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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 from each site here.
Saturday 31st May until Wednesday 31st December
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.
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.
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Take a Virtual Tour of Milestones of Flight
We would love you to share with us your pictures and memories of our London Museum by joining our Fan page on Facebook; particularly if you have attended any recent events on site.
In return we promise to keep our page updated on a regular basis so that you are made aware of future events once they have been confirmed and to place regularly on the page exclusive images and videos of the people and events that bring the Museum to life. To reward your loyalty we will hold regular competitions and run special offers which only members of our Facebook Fan Club will be able to take advantage of.
All that you need to do is to login to your Facebook account, search for us under Royal Air Force Museum and start interacting.
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Go to our Facebook Page
From the 3rd to the 11th November (excluding 8th and 9th), The Royal Air Force Museum will be running Remembrance activities for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 school groups.
At the end of each session children will be able to try on original Royal Air Force uniforms so, Teachers, don't forget to bring your camera!
As we expect these workshops to be particularly popular, we would recommend that you contact our Access and Learning Department at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment. Outreach sessions for schools are also available - Please contact David Keen on 020 8358 4851 for details.
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Book Your Lest We Forget Workshop
A new book produced to coincide with the 65th Anniversary of the legendary Dams Raid uncovers elements of hidden history crucial to the success of 617 Squadron’s attack on the German Dams in May 1943.
The book produced for the Royal Air Force Museum by Newsdesk Media Group is titled ‘BREACHING THE GERMAN DAMS – FLYING INTO HISTORY’ and has been written by Robert Owen, the Official Historian of the No. 617 Squadron Aircrew Association, and Richard Morris, author of acclaimed biographies of Wing Commanders Guy Gibson VC and Leonard Cheshire VC. The foreword is by New Zealander, Les Munro, the sole remaining pilot to have taken part in the epic operation.
On the 65th anniversary of the presentation of the Victoria Cross to Guy Gibson we invite members of the public to view our inciteful online exhibition about 617 Squadron and the Dambusters.
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Visit Dambusters Exhibition / Purchase Book online
The 22nd of June commemorates the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in the East End, bringing with it the first of many groups of Afro-Caribbean immigrants who have so enriched the economic, social and cultural life of the United Kingdom since their arrival.
Amongst the passengers were ex-service personnel who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, many of whom decided to make the trip to rejoin the service in the U.K. On this anniversary, members of the Afro-Caribbean, Indian and other ethnic communities may wish to visit the Royal Air Force Museum, London where the Museum is currently honouring the contributions that their peers have made to the RAF with a permanent exhibition “Diversity in the Royal Air Force”.
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Take A Virtual Tour of Historic Hangars
Do you have a young aviation enthusiast in your household? Are you searching for that unique birthday experience that will have them smiling warmly, when they recollect it in years to come? Then the Royal Air Force Museum may have the gift that you are looking for.
Operation Aviation: Birthday Bonanza is a unique 1 hour birthday activity suitable for children aged 11+ that will have them planning and executing a rescue mission to the trapped survivors of a flooded London, using aviation training simulators.
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Learn More About our Operation Aviation Birthday Bonanza
A tidal surge, caused by a low pressure system, threatens to flood London. Thanks to a recent rise in sea-levels attributed to Global Warming London's flood defence systems will be tested to their limits. Accordingly, the government of the day has asked the Royal Air Force to develop a relief plan to bring aid to those trapped in the capital.
In this fun and informative pack teachers will be able to plan lessons before or after a visit to the Royal Air Force Museum's "Operation Aviation" activity.
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If you are looking for an unusual present look no further than the The Royal Air Force Museum's online archive print store www.rafmuseumphotos.com.
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Find that Perfect Propellor Head Gift
The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to announce the arrival of the Percival Mew Gull Replica, generously donated by the Alex Henshaw Estate.
Alex Henshaw (1912 – 2007), was a British Air Racer during the 1930’s and a test pilot for Vickers Armstrong in the Second World War. As a result it is estimated that he flew 10% of Spitfires made during that time.
Image: Mr Alex Henshaw Jnr reviewing the replica's interior.
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Learn more about the Mew Gull replica.
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On the evening of Tuesday 1st April the Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum held a VVIP banquet for the Royal Air Force at the London site.
At 1900hrs a BBMF Spitfire piloted by Squadron Leader Al Pinner did a flypast across the Museum site. This was closely followed by a formation of nine Eurofighter Typhoons.
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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 4th October.
The event will be located in the Museum’s Warplanes Hangar with guests encouraged to “Get in the Mood” by donning wartime costume for the evening. Dancing will be until late with music supplied by Paul Drakeley and his All Stars Band and Singers, performing tracks from Big Band favourites such as Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw. To further add to the event’s ambience the entire evening is set against a backdrop of wartime aircraft and artifacts including the world’s oldest Spitfire and the famous Lincoln Bomber.
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Learn more about our Warplanes Hangar
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford and its award winning National Cold War Exhibition received a 10 out of 10 rating in Central TV’s News ‘Best Value Kids Attraction' as seen by viewers on 12th August.
The Museum was particularly praised for being “dynamic”. ITV Central presenter Llewela Bailey and her son Harry were “bowled over” by the National Cold War Exhibition, which is “brilliantly put together” so much so that after spending just a few hours at the Museum they felt visitors needed more than a single day at the Museum as there was so much to take in.
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Take a Virtual Tour of the National Cold War Exhibition
Take them to a Nuclear Hotspot!
If the school holidays are currently filling you with dread, particularly if you are scratching your head about how you are going to entertain your little darlings when the household budget is being stretched to the max, why not give them a day out at the Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford?
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Learn more about the National Cold War Exhibition Collection
Friday 1st August - Sunday 31st August 2008.
Sessions run from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
Children are naturally curious, always into everything and always wanting to experience something new and exciting.
In these days of credit crunch and tight family budgets quite often it is difficult to cater for their sense of exploration particularly when every new toy or day out costs so much. Yet for children, early exploration is an important part of their emotional and natural development particularly when done with mum and dad.
With this in mind the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has created a range of free fun activities for August, to get families working together as a team without them having to spend a single penny out of the household budget.
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Find out what other free activities are taking place at the Museum
The Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford is proud to be awarded two new accolades after already being crowned ‘Best of the West’ at the Renaissance West Midlands Awards earlier in April.
Staff and volunteers at RAF Museum Cosford are celebrating after Servicemark, the National Standard for Customer Service, granted the Museum a Silver Award.
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We would love you to share with us your pictures and memories of our London Museum by joining our Fan page on Facebook; particularly if you have attended any recent events on site.
In return we promise to keep our page updated on a regular basis so that you are made aware of future events once they have been confirmed and to place regularly on the page exclusive images and videos of the people and events that bring the Museum to life. To reward your loyalty we will hold regular competitions and run special offers which only members of our Facebook Fan Club will be able to take advantage of.
All that you need to do is to login to your Facebook account, search for us under Royal Air Force Museum and start interacting.
Read more...
Visit our Facebook Fan Page.
An RAF Museum publication sheds fresh light on the legendary V Force.
‘V Force – Ready for the unthinkable’ tells the extraordinary story of the most iconic group of post-war aircraft; the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan nuclear group. Above all else, it is these aircraft that kept Britain at the top table of international politics by ensuring that the United Kingdom could deploy its own independent nuclear deterrent.
The book, published for the Royal Air Force Museum by Newsdesk Media, features some newly uncovered information on the V Force and traces its history from the early design stages to the end of their service life, including operations in the Falkland Islands.
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Purchase V Force from the museum shop
A new book produced to coincide with the 65th Anniversary of the legendary Dams Raid uncovers elements of hidden history crucial to the success of 617 Squadron’s attack on the German Dams in May 1943.
The book produced for the Royal Air Force Museum by Newsdesk Media Group is titled ‘BREACHING THE GERMAN DAMS – FLYING INTO HISTORY’ and has been written by Robert Owen, the Official Historian of the No. 617 Squadron Aircrew Association, and Richard Morris, author of acclaimed biographies of Wing Commanders Guy Gibson VC and Leonard Cheshire VC. The foreword is by New Zealander, Les Munro, the sole remaining pilot to have taken part in the epic operation.
Read more...
Purchase Breaching the Dams - Flying into History
If you are looking for an unusual present look no further than the The Royal Air Force Museum's online archive print store www.rafmuseumphotos.com.
Read more...
Find That Perfect Propellor Head Gift