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Can
you help? |
| We are urgently seeking
volunteers who are experienced in sheet metal
to help with a static warbird restoration/rebuild. |
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Volunteers
Wanted |
| Volunteers wanted to attend
museum during open weekends - would suit retired
person within the Surrey/Sussex area. |
| Contact
us |
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Past projects
- Clearance of cave system
in Tunnel Road Reigate ready for hosting
World War Two Themed public open days
(the Reigate Caves was used as an ARP
Control Centre during World War Two).
- Setting up of temporary
World War Two displays in the cave system
off Tunnel Road Reigate for the public
four times per year for several years.
- Setting up of temporary
World War Two display in the cave system
off Tunnel Road Reigate for the mayors
and mayoresses of Surrey.
- Setting up temporary
World War Two display for the Surrey Military
Collectors society in Dorking Halls -
Gold Rosette awarded.
- Setting up temporary
World War Two display and talk for 135
Squadron Air Cadets.
- Researched and erected
permanent memorial stone and plaque to
the crew of Handley Page Halifax JN920
of 51 Squadron RAF which crashed at Kasterlee
in Belgium on 22nd October 1943 with the
loss of all on board. Traced and reunited
surviving relatives with the graves of
the crew and liased with the local community
which hosted a dedication service which
was attended by the relatives. We also
arranged for representatives of the current
51 Squadron to attend the unveiling of
the memorial. A display was transported
to Belgium and put on display at the memorial
service.
- Saved a 1948 historical
twin engined DeHavilland Devon (VP967)
from being scrapped. Dismantled moved
and stored the air frame for several years.
Restored the aircraft and put it back
into its original service colours. Sourced
many missing parts from all over the world
including one engine, replaced fuel system
and bought the airframe back to full ground
running and taxiable condition for display
to the public. VP967 is now on permanent
public display on the flight line at Redhill
Aerodrome the home of our current museum.
- Traced surviving relatives
to aircrew of local well known crash of
an American Boeing B17 bomber and liased
with a local lady for a permanent memorial
plaque to be placed at the site in memory
of the crew. Attended ceremony with surviving
relatives and local press for unveiling
of the memorial. Commissioned local artist
to depict the aircraft on its last flight
in an oil painting, copies of which were
presented to the relatives. Prints have
been made for sale to the public to raise
money for the museum and future memorials.
- Rescued important historic
aircraft (Miles Magister) one of only
eleven in the world. This aircraft actually
flew from Redhill Aerodrome. It is now
on public display in the museum and it
is intended to restore the aircraft for
display in the Wing Museum.
- Received request from
family of pilot of Halifax MZ565 51 Squadron
RAF to locate the crash site. Travelled
to Belgium to locate the crash site, found
the location. Liased with local community.
Erected permanent memorial plaque on 12th
October 2002 with full memorial service
attended by the family. Opened the Wings
Museum on a special open day to receive
other surviving family members from the
crew from Canada and the USA.
- Put on display at RAF
Waddington on behalf of 51 Squadron based
there at their air show.
- Researched and liased
with Swindon Archaeology Group and subsequently
excavated artefacts from an American P38
aircraft which crashed in Wiltshire in
1944. Traced surviving family members.
A display of representative parts has
been permanently gifted to the family
in the USA. A play was subsequently written
about the pilot and was performed by school
children in the United States as an educational
project.
- Put on temporary display
of the P38 for a Science Museum open weekend
at Wroughton.
- Put on temporary display
of the P38 for the Wroughton History Group.
- Recovered rare and
important World War Two aircraft wreckage
and airframes from Russia for display
in the museum. One of which is the only
known surviving aircraft of its type in
the world today above sea level! Some
of these aircraft will be restored for
static display.
- We have opened the
museum to the public for various groups
to visit, have opened on scheduled open
days and at Redhill Air Show open days.
Any donations received have been used
to finance the various memorials etc to
date.
- We have achieved full
membership status of the British Aviation
Preservation Council (BAPC).
- Our DeHavilland Devon
was used in 2005 for filming of a historical
documentary drama for Channel 4 called
'Margaret'. The money raised from this
is to be used to help finance the restoration
of the interior of the aircraft.
Current Projects
- We are currently restoring
the interior of DeHavilland Devon (VP967)
and carrying out further preservation
measures.
- Restoring the cockpit
section of an American B25 Mitchell bomber
which was shot down during World War Two
and subsequently recovered by members
of the Wings Museum. This will enable
visitors to appreciate the conditions
which our heroic airmen served under during
such harrowing times. This has included
sourcing many of the internal fittings
from America.
- Setting up various themed
World War Two Aviation Displays
- Preservation of items
for display within the museum
- Researching PO Travis
who was tragically killed close to the
museum in 1944 with a view to erecting
a memorial plaque in memory of him.
Future Projects
- To improve upon the
museum to allow greater public access
including school visits and also visits
from veterans associations, local historical
societies and other parties.
- To prepare cockpit
section of Jet Provost (already sourced)
to allow school children to sit in a cockpit.
- We have been asked
by the surviving family member of the
P38 pilot to film an interview of ourselves
talking about the P38 recovery and display
to be incorporated as part of his youth
educational program in America.
- Our aim is to promote
an appreciation of our armed forces and
to provide a focal point for veterans,
relatives of those who served and young
people and any one interested in our military
history.
- We plan to erect a
memorial room/chapel within the museum
in memory of all those who served and
lost their lives flying from Redhill Aerodrome
during World War Two.
- We also plan to have
a restoration workshop which encourages
volunteers to develop new skills and interests
which will also be of benefit to the museum.
- We aim to include a
facility within the new building for a
meeting room for local groups, schools
etc to hold lectures, talks, film shows
etc.
- We aim to provide disabled
access.
- To enhance the team
of volunteers and encourage new skills.
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