Yorkshire Air Museum

Finally managed to revisit the Yorkshire Air Museum. Hope you like the attached images. As someone who lives in Hull, getting to the museum via affordable, public transport is a challenge (X46 bus from Hull to Osbaldwick and then the 195 bus to Elvington).

The Yorkshire Air Museum serves to educate its visitors. It also reminds one and all of the supreme sacrifice made by those who served in Bomber Command, during the war.

During my visit I met George Martin, a former wireless operator and air gunner, whose wounds in battle saved his life, when his crew failed to return from a subsequent mission. George was recuperating in hospital when the remainder of his crew flew on what was to be their final mission. It was a honour and pleasure to sit with this man and listen to history being retold.

As some of you may know the control tower was recently award statutory projection and is now Grade II Listed. Sadly most of the rooms have been screen off to prevent pilfering, which makes photography very difficult. Although the site is will presented, you realise by looking around that the adjoining industrial estate is steadily encroaching ever closer towards the museum and airfield.

Locally, there are said to be complaints about the noise – not directed towards the museum or indeed aircraft that use the airfield, but rather Formula One racing cars that are tested on the 10,152ft long runway.

Although already a superb museum, its staff are planning to secure additional funds to expand the museum. I hope they succeed. Another T2 hangar is needed, as it was evident that the existing building is more than “full”. Another recent development has been the creation of a “frying pan” type hard standing – probably for the Victor? One aircraft which was missing was the Gloster Javelin. Not sure where that one is – though I wouldn’t be surprised if it was hidden away in the T2 and I simply didn’t spot it? Question: Am I right in saying the Gannet came from Sandtoft Aerodrome?

One downside to my visit was the hangar lighting or lack thereof – someone probably forgot to switch on the lights? As a result, most of my hangar shots were too blurred. The building is too big to use a flash, so you need a steady hand as longish exposures were the order of the day. I was also disappointed that the fire section was closed.

As you can see Tony Agar is still tinkering with his Mosquito. Give the man an MBE – he’s one of my unsung heroes. I never even manage to complete the last scale model of the Mosquito. Another gem is the station archive, which is well staffed and full to the brim with reference material. They even have a lending library with thousands of titles to choose from.

There is simply too much to describe here. I hope the photographs do a better job than my prose. My advice is make time to visit Elvington. The staff are really friendly (no miserable museum attendants or uninterested layabouts, wishing it was closing time) and the prices are very reasonable.

Unfortunately for me getting home proved more of a challenge. While most of us berate buses that are late, why do bus drivers feel obliged to arrive five minutes early? More so, when it’s the only bus home and you’re a mere 100 metres from the bus stop, as it unexpectedly speeds past. Obviously the driver didn’t see me. Luckily, the volunteers of the Yorkshire Air Museum proved more than helpful when one, Harry Parkinson, offered to drive me back towards York and a connecting bus home.

I write this to thank the staff of the Yorkshire Air Museum (in particular George Martin and Harry Parkinson) for a wonderful day. I intend to revisit the museum again, soon and I hope you too will arrange a visit.