RAF Museum Reserve Collection

A picture of Hess’s engine. Where is it now?

Still at EF , at least it was there at the Scottish Forum meet-up last year , probably been scrapped to accommodate the Concorde .

Tin hat on and ducks just in case Radar is around !! 😀

A picture of Hess’s engine. Where is it now?

In return for Mosquito TW117, the RAFM received the Nash Collection; in a roundabout sort of way.

Bruce

Jonothan F’s personal view…

Hi JF,

Its a personal view of yours so heres mine –

You are talking rubbish.

What possible ethical/ public trust problems could arise if a Museums Board of Trustees decided that they wanted item A, had no money to buy it but had 2 item B’s. How could anybody criticise them for acting in the best interests of the museum under such circumstances, especially if they had any sort of business acumen and achieved ‘A Right Royal Result’ in terms of disparity in values? Of course they dont need 2 throttle boxes and will never use or display both so theres the rub.

Like it or lump it, they won’t part with them.

However, I bet a poll would suggest common sense always.

I would pay stupid sums of money for some airframes for which there are zero plans to do anything with, let alone display, static or otherwise. The money could go to good use to fund/ accelerate current projects.

In return, we would get to see ‘long lost’ flying machines expertly restored, thus keeping a dying industry alive ( because there arent many people willing to spend £200k on the restoration of a plane worth £50k at the end of it) and wowing the public at seeing the real thing in the air again instead of in an archive photo.

Chill out, move on, search elsewhere. I am fortunate enough to own and operate rare types and would love to acquire more. I won’t find them in a Museum.

Hows this for a hoot? I wrote recently to a museum offering them a ‘ridiculously’ huge sum of money for an airframe that had no real relevance to the museum or the area. I never got a reply. It won’t be seen in Bedfordshire skies….

Now I bet that the decision to give me a stiff ignoring would cause a furore larger than the outcry you suggest if things were different.

Ho hum!

HP

I am sure the Curator told me that one of the Spitfires (LA226) was on the move to another museum.

Is this the one going to the Science museum for the Spitfire exhibition? We had a visit from the museum this week, and some of our Spitfire related relics will be part of the exhibition.

Geoff.

It’s about time a Mk 21 Spitfire is returned to the skies, that would make a fantastic sight (next to the Mk XII of course).

Cees

I have been racking my tired brain since reading this post trying to recall if the RAF Museum at Hendon has any memorabilia and smaller persoanl items on display, such as stuff you mention they have in store. All I can recall seeing is loads and loads of aircraft slightly unimaginately but beautifully presented in rows in a big building. There was a little bit of ephemera in the Battle of Britain Hall when i was there as they ahd a talking dummy display set up with scenes of the Blitz, etc.

But I simply cannot recall any smaller items displayed in cases like you’d see in most museums (apart from the oodles of stuff in the shop of course).

Is my memory failing me? Do they have things like log books, compasses, parachutes, personal items and things from the times, etc, in cases around the museum? If so, has anyone got photos? If not, why the heck is it all in a warehouse out of sight?

No problem, I didn’t mean to come across as frowning on the asking. I know the aviation museum and collection world has grown on a different path to other museum disciplines and that by necessity things have been done in a different way. Swaps, purchases etc with the public can be made where they are not accessioned items. I was thinking really that it’s perhaps as well to respect the position taken by museums in general (ie no sales!) in seeking parts for restorations/private collection as it saves everyone trouble.

Definitely a case of the wrong tree to bark up there. Any museum, particularly a National museum, that sold any of its collection to the general public would be breaking the public trust as well as numerous ethical guidelines.

🙂 Don’t worry I had not intentions to act like that.

I fully understand the reason why such an object isn’t released to private projects. But of course it is frustrating to know that two pristine throttle boxes are gathering dust in storage while a certain project can do something very sensible with one of them, and that is also what I explained in my written request.

As a footnote I know that over the years it has happened several times that objects have been released to private persons from the RAFM stores. Even if you read issues of FlyPast there are several instances where persons were very happy to obtain much needed items from the RAFM. I offered to exchange it for something they would need but to no avail. I asked through 57Rescue as a plan B but that was turned down as well. The search continues…… 😉

Cheers

Cees

Cointact Details

Hi Vicki

Could you PM me contact details as I am still on the trail of that elusive Blackburn Skua engine that the RAF museum seems to have “lost”!!!

All the best – Nick

Definitely a case of the wrong tree to bark up there. Any museum, particularly a National museum, that sold any of its collection to the general public would be breaking the public trust as well as numerous ethical guidelines.

You are on dangerous water there. 🙂

They must have changed the rules.

Mark

Definitely a case of the wrong tree to bark up there. Any museum, particularly a National museum, that sold any of its collection to the general public would be breaking the public trust as well as numerous ethical guidelines.

So swaps of duplicate airframes are alright?

Anybody know what the RAFM got in return for the Mosquito TIII that went to Norway – I’ve always been intrigued

Yes I do have some good advice,

Scream inside with frustration, recognise that they dont let stuff go no matter what you offer for it, draw a line under your quest in that direction and look elsewhere.

I can tell a similar story…

Happy hunting.

HP

Definitely a case of the wrong tree to bark up there. Any museum, particularly a National museum, that sold any of its collection to the general public would be breaking the public trust as well as numerous ethical guidelines.

What Mosquito?

They arent doing something about TA639’s paint job are they?

Bruce

Cockpit bits, daresay there were a few other bits n bobs knocking around as well. I really should have taken my camera, like I said though, it’s only a warehouse, a very full warehouse at that.

There was also a Swiss Vampire/Venom (quite hard to see) in a dismantled condition.

What Mosquito?

They arent doing something about TA639’s paint job are they?

Bruce

It was there last weekend

Thanks Vicky,

No need for the contact details for me, thanks – I doubt I’ll be able to get to the UK for a few years. It was really just curiosity.

Hess’s aircraft’s engine and fuselage was at IWM Lambeth near their Halifax and LRDG truck, etc when I was there in 1997 (or was that my earlier visit in 1993? I know I saw it there because I was amazed it still exists).

Reserve collection

Yes I do have some good advice,

Scream inside with frustration, recognise that they dont let stuff go no matter what you offer for it, draw a line under your quest in that direction and look elsewhere.

I can tell a similar story…

Happy hunting.

HP

Indeed, a treasure trove

I had been negotiating with the Stafford collection for several months about acquiring one of the two (yes 😮 ) Halifax throttle boxes they have in store. As W1048 already has one they don’t need them. In the end I was told that they wouldn’t release one to a private individual, only to bonafide museums.

Fully understandable mind you but very frustrating for me. This was a very good chance to obtain the only thing missing for my project. The chances to find one in reasonable condition are very slim now.
Does anyone have any good advice?

Cheers

Cees

The IWM has Hess Me110 rear fuselage and this together with an engine were on display at East Fortune some years ago. The pictures of the crash its self show it was pretty well crunched but why its not all in the one place who knows.