The Wellesbourne Wartime Museum, located at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield in Warwickshire, England, is a small but captivating museum dedicated to preserving the history of the airfield and the contributions made during World War II and beyond. The museum is closely associated with the iconic Avro Vulcan bomber housed at the site.
Wellesbourne Wartime Museum
+44 1789 778816
Sunday and bank holidays 10:00 – 16:00
Admission fee
Wellesbourne Mountford airfield, south of the B4086 near Wellesbourne, 5 miles east of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire.
Aircraft collection
| XA903
XM655 XK590/V XJ575 – WV679/O-J RA-01378 | Avro Vulcan B.1
Avro Vulcan B.2 de Havilland Vampire T.11 de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (nose) McBroom Argus hang-glider Percival Provost T.1 Yakovlev Yak-52 |
Avro Vulcan B.2 XM655 owner is: XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society. Underground bunker converted into a museum.
Exhibits and Highlights Wellesbourne Wartime Museum:
1. World War II History:
- RAF Wellesbourne Mountford:
- Opened in 1941 as part of RAF Bomber Command.
- Used as a training base for Vickers Wellington bomber crews.
- Displays include:
- Historical photographs, maps, and records.
- Artifacts from the WWII era, including uniforms, equipment, and personal items from service personnel.
2. Avro Vulcan XM655:
- A centerpiece of the Wellesbourne Wartime Museum and airfield.
- Maintained by the XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society.
- While not airworthy, the Vulcan is kept in taxiable condition and featured in special events and demonstrations.
- Visitors can tour the Vulcan and learn about its history, engineering, and role in Britain’s nuclear deterrent strategy during the Cold War.
3. Additional Displays:
- Models of aircraft that operated from the airfield.
- Memorabilia from various air campaigns.
- Insights into the lives of those stationed at Wellesbourne Mountford.
Significance:
The Wellesbourne Wartime Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into local wartime aviation history and the iconic Avro Vulcan. It’s a great destination for history enthusiasts, families, and aviation fans.