RAF Museum - Hendon  Imperial War Museum - Duxford  RAF Museum - Cosford Reports (1988 to 1993)  Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC)

Royal Air Force Museum RAF Cosford 2003 - 2024

Hangar 3 - Bomber Command / World War Two

Left to right: Gloster Gladiator (K8042). The Gladiator was the last biplane fighter when it entered service with the RAF in 1937. Unfortunately it was no match for the technologically more advanced German aircraft at the start for World War Two. K8042 was delivered in 1937 and immediately went into storage. By 1941 it was put into service as the Station Flight at RAF Boscombe Down with the A&AEE. In 1942 it was transferred to 5(Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Turnhill, before moving on in 1943 to 61 Operational Training Unit at RAF Rednal. Damaged in 1944 it went into storage at Little Rissington until being struck off charge in 1948 but being retained for historical reasons. In 1965 it emerged from the RAF Museum store at Henlow to be restored in in 1967 for display at the RAF's 50th Anniversary Royal Review in 1968. In 1971 it arrived at the RAF Museum at Hendon moving to the Battle of Britain Hall in 1978 and it had arrived at Cosford by June 2018.

Left to right: Sopwith Pup (N5182 later 9213M). The Pup was in service between 1916 and 1918 as a single-seat scout-fighter, it had a top speed of 111 mph (179 km/h). The aircraft on display was built by the Sopwith Aviation Company at Kingston-upon-Thames, it was delivered to 8 (Naval) Squadron in September 1916. The Royal Naval Air Service squadron was then operating from Dunkirk before moving to Vert Galand. By the end of the year pilots flying N5182 were credited with three victories. In 1917 N5182 was transferred to 3 (Naval) Squadron before it was withdrawn from service in August 1917. By around 1960 she was found in the Musée de l'Air's reserve collection store and was moved to the United Kingdom for restoration. Thirteen years later and fully restored to flying condition it suffered a force landing on a delivery flight to Blackbushe in 1974. By 1982 the RAF Museum had acquired the aircraft for display. On display at Cosford by 2017.

Left to right: Hawker Hart Trainer (K4972). The Hart trainer was a two-seat advanced trainer and was in service from 1935 to 1944. The example on display started life at 2 Flying Training School (FTS) at RAF Digby in 1935 before moving to 2 FTS at Brize Norton two years later. By 1938 it passed through various Maintenance Units and in 1943 it was transferred to 1546 Squadron at Wigton for instructional use. In 1962 the dismantled aircraft was found in a loft at Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton, by Solway Group of Aviation Enthusiasts. Following a brief period of display at Carlisle Crosby airport it was presented to the RAF Museum and put in to store at Henlow a year later. In 1968 it went to St Athan for restoration and display. In 1972 it was put on display at Hendon and in 1987 further restoration was carried out at Cardington prior to its move to Cosford for display in 1992. By 2002 it was back at Hendon and later Cosford by 2018 in hangar 1, by December 2022 it was being assembled in hangar 3.

Left to right: Hawker Hind (Royal Afghan Air Force unmarked BAPC.82 reported as 'K4672'). Designed as a day bomber the Hind entered service with the RAF in 1935. By 1937 452 Hind were in operation but were soon to be replaced by Battles, Blenheims and Hampdens at the start of the World War Two. This particular aircraft was sold to the Royal Afghan Air Force in the 1930s and was given to the RAF Museum in 1968, its serial could not be confirmed. After many years in the Stafford Museum Store is was put back on display in March 2023.

Left to right: Supermarine Spitfire IA (K9942 'SD-D' later 8383M). The first Spitfire Mk.1s entered service in August 1938 with 19 Squadron and by the outbreak of war nine squadrons were equipped with them. The Spitfire was the only aircraft that could match the German Messerschmitt Bf 109E in aerial combat during the Battle of Britain. This very early Spitfire (155th built) was constructed at Southampton and flown from Eastleigh in April 1939. K9942 is the world's oldest surviving Spitfire, having a major role in the Dunkirk evacuation. With 72 Squadron it flew from RAF Gravesend and RAF Manston in June 1940, flying patrols resulting in aerial battles over Dunkirk and forced landed in a Kent field after running out of fuel. It flew operationally throughout the war before being earmarked for preservation in 1944. Following periods of storage and occasional exhibitions around the country it ended up at Hendon in 1971. After restoration in 1998 at RAF Bicester it moved back to Hendon and later on to Cosford in 2002.

Left to right: Hawker Hurricane IIc (LF738 'UH-A'). The Hurricane was designed in 1934 and entered service in 1937 and was the fastest fighter in service by 100 mph at that time. By 1939 500 were in service with eventually 32 squadrons being equipped with them. Hurricanes shot down more enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain than all the other air and ground defences combined. They later were used in North Africa and in the Far East against Japan. This example was built in 1944 and used for pilot training until it was utilised for ground instruction at the end of the war. Following gate guard duties at Biggin Hill from 1954 it was restored by the Royal Aeronautical Society and finally moved to Cosford in 1995.

Vickers Wellington Mk.10 (MF628 later 9210M). One of 3,800 Mk.10 Wellingtons it was ordered in 1942 and first flown in 1944 and almost immediately put into storage. Converted to T.10 standard in 1948 with the front turret removed. It was utilised by No.1 Air Navigation School at RAF Hullavington until its retirement from service in 1952. It was flown over four months during the making of the film 'The Dambusters' in 1954. In 1956 it was presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society by Vickers and exhibited around the country as part of the RAeS Nash Collection. In 1981 it was fitted with a nose turret and in 2004 gifted to the RAF Museum. From June 2010, with the fabric covering showing significant signs of deterioration, it was moved to Cosford extensive restoration at the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre. It was stripped of its linen outer skin to repair some corrosion to the geodetic framework, painted in a protective layer and new Irish linen applied, before being doped and painted in its Bomber Command colour scheme. Fully restored it emerged for display within a Bomber Command exhibit in Hangar 3, in April 2023. It is one of just two complete Wellingtons, of more than 11,000 produced, the other N2980 a Mk.1A, was recovered from Loch Ness in 1985 and restored at the Brooklands Museum in Surrey. With the tail turret off the aircraft, it allows visitors to see into the fuselage.

Bristol Bolingbroke IVT ('L8756' really ex RCAF 10001). The Bristol Blenheim was developed in 1936 as a light bomber. The Blenheim I was superseded by the Blenheim IV in 1938 which was fitted with a longer nose. They were used for day and night bombing raids on occupied ports till 1941 and some were converted to night fighters but had little success due to their lack of speed. Some Blenheim IV's served in North Africa and in the Far East. The Bolingbroke IV on display was license-built by Fairchild Aircraft in 1941 and delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942. After serving with Bombing and Gunnery Schools in Canada it was struck off charge in 1946 and sold to a private owner. It was eventually purchased by the RAF Museum in 1966 and moved to Henlow in 1969 for storage. Restoration began in 1972 by the A&AEE at Boscombe Down and was completed in 1978 and it was transferred to Hendon later in the year. It is painted as 'L8756' to represent an aircraft from 139 Squadron. It was transferred dismantled from Hendon to Cosford in November 2022 and put together in March 2023.

Boulton Paul Defiant I (N1671 'EW-D' later 8370M). The Defiant entered service in 1939 as a two-seat turret armed fighter. Unfortunately the concept of a rear facing turret and no forward facing guns was not very successful. After suffering considerable losses in daylight its operations were switched to night-time. Despite adding radar to improve its effectiveness, the Defiants were withdrawn in favour of Beaufighters and Mosquitos. N1671 entered service in August 1940 with 307 Zwowski (Polish) Squadron at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey and later at Blackpool, Colerne and Exeter. After transfer to 153 Squadron at Ballyhalbert and 285 Squadron at Honily in 1942, it was withdrawn from service in 1943. Following periods of storage at various airfields it ended up at St Athan in 1960 before moving on to Finningley in 1968. It was transferred to Hendon in 1971 and moved to the Battle of Britain Hall in 1978. It was no longer on display by December 2009. It was put on display at Cosford in December 2017. Following structural work on the hangar the aicraft were covered in concrete dust and needed at least two cleans from the volunteers.

Hawker Tempest II (PR536 'OQ-H' and formally Indian Air Force HA457). In 1940 Hawker's Sydney Camm, was at work designing a successor to the Typhoon. The result was the sleeker Tempest, which took to the air in February 1943. 3 Squadron, converting from the Typhoon, were the first squadron to go operational in April 1944. It was soon found to be more superior than its German adversaries in their Bf 109s during the D-Day landings. They were also used to intercept the V-1 flying bombs, destroying around 800 by August 1944. More than 1,400 Tempests were built and only twelve survive today, two of those are at Hendon. Tempest II (PR536) was built in 1945 by Hawker Aircraft at Langley and was shipped to India. After the war in 1947 it was one of 124 that were given to the Indian Air Force. It ended up as a decoy at Poona by 1969. It was brought back to Great Britain in 1979 and eventually went into storage at Cardington in 1987. Following restoration at Duxford it was put on display at Hendon in November 1991 in 5 Squadron colours. In January 2020 it arrived at Cosford.

Avro 694 Lincoln B.II (RF398 later 8376M). Designed as a long-range bomber to supersede the Lancaster, the first Lincoln flew in 1944, but production did not get underway until the war had ended. 583 were built but with the introduction of jet-fighters their effectiveness was lost and they were withdrawn from frontline service in 1955. The example on show was used for Radar development trials until 1963. It was moved to Cosford in 1968 for storage and later on to the museum. As photographed in 1989.

de Havilland Mosquito TT.35 (TA639 'AZ-E'). The Mosquito was designed to be fast, very fast. Constructed out of wood it was light and with conventional armament eliminated it was very light. It could carry 1,000 lb of bombs 1,500 miles at a speed of almost 400 mph. This was twice the speed of contemporary British bombers. Using the experience of building the DH.88 Comet Racer de Havilland conceived the aircraft in 1938, with the prototype day bomber taking to the air for the first time in November 1940. The Mosquito would eventually be used in a variety of roles, including; low-level tactical daytime bomber, high altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day and night fighter, trainer and for reconnaissance. Towards the end of its career it was used as a target tug. 7,781 were built the last was completed in 1950. TA639 was delivered at the close of the World War Two and went into storage till 1952 when it was converted to a target tug and served as such until 1963. It was put into storage at Cosford where later in 1988 it was repainted. As photographed in 1989.

Left to right: Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U2 Hornisse "Hornet" (420430 '3U+CC' and AM.72). Based on the flawed Me 210, the Me 410 entered service in 1943 as a night-bomber. With the introduction of two 20mm MG 151/20 cannon, as with the 'U2' variant on display, they were used to effectively attack unescorted formations of Allied bombers. The aircraft on show was built in 1943 and captured at Vaerlose in Denmark in 1945 and ferried back to RAE Farnborough for evaluation where it was given the 'Air Ministry 72' (AM.72) serial. It was reported that paint stripping at Cosford in the 1960s showed evidence of previous codes '3U+AK' and (later) '3U+CC' of 2 Staffel, I/ZG26 (Zerstorer Geschwader 26) which had served in the Balkans and Italy. Possibly also coded at one time 'PD+VO' with 2./ZG26. One of the last fighter units to operate the Me 410 was IV/ZG26, based in Norway, which was renamed II/JG5 'Eismeer' and re-equipped with the Bf 110 in February 1945, by which time the only front line Me 410 flew as reconnaissance aircraft with Luftflotte 6; the RAFM aircraft may have served as a communications 'hack' in Norway with 11./ZG26 by late 1944, initially at Gerdermoen and later at Oerlandet. After thirty years in storage, half of which was at Cosford, it was put on display at Hendon in 1975. Following a move to St Athan it was transferred back to Cosford in 1989. In 2019 it was to be found at the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC), at Cosford for further restoration.

Left to right: Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U2 Hornisse "Hornet" (420430 '3U+CC' and AM.72). Partly dismantled it is waiting to be reassembled in February 2020 following its onsite restoration at the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre since 2019.

Photographed up close to emphasise the quadruple Matratze 32-dipole antenna for the FuG 212 Lichtenstein C-1 UHF radar system. Also, it is powered by unitized BMW 801 radial engines, the BMW badge can be seen under the engine.

Left to right: Junkers Ju 88R-1 (360043 'D5+EV' later PJ876 and 8474M). The Ju 88 was one of the most versatile and successful German aircraft of World War Two. It was employed as a bomber and later as a night fighter and also for long-range reconnaissance. The first Ju 88As were delivered in September 1939, they were immediately used to attack British shipping and later for the Battle of Britain. Insufficient defensive armament meant that they suffered heavy losses before their role was switched to night-fighting. The example on display was license-built by Heinkel in 1942 and was converted to R-1 standard in 1943. On May 9, 1943 it took off from Aalborg in Denmark landing at Kristiansand in Norway. After falsely reporting that it had an engine fire it headed for Scotland. British Secret Service had somehow previously convinced the German aircrew (Oberleutnant Heinrich Schmitt, veteran of the Spanish Civil War and the Battle of Britain, radar operator Oberfeldwebels Paul Rosenberger and mechanic Oberfeldwebels Erich Kantwill), to defect and fly the aircraft to Great Britain with its radar secrets. It landed at RAF Dyce at Aberdeen to be met by Professor RV Jones a German radar expert. It was flown to RAE Farnborough a few days later under escort for evaluation and testing. British markings were applied and it was transferred to 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight. At the end of the War the Flight was disbanded and the Ju 88 was transferred to RAF Sealand with 47 MU, destined for a museum. It passed through several other airfields and storage, before going to St Athan in 1973 for restoration which was completed in 1975. It was moved to the Battle of Britain Hall at Hendon in 1978. It had arrived at Cosford by March 2018.

Left to right: Focke Achgelis FA330 . It was designed as an unpowered autogyro kite for use as an observation platform for German U-Boats. It was designed by Heinrich Focke, testing of the type began in mid-1942, and operational deployment began in early 1943, with some 200 built.

Left to right: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 (10639 'Black 6' later RN228 and 8478M and G-USTV). The Bf 109 was one of the finest single seat fighters from World War Two with 33,000 being produced. It was designed in 1935 and performed very well during the Spanish Civil War. It was only matched by the Spitfire's and Hurricane's performance. It could out climb both and was faster than the Hurricane but not the Spitfire. Its main limiting factor was its limited endurance as it could only engage in combat over England for a few minutes. A fighter-bomber version was introduced in 1940. In January 2012 it was moved to the Bomber Command Hall and by June 2018 it had arrived at Cosford.

Left to right: Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 (Wk. Nr. 733685) The Fw 190 operated very successfully from its introduction in 1941 and throughout the war, as a day fighter alongside the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The example in display was a survivor of a Mistel S-3B composite surrendered in Denmark in May 1945. Previously on display at Imperial War Museum South Lambeth, it was moved to Cosford in 2012.

Left to right: Messerschmitt Me-262A-2a Schwalbe 'Swallow' (112372 'Yellow 4' later VK893 and 8482M). This was the most advanced fighter of World War Two. Design work began in 1938 but problems with the revolutionary turbojets delayed the first flight till July 1942. An interfering Hitler insisted that it be manufactured as a fighter bomber and as such it was not operational till summer 1944. As an fighter the Me262 was formidable but the small numbers produced meant that it had little impact during the war. On May 8, 1945 four other Me 262s of JG7 flew from Zatec, Czechoslovakia to Fassberg in northern Germany to surrender to British forces. This Me 262 may have been one of these found at Fassberg. Another source suggests it could have been found at Schleswig. What is known is that 112372 was flown from Twente, Netherlands in June 1945 and was ferried to RAE Farnborough later in the month for the RAE Aerodynamics Flight. By 1947 it was with RAF College Cranwell's Station Museum. When this museum closed it was transferred to RAF Gaydon in 1968 where it was repainted for display. It was later moved to RAF Cosford in 1976 where in 2003 it was repainted as 'Yellow 4' for display at Hendon in the Milestones of Flight Exhibition before moving to Cosford by 2018.

Bristol 175 Britannia 312F (G-AOVF painted as 'XM497'). The Britannia was designed as a medium to long-range airliner. Powered by four turbo-prop engines it was nicknamed the 'whispering giant'. The aircraft first flew in July 1956. With the advent of jet powered airliners the Britannia failed to compete and by 1960, when production ended, only 85 had been built. The RAF bought 23 Britannia C.1/C.2s which they operated until 1975. The Britannia continued to fly until the 1990s. The example on display was ordered by BOAC and later flew with British Eagle, Donaldson, IAS and Invicta. As photographed in 1988.

Left to right: Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina (L-866 ex Royal Danish Air Force). This very successful flying boat took to the air for the first time in March 1935. It was designed as a patrol bomber and had a very long range. Over 4,000 Catalinas were built, the later models were fitted with retractable tricycle undercarriage. Excelling in the maritime reconnaissance role they continued in service for many decades. The example on display was transferred to the Royal Danish Air Force in 1957 and remained in service until the 1970s. It arrived at Cosford in 1975.

Lockheed SP-2H Neptune (204 'V'). The P-2H Neptune was designed in the World War Two as a land based maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, eventually 1,100 were built and were operated by many air forces around the world, including the RAF and Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) who provided this example for display at the museum, which had previously operated from Valkenberg in Holland.

Left to right: Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.Mk.1(XV249) was transported to RAFM Cosford in 2012 and once reassembled was put on display in 2015.

Left to right: Hawker Siddeley Dominie T.1 (XS709 'M') First flew in December 1964, it was based HS 125 executive jet. It was finally retired with the rest of the remaining fleet at RAF Cranwell in 2011 and wsa almost immediately flown to Cosford for display.

Left to right: Lockheed Hercules C-130K Mk3 (XV202) was delivered in 1967 and served until 2011 when it was delivered from RAF Brize Norton directly to Cosford for display.

Left to right: Vickers VC-10 C.1K (XR808) The VC-10 served with the RAF for 47 years, the last flights was in September 2013. XR808 served with 10 squadron from RAF Brize Norton and was given the name Bob based on the 808 in the serial. It arrived at Cosford by road in June 2015 and was assembled and put on display in November 2015.

Left to right: Hawker Siddeley Hunter F.6A (XG225) Based on the Hawker Sea Hawk, the first production Hunter F.1 flew in 1951, following flight testing of the P.1052 and P.1081 test aircraft. Eventually 1,972 Hunters were built serving with 19 air forces to 1994. A single seat fighter, 415 Hunter F.6s were produced, some 380 of them for the RAF. XG225 first flew in 1956 and finally retired and put into storage in 1980 as 8713M moving to Cosford in 1988 and moved to the entrance in 2004. As photographed in 2002.

Left to right: SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 ACT (XX765). Museum staff and a team of volunteer aircraft engineers are required to perform an annual inspection and three lesser quarterly inspections of each aircraft on display. This is to make sure that aircraft are structurally sound. Perpetual leaks of oil and fuel also have to be managed. Jaguar GR.1 ACT (XX765) the Active Control Technology demonstrator used to test the fly-by-wire (FBW) technology running from 1981 to 1984. It has developed an oil leak, the engineers suspect a ruptured oil seal is the cause. The challenge for them is to find exactly where the oil is leaking from. They are using a fibre optic camera to enable them to look through small inspection panels to find the source of the leak. Some panels were opened when it was operational using the aircraft's electrics but that is no longer possible, now the only panels that can be opened are bolted in place and often the layers of paint applied since it left the factory make removing the bolts more difficult. In 1996 British Aerospace repainted the airframe back into its original raspberry ripple colours after it had been painted green when on loan to Loughborough University. Leaking oils and residual fuel leaks are corrosive and potentially flammable. An oil leak can also damage the paintwork. The museum engineer points out that external gauges on both sides of the fuselage are showing an unexpected high pressure which could be connected to the leaks and has to be investigated. Jet powered aircraft usually have its engine "ripped" (removed) from the aircraft before it is put on display. Propellor powered aircraft retain their engines if nothing else but to "hang the prop'", on I was told.

Left to right: de Havilland Devon C.1 (VP952 later 8820M) undergoing and inspection for a water leak in April 2022. Hawker Hunter FR.10 (853 (Jordan & Oman) formally XF426). XF426 was delivered to the RAF in 1955 as a F.6 variant of which 379 were built. It initially served with 208 Squadron in Cyprus before being recalled in 1959 for conversion to FR.10 standard. From 1965 it was used by A&AEE at Boscombe Down for camera trials before moving to 2 Squadron at Gutersloh in West Germany in 1967 and then to 229 OCU later in the year. In 1972 it was given to Jordan before moving on to Sultan of Oman in 1975 serving until 1993. After years of static display it was transferred to the RAFM in 2003. It was placed around the back of the museum for a while before being mounted on a plinth at the front in 2010. It left RAFM Hendon in March 2017.

Left to right: From 2021 inter-active information consoles have been placed in front of some of the exhibits. This move modernises the museum and will appeal to a great number of the visitors but they make uncluttered photography of the aircraft much harder. Young RAF photographers are given assignments to shoot 'VIPs' to the museum as part of their training.

Exhibits that have moved on

Left to right: Henri Mignet HM.14 Pou du Ciel 'Flying Flea' (G-AEEH). The 'Flying Flea', designed in 1934 by Henri Mignet was probably the first home-built to be offered to the public for home construction. Following a number of fatal accidents and the discovery of aerodynamic design errors the French authorities banned it from flying in 1936, the British authorities following suit in 1937. The example on display was built between 1935 and 1936 by Edgar Davis and flew from Whitchurch airfield over the next two years. It was retired in May 1938. For almost thirty years it remained in the owners garage before being loaned to the RAF Colerne Museum in 1966. In 1976 it was moved to St Athan and on to Cosford in 1994 to be restored and put on display. It was due to move to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum in early 2024.

Left to right: de Havilland DH-112 Venom FB.54 (J-1704) ex Swiss Air Force. The first Venom prototype flew on September 2, 1949. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter. The 22 FB.54s built were purchased by Venezuela and Switzerland in the 1950s. As photographed in 1989. Currently in storage in one of the Lamella hangars ie Hangar 9 at RAF Cosford. Bristol 171 Sycamore HR.14 (XJ918 later 8190M). The Bristol Sycamore is one of the first production helicopters to be developed. XJ918 was relocated to the RAF Museum Cosford in 1983. By September 2021 it had been placed in storage in Hangar 9 at RAF Cosford, before its move to the Ulster Aviation Society in December in 2022. As photographed in 1988. Westland Dragonfly HR.3 (WP495 painted as 'G-AJOV'). The Dragonfly was built from 1948 by Westland under license from Sikorsky (S-51) for the Royal Navy who had 72 and the RAF who had 15. British European Airways operated the Dragonfly for a few years in the early 1950s. Transferred to Morayvia Sci-Tech museum, Kinloss in July 2017.

Avro 707C (WZ744). The Avro 707 was designed for research purposes with the intention of eventually using them as jet trainers, to provide pilots with experience of handling a delta-winged aircraft using fly-by-wire technology in advance of the introduction of the Avro Vulcan. The one-third scale design was the first British built delta-winged aircraft. Vital data was gathered during testing for the Avro Vulcan project. The first Avro 707A (VX784) first flew on September 4, 1949 from Boscombe Down, however tragically 26 days later while testing its slow speed handling characteristics, Eric Esler lost control and crashed he was tragically killed. The Avro 707B (VX790) with an extended nose section flew for the first time on September 5, 1950. It flew until 1956 when it was damaged beyond economical repair in a landing accident, ending its days on the dump at RAE Bedford. Another prototype (WD280) was transported to Australia for testing in 1954 with a modified wing. It was eventually struck off charge in 1967 and is now in the RAAF Museum at Point Cook passing from a private owner in 1999. In 1951 three additional Avro 707s were ordered as two-seat (side-by-side) trainers and were designated Avro 707Cs. Only two were built (WZ736 and WZ744) as the first Vulcan's were found to be easy to fly and these trainers were deemed unnecessary. Both aircraft survived WZ736 was on display at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, which was closed 2021 and its collection was split up and moved to new homes. In January 2022, WZ736 was moved on to the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum airfield. WZ736 photographed at Old Sarum in 2023. WZ744 is now in storage. WZ744 first flew on July 1, 1953 from RAF Waddington eventually totalling 200 hours testing fly-by-wire electrically signalled hydraulic flying controls, it was retired in 1967. WZ744 as photographed in 1989.

Left to right: Scottish Aviation Pioneer CC.1 (XL703 painted as 'XL554'). The prototype first flew in 1947 with deliveries to the RAF starting in 1953. Only a small number were built mostly served in the Far East. XL703 is the sole surviving example which was delivered to the RAF in 1956, only two more followed before production ended. In 1968 it was retired and delivered to Cosford for preservation, going on display in 1989. Currently in storage in Hangar 9 at RAF Cosford. FMA 1A58 Pucara (A-515 later ZD485) an Argentine ground-attack and counter-insurgency aircraft. It is a former Argentinian Air Force aircraft, captured during the 1982 Falklands war. Currently in storage.

Left to right: BAE Harrier GR.9A (ZG477). It has a 1(F) Squadron special tail applied at the end of its service. The Harrier was the first operational jet fighter capable of vertical take-off and landing. It was utilised by the RAF in the ground attack and reconnaissance role and for Close Air Support (CAS). The GR.9A on display was the final variant and was retired in December 2010. Transfered to RAFM Hendon. Panavia Tornado P02 (XX946 'WT') prototype. Panavia was a consortium put together by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy to develop a combat aircraft in three main versions; Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike), Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance and Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant). 992 Tornados were built including 72 for Saudi Arabia. The first British prototype flew in 1974 and was initially the designated the GR.1 when it entered service in 1980, 142 Tornados were later upgraded to GR.4/4A standard as a mid-life update, entering service in 1998. It still is the RAF's primary long-range strike attack aircraft and is fitted on each side of the nose two 25mm cannons. Capable of flying in all weather and at low-level, using its terrain-following, ground-mapping radar. It has Forward Looking infrared (FLIR) and linescan imaging systems to help fulfil its reconnaissance role, along with a 'RAPTOR' (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod TORnado) reconnaissance pod. For close air support and interdiction, the aircraft would be equipped with iron bombs, cluster bombs and laser-guided bombs. In the defence suppression role, it is equipped with anti-radar missiles. The Tornado GR.4/4A can also carry 'TIALD' (Thermal Imaging and Laser Designator) pod, first introduced during the first Gulf War in 1990. XX946 was allocated to the RAF Museum in 1994 and was put on display at Hendon that year. In 2003 it was transferred to Cosford. By 2014 it was put into storage in Hangar 9 at RAF Cosford.

Left to right: Folland Gnat F.1 (XK724 later 7715M). The single-seat Gnat F.1 fighter was the forerunner of the successful two-seat Gnat T.1 trainer. Passed into storage in 2018 and then onto the Midland Air Museum at Coventry by December 2022. Hawker Siddeley Gnat T.1 (XR977). First flew in August 1959 and entered service in February 1962. 105 Gnats served with the RAF until November 1978. The Red Arrows flew the Gnat from 1966 until 1979. It was transported from Cosford to Hendon in 2018.

Left to right: British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5A (XW418 'MT' later 9173M). The Hunting Percival Jet Provost first flew in 1954 and was the first jet powered basic trainer to go into service anywhere in the world and was based on the piston powered Percival Provost. Ten T.1 variants were initially ordered followed by 201 T.3s which had an improved engine, an ejector seat and retractable tricycle undercarriage. 70 T.3s were later upgraded to T.3A standard with improved avionics. From 1961, 185 T.4s were delivered incorporating further improvements to the engine. The T.5 variant took to the air in 1967 and introduced the much needed pressurised cockpit. The first of 110 T.5s were handed over to the Central Flying School in 1969. 94 were later upgraded to T.5A standard between 1973 and 1976 with the introduction of improved avionics. XW418 finished its life with DCAE at RAF Cosford.

Left to right: Boulton Paul Sea Balliol T.21 (WL732) Developed as an advanced trainer aircraft for the RAF (Balliol) and the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (Sea Balliol) in the late 1940s. 30 were supplied to the FAA from 1954 and served until 1963. Withdrawn from display and put into storage by May 2022. As photographed in 1989.

Left to right: Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet (191461 later became 'Yellow 14' after restoration). The only rocket propelled aircraft to enter service. Flying the very fast but volatile Me163, Luftwaffe pilots of Jagdgeschwader (JG) 400 managed to shoot down nine allied aircraft from August 1944. This Me163 was found at Husum airfield on May 8, 1945 and transported back to Farnborough. By July 1945 it was in store at Brize Norton eventually finding its way to Cosford in 1975. It had transferred to Hendon by April 2022.

The Japanese World War Two collection were transferred to RAFM Hendon towards the end of 2022.

Left to right: Mitsubishi Ki-46-III 'Dinah'. Designed as a fighter and for ground attack it later excelled as a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, its first flight was in 1939. This rare example was captured and passed to the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit in South East Asia at Tebrau along with a number of Japanese aircraft, four of which were selected for shipment to the UK. This aircraft was never to fly again, eventually leaving storage in 1989 to go to Cosford. Here it was extensively restored (1992-1994) with help from Mitsubishi of Japan and put on display. It was moved to Hendon in October 2022.

Left to right: Kawasaki Ki-1001b (c/n 16336). The first prototype made its maiden flight on February 1, 1945. 272 were built from stored Ki61s with another 118 built from scratch up to June 1945, this example on display is the only one to survive. It had moved to Hendon by October 2022.

Left to right: Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka Model 11 (unknown later 8486M also BAPC99). Operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, 155 of these air launched rocket propelled suicide attack aircraft were designed and built at the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal, another 600 were built at the Kasumigaura Naval Air Arsenal. They were carried to the target beneath the slow flying Mitsubishi G4M2e Model 24J 'Betty' bombers. Four were captured in 1945 and evaluated at the Royal Aircraft Establishment - Rocket Propulsion Research at Westcot, Bucks. Transferred to Cosford in 1976 and later refurbished at St Athan. It had moved on to Hendon by October 2022. Other examples can be found at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester and at the IWM Duxford under restoration in the UK, plus one at the Planes of Fame Museum and another Yanks Air Museum also at Chino. Another is at the Pima Air Museum.

Left to right: Supermarine Spitfire PR. XIX (PM651 'X' later 7758M). The PR.XIX with a Griffon engine was a very fast photo-reconnaissance version. It had extra fuel tanks in place of the machine guns, a retractable tail to improve its stream lining. It also had a pressurised cockpit to allow high-altitude flight. PM651 appeared in the film 'Battle of Britain' By 1989 it was with the Royal Air Force Museum where it was stripped of parts for other Spitfire restorations and transferred to RAF Stafford. Later it was restored at Cosford in 2010 where it was put on display alongside the Spitfire 1A in 2019. In 2022 it went on the road for display around the UK.

Left to right: North American P-51D Mustang (44-73415 composite painted as '44-13573' coded 'B6-V' 'Isabel III' previously N6526D later 9133M). Perhaps the best fighter of World War Two, the P-51 Mustang was built from 1940 by North American Aviation to a British specification. By 1941 the first Mustang was delivered to the RAF for testing. In 1942 a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was fitted to the P-51B giving the aircraft at 30,000 feet an extra 100 mph to 440 mph over the Allison engine. In June 1944 the first of 8,000 P-51Ds with the British designed bubble canopy were produced. It had now become a vital long-range fighter escort, equipped with drop tanks, which could be jettisoned when empty of fuel, to improve the aircraft's performance. Over 2,600 Mustangs were supplied to the RAF flying with 31 squadrons during the war. They were all withdrawn from RAF service by November 1946. This example completed a rebuild in 1989 using the fuselage from 44-73415 which had recently crashed as N6526D and completed with parts from an ex Indonesian AF P-51. It is painted as ‘413573' in the markings of the 8th United States Army Air Force, 357th Fighter Group, 363rd Fighter squadron at Leiston, Suffolk. It was moved to Hendon in 1991 and then to Cosford in 2003. In 2022 the RAF Museum reported that they had reviewed their aircraft collection proposed a number of airframes for transfer including gifting them to accredited organisations. The Hunter Fighter Collection, a registered charity in Australia, made a dexcision to pursue several of the airframes advertised for gifting and submitted applications to secure them. Subsequently the above P-51D Mustang and de Havilland Vampire FB.5 (WA346) both in storage were awarded to HFC and are expected to arrive in Australia in 2023.

Left to right: Casa 352L (T.2B-272 marked 'G-AFAP'). After World War Two German designed Ju 52 was built under licence by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA as the CASA 352 and 352L for the Spanish Air Force. Built in 1954 at Getafe it was one of 170 builtIt was retired in 1972. Purchased by the RAF Museum in 1977 and flown to the UK in 1978 and painted in fictitious British Airways markings due to their sponsorship. It was was being dismantled in November 2022 for transfer to the Battle of Britain museum in Hawkinge. The Museum had to call on Spanish technicians who came to assist with the removal of the wings.

Left to right: Auster T.7 'Antarctic' (WE600) It was modified for the 1956 Trans Antarctic Expedition. The T.7 was based on the AOP.6 version and first flew in 1947. 77 examples were built. Gifted to the Midland Air Museum in October 2022.

Left to right: Bristol 188 (XF926). Mostly built of stainless steel this research aircraft was designed to test the effect of heat build-up when flown at very high speeds. It first flew in April 1962 and eventually achieved a speed of Mach 1.88. Failing to reach the planned Mach 2 the project was abandoned in 1964 with only two aircraft built. Following storage at Filton and some years at the Proof and Experimental Establishment at Shoeburyness, XF926 eluded destruction to be moved to Cosford in 1974. From around September 2023 it was no longer on display.

Left to right: Fieseler Fi 156C-7 Storch "Stork" (475081 'GM+AK' later AM.101, VP546 and 7362M). Designed in 1935 the Storch was able to fulfil a variety of roles due to its incredible Short-Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities. 2,549 examples were built in Germany, Czechoslovakia and France. This particular example was built by Mraz in Czechoslovakia and was captured in 1945. Shipped back to Farnborough it was test flown until 1955 before being shipped to Halton. It emerged from storage at various locations to be put on display at St Athan in 1973, before it was moved to Cosford in 1989. By October 2023 it was to be found in the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) beside the museum.