaurant and Museum Shop. All passengers will receive a 10% discount on any purchase made when they present Staff a valid (on the day) Wrexham and Shropshire train ticket.
This offer is the beginning of several joint activities between Wrexham and Shropshire trains and the Museum at Cosford, designed to promote this fantastic Museum and its easy access via rail. This exclusive 10% offer for rail users is valid throughout 2009 until December 31st.
Read more...
Find out how to reach the Museum by Train