ArtistsRifles Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 In the Reg't Association journal this month was an article on the planned relocation of the Airborne Forces Museum. Thought you all might like to see the item: AIRBORNE FORCES MUSEUM As a Trustee of the Airborne Forces Museum I am writing to let you know about our £ 5M appeal to relocate the current Museum to a new site at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. This ambitious and exciting proposal will be of much interest to those members of your Association who have served with Airborne Forces or have been seconded to the Parachute Regiment. It would be much appreciated if, through your Regimental Journal or Association meetings, you would pass on this information. The need to create a new museum has been brought about by the redevelopment of Browning Barracks at Aldershot, the historic home of The Parachute Regiment, which will bring about the imminent closure of the Airborne Forces Museum. The formation of 1 6 Air Assault Brigade and the move of many elements of Airborne Forces away from Aldershot has already prompted the need to relocate Regimental Headquarters of the Parachute Regiment to Colchester. After a careful options' appraisal and a great deal of negotiation, we decided to create a new Museum on the Imperial War Museum's site at Duxford in Cambridgeshire, which is home to a remarkable collection of aircraft on the former RAF airfield. To this end we have formed a partnership with IWM, Duxford to create Airborne Assault. Our initial responsibility is to raise the capital cost of £ 5M We will not receive any funding from the Imperial War Museum or its donors. We have now secured over £ 3M in donations and pledges from a wide variety of sources. We have sought to create more than simply a home for the heritage of Airborne Forces, although that is naturally a prime element. Airborne Assault will be a new and unique military attraction bringing to life the history and modern reality of the Airborne Forces from the Second World War to the present. Key to this will be multi-media and interactive displays of the historical collections and the heritage they represent, alongside a centrally located indoor activity centre with demanding physical activities for all ages and abilities containing standard equipment used in the military parachuting and synthetic training programme of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces. There will also be an outdoor activity area based on the Parachute Regiment's recruitment-drives, including jump towers; a 'death slide' and 80m zip line. Airborne Assault will complement the Land Warfare Centre and the aircraft displays of the American Air Museum and Duxford's many hangars and will be a key attraction forming synergy between the air and land components. The identity of Airborne Forces will be preserved with a memorial aspect to the new facility recognising the sacrifice of the 1 5,000 members who have been killed in action since 1940. Indeed, Airborne Assault will tell the whole story of the Airborne Soldier and, as such, your members will be honoured for their contribution to our joint heritage. The selection of Duxford was made after considerable thought and careful analysis. It already attracts nearly half a million visitors a year and we believe that the Museum will offer a unique additional place of interest, bringing our joint heritage to life by use of film, reference and research facilities, a presentation theatre, a seminar room, activity areas and temporary exhibition space. We have carried out extensive research on the long-term sustainability of this project and are confident that it will fulfil our expectations. Please take a look at our website at http://www.airborneassaultduxford.com to see the drawings and plans. There is also a very moving film depicting some of the major campaigns we have taken part in. If you wish, we can establish a link between your association' s website and ours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterMacD Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 Its about time - the museum in the Shot is manky and crumbling. A new purpose built museum at Duxford would be ideal. I wonder if they will give back the original model used for the Pegasus Bridge planning to the Royal Green Jackets museum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve ryan Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Hi Neil only just seen your posting Steve http://www.hmvf.co.uk/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=38&topic=6215.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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