RAF museum to move more than 50,000 objects

There was an "Aladdin's cave of aviation heritage" at MoD Stafford, the RAF Museum said

More than 50,000 historical objects are being moved to a new hub at the Royal Air Force Museum in the Midlands.

The museum in Shropshire is trying to raise money to fund the transfer of the items, which are currently stored in MoD Stafford.

Less 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 time.

Museum 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.

The scheme involved thousands of hours of work

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 £1,000.

The 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.

There was a "vast storage facility" at Stafford, the museum said