Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Museum

Key Facts

A small museum to honour the airfield’s most famous residents, the 381st Bomb Group, can be found housed in the former hospital buildings of USAAF station 167. A variety of displays show the history of the base and its resident USAAF and RAF units.

On the A1017 south-east of Haverhill, Suffolk, between Ridgewell and Great Tedham. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open second Sunday of each month 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, April to September.

Admission free.

Amenities:

No information.

Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Association, White Wings, Ashen Road, Ovington, Sudbury, CO10 8JX. (Please enclose SAE). Tel: 01787 277310 or 07777 640634. Website: Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Collection.

Parham Airfield Museum

Key Facts

USAAF Station 153, Framlingham, was home to the B-17s of the 390th Bomb Group in World War Two. The restored wartime control tower here presents a history of the base and the 390th. Several recovered WW2 aero engines and parts of aircraft can also be found on display here, along with many other exhibits connected with its wartime past. The Nissen huts close-by house The British Resistance Organisation Museum (which would have organised the resistance had Britain been invaded by Germany) and a tea room.

At Parham Airfield, just south of Framlingham, on the B1116 north of Woodbridge in Suffolk. Signposted from the A12, two miles from Marlesford/Little Glemham, (turn off the A12 opposite Glemham Hall). See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Sundays and Bank Holidays 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, first Sunday in April to October; also open Wednesdays 11.00 am to 4.00 pm, June to September; other times by prior arrangement.

Free, donations appreciated.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Souvenir shop, Wheelchair access to some public areas.

The DC-3 N4565L formerly resident here has moved to AeroVenture at Doncaster.

Parham Airfield Museum, Parham, Framlingham, Suffolk, IP13 9AF. General information (Tel): 01728 621373. website: parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk

Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum, Photographs

Flying Flea BAPC.115. (photo, Dan Lord)	Anson C.19 VL349. (photo, Dan Lord)
Felixstowe F.5 nose. (photo, Dan Lord)	Bensen B.7 Gyroglider LHS-1. (photo, Dan Lord)
Spitfire II FSM ‘P8140′. (photo, Dan Lord)	Widgeon G-ANLW. (photo, Dan Lord)
Luton Major G-APUG fuselage frame. (photo, Dan Lord)	Vampire T.11 XK624. (photo, Dan Lord)
Colditz Glider. (photo, Dan Lord)	Canberra B(I).8 nose from XM279. (photo, Dan Lord)
F.27 cockpit from G-BDVS. (photo, Dan Lord)	Canberra T.4 WH840. (photo, Dan Lord)

Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum

Key Facts

The museum reflects the development of aviation in general and in particular in East Anglia during World War Two. Within the museum are displays dedicated to the history of the Royal Observer Corps, Bomber Command and the 446th Bomb Group. There are further exhibits in a new display hall dedicated to Air-Sea Rescue and Coastal Command.

At Flixton, on the B1062 south west of Bungay. Signposted from the A143. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Sunday to Thursday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (last admission 4.00 pm), April to October; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (last admission 3.00 pm), November to March. Closed December 15 to January 15.

Free, but donations welcomed.

Toilets, Parking, Souvenir shop, Access for the disabled.

Lightning F.1 XG329 (photo, Dan Lord)	T-28C Trojan 146289 (photo, Dan Lord)
Provost T.1 WV605 (photo, Dan Lord)	Sea Vixen FAW.1 XJ482 (photo, Dan Lord)
T-33A 54433 (photo, Dan Lord)	Whirlwind HAR.10 XR485 (photo, Dan Lord)

* On loan from Sloane Helicopters.

N&SAM, The Street, Flixton, near Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 1NZ.
Keeper: Huby Fairhead, 48 Monks Cottages, Langley, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 8DG. Tel: 01986 896644. e-mail: nsam.flixton@virgin.net, website: Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum.

Javelin FAW.9 XH892 (photo, Dan Lord)	Valetta C.2 VX580 (photo, Dan Lord)
Mystere IVA 79 (photo, Dan Lord)	Meteor F.8 WF643 (photo, Dan Lord)
F-100D 42196 (photo, Dan Lord)	Whirlwind HAS.7 XN304 (photo, N&SAM)
IA-58 Pucara A-528 (photo, Dan Lord)	Sea Prince T.1 WF128 (photo, Dan Lord)
Sycamore HR.14 XG518 (photo, Dan Lord)	Hunter FGA.9 XG254 (photo, Dan Lord)

More photographs on the next page.

Bentwaters Cold War Museum

Key Facts

This new museum, dedicated to preserving the aviation heritage of the Cold War Era, and specifically the history and units that served at the ‘twin’ bases of Bentwaters and Woodbridge, opened to the public on 27 May 2007. The main exhibition area is located in the former Wing Operations Centre – a hardened command bunker which has been completely refurbished for visitors to a very high standard. The history of the locally based 81st TFW features prominently in the museum displays, as does the 527th Aggressor Squadron which used to fly from here. Visitors can see the War Operations Room used to direct the operations of USAF aircraft during Operation El Dorado Canyon in 1986 and the First Gulf War in 1991. Coach tours of the huge base are planned for 2008.

Within the Wing Operations Centre at RAF Bentwaters. Take the A12 eastwards from Ipswich until you reach Woodbridge, turn right onto the A1152. At Rendlesham you will come across what was RAF Woodbridge. Follow the signs for Bentwaters Park from the A1152 at Rendlesham. (RAF Bentwaters is part of the same base complex). See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

At least two Sundays each month April to October, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. See official site for exact dates.

See official site for details.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, only limited access for the disabled. A small cafe should be available in 2008.

Notes: BAC Strikemaster 80 1125, reported elsewhere as being with the museum, is not part of the collection and is stored in another hangar. BAC Canberra B(I)6 (cockpit) WT319 and Hawker Hunter F.1 (cockpit) WT684 have passed to a private owner offsite.

The Bentwaters Cold War Museum, Building 143, Bentwaters Parks, Rendlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 2TW. Bentwaters Aviation Society, Bentwaters Cold War Museum