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- The Wings Museum finished its 2011 season with our largest attendance to date. A huge thank you must go out to all those who visited us over the 2011 season.
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- A MkXVI Spitfire spinner has recently been donated for display. For many years it lay in a garden in East Grinstead!
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- The rudder has recently been renovated & fitted to the Wings Museum's ex "Band of Brothers" C-47 Dakota Fuselage, completing this impressive visitors walk-through.
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- The Wings "Radio Shack" was in action at the weekend on 2 and 40 meter bands. So far we have made contact with other museums & a Scout Jamboree. The 2m band is on listening watch at weekends and can provide talk in if needed. Our station is MXOWGS
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- A special museum opening was staged for a group of 7th Burgess Hill Beaver Scouts as part of their Air Activities Badge. A fun time was had by all!
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- The Wings Museum hosted a Rover Car Club Rally with well over 80 cars in attendance. This was a huge success & we would like to thank all those who attended. For group bookings see here>
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MID SUSSEX TIMES REPORTS... |
"Museum Imports a reminder of wartime threat" |
The museum has featured recently in the Mid Sussex Times regarding some inert WW2 German Bombs that recently arrived at the museum from Germany. These relics can now be viewed in the "Home Front & Blitz" section of the museum. |
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- An investigation has been carried out at the crash site of a Short Stirling that crashed over occupied Europe. The site is still under going investigation & a full report will be added at a later date.
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- Special visit by the Luftfarts Museum in Bodo in Norway. Birger Larsen Museum Curator of the National Air Force Museum in Bodo, Norway, visited the museum & workshop to inspect the Jumo 211 engine that is being restored by museum volunteers.
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- Group Visit by the Sunbeam Owners Club held at the museum during the evening of 2nd of June. By prior arrangement the museum can open to groups of 20 people or more, for further information please see here>
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- Work towards the fitting of the main rudder to our C-47 Dakota walk through exhibit has commenced.
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- Work continues on the restoration of one of the Rolls Royce Merlin XX Engines recovered from Halifax JD150.
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- Our thanks must go to Mr Minost for donating a large collection of models to the museum.
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- Personal Memorabilia to Sir Sydney Camm (famous for the design of the Hawker Hurricane) has been donated for display
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- An original "Anderson" Shelter has been recovered & put on exhibition by volunteers. Visitors can now step inside this Anderson shelter to "feel what it was like during an air raid". This exhibit compliments our original "Morrison" Table Shelter.
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| June 2011 |
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- Original Japanese Flying equipment is on its way to the UK! The original pilot's equipment will be displayed along side the Wings Museum's unique Japanese B5N2 "Kate" in the Ghosts of the Tundra display.
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- The Famous Test Pilot Capt Eric Winkle Brown visits the museum and very impressed!! A future book signing day is hopefully planned at the museum to celebrate the launch of his new book.
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| May 2011 |
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- The tail fin from a Junkers Ju-88 German bomber complete with original Swastika has arrived at the museum from Norway
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- Items relating to Flight Engineer Sgt. J. Allen who flew 35 ops in Lancasters with 550 Squadron has been donated for display. Come and see the actual incendiary bomb that fell through the bomb aimers window from an aircraft flying above during a mission over Germany!
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| April 2011 |
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- The Wings Museum's RAF Willys Jeep displayed at Martell's in East Grinstead during April to help raise money for Help for Heroes & to promote the museum.
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- Four beautiful metal engine stands were recently delivered to display the Merlin engines from Halifax JD150. On behalf of the museum a special thanks must go to Geoff Allchorn of Auto Gearbox Specialists of Hailsham in Sussex & also Ron at Tower Welding.
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| March 2011 |
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- Items associated to the Women's Land Army have been donated. The display will be completed for the re-opening of the museum in March 2011.
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| Jan 2011 |
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- A Jumo 211 engine has arrived from Norway to assist with our Jumo rebuild.
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| October 2010 |
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- A memorial has been unveiled in memory of P.O. Worsdell & Sgt. Gardiner who were tragically killed in their Beaufighter at Balcombe Place on 30th October 1940. Read more>
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- DeHavilland Devon VP967 has found a new home with the Yorkshire Air Museum at Evlington near York. She now shares a hanger with the Museum's Mossie and Halifax Friday the 13th! The museum will continue to maintain her in ground running condition.
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- Work completed on the display of some unique memorabilia associated to Etienne Minost who flew A-20 Bostons with 342 Free French Lorraine Squadron based at RAF Hartford Bridge (now Blackbushe) in Hampshire.
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| WW2 Veterans Help Save Museum! |
- After a public meeting held on 14th October 2010 and with the support of 10 World War Two RAF Aircrew Veterans wearing their medals, the Wings Museum at Balcombe was unanimously granted planning permission. Supporters to the museum gave a loud clap of appreciation from the Galleries. Even though the museum had no objections from Mid Sussex Council and the Highways Agency several local people ojected to the museum, although no complaints had been received since the museum opened in March of 2010, until just a few days before the planning deadline expired.
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| September 2010 |
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- The Wings Museum carried out an excavation of Halifax HR796
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- September 2010 Crawley RAFA Club visit the new and improved Wings Museum.
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- Work is nearly complete on the original instrument panel from Sptifire MT719 which is now located in the US. The original panel was not used in the restoration and has recently been restored by volunteer Derik Rose and will soon be on display.
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- On 25th September 2010 The Wings Museum was officially Affiliated with the Royal Air Forces Association Mid Sussex Haywards Heath Branch 0524 . Read more>
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| August 2010 |
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- A large quantity of metal working machiney has recntly been donated to the museum including, a sheet metal roller, milling machine and a sandblasting cabinet. We must thank Thales for their generious donation.
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- The Wings Museum attended the Reigate Hill Fort Open Day with its RAF Jeep together with several museum displays. An excellent day was had by all.
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| July 2010 |
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- C-47 Dakota gets new colours! Steve is now well on his way to completing the markings on our C-47 Dakota Fuselage - Lille Belle which crashed in Guildford lives again in the Wings Museum.
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| June 2010 |
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- 4 Rolls Royce Merlin XX Engines have recently returned from Germany where they were recovered from a swamp. More on this soon.
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- Curators Daniel & Kevin recently took part in the Burgess Hill Battle of Britian Anniversary Parade. A stall was also manned to promote the museum locally.
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| April 2010 |
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- An exciting range of prints have been completed, tiltled "Ghosts of the Tundra" these prints are now available from this website or at the museum.
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- Work is progressing well with the restoration of the Junkers Jumo engine. Both cylinder heads are now removed and work is commencing on the gear box and crank case.
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- Douglas A-26 Invader cockpit section aquired for display at the Wings Museum at Balcombe. This exhibit will be on long term restoration and will enable volunteers to expand their skills following on from their recently completed BAPC courses at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford
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| March 2010 |
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- The Wings Museum saw its first grand opening on 20th & 21st March. Despite the weather many people were in attendance to see the new museum. Feedback was very positive - will share the feedback on the website soon. The museum will now be open every Saturday between March - October, opening times are 10am - 5pm.
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| Feb 2010 |
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- Curator Daniel Hunt becomes a father! He was born on 10th Feb 2010 and has been named Josepth. Now the fun begins!
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| Jan 2010 |
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- Work is now nearly complete on the overhaul of our P-63 Kingcobra nose wheel assembly.
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| November 2009 |
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- An ex Lancaster tail gunner popped in to see the museum sete up. Hopefully he will be in attendance for the grand re-opening in 2010!
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| October 2009 |
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- Special behind the scenes vist by the Nepthew of Sgt. Colin Smith who lost his life while flying in Avro Manchester L7465. Read more about L7465 here>
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- Repairs to our C-47 fuselage are now complete & team are busy fixing the floor beams in place prior to laying the floor.
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- World's only Japanese B5N2 Kate diarama now complete!
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- A-20 Boston diarama display now complete!
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| September 2009 |
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- RAF Redhill display now complete!
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- C-47 / DC-3 Cockpit has now successfully been joined together with the fuselage section of another salvaged DC-3
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- P-63 King Cobra diarama now complete!
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- C-47 / DC-3 Cockpit has now successfully been joined together with the fuselage section of another salvaged DC-3
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| April 2009 |
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- Ghosts of the
Tundra Display. Work is well
underway on this new exhibition which
will also tell the stories of some of
the 'Last Battles of World War
Two' which are nearly all but
forgotten - until now! Our A-20 Boston display is also now complete!
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- Curator Daniel
Hunt gets Married! On April
11th 2009 Daniel Hunt married Elizabeth
Carpenter. In true Wings Museum style
the bride arrived in an original 1930's
Austin 7 and an ex World
War Two pilot W.O. Jack Hodges who flew from RAF
Redhill and also later 174 Squadron attended the day!
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| March 2009 |
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- Memorial to the crew of Avro Manchester L7465 unveiled in Belgium
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- World War Two
Jeep arrives at the Wings Museum! A world War Two Jeep recently arrived
at the museum and will be available for
static display as well as attending various
events where the museum will be promoted
by Curator Daniel Hunt who owns the jeep.
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- A Jumo
211 Aero Engine arrives from
Norway! The museum is proud to undertake
the restoration of one of the Jumo 211
engines which will eventually be refitted
to the airframe of Ju-88 D1 Werke
Number 088 1203 for display in
the Bodo Museum in Norway. Read
more about our Jumo restoration here>
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| Feburary 2009 |
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- An inert 20mm
cannon shell taken at the time
from a Redhill Beaufighter has been donated for display.
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- The museum gets a V2
Rocket Engine! The V2 Rocket
engine was recovered from a V2 crash site
in Essex and was on display
in another museum for several years before
being aquired for display in the Wings
Museum.
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| December/January 2009 |
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- The Wings Museum
has now completed its move to bigger premises. The Museum decided to move from
Redhill Aerodrome due to commercial
pressures, an alternative building
was offered by Redhill Aerodrome, but
it was decided not to be suitable for
the museums requirements and would have
seen the museum taking a step backwards.
The alternative building offered would
have also required complete renovation
which would have been to costly for the
museum to fund. Rest assured that the Wings Museum will reopen
as soon as possible bigger and
better than before! The museum
is set to be at least 5 times
bigger than the set up at Redhill!
Watch this space as the Wings Museum prepares
to grow from strength to strength.
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- Museum School
Visit . We were glad to welcome
a special visit from students of the Warwick
School Redhill on Friday 9th January 2009.
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- VP967 Engine
Run. Our DeHavilland Devon G-KOOL
(VP967) was run up and given a good blast
to blow out the cobwebs!!
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- Restoration of our Rolls Royce Derwent Engine is now complete!
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- Wings Xmas Social
. Volunteers enjoyed a pint and
a bite to eat in the local as a small
token of our thanks for all their help
during 2008.
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| November 2008 |
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- Wings gets a
Meteor! During late 2008 Meteor
WF825 arrived by road at the Wings Museum Read
more>.
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- The Wings Museum
has been Broken into!. The Wings
Museum was broken into recently, luckily
the perpetrators were caught red handed
inside the museum by the Police!
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| September 2008 |
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- Work on the memorial
stand for the book of remembrance which is dedicated to the 70 plus airmen
who lost their lives flying from RAF Redhill
during WW2 is well under way. and will
be made available for public viewing in
the future.
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- Restoration of our Rolls
Royce Derwent engine is well
underway.
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- The museum continues
to get extremely positive feedback from the general public and such feedback
is always welcomed.
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- Group Visit
from Crawley RAFA. The Crawley
Royal Air Force Association visited the
Wings Museum on August 20th. A good time
was had by all, with very positive feedback!
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- Permission has been
granted from the Royal Air Force allowing
the Wings Museum to fly the RAF
Ensign from Redhill. The flag
was raised on Saturday 16th August for
the first time after more than 60 years!!
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- Daniel & Kevin Hunt
were recently interviewed to talk about
the museum for Radio Redhill.
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- Heritage Open
Days - the
Wings Museum is proud to have been part
of this years Reigate & Banstead Borough
Councils Heritage Open Days which is organised
by the Reigate Society.
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| August 2008 |
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- Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC), medals & uniforms relating to a Rear Tail Gunner in Halifax
bombers who flew with Bomber
Command during World War Two has kindly
been donated for display. Research is
currently underway to obtain his full
RAF history.
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- Spitfire Clock rim wound clock donated for display.
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- Items relating to RAF
Redhill including a 1941 dated
xmas menu, an RAF Redhill pass, photographs,
booklets and a .50 caliber bullet made into a lighter by Canadian
Air Men at Redhill have been donated for
display. The shell case was most likely
picked up from the gun butts at Redhill
and would have probably have come from
one of the CanadianRAF Mustangs that were based at Redhill at that time.
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| July 2008 |
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- A large quantity of
wartime Royal Air Force Maps from
RAF Redhill have been donated
for display. The maps were taken in 1946
from the old watch office. Several of
the maps have the pilots name and flight
co-ordinates marked on them.
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- Our C-47 fuselage has returned to Redhill via a low loader
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| June 2008 |
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- Our Rolls Royce
Derwent engine from a Meteor
Jet has been moved into the hanger ready
for restoration to static display condition.
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- A Rolls Royce
Merlin XX engine has been moved
into the hanger for a detailed assessment
of missing parts damage etc. We aim to
complete this engine as a ground running
static.
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- Work is progressing
well on a static display Gipsy
Queen engine and will soon be
completed
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- A purpose built steel
stand for our C-47 fuselage is now complete,
this work has been completed off site.
This will form part of phase two of the
museum expansion as walk through D-Day
experience. Also it is planned
to represent the ground battles of the
Invasion of Europe in this display.
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- The Wings Museum attended
the Surrey History Centres opening of Buried Battles and Veteran's
Voices.
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| May 2008 |
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- Mk IX Bombsight donated for display, the Mk IX was fitted
to early bombers such as the the Whitley,
Blenheim, Battle, Anson & the Oxford.
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- Original files &
papers concerning German objects dropped
from the air & also an incendiary
bomb & bomb fuse all from
the Reigate area donated for display.
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- A Spitfire boost
gauge & original pilots notes
for the Hurricane & Spitfire recently
donated
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- The museum is now open 2 Saturdays per month up until December 2008.
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- We are now registered
with Surrey Museums
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- We welcomed the family
of P.O Mathieson who
visited us to see the medals associated
with P.O. Mathieson which are now on display
in the Bomber Command Room.
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- Phase 2 of
the museum is now underway
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- The workshop is now ready for action - can you help?
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| April 2008 |
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- The Wings Museum has
just returned from a searching
trip to France to rescue artifacts
for display in phase 2 of the museum which
will be titled the second front - watch
this space!
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- A new floor has recently
been fitted to our C-47 Fuselage ready for phase 2
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- A Nazi flag liberated from Berlin during WW2 has been
donated for display
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- We were honoured to
welcome a former A-20 Boston pilot on a special visit to the museum
to see our A-20 Boston which will be on
public display in the future.
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| March 2008 |
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- The Wings Museum's Grand Opening was a astounding success
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- The Redhill
Story photographic display is
now complete.
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- Phase 1 of the Wings Museum is now complete
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- CCTV has now been installed in all display
areas
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- A series of improvements
to the Museum's Fire Precautions has been completed
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| January 2008 |
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- C-47 Fuselage takes
part in some new film work for
a major big screen movie!
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- Items relating to the
Air Gunner of a Halifax bomber that force landed here at Redhill while
returning from a raid on Germany have
been donated for display.
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- The Wings Museum staged
it's first official meeting which will now become a regular thing
once a month.
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| December 2007 |
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- Relatives of Aleksander
Pietrzak visit display in honour
of pilot of Mustang FX876
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- Relatives of Aleksander
Pietrzak locate photograph of Mustang FX876 in Poland!
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| October/November 2007 |
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- A huge rescue mission
has been carried out by the Wings Museum
to rescue the cockpit section of a Fairchild
C-119 cockpit and also a C-47
Dakota Fuselage which became
threatened when the Council at North Weald
Airfield insisted that the areas around
the hangers were to be cleared up which
resulted in the C-119 and C-47 having
to be cleared by a certain date. The Wings
Museum stepped in at the last minute and
rescued the airframes just in the nick
of time.
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| October 2007 |
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| A hunt is on to trace
relatives of P.O. Travis who
was tragically killed while on duty in the
old Watch Office at Redhill in 1944. Read
more> |
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| September 2007 |
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- Medal group & items
to Northumberland Fusilers donated for display
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- Remains of Mustang
FX876 recovered for display
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- Relics from Spitfire TB885 (ex Kenley Dump) obtained for display
including cockpit components & tail
wheel!
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- Early flying helmet, gloves
& goggles donated for display
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- Exhibition staged on Reigate Hill B-17G
43-39035 - Reigate Fort Open Day
Sept 2007
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- Home Guard Display
complete
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- Various items donated for display (with
thanks to Karl Zielinski)
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- Home Front Display
complete
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- Research into WW2 losses from
RAF Redhill commenced. This information
will be used to form a book of remembrance
for the museum
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| August 2007 |
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- The air at Redhill is once again filled
with the purr of two Gipsy Queen engines
as our De havilland Devon G-KOOL
(VP967) fires into life after
its spring maintenance work. A huge thank
you must go out to Andy Scrase who continues
to keep the engines in tip top condition.
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| February
2007 |
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- Wings Museum gains Charity
Status
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- Hampden P1273 display complete
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- 8th Air Force Display Room Complete
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| December 2006 |
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- Over 200 photographs illustrating the history of Redhill
secured
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| October 2006 |
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- Setting up of new museum displays underway.
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| September 2006 |
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- Museum move now complete.
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| Summer 2006 |
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- Wings Museum re-locates
to larger hanger on airfield
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| For a list of
Wings Museum Past Activities, Aims &
Objectives Click
here>> |
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| Home> |
