Wings Aviation Museum

26/05/2026

This Father’s Day, give your dad an unforgettable experience with a truly unique day out at the Wings Museum.

For one day only, visitors will have the rare opportunity to step inside two incredible pieces of living history:

Sit in the pilot’s seat of a 1943 Douglas C-47 Skytrain Paratrooper aircraft — the very aircraft featured in the TV series Band of Brothers. Capture a once-in-a-lifetime photo from the cockpit where history was made.

Climb aboard a 1944 D-Day GMC DUKW Amphibious Truck and take the wheel of this remarkable wartime vehicle for another unforgettable photo opportunity.

This special upgrade is available for one day only and can be purchased on the door for £25 per person, including full museum entry. Explore fascinating exhibits from World War Two and beyond, each with its own story to tell.

And here’s a little secret — you don’t have to be a dad to enjoy this experience!

Please note: visitors should be reasonably fit and able to climb into these historic vehicles safely.

museum

15/05/2026

"INTO THE ATOM" at the Wings Aviation Museum, a new first-of-its-kind permanent display dedicated to service personnel that took part in Britain's Nuclear tests received some new items of memorabilia that will be included in the display in the very near future.

Jenny Young is the daughter of Squadron Leader Thomas Antony Ball - OBE who served with the Royal Air Force as a catering officer and was stationed on Christmas Island during Operation Grapple.

The collection includes a number of original colour photographs and slides taken on Christmas Island and his original Grapple Tie and a bible given to him by his mother and father just before sailing to Christmas Island. We are always looking for photographs, paper work and any memorabilia to help us better interpret the service and memory of our the Air Force, Army and Navy that played a major role in creating Britain's nuclear deterrent.

01/05/2026

GB News were at the Wings Aviation Museum covering a new first-of-its-kind exhibition on Britains nuclear testing which is now open to the public. This marks the first cold war display at the Wings Museum. Founding curators of the Wings Aviation Museum have family connections with the Britain's nuclear testing and feel this is a story that needs to be told and recognised.

‘Into the Atom’ looks at the RAF crews who were ordered to fly through the mushroom clouds

01/05/2026

Into the Atom - First-of-its-kind permanent exhibition on Britain's nuclear testing opens to the public at the Wings Aviation Museum Sussex.

Into the Atom is an exciting mile stone for the Wings Aviation Museum located in West Sussex, as it allows us to step into our hugely significant Cold War history. This new exhibition is dedicated to the thousands who served and injured Britain’s Nuclear Tests. This is their story and it is one that deserves more recognition and it should never be forgotten.

For many of the veterans their service continues to effect the lives of their children and grandchildren and possibly generations to come. Into the Atom pays homage to all those from all services that played an important part in creating Britain’s Nuclear deterrent.

This permanent exhibition was officially opened to the public on 1st of May 2026, with a special preview being held at the museum on the 28th April 2026 the 68th anniversary of Grapple Y - the first successful detonation of Britain’s first Hydrogen bomb some 200 hundred times more powerful than the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima in World War Two.

The Wings Museum (a registered charity) is open 6 days a week. More details can be found on the museum website: www.wingsmuseum.co.uk



We would like to thank Contributor: 76rising, Exhibition Designer: Elephant Vision Lab, Labrats, Susie Boniface and GB News.

01/05/2026

It is with great sadness to hear of the peaceful passing of George Dunn DFC on April 28th 2026. George was born on September 21st 1922 and served as a bomber pilot in RAF Bomber Command from 1943 until the end of hostilities. He was a remarkable man and lived an active life right up to the end, he was aged 103.

Prior to Covid George regularly attended our “Meet the Bomber Boys” veteran signing events at Wings Museum raising money for the Bomber Command Memorial. At times we had 18 veterans of RAF Bomber Command and it was great to see such a positive public reaction to these brave men.

George was also the first to start our Rolls Royce Merlin engine that was recovered from the crash site of Halifax JD150 and restored to run again after 70 plus years in the ground. I can remember the smile on his face as she roared into life for the very first time in front on an adoring public. Of course George was more used to starting up four Rolls Royce Merlin engines when he flew Halifax bombers.

George lives on in the Wings Museum and we are very privileged to display his original wartime uniform and lucky mascot that flew 65 bombing missions in Halifax’s and Mosquito’s. George kindly donated these for public display at the Wings Museum some years ago and it is fantastic to be able to share these unique and important Bomber Command artifacts with the public. The museum also has a number of artifacts relating to some of the “Bomber Boys” such as Joe Lancaster DFC, Warrant Officer David Fellowes (who was a volunteer here at the museum) and Warrant Officer Peter Burt. Their stories will continue to inspire our visitors for generations to come!

George was from the g”reatest generation” and represented the some 55,573 men of Bomber Command that lost their lives during World War Two. George never saw himself as a hero, but of course he was, he always said he was just lucky – well we were lucky to have known you!

RIP George and we hope you are reliving all the greatest moments of your wonderful and fulfilling life.

With thanks to Cherry Greveson how looked after the Bomber Boys and made it all possible. The experiences they had with the “Sussex Bomber Boys” undoubtedly fulfilled their lives all the more.

01/05/2026

We would like to make a special tribute to our friend and volunteer Reg Clark who passed away on 26th March 2026. Reg was a true gentleman and always had a positive outlook on life. He was always repairing something at the Wings Museum and he put his heart and soul into everything he did. You could see Reg loved Wings and especially our school visits when he would shine in his skills in engaging with our young learners.

Good bye Reg we will all miss you very much.

Photo: Reg Clark on left with the Air Attache of the American Air Force at the commemoration of the Reigate Hill B-17 crew 19th March 2025.

30/04/2026

We are very grateful to the Coaching Halt for their support and for all the incredibly generious donations.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G886Sabwv/

What an incredible charity quiz last night for .

We are so grateful for all donations and support❤️

Especially for a charity that a lot more people should know about!

Thank you SO much all for making these charity quizzes possible.

25/04/2026

Great to see an array of beautifully restored Hilman Imps today at the Wings Museum. Tomorrow (Sunday) we will have a number of mini's attending. If you are a member of a classic car club we would love to host your next club rally. Just e-mail [email protected] for more info.

24/03/2026

This Easter, visit the Wings Aviation Museum – a local charity nestled near Balcombe in West Sussex. Often described as a “hidden gem”, the museum brings history to life through hundreds of powerful personal stories of courage and sacrifice from World War Two.

There’s plenty for younger visitors to enjoy too. Step inside our iconic World War Two Dakota aircraft, used to drop paratroopers on D-Day. Sit in real aircraft cockpits and experience what it felt like to be a pilot. Get hands-on with genuine vintage deactivated rifles from the Second World War.

Little ones will love dressing up in vintage uniforms from our costume collection, and taking part in our FREE Kids Easter Egg Hunt—with a tasty prize waiting at the end of their adventure.
With so much to explore this Easter holiday, a visit to the Wings Museum is a must for all ages.

History comes alive in this unique hidden gem, with something new to discover around every corner.

Wings Museum 6JT.
Open 6 days a week, 10am–5pm (closed Mondays)
Find out more: www.wingsmuseum.co.uk

12/02/2026

Stuck for something to do with the kids this half term? Support a local charity and come and explore the 1940’s at the Wings Aviation Museum, located near Balcombe West Sussex RH17 6JT.

Sit in aircraft cockpits, learn about life in World War Two, hold historical rifles of the time, come rain or shine you are sure to get a warm welcome at Wings.