RAF Cosford Aircraft Museum

jagdpanther44 · #1 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 01:24 AM

On Saturday i visited the aircraft museum at RAF Cosford in Shropshire. It's been a few years since my last visit and i was pleasantly surprised to find that construction of the new Cold War exhibition building had been completed and was open to the public.

The building features aircraft and vehicles from the cold war era, including a number of tanks.

However, the best displays (in my view) are the aircraft and weapons used during WW2, here are a few...

Left to right:

Hurricane 11c
Spitfire Mk1
Focke Achgelis FA330
Messerschmitt Me163B-1a Komet
Avro Lincoln B2

EyeOfTheNorth · #2 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 03:45 AM

Great photos, thanks for sharing!!!Sounds like a very interesting place

Martin Bull · #3 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 08:30 AM

The Spitfire in the photo - K9942 - is interesting as it's the World's oldest.

First flown on April 21st, 1939 it went to 72 Squadron in the North of England and transferred to Gravesend, near London, in early June 1940. A few days later it was heavily damaged while landing. It missed the Battle of Britain and spent the war shuttling between various second-line units, with more accident damage being sustained. Post-war the RAF used it for many static displays and it acquired many non-original parts.

Recently, the RAF Museum sent it to the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society who totally rebuilt the aircraft to its original specification ( which explains the non-flared canopy, early gunsight, radio, etc ) and it is once again in 72 Squadron markings.

jagdpanther44 · #4 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 08:15 PM

Some more of the exhibits at Cosford...

Storch
V1
V2

jagdpanther44 · #5 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 08:20 PM

This one is for Martin...

Von Poop · #6 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 08:53 PM

Hope you don't mind, here's some snaps of Cosford I took about this time last year, I thought the cold war exhibition was superb, not so much for the information as for the cutting edge display of the aircraft, that Lightning in the correct vertical position is wonderful (and the old Cent in the corner just adds a touch of class

). Quite a collection of esoteric German missiles too isn't it; we chatted to an old chap that said they have the complete mobile V2 launch pad in store and intend to set it up properly one day.

It was always a good museum, the cold war hall has made it even better, and all for free entry!

Cheers
Adam.

uksubs · #7 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagdpanther44

This one is for Martin...

What interesting about that Mosquito is that it painted in Guy Gibson paint scheme , but it not right

Richard · #8 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 09:09 PM

It's been a few years since I was there, I remember that 10 or 15 minute walk from the station which I hope is still there. I must go back for another visit some time and see the new cold war section.

Joe · #9 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 09:36 PM

Another thing to add to my 2008 'to-do' list!

jagdpanther44 · #10 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Poop

Hope you don't mind, here's some snaps of Cosford I took about this time last yearAdam.

Don't mind at all Adam, the more the better.

The Cold War exhibition hall has been set out very well with some great displays, it even has a part of the Berlin Wall on show!

Richard, the station is still there but i don't know if it is still open.

bigfun · #11 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 09:48 PM

Great pics!
Forgive my ignorance, but did the Komet actually fly! If so that must have been one talented pilot!

GPRegt · #12 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagdpanther44

the station is still there but i don't know if it is still open.

Yes, it is still open. Cosford's on the Birmingham/Wolverhampton line.

Had the great privilege of working with the Education Team, for a week, a couple of years ago. Arrived at the museum each morning before it opened to the public and took advantage of being on the staff to view exhibits close up!

The NCWE building is superb. Had an early look at it on Press Day last year.

Steve W.

PzJgr · #13 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfun

Great pics!
Forgive my ignorance, but did the Komet actually fly! If so that must have been one talented pilot!

Oh yes it did! YouTube - Feldwebel Siegfried Schubert and Me-163 Komet

Komet Me163 - Chief test pilot Rudy Opitz tells it like it was - Flight Journal.com Page 1

bigfun · #14 (**permalink**) January 9th, 2008, 12:40 AM

Wow!
I remember reading something about one of Ike's Generals telling hime of this thing, and what damage this thing could do if it got into the air in any significant number. If I am recalling this correctly, a ball bearing factory was bombed, this specific factory was making parts for the Me 163, and thus only a 100 of these things were near completion?
I'll try to remember where I got that from!

great video!!

thanks

Martin Bull · #15 (**permalink**) January 9th, 2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uksubs

What interesting about that Mosquito is that it painted in Guy Gibson paint scheme , but it not right

Yes - it's a post-war B.35 and unfortunately the RAF Museum painted it to represent an early 627 Squadron machine ; Gibson flew a later 627 aircraft by which time they were using a day-fighter, not night-bomber, scheme.....