Here’s all the latest news from Wings Aviation Museum
- 2024 Upcoming Events
This year we are looking forward to organising some exciting events in 2024! Roar of a very special Merlin One of the most popular events that will be returning for 2024 is our special Rolls Royce Merlin engine run days. We have a rather special Merlin engine here at the museum, in fact we have… Read more: 2024 Upcoming Events - Can you help? Volunteering at Wings
We are very grateful to Andrew at Cyclops TV for producing our new volunteer recruitment video. We are looking for friendly enthusiastic people to join our front of house team. We are open 6 days a week so we need to boost our team of front of house volunteers. Military knowledge is not a requirement,… Read more: Can you help? Volunteering at Wings - Rebuilding a 1944 Willys MB Jeep found in Australia!
Here’s an update on the restoration of our Febuary 1944 Willys MB Jeep. For background, this Jeep was deployed to the Australian Army and served in the Pacific Theatre in WW2 then later had a tough life in agriculture. A sympathetic restoration is being undertaken retaining as much of the original vehicle metal as possible… Read more: Rebuilding a 1944 Willys MB Jeep found in Australia! - VIPs and Little VIPs
On Tuesday 25th January 2024, we were very pleased to welcome Mr Andy Bliss – High Sheriff of West Sussex for a special visit to the Wings Aviation Museum. Andy said: “Although I have an interest in history and have lived locally for a good part of the last four decades, I had never visited… Read more: VIPs and Little VIPs - Merlin Magic!
We’ve been busy working on our 1943 Rolls Royce Merlin XX engine which was recovered from a swamp in Germany in 2010 and restored to full running condition. This particular Merlin was fitted to Halifax JD150 and was shot down on the night of 28th July 1943. The Wings Museum Merlin team have been working… Read more: Merlin Magic! - A rare B-24 Liberator rear gun turret
Curator Dan takes up the story: Wings is well known for its rare aviation wrecks and relics, such as the substantial remains of one of only 2 surviving Nakajima B5N2 “Kates” to be seen anywhere in the World! Having acquired this turret there was some debate exactly what make and model of turret it actually… Read more: A rare B-24 Liberator rear gun turret - North American B-25J “Bedsheet Bomber” Restoration Update
Work continues in earnest to restore a rare North American B-25J Mitchell Bomber 44-30861.The outboard wing sections which were heavily corroded are nearing completion. The outboard wings have been laid down to enable access to restore the leading edges. Meanwhile great progress is being made on the cockpit section which is almost corrosion free! Final… Read more: North American B-25J “Bedsheet Bomber” Restoration Update - Podcast – RAF Mustangs Collide Over Guildford 80th Anniversary
80 years ago today, on Saturday 17th April 1943, the residents of Guildford witnessed an unfortunate collision between two RAF Mustangs, an incident that caused the deaths of the two pilots, Dirk De Kretser and Philip Price. First thing this morning I met with historian and writer, David Rose, who you may recall I also… Read more: Podcast – RAF Mustangs Collide Over Guildford 80th Anniversary - Podcast – Monty Felton – Halifax Navigator, Shorts Brothers Underground Factory, and Military Vehicles Visit Wings
In this episode: Bentley Priory Museum –https://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/ Shorts Brothers Factory Tunnels and Air Raid Shelter Subterranea Britannica –https://www.subbrit.org.uk SubBrit page on the Shorts Tunnels –https://www.subbrit.org.uk/sites/rochester-shorts-brothers-factory-and-public-air-raid-shelter/ IMPS visit to Wings Museum – April 2023 Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society (IMPS) –https://www.imps.org.uk/ - Wings Museum hosts London to Brighton Classic Car Run – May 2022
The London to Brighton Classic Car Run (https://www.classicmotorevents.co.uk/classic-cars), for production vehicles that are over 40 years old, starts at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge and finishes in Madeira Drive, Brighton. 60 participants’ cars called in to the Wings Museum for a timely refreshment stop. Hotdogs, teas and coffees were available, along with a tour round the… Read more: Wings Museum hosts London to Brighton Classic Car Run – May 2022