ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

To Honour, Educate, Inspire

We seek to honour the memory of Allied Aircrew during WWII.

We are passionate about educating the public in the history of aviation, particularly in Yorkshire, and explaining the importance of forging international partnerships.

Our work is lead by a desire to inspire future generations to take up careers in the fields of engineering, aviation, history and diplomacy.

Our values are Respect, Inclusivity and Friendliness.

Bringing people together through learning

We wish to inspire audiences and contribute to life-long learning, helping people to understand and negotiate the complex world around them.

Preserving our collection

We store in excess of 30,000 items and records including a registered collection of artefacts, maps, books and uniforms of national importance. These are precious resources for historical research. We also record the memories of veterans, aircrew, WAAFs, ATAs to preserve them for future generations.

OUR PEOPLE

Management Team

The day to day running of the Museum lies in the hands of our team of managers, each with a specialism of their own. See who they are here.

Trustees

The Board of Trustees provide leadership, oversight and guidance to our staff. We are looking for new members of the board. Find out more here. 

Volunteering

We offer stimulating volunteering opportunities and projects which foster pride, happiness, friendship and fulfilment.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer you can find out more here.

A brief history of the Yorkshire Air Museum

The Museum sits on the former site of Bomber Command Station RAF Elvington. This station was typical of the many which were dotted around the whole of Britain during World War Two. Over 30 airfields were in operation within the York area alone.

RAF Elvington was originally a grass airfield but in 1942 it was completely rebuilt with the addition of three hardened runways. It was re-opened in October that year with the arrival of 77 Squadron and their new four-engine Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers.

77 SQUADRON – an International Squadron

77 Squadron was stationed at RAF Elvington from October 1942 until May 1944. In that time they lost almost 80 Halifaxes and over five hundred aircrew.

Find out more here

346 ‘Guyenne’ and 347 ‘Tunisie’ SQUADRONS

In May 1944, Elvington became a French enclave in the United Kingdom, known as ‘La petite France’ home to 2,00 French airmen, part of the only two French heavy bomber squadrons of the war. 

Find out more here

After the War

In October 1945 the two French squadrons returned to France, where they became part of the post-war French Air Force. In 1952 RAF Elvington was handed over for use by the United States Air Force, Strategic Air Command. A major reconstruction began which included lengthening and strengthening the runways to accept jet bomber aircraft as part of the Western Powers’ nuclear deterrent. However, the base never became operational and was vacated in 1958.

In the early 1960s, the Blackburn Aircraft Company at Brough (now BAe Systems) used the runway for test flying the prototype Buccaneer aircraft. The RAF Flying Training Schools at Church Fenton and Linton-on-Ouse also used the airfield as a Relief Landing Ground to practise circuits and landings. RAF Elvington was officially closed in March 1992.

The Founding of the Yorkshire Air Museum

In 1983, the original WWII Control Towers and buildings had become derelict and a small team lead by local resident Rachel Semlyen set about trying to save this special site. They negotiated a temporary lease and began the long process of clearing the land and restoring the buildings, to turn it into a Museum.

In June 1985, the Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial was born and granted charitable status. It began receiving donations and artefacts and purchased the wartime site which now extends to 20 acres. Since opening, the Memorial Museum has grown in strength and reputation. 

EXPLORE THE MUSEUM

Yorkshire Air Museum has a lot to offer, take a look around and discover the museum and the surrounding areas. From squadrons to sandwiches and everything in-between!

Blackburn Mercury Monoplane 1911 (Replica) AH (BAPC) 130 YAM Jan.1995

The Blackburn Mercury Monoplane is regarded as the first truly successful aircraft made by Blackburn at their factory in Leeds. The Mercury I, powered by a 50 hp Isaacson radial engine, was displayed at the Olympia Aero Show in March 1911 and made its debut flying from the beach at Filey with the newly formed Blackburn Flying School. In May 1911, it flew from Filey to Scarborough and back in 19 minutes at an average speed of 50 mph, reaching an altitude of 1200 feet.
This aircraft crashed the next day when the engine seized and the propeller flew off! The Mercury I was followed by two Mercury II aircraft powered by 50 hp Gnome engines, and six Mercury III aircraft, with a number of different engines. Sadly, a Renault powered Mercury crashed at Filey in December 1911, killing an instructor and passenger.
The Museum’s replica was built for Yorkshire Television in 1979 for the Edwardian drama series ‘Flambards’, and was taxied with a car engine. It came to YAM on 10th January 1995 and after a long period in storage it was painstakingly restored to a superb display standard, and was unveiled in June 2000 by Professor Robert Blackburn, grandson of Robert Blackburn, the aviation pioneer.

AVRO 504K ‘H1968’ (Replica) AH (BAPC) 42 YAM Oct. 1994

The Avro 504 first flew in 1913. In the opening phases of the First World War, it served with front-line squadrons in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service for bombing and reconnaissance, but from 1915 onwards the aircraft entered the training role for which it is most celebrated.

Over 8,000 Avro 504s were built. In 1918, the Royal Air Force had about 3,000, of which 2,276 were trainers.

The Avro 504 was stationed at many Yorkshire airfields, including Tadcaster near the A1/A64 junction, where a period hangar can still be seen.

The Yorkshire Air Museum’s replica was built by apprentices at RAF Halton and appeared at the Royal Tournament in 1968 to commemorate what was then fifty years since the end of the First World War. The aircraft was refurbished in early 2015 to be transported to Thiepval, Northern France, for the Somme Centenary commemoration event, on request of the British Government. In May 2018, it was also displayed at the impressive Hotel Les Invalides in central Paris for a joint RAF / French Air Force event to mark the Centenary of the Royal Air Force and over 100 years of British and French Air Force collaboration.