Although our doors may be temporarily closed, we will continue to share more of our unique world-class collection and incredible stories of the RAF online via the RAF Museum at Home. Over the next few weeks, we will share the best from our collection in a series of themed weeks.
This week the RAF Museum is focusing on bomber aircraft. From the early WW1 biplanes dropping grenades to Lancasters over Berlin, and Vulcans on standby to drop nuclear bombs over the Soviet Union. We will have plenty or articles, 360 cockpit images, videos, and more.
- Monday 11 May, 9.30am, Facebook, Twitter, Linked in – Welcome to Bomber Week
- Monday 11 May, 12:30pm, Facebook Post
- Monday 11 May, 8.35pm, Tweet:
#RAFMVideo : The story of John Hannah VC told by his daughters Jackie and Jenn. He was on board a Hampden bomber in 1940 when it caught fire. Listen here what he did to save the plane, earning him the Victoria Cross. https://t.co/UtaFLAaA6d pic.twitter.com/uVb0o4uxxa
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 11, 2020
- Tuesday 12 May, 9.50 am, Tweet:
OOTD one of the earliest bombers was this Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b. Originally a two-seat fighter, it was soon outclassed by newer German opponents. From late 1916 it was used extensively in the night bomber role until the end of WW1. An original is on display in H2 in London. pic.twitter.com/b0ynKQcMrJ
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 12, 2020
- Tuesday 12 May, 4.30pm, Facebook Post – We would like to share with you a story about 12 May 1940
- Tuesday 12 May, 8.35pm, Tweet:
#RAFMVideo : It doesn’t look very extraordinary, but this 4lb Incendiary #bomb is one of the most devastating weapons the RAF has ever used.https://t.co/51Py7QzcnD pic.twitter.com/UksD46bUTd
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 12, 2020
- Wednesday 13 May, 9.35am, Tweet:
#OnThisDay in 1949 : the English Electric Canberra made its first flight. One of the success stories of post-war British aircraft industry, the Canberra served as an unarmed bomber and photo recon aircraft, and was exported worldwide. The last one served in the RAF until 2006. pic.twitter.com/tC9ezQV6NJ
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 13, 2020
- Wednesday 13 May, Tweet, 9.55am:
OOTD The Canberra PR9 at Cosford. Already established as a light bomber, a photo-reconnaissance version of this high performance aircraft replaced the de Havilland Mosquito. The PR9 was the final version with stronger Avon engines and a new long-span wing for higher altitudes. pic.twitter.com/p3zFhpXMvf
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 13, 2020
- Wednesday 13 May, 1.30pm, Facebook and Instagram Post – Happy Birthday to the English Electric Canberra:
- Wednesday 13 May, 8.35pm, Tweet: previous unseen footage of a Canberra B6 in Malaya in 1955
#RAFMVideo : As today is the anniversary of the first flight of the Canberra, here is a compilated clip of previously unpublished Museum Archive footage. This shows No. 101 Squadron arming a #Canberra B6 and dropping the bombs whilst on deployment in Malaya in 1955.@FlyPastMag pic.twitter.com/19fA6seNlM
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 13, 2020
- Thursday 14 May, 9.35am, Tweet:
#OnThisDay in 1939 : the Short S.29 Stirling made its first flight. It became the first four-engined aircraft of Bomber Command. Its thick wing limited its altitude ceiling and it was gradually replaced by the Halifax and Lancaster. It served in other roles until the end of WW2.
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 14, 2020
- Thursday 14 May, 9.50am, Tweet:
OOTD An RAF Air Diagram showing the pilot’s controls of the Stirling bomber. Air Diagrams such as these were clearly set out and used in training to familiarise RAF pilots with the controls of their aircraft. https://t.co/TZxsR2qujG pic.twitter.com/vNQAA3BxQl
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 14, 2020
- Thursday 14 May, 1.30pm Facebook Post: 360 degree virtual tour of London’s Consolidated B24L-20-FO Liberator
- Thursday 14 May, 4.35pm Facebook Post about the Maiden Flight of the Short Stirling:
- Thursday 14 May 8.35pm, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Post of a film showing Short Stirlings in production in 1942:
- Thursday 14 May, 9.00pm – Actress Minnie Driver talking to Joshua Levine about her father’s role in Bomber Command, as part of the Museum’s Hidden Heroes initiative:
#RAFMVideo : Actress Minnie Driver spoke to historian Joshua Levine about her father’s role with Bomber Command during the Second World War. She explains how Bomber Command never felt they were as beloved as fighter pilots. https://t.co/yxCVZtkbVV pic.twitter.com/bLZYY8evuX
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 14, 2020
- Friday 15 May, 4.30pm Facebook post about the history of RAF Bombers
- Friday 15 May, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Post promoting the Museum’s online shop
- Friday 15 May, 8.35pm, Tweet:
#RAFMVideo David Coleman is a retired Handley Page Victor bomber pilot, who is now a volunteer guide at the RAF Museum Midlands. Watch him explain what it was like to be a part of the V Force and how he felt about dropping nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union.https://t.co/QxSJe3aG9u pic.twitter.com/RbU9la0Vld
— RAF Museum (@RAFMUSEUM) May 15, 2020
- Friday 15 May, 9.00pm, Facebook & Twitter our first ever Pub Quiz !