The Royal Air Force Museum

The Royal Air Force Museum

Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos

London, Greater London 6,150 followers

Both our sites are open daily from 10:00am, This summer buy one adult ticket to Flying Theatre and get 2 free kids tkts.

About us

Our purpose is to tell the story of the Royal Air Force through its people and collections. - For our visitors, we make our collections and the RAF story relevant and stimulating - For current and former RAF personnel and their families, we preserve, honour and share the stories of their service - For our nation, we help people to understand the impact of the RAF in the world Our ambition is to ensure that the Royal Air Force's story endures and enriches future generations. The Museum occupies two public sites at Colindale in North London, and Cosford in Shropshire, West Midlands. Each site offers a unique experience to the visitor and the exhibits complement each other. Both Museums are free to enter and tell the story of the people who moulded the world of aviation from the daredevil early aviators to wartime heroes and the thousands of ordinary Service men and women who have served in the RAF and whose contribution has shaped the world that we live in today. With a world-class collection and display of aircraft, integrated with special exhibitions, films, interactives, artwork, engines, missiles, photographs, medals and uniforms and research and education facilities, the Museum takes an innovative approach to telling these stories whilst keeping with tradition.

Industry
Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
Company size
201-500 employees
Headquarters
London, Greater London
Type
Educational
Founded
1972
Specialties
Royal Air Force, Aviation, Avionics, Aerospace, and STEM

Locations

Employees at The Royal Air Force Museum

Updates

  • 🚨 New Archived Lecture Now on YouTube! 🎥✈️ On 6 September 1939, just three days after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, Montagu Hulton-Harrop became the first RAF fighter pilot to be shot down in the Second World War—by his own side. 😲 Known as the Battle of Barking Creek, this tragic incident was shrouded in secrecy, its true story distorted by myths and conflicting accounts. But now, historian Nick Black presents the first forensic investigation of this fateful event! 📜🔍 Using declassified documents, this talk uncovers the truth behind Hulton-Harrop’s death, the RAF’s internal failings, and the lessons learned for the Battle of Britain. 📺 Watch now on YouTube! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/exUShq_S #WWII #RAF #HistoryUncovered This lecture was first broadcast in 2021.

    • The Battle of Barking Creek.
  • ✈️ Pioneering Female Aviators in the Regular RAF ✈️ Our latest Archived Lecture is now live on YouTube! 📺 🎉 Join Dr. Kathleen Sherit as she delves into the groundbreaking journey of women in the Regular Royal Air Force, from the introduction of regular service for women in 1949 to their eventual inclusion as combat pilots in the 1990s. This fascinating talk sheds light on the challenges, triumphs, and inspiring stories of the women who paved the way, breaking barriers in the elite world of aviation. 🛫👩✈️ Don’t miss this incredible exploration of history, perseverance, and achievement. Watch now! 🌟 🔗https://lnkd.in/exV8xqfn This lecture was first broadcast in 2021.

    • Flt Lt Wendy Nichols
  • Today marks the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of Stalag Luft III, the Luftwaffe controlled prisoner-of-war camp that imprisoned captured Allied air force personnel during the Second World War. From late 1944 to April 1945, 80,000 Allied prisoners-of-war were marched westwards from the Nazis’ network of camps, as the Soviet Army advanced towards the German front. Prisoners were forced to walk hundreds of miles in extreme winter temperatures. Many died from exposure, exhaustion or disease, or were shot by guards. To mark the 80th anniversary of the Long March, the RAF Museum will display loaned objects related to Warrant Officer George Thomson, who was force marched westwards from Stalag Luft VII in January 1945. George, a navigator, was imprisoned after baling out of a Lancaster while on a bombing raid over Frankfurt. The display will open in RAF Museum London Hangar 5 on Wednesday 12 March, within the Museum’s ‘Strike Hard, Strike Sure’ Bomber Command exhibition and beside the Long March Memorial. Items on display will include George’s diary, which gives a powerful insight into his experiences as a prisoner-of-war, as well as his navigator’s badge, flying logbook and prisoner-of-war dog tags. Also on show will be a postcard from George to his parents, dated 4 October 1944. It reads; Dear Mum and Dad, I am now in a POW camp and the address is on the front. Please don’t worry about me; I am quite OK and thanks to the “Red Cross” life here is quite good. Will you let all my friends know, and keep everything going for me. I only hope you have not had too much anxiety, and that you are both well. Take care of yourselves – all my love, George.

    • Warrant Officer George Thomson
  • ✈️ New Lecture from the RAF Museum Archives! 📜 Discover the fascinating story of the RAF’s Medium Bomber Force in "A Wasting Asset: The RAF’s Medium Bomber Force in the aftermath of the Nassau Agreement, 1962-1982." Join Clive Richards as he explores the pivotal two decades following the Nassau Agreement, where the iconic V-Force—Vickers Valiant, Handley Page Victor, and Avro Vulcan—transformed from a strategic nuclear deterrent to a key NATO asset. Using rich archival material, Richards examines the doctrine, strategy shifts, and evolving Soviet defences that shaped the MBF’s role. Don’t miss this deep dive into RAF history! Watch now on YouTube. 🎥 https://lnkd.in/ec_6g6wQ

    • A Vulcan Bomber at the National Cold War Exhibition Centre.
  • There's still time to register for our first virtual lecture of the year, starting this evening at 6.00pm. ✈️The Arctic Convoys & Handley Page Hampden: An Unlikely Pairing 🌊 🗓️ Date: Thursday, 23 January 2025 🕕 Time: 6.00 pm GMT 📌Where: Livestreamed on the RAF Museum’s Crowdcast channel Join Bruce Hudson (Arctic Convoy Museum) and Darren Priday (RAF Museum) for a fascinating virtual lecture about the Handley Page Hampden’s role in protecting WWII Arctic convoys. Discover how these torpedo bombers safeguarded convoys in the treacherous Barents Sea, including the tragic convoy PQ17 and Operation Orator. The talk will also explore the Hampden's recovery and restoration journey, ending with captivating crew stories. 🎖️ 🎟️Free registration required! 👉Secure your free spot here: https://lnkd.in/eiiKKNjF We look forward to welcoming you virtually this evening 😊

    • A Handley Page Hampden in mid flight
  • 👉This January and February we are celebrating the Tornado, and the amazing stories of its pilots and ground crew. Sign up to the Tornado challenge and help the Royal Air Force Museum soar! We are asking our challengers to set their own distance and pledge to raise £50. So if you wish you can just walk 20K, or just run 5K or just cycle 200K. This is your challenge, so you set the distance and how you reach it. All that we ask is that you hit your target by 28 February. Once you hit your distance target you will get a medal, if you hit your £50 pledge then you will receive one of our amazing Tornado t-shirts. 🏅 Hit your distance = Tornado Challenge medal (metal) 👕Raise £50 = Exclusive t-shirt 📅Complete the Challenge by 28 Feb, starting it on 31 January 🔗Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/e8kepw3w

    • The Tornado Challenge T shirt and Medal
  • 🎉 Tickets Now On Sale for February Half Term Events at our Midlands site! 🚀🧪 Get ready for an unforgettable February Half Term 2025 at the RAF Museum Midlands! From 15th-23rd February, join us for STEM Week—packed with mind-blowing activities for all ages. 🌌👩🔬 ✨ Highlights Include: 🔭 Galileo Dome Planetarium Shows – Step inside the incredible Galileo Dome and be transported to the stars! 🌟 Choose from three amazing shows: 🧑🚀Astronaut George (30 min): Perfect for little ones (ages 3+), this fun and engaging adventure introduces the wonders of space in a way that's easy to understand. 🧑🚀Family Space Journey (45 min): Designed for families with kids aged 6+, dive deeper into the mysteries of the universe! 🧑🚀We Are Aliens (60 min): For ages 10+, this show explores the science of extra-terrestrial life—are we alone in the universe? 🌌 Limited spaces—book now to secure your seat under the stars! 💥 Volatile Chemistry Show – Science has never been this exciting (or explosive)! Join us in the Lecture Theatre for a thrilling journey through the history of chemistry. 👀Watch as experiments fizzle, pop, and ignite while learning how chemistry has shaped the world. Perfect for ages 5+, this interactive show is as entertaining as it is educational. 🧪💡 🗓️Shows run on 21st-23rd February, so don’t miss your chance to catch the action! 🕵️ Museum-Wide Trail – Solve puzzles to find a hidden lab and save the day! 🚁 Quadcopters – Learn to fly like a pro! 🎮 Flight Simulators – Take control in the cockpit. 🔬 Telescopes & More – Go cosmic with space-based workshops. 🛠️ Lego Dragsters – Build, race, and test the laws of physics! 💸 Prices start at just £3, with many activities FREE! Secure your spot now—spaces fill up fast! 🎟️ 🌟 Don't miss this chance to spark curiosity and fun this half term! Book now 👉 https://bit.ly/4hhiOFS

    • A Volatile History of Chemistry, just one of the amazing events taking place at the RAF Museum Midlands this February Half Term.
  • 👉Our latest archived lecture is now live on YouTube: "The Role of Airpower in the Six-Day War" 🎥✈️ Did airpower truly decide the outcome of the 1967 conflict? Christina Chatzitheodorou dives deep into this myth, exploring the pivotal yet often misunderstood role of the Israeli Air Force. 💭📚 From securing air superiority to its psychological impact, this lecture offers fresh insights on ground operations and tactical success. 🚁⚔️ 📅 Don’t miss this eye-opening analysis. Watch now! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eZb96VUy This lecture was first broadcast live on the Museum's Crowdcast Channel in autumn 2021. #HistoryMatters #SixDayWar #Airpower 💡

    • Israeli tanks taking part in the Six Day War
  • 🚨 New Virtual Lecture 🚨 🛩️The Arctic Convoys & Handley Page Hampden: An Unlikely Pairing 🌊 📅 Date: Thursday, 23 January 2025 ⏰ Time: 6:00pm GMT 📍 Where: Livestreamed on the RAF Museum’s Crowdcast channel Join Bruce Hudson (Arctic Convoy Museum) and Darren Priday (RAF Museum) for a fascinating virtual lecture about the Handley Page Hampden’s role in protecting WWII Arctic convoys. Discover how these torpedo bombers safeguarded convoys in the treacherous Barents Sea, including the tragic convoy PQ17 and Operation Orator. The talk will also explore the Hampden's recovery and restoration journey, ending with captivating crew stories. 🎖️ 🎟️ Free registration required! 👉 Secure your free spot via https://lnkd.in/eiiKKNjF We look forward to welcoming you virtually 😊

    • A Handley Page Hampden in mid flight
  • MIDS: 📣 Free Lecture - The High Peak Dambusters, Tonight ✈️ If you're based in the Midlands or Shropshire areas, join us this evening in the National Cold War Exhibition for a captivating lecture by Frank Pleszak, uncovering the true story behind the legendary Dambusters raid. Explore the life of Jack Marriott, a Flight Engineer whose tragic, mysterious death is part of an enduring wartime legacy. 📍 Location: National Cold War Exhibition 🕕 Doors Open: 6:15 PM | Lecture Starts: 7:00 PM 🎟️ Free for RAeS and Museum Members. Visitors welcome with a donation. No booking required—just turn up! Don’t miss this incredible aviation history event! For full details about this talk, please visit: https://lnkd.in/ekRrXZBZ To find out how to reach us, please visit:

    • Low level reconnaissance photograph for the Eder Dam.

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