Royal Flying Corps Gets New Unique Museum

The Traveltrunk has been given exclusive preview of a unique historical exhibition dedicated to the Royal Flying Corps.

As the forerunner to the Royal Air Force this very first British military aviation organisation display is housed in a purpose-built hanger building of almost that exact period.

The Royal Flying Corps former ‘Ace’ James McCudden VC shot down 57 German planes

Located within the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum near Salisbury this aviation assemblage is thought to be the largest collection of Royal Flying Corps (RFC) & First World War aviation artefacts on display. And all under one roof in the UK.

In 1912 at the start of the service the Army Wing and the Navy Wing were formed as two units within the Royal Flying Corps organisation. Later in 1914 the RNAS split to become its own entity.

The Royal Flying Corps hangers at Old Sarum near Salisbury.

The collection runs through from the very start in 1912 to the period in 1918.  This was when the organisations of the RNAS and RFC were re-formed to became the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The Royal Flying Corps museum collection is housed within the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum.

A full-size replica BE 2 aeroplane designed Geoffrey de Havilland stands outside the display room.  It is exactly this type of aircraft that was used in the early days of the war. It was the first British aircraft to see service in Northern France. Later, is was used as a main training aircraft for the service.

The Royal Flying Corps museum collection at Old Sarum near Salisbury.

Within the extensive collection are documents, log books, clothing and medals that once belonged to some of the very first fighter aces of the Royal Flying Corps.

World War One Most Decorated Fighter Ace

Fighter pilots like James McCudden that went on to down 57 enemy planes during his flying service.  He later died in 1918 in a flying accident but not before he had acquired 5 gallantry medals, which included a Victoria Cross!

Roger Green hangs a picture of James McCudden VC a top fighter Ace and most decorated.

Material collected by over many years now has a perfect place to tell the story of this brand-new aerial combat unit.  Which, at that time was a new way of fighting.  And,  had never been seen before.

A note penned home to his family from James McCudden VC saying “Got my 42nd Hun this morning”.

The location of the museum itself sits in an area surrounded closely by many former vintage airfields.  All of these were involved in the development of the RFC in those early days.

A relation of Charles Goodfellow saw some of his Great Uncle’s memorabilia at the Old Sarum exhibition.

Places around Salisbury Plain. Like Larkhill, Netheravon, Upavon where the ‘Central Flying School’ was located. Plus also, a key training airfield for the Army and the Navy situated right alongside Stonehenge.

Museum Collection Is Perfectly Placed

Being part of a much larger the aviation collection which itself is housed in a purpose-built hanger of 1917 vintage. The home of this museum collection could not be in a better place both historically and geographically.

The Royal Flying Corps at Old Sarum near Salisbury during the First World War.

RFC Collection Manager, Roger Green, said; “We have gone to great lengths to give an overall picture of the Royal Flying Corps, from 1912 from the year it was conceived. Through to 1918 and the end of the first World War.”

No clear date yet for this museum as a whole to open or for the special RFC collection.

However, the management team are working on a Covid19 compliant visitors plan. In order to allow safe visitor access to the extensive two-hanger site.  Which they hope will be open sometime in early July.