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The RAF Museum at Hendon is Britain's big National Aviation Collection and had recently (five days earlier) opened its newly revamped display halls, so I went to talk about these with its director, Maggie Appleton, my date, as well as meet up with former work colleagues of mine. These are the old Historic Halls, which have changed little. One criticism by the public about the museum as it was, was that on arrival, the entrance and pathways between the hangars was not clearly marked, and as a consequence, most visitors were not getting to see the entire collection. A clearly marked entry and exit point and pathways to each hangar has been created, giving far better orientation round the site.
With the new layout, the former Battle of Britain Hall serves as the main entrance and exit building and now houses interactive exhibitions on the history of the RAF through its people, which, according to extensive surveys with the public was sorely lacking. Nevertheless, there are a few choice airframes on display in the hall. This is the only surviving Airco DH.9A, which was shot down over France and captured by the Germans in 1918. Maintained in flying trim by its former adversary, the machine found its way into the national aviation museum, The Deutsches Luftfahrt Sammlung in the heart of Berlin, but when this was subject to a visit from the DH.9A's former operator in 1943, the museum burned down with 90 percent of its collection destroyed. Needless to say the RAF party wasn't invited back. This one survived and via a circuitous route ended up in Crakow, where it was kept in the national aviation collection of Poland. During the late 60s, RAF personnel (The RAF Museum didn't exist at that stage) got wind of the machine's existence and a trade was established in which the Polish museum would receive a Spitfire in honour of Poles who fought in the RAF, for the DH.9A. Needless to say, the crossing into Warsaw Pact controlled East Germany, then Poland of an RAF low loader carrying a Spitfire in one direction and a DH.9A in the other during the height of the Cold War took some logistical magic from both sides to pull off.
Attempting to rehouse the Sunderland would have been extraordinarily difficult, so it was left where it was. Some have criticised the empty space around the machine, but one really gets a sense of the mass of these majestic aircraft in such a setting. Besides, it's sooo much easier to photograph now. From this side at least. I have been told that a walkway will be built to enable the public to access its interior as they were able to in the past.
Although I visited my former workplace the day before, my purpose was business - of sorts, so as part of the tour I returned the next day, this time as a tourist, to take a look at more old friends I hadn't seen for awhile. The aeroplanes I walked past every day on my way to work. 100+ Ops Lancaster I R5868. The rather particular quote was added in 1944.
In 2011, the old London Aerodrome Watch Office, in use as Hendon's control tower until the late 1950s was relocated from derelict condition to the museum site and refurbished. This is The London Aerodrome's benefactor Claude Grahame-White's office.
F.E.2b night bomber in the Grahame-White Hangar, which displays many of the RAF Museum's large collection of Great War airframes. Vickers FB.5 Gunbus reproduction behind.
The Grahame-White Hangar served as a factory hangar, where Grahame-White's aviation firm built firstly his own aeroplanes, then others under licence in support of the (WW1) war effort. Fokker D VII.
1953 England to New Zealand air race winner Canberra PR.3. The shield on its nose shows its route taken.
In the centre of the old hangars is a quartet of fighters of combatants that fought in the Battle of Britain, starting with this Bf 109E, which was shot down and evaluated as DG200.
609 Sqn Spitfire I X4590.
Fiat CR-42 forced down during the Regia Aeronautica's ill-advised venture into Western Europe and evaluated.
607 Sqn Hurricane I P2617.
Former Royal Canadian Air Force Supermarine Stranraer was operated by Queen Charlotte Airways post WW2, whose initials QCA, warranted the nickname Queer Collection of Aircraft, after the motley bunch of flying machines it operated!
Beautiful Bristol Bulldog.
The Heinkel He 111 is still sagging at the knees.
The Halifax that was shot down on the Tirpitz raid still sits as it was when recovered from the bottom of a fiord in Norway. Sadly, exposure above water has not treated it well and internally it is suffering considerable corrosion.
Next, Aaaah, De Havilland!
With the new layout, the former Battle of Britain Hall serves as the main entrance and exit building and now houses interactive exhibitions on the history of the RAF through its people, which, according to extensive surveys with the public was sorely lacking. Nevertheless, there are a few choice airframes on display in the hall. This is the only surviving Airco DH.9A, which was shot down over France and captured by the Germans in 1918. Maintained in flying trim by its former adversary, the machine found its way into the national aviation museum, The Deutsches Luftfahrt Sammlung in the heart of Berlin, but when this was subject to a visit from the DH.9A's former operator in 1943, the museum burned down with 90 percent of its collection destroyed. Needless to say the RAF party wasn't invited back. This one survived and via a circuitous route ended up in Crakow, where it was kept in the national aviation collection of Poland. During the late 60s, RAF personnel (The RAF Museum didn't exist at that stage) got wind of the machine's existence and a trade was established in which the Polish museum would receive a Spitfire in honour of Poles who fought in the RAF, for the DH.9A. Needless to say, the crossing into Warsaw Pact controlled East Germany, then Poland of an RAF low loader carrying a Spitfire in one direction and a DH.9A in the other during the height of the Cold War took some logistical magic from both sides to pull off.
Attempting to rehouse the Sunderland would have been extraordinarily difficult, so it was left where it was. Some have criticised the empty space around the machine, but one really gets a sense of the mass of these majestic aircraft in such a setting. Besides, it's sooo much easier to photograph now. From this side at least. I have been told that a walkway will be built to enable the public to access its interior as they were able to in the past.
Although I visited my former workplace the day before, my purpose was business - of sorts, so as part of the tour I returned the next day, this time as a tourist, to take a look at more old friends I hadn't seen for awhile. The aeroplanes I walked past every day on my way to work. 100+ Ops Lancaster I R5868. The rather particular quote was added in 1944.
In 2011, the old London Aerodrome Watch Office, in use as Hendon's control tower until the late 1950s was relocated from derelict condition to the museum site and refurbished. This is The London Aerodrome's benefactor Claude Grahame-White's office.
F.E.2b night bomber in the Grahame-White Hangar, which displays many of the RAF Museum's large collection of Great War airframes. Vickers FB.5 Gunbus reproduction behind.
The Grahame-White Hangar served as a factory hangar, where Grahame-White's aviation firm built firstly his own aeroplanes, then others under licence in support of the (WW1) war effort. Fokker D VII.
1953 England to New Zealand air race winner Canberra PR.3. The shield on its nose shows its route taken.
In the centre of the old hangars is a quartet of fighters of combatants that fought in the Battle of Britain, starting with this Bf 109E, which was shot down and evaluated as DG200.
609 Sqn Spitfire I X4590.
Fiat CR-42 forced down during the Regia Aeronautica's ill-advised venture into Western Europe and evaluated.
607 Sqn Hurricane I P2617.
Former Royal Canadian Air Force Supermarine Stranraer was operated by Queen Charlotte Airways post WW2, whose initials QCA, warranted the nickname Queer Collection of Aircraft, after the motley bunch of flying machines it operated!
Beautiful Bristol Bulldog.
The Heinkel He 111 is still sagging at the knees.
The Halifax that was shot down on the Tirpitz raid still sits as it was when recovered from the bottom of a fiord in Norway. Sadly, exposure above water has not treated it well and internally it is suffering considerable corrosion.
Next, Aaaah, De Havilland!
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