RAF Museum Hendon – 1970's

I recall taking a BR special excursion from Sheffield to London in the first week Hendon opened – cost I think c.£5. Alas I didn’t have a camera back then but I still have the guide book somewhere in the archives.

Chris

I’d forgotten that 1976 was the year that the German aircraft from the museum’s reserve collection were on display. It made quite an impression on me as well, as I’d never before seen any WWII German aircraft. The Me410 was also outside in the car park, while the Dermot Boyle wing held the Bf109E and Fokker DVII, both of which are now back at Hendon as permanent residents, of course.

Jetflap,

Your pictures bring back some great memories of my first visit to Hendon in April of 1976, I think my pictures show the museum in the same state as yours. I have a few with me, but I’ll have to dig out the rest of the photos and scan them tomorrow. I had forgotten about the Sunderland and the Beverly, but that is exactly how I remember them now, even though I didn’t get pictures of them at the time. The biggest impression for me that trip was pulling into the parking lot and seeing the Ju-57, Me-262, and V-2, as I had never seen them in person before then. They were frozen in my memory for over 30 years and only last year did I actually find the original pictures from that day.

Scouse I think your pictures show almost the same layout at the museum as mine, but there may be a few changes here and there. I’ll have to compare my photos to yours to see what has been moved.

Here is what I have for now, more to come later.

this one

This lot any use? July 7 1978 according to my notes.

My first visit was in 1973 and I thought it was amazing. No-one’s posted any photos yet as Wondy requested, so here are some of mine. In fact they’re the only useable ones from a 1976 visit – the rest had too much camera shake.

This one’s not too good at all, but at least it shows the layout before the Hurricane was moved.

‘A Very Special Lancaster’ by any chance? I still have a copy!

Yes that’s the one- fantastic booklet; ‘wouldn’t sell’ nowadays I suppose so keep it dumbed down.

I also recall buying a very good booklet about ‘Sugar’- listing missions crews etc.

‘A Very Special Lancaster’ by any chance? I still have a copy!

Was it compulsory in the ’70s to visit this museum?
I went too a couple of times and that brochure looks very familiar.
To my shame I haven’t been back since, but it’s on the list when the boy’s are old enough to appreciate it (or at least recognise a Spitfire).

John

I also recall buying a very good booklet about ‘Sugar’- listing missions crews etc.

The early years at Hendon

When Hendon fist opened as a musum I took two of my boys up there. They were thrilled as was I; at the few Aeroplanes that were on show. I do have that little booklet somewhere about , but finding it is another task!

Me too!!! Would have been mid-seventies too. My Dad used to take me to the Southend Historic Aircraft Museum every Sunday morning but he woke me up early and said ‘we’re going somewhere else today.’ I threw a bit of a tantrum until he told me where it was!

Ive got it too-and a Strathallan one as well. I try to avoid looking at that one-too depressing!

I’ve got that as well

So do I; from my first visit as a child in 1974 or 1975! Soo nostalgic…!

Yeah love it or hate it u cant dispute the rarity of the collection or the atmosphere of the place itself.

I first visited on a school trip in 1976, the silver Mosquito T3 and Sea Fury were the highlights for me, such a shame both are gone. Although smaller than it is now, there were superb galleries to view with lots to read, and the place had the exciting feeling of being in a state of expansion with so many possibilities………now its a superb collection today, a bit more cramped and substantially complete, I do enjoy my annual visits there but these days it doesnt grow and change as much as it did back in the first 10 years seen through the eyes of a teenager as I was back then!
I dont have the brochure but do have a few colour prints for the memories!

Cheers for the input Guys! Yes Avion thats the brochure! I dont suppose anyone is able to scan some of the photos at some point to share with all on this thread?

Thanks for the memories!

Matt

I still have my copy, purchased on my first visit to the museum in the mid 70s.

Planemike………..

I’ve got that as well, somewhere. No idea how I ended up with it

I’ve got one of those somewhere….
Ahhh I remember the Sidney Camm display in the middle. The silver, record breaking Canberra, the prototype leading to the Lighning… I will try to dig it out next week.