The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, (RAF Elvington

RAF Elvington

RAF Elvington, located at Elvington, south east of York in Yorkshire was a Royal Air Force bomber base which operated from the beginning of World War II until 1992.-History:...

 airfield during the World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

), is an air museum in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The museum was founded, and first opened to the public, in the early 1980s.

The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial is the largest independent air museum in Britain

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and is located on the former World War II, Station near York

York

York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...

. It is the most original WWll RAF Bomber Command

RAF Bomber Command

RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...

 station open to the public and the only base used by French Heavy Bomber Squadrons during the war (346 'Guyenne'

No. 346 Squadron RAF

The No. 346 Squadron RAF was a Free French bomber squadron given a Royal Air Force squadron number during World War II.-History:The squadron was formed at RAF Elvington on 15 May 1944 from GB H/23 ‘Guyenne’ airmen who had been based in the Middle East...

 & 347 'Tunisie'

No. 347 Squadron RAF

The No. 347 Squadron RAF was a Free French bomber squadron given a Royal Air Force squadron number during World War II.-History:The squadron was formed at RAF Elvington on 20 June 1944 from GB I/25 ‘Tunisie’ airmen who had been based in the Middle East...

. They were preceded by No. 77 Squadron RAF

No. 77 Squadron RAF

No. 77 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 October 1916 at Edinburgh, and was equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron disbanded at RAF Turnhouse on June 13, 1919....

. It is also the only allied air forces memorial in Europe. The Museum has a good international reputation and profile with established branches in Canada and France and is supported by over 4000 registered “friends” across the world.

The Vice President of the Museum is Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton

Stephen Dalton

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Gary George Dalton, KCB, BSc, FRAeS, RAF is the current Chief of the Air Staff and professional head of the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:...

 KCB, BSc, FRAes, DCMI, RAF.

The Museum's principal activity is in education and the history of flight, through which it is involved with aerospace manufacturers and organisations via its long term "Reach for the Sky" project which in 2008 delivered the first KS2 History of Aviation educational resource book to all 26,000 primary schools in UK, supported by RAeS and the Ministry of Transport.

The Museum has around 50 aircraft scanning the development of aviation from 1853 up to the current GR4 Tornado. Several aircraft are kept live. Over 20 historic vehicles and a Registered Archive containing over 500,000 historic artefacts and documents are also preserved at the Museum, which is also the Official Archive for the National Aircrew Association and National Air Gunners Association. It is nationally registered and accredited through MLA / DCMS and is a registered charity. The 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) parkland site (which currently holds the Yorkshire in Bloom, Silver Gilt Award 2009) includes buildings and hangars, some of which are “listed”, and the site incorporates a 7 acres (28,328 m²) managed environment area and a DEFRA and EA supported self sustainability project called "Nature of Flight".

One of the UK’s most important permanent exhibitions on RAF Bomber Command was opened at the Museum in 2008, by Life Member, Sir David Jason OBE

David Jason

Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...

. In 2010 another new exhibition called “Pioneers of Aviation”, and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is to be opened featuring the lives and achievements of Sir George Cayley, Sir Barnes Wallis, Robert Blackburn, Nevil Shute and Amy Johnson.

Principal on-site businesses include: Restaurant, Publishing, Retail Shop, Operational Fire Service, Events, Aircraft Operation Engineering Workshops, Archives and Corporate Business Suite.

The Museum undertakes several annual events each year within the general attraction / entertainment area as well as educational / academic events for specific audiences, plus several corporate events in association with companies such as Bentley, Porsche, Banking, Government Agencies etc.

It is operated by 149 employees, of which 138 are unpaid volunteers. A small operations team works closely together in a variety of specialist subjects from PR/marketing to Corporate Affairs and Museum Management.

The Museum is expanding rapidly and currently receives around 90,000 visitors per annum. It has received numerous awards, such as “Top Attraction in Yorkshire”, Top Tourism Business; Top Marketing Award & Top Website.

The Museum is open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Museum Features

Building 1. Airborne Forces Display & 609 (West Riding) Squadron Room.

Building 2. Uniform Display.

Building 3. Air Gunners' Display.

Building 4. Archives & Reference Library.

Building 5. Museum Shop.

Building 7. Memorial Garden.

Building 8. Museum HQ, Main Entrance.

Building 9. Main Display Hall.

Building 10. Elvington Room.

Building 11. Museum Restaurant.

Building 12. Control Tower.

Building 13. French Officers' Mess.

Building 14. Airmens Billet- Living Quarters.

Building 15. Home Guard Airfield Defence HQ.

Building 16. Signal Square.

Building 17. Hangar T2 Canadian Memorial.

Building 18. Historic Military Vehicle & Fire Station.

Building 19. Handley Page Aircraft Workshop.

Building 20. Barnes Wallis

Barnes Wallis

Sir Barnes Neville Wallis, CBE FRS, RDI, FRAeS , was an English scientist, engineer and inventor. He is best known for inventing the bouncing bomb used by the RAF in Operation Chastise to attack the dams of the Ruhr Valley during World War II...

 Collection.

Military Vehicle

1941 Karrier

Karrier

Karrier is a marque of car and commercial vehicle, the origins of which can be traced back to Clayton and Company, a 1904 company from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK. In 1908, they started making Karrier cars and in 1920 changed the company name to Karrier Motors Ltd.In 1929, Karrier started...

 3 ton 4x4 General Purpose Lorry (Winch fitted).

1941 Chevrolet

Chevrolet

Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...

 4x4 CMP.

1942 Austin K2

Austin K2

The Austin K2/Y was a British heavy military ambulance built by the Austin Motor Company for use during the Second World War.The rear body, built by Mann Egerton, could take ten casualties sitting or four stretcher cases...

 NAAFI Wagon.

1948 David Brown

David Brown (entrepreneur)

Sir David Brown was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft and automobile manufacturer Aston Martin....

 VIG.2 Aircraft Tractor.

1949 David Brown VIG.3 Aircraft Tractor.

1951 David Brown GP Airfield Tractor.

1953 Alvis Saracen

Alvis Saracen

The FV603 Saracen is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier built by Alvis and used by the British army. It became a recognisable vehicle as a result of its part in the policing of Northern Ireland.-History:...

 12ton APC.

1953 Austin Champ

Austin Champ

The Austin Champ was the civilian version of a British Army vehicle made by the Austin Motor Company. The army version was officially known as "Truck, 1/4 ton, CT, 4x4, cargo & FFW, Austin Mk.1" however the civilian name "Champ" was universally, if unofficially, applied to it.- History :A British...

 Cargo 4x4 General Purpose Vehicle.

1954 Austin Loadmaster K9 4X4 Vehicle Recovery Lorry.

1954 Morris Commercial 4x4 3ton Cargo Lorry.

1958 Commer

Commer

Commer became known in later years as a maker of vans for the British Post Office—particularly the Commer FC which was introduced in 1960 with many body styles, including a 1500 cc van. After engine and interior upgrades it was renamed the PB in 1967 and the SpaceVan in 1974...

 Q4 Fire Pump Unit

1958 Lansing Aircraft Carrier Type Tug

1959 Daimler Ferret ASC MK.2/3/7

1959 Alvis Saladin

Alvis Saladin

The Saladin is a six-wheeled armoured car built by Alvis, and fitted with a 76mm gun.Used extensively by the British Army, it replaced the AEC Armoured Car that had been in service since World War II.-History:...

 ASC

1962-1964 Triumph Motorcycle 250cc Military Motorcycle

1971 Pathfinder Fire Engine 35ton (ex. Manchester Airport

Aircraft Collection

1853 Replica George Cayley

George Cayley

Sir George Cayley, 6th Baronet was a prolific English engineer and one of the most important people in the history of aeronautics. Many consider him the first true scientific aerial investigator and the first person to understand the underlying principles and forces of flight...

 Glider

1903 Replica Wright Flyer

Wright Flyer

The Wright Flyer was the first powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S.The U.S...

1911 Replica Blackburn Mercury

Blackburn Mercury

-References:* *...

 Monoplane BAPC-130

1913 Replica Avro 504

Avro 504

The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...

 H1968 BAPC-42

1914 Replica Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2

Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2

The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine two-seat biplane which was in service with the Royal Flying Corps from 1912 until the end of World War I. The "Bleriot" in its designation refers to the fact that, like the Bleriot types it was of tractor configuration, with the...

 6232

1917 Replica Port Victoria P.V.7

Port Victoria P.V.7

|-See also:-References:*Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume One Fighters. London:Macdonald, 1965.*Collyer, David. "Babies Kittens and Griffons". Air Enthusiast, Number 43, 1991. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0143 5450. pp. 50–55.*Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter...

 Grain Kitten

1917 Replica Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5 F943

1925 Replica De Havilland Gypsy Moth G-AAAH

1933 Mignet HM.14

Mignet HM.14

The Mignet HM.14 Flying Flea is a single-seat light aircraft first flown in 1933, designed for amateur construction. It was the first of a family of aircraft collectively known as Flying Fleas....

 Pou-du-Ciel BAPC-76

1935 Avro Anson

Avro Anson

The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...

 VV901

1937 Replica Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...

1937 Replica Messerschmitt Bf-109

1938 Replica Supermarine Spitfire

Supermarine Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...

1940 Handley Page Halifax

Handley Page Halifax

The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...

 LV907

1941 De Havilland Mosquito

De Havilland Mosquito

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...

 HJ711

1942 Waco Hadrian 237123 BAPC-157

1944 Gloster Meteor

Gloster Meteor

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...

 WK864, WS788

1950 Westland Dragonfly

Westland Dragonfly

|-See also:-External links:* Westland entry in the helis.com database*...

 WH991

1951 English Electric Canberra

English Electric Canberra

The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...

 WH846

1952 Canadair CT-133 Silver Star

1952 De Havilland Venom

De Havilland Venom

The de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....

 WX788

1953 Fairey Gannet

Fairey Gannet

The Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company...

 XL502

1954 English Electric Lightning

English Electric Lightning

The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...

 XS903

1954 Westland Whirlwind

Westland Whirlwind

Westland Whirlwind may mean:* Westland Whirlwind , a fixed wing Second World War fighter aircraft* Westland Whirlwind , a post-war helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-55...

XP345

1955 Handley Page Herald

1955 Hunting-Percival Jet Provost XP640

1956 Gloster Javelin

Gloster Javelin

The Gloster Javelin was an "all-weather" interceptor aircraft that served with Britain's Royal Air Force in the late 1950s and most of the 1960s...

 XH767

1956 Hawker Hunter

Hawker Hunter

The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...

 N268, XL572

1956 Saro Skeeter

Saro Skeeter

|-See also:-References:* . Flight, 21 October 1948, pp. 477–478.* London, Peter. "Last of the Line: The Saro Skeeter". Air Enthusiast, No. 54, Summer 1994. ISSN 0143-5450. pp. 2–5....

 G-AWSV

1958 Handley Page Victor

Handley Page Victor

The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft produced by the Handley Page Aircraft Company during the Cold War. It was the third and final of the V-bombers that provided Britain's nuclear deterrent. The other two V-bombers were the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. Some aircraft...

 XL231

1961 Beagle Terrier TJ704

1961 Dassault Mirage III

Dassault Mirage III

The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...

 538

1962 Blackburn Buccaneer

Blackburn Buccaneer

The Blackburn Buccaneer was a British low-level subsonic strike aircraft with nuclear weapon delivery capability serving with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force between 1962 and 1994, including service in the 1991 Gulf War...

 XN974, XX901

1969 Hawker Siddeley Harrier XV748

1969 Hawker Siddeley Nimrod XV250

1980 Panavia Tornado

Panavia Tornado

The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...

 ZA354

2003 Panavia Tornado

Panavia Tornado

The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...

 XZ631

Location

Yorkshire Air Museum,

Halifax Way, Elvington, York, YO41 4AU

Also hosts The British National 50cc Endurance Racing

British National 50cc Endurance Racing

British National 50cc Endurance Racing is a cheap motorcycle racing series that has been running in the UK since the mid 1980s....

events.

External links

• Yorkshire Air Museum