Collection: Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  North Kesteven District Council, the RAF and other private and public sector bodies formed a partnership to develop interpretation and marketing for aviation heritage and aviation attractions.  Building on this success, the group grew to include Lincolnshire Tourism, Lincolnshire County Council and other local authorities and has made aviation an important theme through which the heritage of Lincolnshire is promoted.

  The history of R.A.F. Cranwell, which has provided initial training for RAF officers since 1920, is of national significance, however as a working R.A.F. base, public access is limited by security restrictions.  The Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum (CAHM) was developed to overcome this issue and to tell the story of this prestigious establishment.

  At present, Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum, which opened to the public in 1992, is housed in leased farm buildings situated close to R.A.F. Cranwell at North Rauceby.  The Museum is operated and funded by North Kesteven District Council who are committed to the conservation and promotion of our local, regional and national aviation heritage.  The collections have grown up since the Museum was created and developed and include donations and loans from the RAF, the RAF Museum and members of the public.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The museum’s collection has been kept small as both storage and display space are limited.  CAMC owns some 756 artefacts, including a Jet Provost aircraft and other aircraft parts, uniforms, badges photographs and other memorabilia associated with RAF Cranwell, including a number of groups associated with particular cadets and officers.  There are also a small number of loans including the cockpit of a De Havilland Vampire, a balloon basket, both on loan from the RAF Museum and an ejector seat on loan from RAF Cranwell.  The earliest item dates back to 1919 and the collections covers most of the history of RAF Cranwell, through the inter-war years and the Second World War, which is most strongly represented, up to the Falklands War.

  Although the collection is small it includes a number of items of more than local significance because of their association with the Royal Air Force College, which still trains new RAF officers today.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC