207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY

MUSEUMS/RESEARCH SOURCES

please click on the images or hyperlinks

	The Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon Britain's National Museum of Aviation, celebrates the story of aviation from before the Wright Brothers to the RAF of the 21st Century with one of the world's finest collections of legendary aircraft and associated exhibits. Lancaster PO-S, R5868 of 467 Sqn RAAF, with 137 operations, is on display in the Bomber Hall, which also includes a Fairey Battle, types also flown by 207 Squadron.
	RAF Museum, Cosford This twenty-five-acre site in beautiful Shropshire is home to one of the most exciting collections of aviation history in the world. The Museum comprises five collections of international importance with over eighty aircraft on display including war planes from World War II to the present day. In February 2007 the National Cold War Exhibition was opened, which has the three V-bombers on display. Mighty transport aircraft from civil and military inventories and strange and exotic aircraft in the Museum's research and development collection. All these along with a vast array of missiles, rocketry and aero-engines create one of the most comprehensive collections in the country.
	Battle of Britain Memorial Flight BBMF operates Lancaster PA474, a Hurricane, Spitfires and a Dakota from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to recall the traditions of  those who fought for freedom; ex-207 DH Devon VP981, retired from the BBMF,  has been acquired by the Air Atlantique Historic Flight and is based at Coventry.
	Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby is just down the road from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby is 207 Squadron's former 55 Base HQ at East Kirkby.  The Centre, established by farmers Fred and Harold Panton as a memorial to their brother Christopher who was lost on Nuremberg, 31st March 1944, forms part of the old airfield.  Star of the collection is Lancaster NX611, now restored to taxying condition (in 2001 she got her tail well off the ground for a BBC film!).  In her hangar is a display about the 55 Base squadrons.  The Royal Air Forces Escaping Society Museum is also here.
	Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is the home of the second Lancaster currently in flying condition, FM213 'Mynarksi's Lanc'. A Fairey Firefly was the first acquisition of a magnificent fleet which today numbers over 30 vintage aircraft. On February 15, 1993, fire destroyed Hangar 3 and five aircraft. Construction began on a new ultra-modern 108,000 sq. ft. facility. Exactly 3 years after the fire, on February 15, 1996, the first aircraft of the collection were moved into the new hangar. Today, CWHM is at home in its world class facility at Mount Hope, Ontario. A vast array of exhibits, activities and resources ensure a wonderful experience. Come and visit!
	Yorkshire Air Museum The aim of the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington near York is to preserve part of a typical wartime airfield as a lasting Memorial to the Allied air and ground crews who served in Yorkshire during World War II. Work on establishing the museum on a corner of a typical wartime bomber base began in 1985. Today it houses about 30 historic aircraft, including the most complete Halifax still in existence - Friday the 13th and extensive displays of aircraft engines, equipment and memorabilia. The Air Gunners' Museum is here too.
	Air-Britain Air-Britain is the international Association of Aviation Historians run by enthusiasts providing information, second to none, for enthusiasts worldwide. Air-Britain was formed in 1948 and set up their first Web site in August 1996. This is continually growing and changing, which is not surprising as we publish hundreds of pages of information every month.
	BRITISH AVIATION ARCHAEOLOGICAL COUNCIL The BAAC is the official national body in the United Kingdom for aviation archaeologists and researchers of historic aircraft crashes.
	Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeology Team BAHA is a non profit association open to anyone with an interest for Aviation History in Belgium. The BAHA Archaeology Team has established itself as an experienced crew of Belgian enthousiasts which has unearthed many previous untold stories. Besides the artefacts found, a handfull of missing airmen were found and received a decent burial place. The Team works according to strict rules: safety, respect and history. The artefacts are put on display in several locations in Belgium and abroad - none of the historic important items are for sale. Every recovery has a file which is published in the BAHA Magazine "Contact". Several of our investigations were subject of tv-documentaries. Several monuments were inaugurated at places where BAHAAT has been at work, in memory of the fallen airmen involved.
	Airwar over Denmark A detailed resource commemorating the Allied and German flyers that flew over Denmark during the Second World War and in some cases lost their lives in Denmark and the surrounding seas. The link is set to find mention of 207.
	The Imperial War Museum, London. Four floors of fascinating exhibits and narrative displays showing every aspect of conflict in the 20th century. An outstanding collections of film, photographs, diaries, letters, art, firearms, medals, printed material and sound recordings is held by the Museum. Permanent displays include the 'Trench' and 'Blitz' experiences, 'Secret War', 'Conflicts since 1945' and the Art Galleries. The Duxford 'branch' of the IWM is one of the leading military aircraft museums in the World and now includes the 8th Air Force Museum.
	Duxford Aviation Society The Duxford Aviation Society aims to acquire, preserve and display British civil aircraft at Duxford and it works closely with the Imperial War Museum towards the development of Duxford and its collections. It now owns an impressive collection of airliners, including British Aircraft Corporation/ Aerospatiale Concorde number 101, the third prototype to be built. Teams of volunteers have worked on their preservation, and projects are available for all abilities.
WWII British Information Links	This World War II site features, but is not restricted to, a British focus. It has been developed to help you find other sites of similar focus and of general interest.
Manchester & Lancaster losses in Belgium	Welcome to Wim Govaert's web-site about the Avro Manchesters and Avro Lancasters which crashed in Belgium during the period 1941 - 1945. He is researching these in order to write a book. He has been a member of Lincolnshire Lancaster Association, The Royal Air Force Association, The Nanton Lancaster Society, 207 Squadron RAF Association and of the Belgian Aviation History Association. His research started several years ago when looking for more information about Lancaster ED840 of 156 Squadron which crashed in his home town of Lier. The pages seem to be currently inactive.
World War II on the Web	The purpose of this page is to provide information on World War II of interest to collectors, historians and researchers.
	Second World War Experience Centre We have created the Second World War Experience Centre to save a crucial part of our heritage. Year by year, countless letters, diaries and memories from the Second World War period are disappearing, despite invaluable efforts by national war collections, local history bodies and regimental museums. The tale of all men and women during the Second World War is of absorbing interest and teaches vital lessons about our past. We have an obligation to join in rescuing all the material we can about this most terrible of conflicts before it is too late. Patrons include Earl Jellicoe and the historians John Grigg and MRD Foot.
Schräge Musik (source: Gustin)	Upward Firing Guns Emmanuel Gustin's website on Upward Firing Guns (the German translates as 'Slanting Music') is of great interest to the Editor, whose father's Lancaster is believed to have been shot down by such tactics. It covers their use in WWI and the inter-war experiments carried out by the British, as well as much detail about their WWII use by the Luftwaffe.
	Victoria Cross database A comprehensive information on the Victoria Cross (including all 1354 recipient details), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
	Royal Air Force Ensign Between the Armistice and 26 July 1920 when the present Ensign was approved, the RAF was supposed to fly the Union Jack, but some former Royal Naval Air Service units flew the White Ensign, or the white ensign with a blue St George's cross, but without the eagle and crown.
	XPlanes This site is largely devoted to a selection of aircraft used by the Royal Air Force, recent past and present. You will find data and pictures in the Data Sheets section. There is also a section purely of photos, of both RAF and foreign planes, see the Galleries. Paul's main interest is RAF Valley, which is where many graduates of 207 (R) Squadron went for the next stage in their training.
	Newark Air Museum NAM is on the site of RAF Winthorpe (where many members went through 1661 HCU) and includes an ex-207 Squadron Canberra and since Summer 2002, the nose section of ex-207 Valiant XD875.
	WWII Web Ring Although 207's website is not a member of any web ring (we do not carry any advertising), this link is included. The links are mainly American.

links last checked 21 Dec 13: if any need updating please contact the editor