Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is situated in a corner of the old RAF Tangmere airfield, famed for its illustrious service from 1916 through to the post-war years. It was opened by a group of aviation enthusiasts in 1982 to promote public awareness of the United Kingdom’s military aviation heritage, educate present and future generations in military aviation and serve as a memorial to airmen and airwomen who gave their lives in the service of this country.
The Museum is home to an impressive display of historic aircraft and a unique collection of aviation memorabilia stretching from the First World War through to the Cold War. Amongst the many attractions, are numerous interactive displays and several aircraft simulators for visitors to experience. There is something for all members of the family to see and do.
About Tangemere
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum was born when a group of like-minded enthusiasts met to discuss ways of keeping the memory of RAF Tangmere alive. In 1981, West Sussex County Council donated a large SECO hut to the group and in June 1982, following much hard endeavour, the embryo Museum opened its doors to visitors. We have grown considerably since then to exhibit a vast number of artefacts.
Staffed entirely by volunteers, our mission statement can be described thus:
The Museum exists to promote awareness of the United Kingdom’s military aviation heritage and to educate present and future generations in military aviation by:
- Exhibiting the history of aircraft and personnel involved in military aviation with particular reference to RAF Tangmere and its unique place in that history.
- Serving as a memorial to those allied airmen and airwomen who gave their lives in the service of this country.
In 1987, the Museum became a Charitable Trust and Limited Company. As such, its full title is the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Trust Ltd and it is governed by Memorandum and Articles of Association.
What to see
The Museum has some excellent aircraft and powerplant exhibits including the World Speed Record breaking Gloster Meteor F.4 Special (flown by Group. Captain E.M. ‘Teddy’ Donaldson in 1946) and Hawker Hunter Mk3 (flown in 1953 by the Museum’s late President Neville Duke). Both these aircraft are on loan from the RAF Museum.
In this area, you will find a large scale model of RAF Tangmere’s domestic and technical sites circa 1940 and also a fine exhibition of United States’ memorabilia. Our cinema is entered from here where, on arrival, you will have the opportunity to see a short introductory video to the Museum.
The Museum has a memorial garden which you may like to visit situated behind the Museum’s Cafeteria.
The Museum has a picnic area outside the front entrance on the grass. An area can also be made available in one of the aircraft halls to allow the children to have their refreshments. School visit children may purchase soft drinks, confectionary and ice cream from the Museum’s Cafeteria.
Photography is permitted outside and in the two halls where the aircraft are exhibited (Merston and Meryl Hansed Memorial Halls) but not in the other halls of the Museum.
Where to find us:
All information courtesy of http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/
