Visit to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum (2026)

Visit July 1st 2026
Tangmere Aviation Museum (2026)

'Nestled on a corner of the historic former RAF Tangmere airfield, Tangmere Military Aviation Museum stands on one of Britain’s most famous fighter station sites.
From its opening in 1918 until RAF Fighter Command departed in 1958, RAF Tangmere played a pivotal role in defending the nation through two World Wars and the early years of the Cold War.

Established in 1982 by a dedicated group of aviation enthusiasts, the Museum exists to preserve and share the remarkable story of Britain’s military aviation heritage. Our mission is to inspire and educate present and future generations, while honouring the courage, sacrifice and achievements of the airmen and airwomen who served their country.
Operated primarily by an exceptional team of volunteers, the Museum was proudly recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2017, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.

Our extensive collection includes historic aircraft, engines, uniforms, medals, personal artefacts and thousands of photographs and documents, telling the story of military aviation from the First World War through to the Cold War.
Visitors can also enjoy a wide range of interactive exhibits, climb into authentic aircraft cockpits and experience our popular flight simulators, bringing aviation history vividly to life.'
¬ tangmere-museum.org.uk/about-us/

Tangmere Aviation Museum (2026)

Tangmere Aviation Museum (2026)
Royal Air Force Tangmere, or more simply RAF Tangmere, is a former Royal Air Force station located in Tangmere, England, famous for its role in the Battle of Britain. It was one of several stations near Chichester, West Sussex. The WW2
aces Wing Commander Douglas Bader, and the then inexperienced Johnnie Johnson, were stationed at Tangmere in 1941.

Tangmere Aviation Museum (2026)

The aerodrome was founded in 1917 for use by the Royal Flying Corps as a training base. In August 1918 it was sold to the US Government and turned over to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps (USSC) as a training ground for US-built Handley-Page O/400 biplane bombers, although almost none were completed by the time of the Armistice. The Aviation Section of the American Expeditionary Forces (ASAEF) agreed to improve the airfield and constructed further hangars.
Tangmere continued to host the 92d Aero Squadron until the end of the Great War in November 1918, after which the airfield was put up for sale at the end of 1919.

As war threatened in the late 1930s, the fighter aircraft based at Tangmere became faster, with Hawker Furies, Gloster Gladiators, and Hawker Hurricanes all being used. [¬ Wikipedia]