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| RAF Hendon Museum | |
|---|---|
| Name | RAF Hendon Museum |
| Established | 1972 |
| Location | Colindale, London Borough of Barnet |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Director | Museum Trust (voluntary) |
| Website | Official site |
RAF Hendon Museum
The RAF Hendon Museum is a specialist aviation museum located in Colindale in the London Borough of Barnet. Founded to preserve the heritage of the Royal Air Force, the museum houses a collection of artefacts, aircraft, documents and personal collections related to aviation history from the early 20th century to the present. Its displays connect with the histories of notable institutions and events including the Royal Flying Corps, the Battle of Britain, the World War I air war, and the Falklands War.
The museum traces its origins to a community-driven initiative in the early 1970s when former personnel from the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and aviation enthusiasts sought to retain artefacts threatened by redevelopment at Hendon Aerodrome and adjacent sites tied to Civil Aviation Authority changes. Volunteers assembled displays reflecting service histories associated with bases like RAF Northolt, RAF Biggin Hill, RAF Scampton, and RAF Lossiemouth. Over decades the institution expanded through donations from veteran groups such as the Royal Air Force Association, private collectors with ties to names like Frank Whittle and Sir Barnes Wallis, and transfers from national bodies including the Imperial War Museum and the Science Museum. The museum’s narrative has intersected public commemorations such as VE Day anniversaries and exhibitions coordinated with the National Memorial Arboretum and local borough initiatives.
The museum’s collections span aircraft, aero engines, uniforms, medals, technical manuals, squadron badges, and audiovisual archives. Items relate to prominent figures and organisations such as Arthur "Bomber" Harris, Guy Gibson, Douglas Bader, Hermann Göring (for contextual sections on aerial strategy), and engineering pioneers like R. J. Mitchell. The curatorial program has included loan exhibitions with institutions like the Royal Air Force Museum London, the National Archives (UK), the Science and Industry Museum, and academic partnerships with the University of Cambridge and the Imperial College London on conservation research. Themed displays cover campaigns including the Somme, the North African Campaign, the Battle of the Atlantic, and operations in Iraq War (2003–2011) and Afghanistan (2001–2021), linking artefacts to squadron histories from units such as No. 617 Squadron RAF and No. 303 Squadron RAF.
The collection includes representative airframes and replicas associated with historic types. Examples have featured fighters and bombers tied to designers like Geoffrey de Havilland and manufacturers such as Avro, Supermarine, Hawker and English Electric. Individual exhibits have highlighted aircraft connected to events involving Sir Frank Whittle-era jets, Cold War patrols at RAF Kinloss, and maritime patrols from RAF Lossiemouth. The museum has showcased engines by firms such as Rolls-Royce and Armstrong Siddeley, and exhibits referencing prototypes demonstrated at airshows like the Royal International Air Tattoo and historical meetings at RAF Hendon Aerodrome.
Educational outreach targets schools, family audiences, and specialist researchers. Programmes have aligned with curricula at local schools in the London Borough of Barnet, partnerships with veteran charities including the Royal British Legion, and collaborative workshops with university departments such as King's College London and the University of Westminster. Lectures and oral history sessions have featured veterans from campaigns including the Battle of Britain and the Gulf War (1990–1991), while temporary exhibitions have coincided with anniversaries of events like D-Day and the Armistice Day commemorations. The museum also supports trainee conservators through placements linked to conservation courses at the Courtauld Institute of Art and technical students from Brunel University London.
Situated near transport hubs serving north-west London, the museum is accessible from stations associated with the London Underground network and local bus routes connecting to central London landmarks such as King's Cross and St Pancras. Facilities have included a learning centre, reference library, and a shop stocking publications from publishers like Osprey Publishing and Pen and Sword Books. Visitor services coordinate with borough heritage trails in association with the Barnet Local History Society and events promoted via cultural partners such as the Museum of London and the London Transport Museum.
Conservation efforts focus on stabilising airframes, preserving textiles, and maintaining historical engines through techniques developed with technical partners including Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust and the National Conservation Service. Volunteer-run restoration projects have refurbished components using archival drawings sourced from the National Aerospace Library and engineering guidance from former personnel of companies like British Aerospace and de Havilland Aircraft Company. The museum’s workshops adhere to standards promoted by professional bodies such as the Institute of Conservation and contribute to sector case studies used by the Collections Trust.
The museum has operated under a trust model with governance involving trustees drawn from veteran associations including the Royal Air Force Association and civic representatives from the London Borough of Barnet. Funding streams have combined admission charges, membership subscriptions, donations from foundations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, corporate sponsorships from aerospace firms like Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, and project grants via national bodies including the Arts Council England. Volunteer engagement, fundraising events, and legacy giving remain central to sustaining operations and future conservation priorities.
Category:Aviation museums in London Category:Military and war museums in England