Wings Museum

The Wings Museum in Balcombe, West Sussex, is renowned for its extensive collection of World War II aviation artifacts, including some wrecks and salvaged remains of aircraft from the period. It focuses particularly on the aircraft, air crews, and the significant role that aviation played during the conflict. The museum also emphasizes the remembrance of the brave individuals involved in these campaigns and the historical context of World War II.

Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum

Unit 1, Bucklands Farm

Brantridge Lane

Balcombe RH17 6JT

United Kingdom

www.wingsmuseum.co.uk

info@wingsmuseum.co.uk

+44 7769 688064

March – October (Remembrance Sunday)

  • Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 – 17:00

Closed Monday

By prior arrangement they can open the museum for group bookings of 12 persons or over

Admission fee

Gift shop

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Exit either at Junction 10a or Junction 11 (the Pease Pottage Junction) off the M-23. The museum building is located geographically between the villages of Balcombe and Handcross. They are approximately 1 mile from the M-23 Motor Way.

Aircraft collection

Bell P-63C King Cobra 44-4315/17 Russian Air Force, Wings Museum
G-OJAS

XM468

43-11137

44-4315/17

–

VP967

43-21664

43-22649

42-100611

43-49240

WK127/FO

51-2700

P1273

BD731

–

T9768 (G-AIUA)

5353

43-36140

Auster J/1U

BAC Jet Provost T.3 (cockpit)

Bell P-63C King Cobra (cockpit)

Bell P-63C King Cobra (wreck)

Bristol Beaufighter IF (cockpit)

de Havilland Devon C.2

Douglas A-20G Havoc (wreck)

Douglas A-26K Invader (cockpit)

Douglas C-47A Dakota (cockpit)

Douglas C-47A Dakota (fuselage)

English Electric Canberra TT.18 (Forward fuselage only)

Fairchild C-119G Packet (cockpit)

Handley Page Hampden 1 (wreck)

Hawker Hurricane IIC (wreck)

Heinkel He 177A-5 Greif (wreck)

Miles M.14A Magister (fuselage)

Nakajima B5N2 Kate (wreck)

North American B-25J Mitchell (cockpit)

Bell P-63C King Cobra 43-11137 Russian Air Force, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Bell P-63C King Cobra 44-4315/17 Russian Air Force, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Bell P-63C King Cobra 44-4315/17 Russian Air Force, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Bell P-63C King Cobra wing Russian Air Force, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Bristol Beaufighter IF, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Bristol Beaufighter IF, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 WD377 RAF, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Douglas A-26K Invader 43-22649 USAAF Cockpit Section, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Hawker Hurricane IIC BD731 Russian Air Force, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Hawker Hurricane IIC BD731 Russian Air Force, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Heinkel He 177A-5 Greif, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Miles M.14A Magister T9768 RAF, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Nakajima B5N2 Kate 339 553rd Kokutai Imperial Japanese Navy, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Nakajima B5N2 Kate 339 553rd Kokutai Imperial Japanese Navy, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Rear Gun Turret Whitley Bomber, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Relics from the Deep, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
V-1 flying bomb wing, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
V-2, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Bell P-63C King Cobra, Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK
Wings Museum – World War Two Remembrance Museum Balcombe, UK

Wrecks and Salvaged Aircraft at the Wings Museum:

The museum showcases various wrecks, or parts of aircraft, that have been salvaged from crash sites and restored to tell the story of the planes and the people who flew them. Some of the aircraft wrecks come from famous warplanes that were lost in combat during World War II, while others are remnants of planes that crashed for different reasons, such as training accidents or mechanical failures.

Key Highlights of Aircraft Wrecks at the Museum:

  1. Wrecks of Famous WWII Aircraft:
    • The museum features parts of aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane, two iconic planes from the Battle of Britain.
    • Other wrecks may include parts from German aircraft (such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109) and American bombers that were involved in air battles during the war.
  2. Restoration Projects:
    • Some wrecks at the museum are works in progress, where the museum’s staff and volunteers are actively involved in restoring and rebuilding these planes.
    • The restoration of wrecks is a major part of the museum’s mission, and visitors may see these aircraft being brought back to life, either as replicas or fully functioning pieces of aviation history.

Photos Les Spearman