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BBC News
09-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
RAF museum prepares to move Stafford collection to Shropshire
Ejector seats, uniforms and weapons are among more than 50,000 historical objects that will be relocated to a new Royal Air Force (RAF) collections items are currently stored at the Ministry of Defence's base in Stafford, described as the "Aladdin's cave of aviation heritage", but will be moved to the RAF Museum Midlands in Cosford, marks part of a wider transformation of the museum, which is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2027, the RAF Museum collection will feature in a permanent exhibition exploring the role of the RAF from 1980 through to space and cyber defence, along with a learning centre and expanded green spaces. The ambitious relocation has been dubbed The Crate Escape, with the public invited to contribute to a fundraising campaign as part of the Ewen Cameron said the relocation was "no small feat" and that it would equate to more than 31,000 hours of work by specialist staff and volunteers. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- BBC News
More than 50,000 move from Stafford to Cosford RAF museum
More than 50,000 historical objects are being moved to a new hub at the Royal Air Force Museum in the museum in Shropshire is trying to raise money to fund the transfer of the items, which are currently stored in MoD than 1% of the museum's collection is on public display, and when they are moved to Cosford they will be accessible to the public for the first curator Ewen Cameron said preparation for the move equated to "over 31,000 hours of work identifying and cataloguing each individual object, assessing its condition, carrying out essential conservation work, and carefully cleaning and packing the objects." The museum's "vast storage facility" at Stafford, where the objects are currently housed, is described as an "Aladdin's cave of aviation heritage" holding everything from aircraft and ejector seats to uniforms, medals and memorabilia. Individual giving manager at the museum Ella Hewitt said the fundraising campaign was not "just about moving objects".She added it was "about bringing hidden RAF stories of bravery, innovation and sacrifice to light".Donors can pay £30 to be one of four names on a box or £100 to have their name exclusively added to a box. Large object sponsorships are available from £1, logistical operation marks one part of the wider transformation of the museum site. Due to be finished in the summer of 2027, the transformation will include a new permanent exhibition exploring the role of the RAF from 1980 through to space and cyber defence, along with a learning centre and expanded green spaces. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
