RAF Museum Putting Thousands of Historical Pieces on Display for First Time

Staff and volunteers are preparing to move the artifacts to the gallery’s Midlands location.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, July 03, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The RAF Museum's stored collection at MOD Stafford. [Courtesy: RAF Museum]

Key Takeaways:

The Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum is moving over 50,000 historical pieces, dubbed "The Crate Escape," from a Ministry of Defense site to a new collections hub at its Midlands location in Cosford.
This project aims to display many of these artifacts publicly for the first time, bringing previously hidden stories of RAF bravery, innovation, and sacrifice to light.
The extensive undertaking involves over 31,000 hours of cataloging, cleaning, and packing by staff and volunteers, with the expansion expected to be complete by 2027.
The museum is fundraising to support this effort, offering individuals and businesses the opportunity to sponsor moving boxes.

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The Royal Air Force Museum is working to move over 50,000 historical pieces to its location in the English Midlands, where many of them will be displayed publicly for the first time.

Less than 1 percent of the museum’s vast collection is currently on display, with the rest kept tucked away at a secure but largely inaccessible Ministry of Defense site in Stafford. This remainder, described by museum officials as an “Aladdin’s cave” of treasures, includes aircraft, parts, ejector seats, military uniforms, medals, logbooks, and other memorabilia connected to one of the most storied air forces in history.