Thank you for the guide. It's been a while since I've visited and you've got some new exhibitions since then. Interesting to have someone with an American accent giving a tour of an English museum!
Can't wait to visit. I'm booked for March, which will be an event that will combine a huge passion I have for photography and an infatuation I had in my childhood for WWII aviation.
Superb museum. The thing that took my breath away was how massive the World War II bombers were and those those giant bombs. But the Vulcan was the plane that really made me go Wow ! and the size of that nuke. The whole experience was incredible. I took my time going around but I will still have to go back. 👍
One curator tried to convince me that the hole in the spinner on a 109 was for engine cooling, i said i think not, take a look and you will see a large cannon between the rudder pedals , but he was insistent the plonker ! apart from that its a great museum and whilst colindale hospital was in operation after visiting my father there i would go to the museum for coffee, yes a marvelous place with good memories, apart from that plonker !
Absolutely right. At the start of the Battle of Britain, the Me109 outgunned both the Spit and Hurri. Both British aircraft firing .303 ammunition against the Me's mixture of machine gun and cannon. One cannon was definitely in the nose. I think there were two machine guns on top of the cowling firing through the propeller blades using a synchronised firing mechanism. Two cannons on the wing I think.
I previously loved this museum and visited regularly. As an aviation enthusiast, naturally my over riding joy was to see the aircraft. However, I was always incredibly moved by the BOB hall, the sketches by Cuthbert Orde, the personal artefacts of famous RAF personnel, busts etc. To remove those and replace them with the mess which has been put in there is appalling.
I visited the RAF Museum back in 1987 from Australia. For me the Battle of Britain, and Bomber Command Museum were my main reasons for visiting, plus the Blackburn Beverly transport aircraft that was displayed outside prior to being scrapped, (im still dark about that as it was only one of two still in existence, yes I know it was full of corrosion) and it now appears that the BoB museum is no more (Id be most grateful if someone could verify that for me?) as some of its aircraft have been moved to RAF Cosford, and the rest into the main display area. I guess im an old fashion guy who likes his old fashion things and misses the 1987 version of the RAF Museum.....lol.
You're correct. The collection as you remember it is no more and the aircraft have been split up and some moved to Cosford. I spoke to an employee at Duxford last summer at Flying Legends - I was admiring an original model of one of the dams, which was used for reference by the 617 crews, and got talking about Hendon. He said that the new Curator had said she wanted more revenue coming in. Priority. They needed more room for corporate hospitality events and a bigger restaurant - that's why many iconic aircraft were taken out. Win win situation for the Curator - more corporate events and enthusiasts now have to visit both museums to see what was previously at Hendon.
@HiWetcam The last time I went there was no separate charge for the BOB hangar - it was a long time ago and I spent ages in there. Stuff you'd be hard pushed to see anywhere else, let alone all together. IIRC there was a Stuka, Defiant and either a Bf110 or JU88? S-Sugar is the star attraction though! I went to Elvington last year, near York - an ex-Halifax base and it's kept as near as damn it to how it was during the war. Very, very atmospheric and very, very enjoyable - of course there's Friday The 13th to stand and stare at in amazement at this 'forgotten' bomber. There's a photo outside one of the huts of a group of young lads in flying gear, all smiles. The caption explained that they were on Ops to Mannheim. Looking closer you realise you're standing exactly in the same spot as they are. I found it quite moving actually. The Greatest Generation indeed. PS. I sat in an airworthy Spitfire at East Kirkby years ago - the piilot asked for a fiver! Had a taxy ride in the Lancaster too. Get yourself up there if you've never been, I believe the Mosquito is progressing well too and does engine runs.
Hi Geoffrey, I was lucky enough to grow up in Hawkinge when there was still the Battle of Britain Airfield and used to play on it as a youngster, there is still the wonderful Battle Of Britain museum there and I remember meeting well known fighter pilots there back in the 80's. Its gone from strength to strength and has more original exhibits, I even made some models for them which are still displayed there. I now live not too far away from the Battle Of Britain memorial site at Capel-Le-Ferne, another great site to visit.
@@gibson617ajg Hi Red, yes I spent ages in the BoB museum as well I even came back a few days later to stare in amazement at the artifacts once again. I've always been intrigued by the "Battle" since I first saw the movie in 1970 when I was seven years old. And had even read a copy of the defection to RAF Dyce by the crew of the Ju88 night fighter in the late 70s and here I was now looking at that same aircraft (that was standing in for the A-1 model) that was dramatically portrayed on the cover with two Spitfires escorting it into land.
Rhubba Oh no ... I’m from Switzerland and I have been there so many times during the ladst 30 years. The Battle of Britain Hall was really epic and special.At least they didn‘t touch the Lanc.
Simon Monk thank you well said!!! I can’t believe it. The biggest historic battle and they had to be absolute idiots. No reason to visit there anymore fucking joke
Thanks for sharing and showing some of my fav planes, Lancaster, Hurricane, Spitfire, 109 and the wonderful Sepecat Jaguar, must replace the model I had of one of those soon. Channel should have more subscribers..run a competition or something linking the channel, that should make it soar like a bir....plane 👍😂 (just a suggestion)
I like this channel, but I think the reason it has so few subscribers is that it doesn't know who it is aimed at. One week it has a video aimed at schools, the next week it focuses on an aeroplane, then we get a museum tour, etc. They are trying to have videos for everyone, but by uploading such random videos without a consistent theme. they don't capture any particular audience. By contrast the Bovington Tank Museum's successful RUclips channel knows who it's biggest audience is and they make videos that appeal to them.
@@Dave_Sisson I watch the Tank Chats videos each release and the excellent content, so yes, I agree, the guys at the RAF museum would do well to take a leaf out of the Bovy approach But they do mix it up from time to time, take the last video about the latest lego releases of tanks. They know that catering for all ages equals a larger net but a larger haul. It's the RAF museums You Tube channel for Pete's sake, it should have millions of subscribers if the museum has millions of visitors each year. Anyway, thanks for the reply fellow RAF fan.
They are not cardboard, but metal. And they contain a bio and further info on the back. But we suggest you visit the Museum to see for yourself. Kind regards, RAFM
There was a serious proposal during WW2 to strip out defensive armament and armor out of Lancaster bombers. The additional bomber speed would make it harder to be intercepted by German night fighters.
It wouldn't matter how fast they were going because the Germans had them on radar anyway. I've just read an excellent book about Operation Biting - the raid on Bruneval by the Paras who attacked the radar station there. They managed to strip the radar of its main components and steal them. They brought two German radar operators back with them too. It was a huge turning point in the air war.
Red Barchetta .... I’ll disagree on two points. The faster they flew the less time the bombers were within range of German air defenses. Also the faster the bomber the more difficult for night fighters to catch up too and fire on a bomber. At any rate the proposal was never acted on so we won’t know if it would have reduced bomber loses
@@Idahoguy10157 I take your points but I'm pretty certain that nightfighters rarely had to chase bombers. The majority had their own 'boxes' to patrol and just waited for their controller to give them a fix.
Red Barchetta .... a night fighter had to recognize a bomber in the dark and maneuver behind and below it for its fixed guns to hit. Without being spotted by the Lancaster’s rear gunner warning the pilot who would perform an evasive maneuver. All of which required luck and a lot of skill. Adding some speed to the bomber would have made it more difficult. Anyway as I said, it didn’t happen so we can’t know if additional speed would have saved british aircrew lives.
@@Idahoguy10157 Small strips of tin foil saved more aircrew lives than any other invention or tactic. Radar jamming was a turning point in the war and,the Allies were very weary of using Window as the Germans would scoop bundles of it off the ground and take five seconds to work out what was happening. It took very heavy losses to eventually usher in its use Incredibly, the Germans were fooled on D-Day as 617 Squadron lay a carpet of Window over the Channel to simulate an attack on the Pas de Calais.
Diversity politics as soon as you enter the building... How many different nations were flying RAF aircraft or were support crew during the Battle of Britain AND were not of European ancestry? I bet it was none. Sure other nations eventually sent non European people in racially segregated troop to fight the Nazis like Indian Companies who did outstanding work, the famous Tuskagee but the Battle of Britain did not. To play ethnic politics is a distortion of history and makes the exhibition invalid. Sure there needs to be a section that shows examples and information of later efforts of people's from all over the world but not at the cost of truthfulness.
Is that correct? Why am I not surprised. What's it about? The Tuskeegee Airmen who flew Spitfires in the Battle Of Britain, alongside Dan Snow's all-female Commonwealth Night Witches?
The Brits lost the Battle of Britain the second they had the entire world join them in fight against Germany. America was the true reason Germany was halted from advancing into Britain. I’m glad Germany was stopped however for the English to take all the credit is a joke and a lie.
It's disgusting re-writing of history to diminish European peoples and worship non-europeans as god's. Very strange and being pushed entirely across the board in many museums up and down the UK. it detracts from the real history of our ancestors. I wonder what the end goal/agenda of it all is...
@@audrabusteed8240 I don't want to say it but they've got rid of probably one of the most important halls there the battle of Britain Hall when all that needed doing was updating and make more interactive. In the main hall there is plenty of room in the disused galleries to do what they did in the B of B Hall instead they didn't in the bomber command Hall lights are out and it looks dated in there as well.
Removing the Bob hanger is a terrible mistake. As a museum professional I am no nationalistic Luddite but this feels like modernising for the sake of it and removing a critical evocation of our history. This was a defining moment and key in the formation of our modern national identity and you have dumbed it down. Extremely sad and disappointed. Please don’t write off the negative comments here as being from politically incorrect right wing reactionaries - many of us are your visitors and supporters. We care deeply and are feeling very profoundly disenfranchised.
Thank you for the guide. It's been a while since I've visited and you've got some new exhibitions since then. Interesting to have someone with an American accent giving a tour of an English museum!
Can't wait to visit. I'm booked for March, which will be an event that will combine a huge passion I have for photography and an infatuation I had in my childhood for WWII aviation.
I was there on August 2014, it´s was a wonderful experience.-
Can't wait to bring my son here this weekend. He would like to be a RAF Firefighter.
Superb museum. The thing that took my breath away was how massive the World War II bombers were and those those giant bombs. But the Vulcan was the plane that really made me go Wow ! and the size of that nuke. The whole experience was incredible. I took my time going around but I will still have to go back. 👍
Went there years ago & thoroughly enjoyed it.
Live in Jamaica, Very interesting and I had many older friends who served in the RAF during WW2 but very few of them are left now.
Wonderful place hope to see it in person. On another note my father and I painted your P40
This guy is awesome, Can't wait for eveything to open again!
Thankyou. Your english is very clear for me. Its very interesting
Certainly changed a lot since 1985 when I visited
it has always been my dream to see a spitfire i should really go here!
Epic Cyber Goat I have sat in one :) at Hendon, pretty cool experience and saw loads fly in duxford last year
Musashi30 jealous
Epic Cyber Goat :) they are very nice planes
Awesome! Can’t wait to be there in 2021. Greetings from Brazil!
Love coming here,my favourites are the bomber salvaged from a lake and Messerschmitt
Very interesting. So thank you for sharing this video with me and many others.
One curator tried to convince me that the hole in the spinner on a 109 was for engine cooling, i said i think not, take a look and you will see a large cannon between the rudder pedals , but he was insistent the plonker ! apart from that its a great museum and whilst colindale hospital was in operation after visiting my father there i would go to the museum for coffee, yes a marvelous place with good memories, apart from that plonker !
Absolutely right. At the start of the Battle of Britain, the Me109 outgunned both the Spit and Hurri. Both British aircraft firing .303 ammunition against the Me's mixture of machine gun and cannon. One cannon was definitely in the nose. I think there were two machine guns on top of the cowling firing through the propeller blades using a synchronised firing mechanism. Two cannons on the wing I think.
The Bf 109E did NOT have a gun firing through the engine spinner. This was only (re)introduced with the Bf 109F
Would love to go to the uk see all this 😍
Do it! I was there in 2018, absolutely awesome. Yes the flight from AU is a pain, but it was well worth it .
I’m English
I previously loved this museum and visited regularly. As an aviation enthusiast, naturally my over riding joy was to see the aircraft. However, I was always incredibly moved by the BOB hall, the sketches by Cuthbert Orde, the personal artefacts of famous RAF personnel, busts etc. To remove those and replace them with the mess which has been put in there is appalling.
I agree! The BOB hall was by far my favourite place as a child…
I visited the RAF Museum back in 1987 from Australia. For me the Battle of Britain, and Bomber Command Museum were my main reasons for visiting, plus the Blackburn Beverly transport aircraft that was displayed outside prior to being scrapped, (im still dark about that as it was only one of two still in existence, yes I know it was full of corrosion) and it now appears that the BoB museum is no more (Id be most grateful if someone could verify that for me?) as some of its aircraft have been moved to RAF Cosford, and the rest into the main display area. I guess im an old fashion guy who likes his old fashion things and misses the 1987 version of the RAF Museum.....lol.
You're correct. The collection as you remember it is no more and the aircraft have been split up and some moved to Cosford.
I spoke to an employee at Duxford last summer at Flying Legends - I was admiring an original model of one of the dams, which was used for reference by the 617 crews, and got talking about Hendon.
He said that the new Curator had said she wanted more revenue coming in. Priority. They needed more room for corporate hospitality events and a bigger restaurant - that's why many iconic aircraft were taken out.
Win win situation for the Curator - more corporate events and enthusiasts now have to visit both museums to see what was previously at Hendon.
@HiWetcam The last time I went there was no separate charge for the BOB hangar - it was a long time ago and I spent ages in there. Stuff you'd be hard pushed to see anywhere else, let alone all together.
IIRC there was a Stuka, Defiant and either a Bf110 or JU88?
S-Sugar is the star attraction though!
I went to Elvington last year, near York - an ex-Halifax base and it's kept as near as damn it to how it was during the war.
Very, very atmospheric and very, very enjoyable - of course there's Friday The 13th to stand and stare at in amazement at this 'forgotten' bomber.
There's a photo outside one of the huts of a group of young lads in flying gear, all smiles. The caption explained that they were on Ops to Mannheim.
Looking closer you realise you're standing exactly in the same spot as they are. I found it quite moving actually.
The Greatest Generation indeed.
PS. I sat in an airworthy Spitfire at East Kirkby years ago - the piilot asked for a fiver! Had a taxy ride in the Lancaster too. Get yourself up there if you've never been, I believe the Mosquito is progressing well too and does engine runs.
Hi Geoffrey, I was lucky enough to grow up in Hawkinge when there was still the Battle of Britain Airfield and used to play on it as a youngster, there is still the wonderful Battle Of Britain museum there and I remember meeting well known fighter pilots there back in the 80's. Its gone from strength to strength and has more original exhibits, I even made some models for them which are still displayed there. I now live not too far away from the Battle Of Britain memorial site at Capel-Le-Ferne, another great site to visit.
@@gibson617ajg Hi Red, yes I spent ages in the BoB museum as well I even came back a few days later to stare in amazement at the artifacts once again. I've always been intrigued by the "Battle" since I first saw the movie in 1970 when I was seven years old. And had even read a copy of the defection to RAF Dyce by the crew of the Ju88 night fighter in the late 70s and here I was now looking at that same aircraft (that was standing in for the A-1 model) that was dramatically portrayed on the cover with two Spitfires escorting it into land.
@@Vosper385 Cheers mate would love to visit Capel-Le-Ferne some day, and all the other locations and aerodromes still in existence.
Thank you! I am waiting for next tour. ;)
Lost count how many times I have visited RAF Museum Hendon.. it’s only 20 minutes down the A1M for me. I’m overdue another visit. 👍🏼
No! You got rid of the Battle of Britain Hall!
Rhubba Oh no ... I’m from Switzerland and I have been there so many times during the ladst 30 years. The Battle of Britain Hall was really epic and special.At least they didn‘t touch the Lanc.
Yep that's what ruined it for me last year when I took the grandson.
Simon Monk I quit like this place, I think it is still awesome, and well worth a visit
Thank you very much for your video! I wish I can go there some day!
changed so much since I was there in the 70's
Fantastic museum as is her sister at Cosford.To me I think the best exhibit probably the ruined Halifax shot down attacking the Tirpitz. Cheers!
Where is the Heinkel HE-111, Stuka Ju-87, Ju-88?? There used to be a dedicated Battle of Britain section.
The He 111 and Ju 87 are in Hangar 5, while the Ju 88 is now at our Cosford site.
Battle of Britain hall is gone .
Simon Monk wow they completely ruined it
@@dn4711 yes an absolute disgrace. The defining moment in the history of the RAF and it's gone . A crime simples.
Simon Monk thank you well said!!! I can’t believe it. The biggest historic battle and they had to be absolute idiots. No reason to visit there anymore fucking joke
Thanks for sharing and showing some of my fav planes, Lancaster, Hurricane, Spitfire, 109 and the wonderful Sepecat Jaguar, must replace the model I had of one of those soon. Channel should have more subscribers..run a competition or something linking the channel, that should make it soar like a bir....plane 👍😂 (just a suggestion)
I like this channel, but I think the reason it has so few subscribers is that it doesn't know who it is aimed at. One week it has a video aimed at schools, the next week it focuses on an aeroplane, then we get a museum tour, etc. They are trying to have videos for everyone, but by uploading such random videos without a consistent theme. they don't capture any particular audience. By contrast the Bovington Tank Museum's successful RUclips channel knows who it's biggest audience is and they make videos that appeal to them.
@@Dave_Sisson I watch the Tank Chats videos each release and the excellent content, so yes, I agree, the guys at the RAF museum would do well to take a leaf out of the Bovy approach But they do mix it up from time to time, take the last video about the latest lego releases of tanks. They know that catering for all ages equals a larger net but a larger haul. It's the RAF museums You Tube channel for Pete's sake, it should have millions of subscribers if the museum has millions of visitors each year. Anyway, thanks for the reply fellow RAF fan.
Would love to visit there. .. Love the R.A.F.💖💕💟💞💞👍👍👍
Is the Kawasaki Ki-100 still on display?
It's only a few minutes walk from Colindale Station but be aware that a beggar might ask you a question such as 'Do you know where the station is?'
Was good previously, not so anymore. Hate cardboard cut-outs.
They are not cardboard, but metal. And they contain a bio and further info on the back. But we suggest you visit the Museum to see for yourself. Kind regards, RAFM
There was a serious proposal during WW2 to strip out defensive armament and armor out of Lancaster bombers. The additional bomber speed would make it harder to be intercepted by German night fighters.
It wouldn't matter how fast they were going because the Germans had them on radar anyway.
I've just read an excellent book about Operation Biting - the raid on Bruneval by the Paras who attacked the radar station there. They managed to strip the radar of its main components and steal them. They brought two German radar operators back with them too.
It was a huge turning point in the air war.
Red Barchetta .... I’ll disagree on two points. The faster they flew the less time the bombers were within range of German air defenses. Also the faster the bomber the more difficult for night fighters to catch up too and fire on a bomber. At any rate the proposal was never acted on so we won’t know if it would have reduced bomber loses
@@Idahoguy10157 I take your points but I'm pretty certain that nightfighters rarely had to chase bombers. The majority had their own 'boxes' to patrol and just waited for their controller to give them a fix.
Red Barchetta .... a night fighter had to recognize a bomber in the dark and maneuver behind and below it for its fixed guns to hit. Without being spotted by the Lancaster’s rear gunner warning the pilot who would perform an evasive maneuver. All of which required luck and a lot of skill. Adding some speed to the bomber would have made it more difficult. Anyway as I said, it didn’t happen so we can’t know if additional speed would have saved british aircrew lives.
@@Idahoguy10157 Small strips of tin foil saved more aircrew lives than any other invention or tactic. Radar jamming was a turning point in the war and,the Allies were very weary of using Window as the Germans would scoop bundles of it off the ground and take five seconds to work out what was happening.
It took very heavy losses to eventually usher in its use
Incredibly, the Germans were fooled on D-Day as 617 Squadron lay a carpet of Window over the Channel to simulate an attack on the Pas de Calais.
Diversity politics as soon as you enter the building...
How many different nations were flying RAF aircraft or were support crew during the Battle of Britain AND were not of European ancestry? I bet it was none. Sure other nations eventually sent non European people in racially segregated troop to fight the Nazis like Indian Companies who did outstanding work, the famous Tuskagee but the Battle of Britain did not. To play ethnic politics is a distortion of history and makes the exhibition invalid.
Sure there needs to be a section that shows examples and information of later efforts of people's from all over the world but not at the cost of truthfulness.
Is that correct? Why am I not surprised.
What's it about? The Tuskeegee Airmen who flew Spitfires in the Battle Of Britain, alongside Dan Snow's all-female Commonwealth Night Witches?
The Brits lost the Battle of Britain the second they had the entire world join them in fight against Germany. America was the true reason Germany was halted from advancing into Britain. I’m glad Germany was stopped however for the English to take all the credit is a joke and a lie.
It's disgusting re-writing of history to diminish European peoples and worship non-europeans as god's. Very strange and being pushed entirely across the board in many museums up and down the UK. it detracts from the real history of our ancestors. I wonder what the end goal/agenda of it all is...
Byłem widziałem dotknolem super 👍
still much miles better than the Canadian air force museum in Hamilton
Great!
2:30 ah... The military doesn't use what's app to send messages on the battlefield "today" dude...
faintly remember the BOB hall, they took it away oh man SADDDDD
They couldn't find a Brit to do this? After all, it is the RAF...
Robin Morch grow up it’s 2020
Certi Bigz Try following your own advice.
Robin Morch 🤣🤣🤣
Robin Morch are you serious
Excellent!
Exit through the gift shop
Hate to say it but you've ruined it!
He can say it however he wants to
That’s not nice
@@audrabusteed8240 I don't want to say it but they've got rid of probably one of the most important halls there the battle of Britain Hall when all that needed doing was updating and make more interactive.
In the main hall there is plenty of room in the disused galleries to do what they did in the B of B Hall instead they didn't in the bomber command Hall lights are out and it looks dated in there as well.
Is this guy from Sweden?
Belgium
@@RoyalAirForceMuseum then whats he doing presenting a video about the British air force?
@@WillyEckaslike en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Belgian_forces#Belgians_in_the_Royal_Air_Force
maganda sa loob
RAF apples...great.
Removing the Bob hanger is a terrible mistake. As a museum professional I am no nationalistic Luddite but this feels like modernising for the sake of it and removing a critical evocation of our history. This was a defining moment and key in the formation of our modern national identity and you have dumbed it down. Extremely sad and disappointed. Please don’t write off the negative comments here as being from politically incorrect right wing reactionaries - many of us are your visitors and supporters. We care deeply and are feeling very profoundly disenfranchised.
Not what it once was sadly.
DO come to Pakistan, good air force museums here as well.