Bentwaters Cold War Museum

Museum of the year?

cwbalmer — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:04:59 +0000

Following on from last year’s runners-up position in the Suffolk Museum of the Year competition, we have entered again this year. Voting slips will be available at the Museum from May 19th. Entries have to be in by 24th August. Unfortunately there is no on-line voting. The only way you can do so is either to visit the museum or a voting slip can be emailed to you if you send a message to info@bcwm.org.uk. Thank you for your support.

Harrier on the move….

cwbalmer — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:26:06 +0000

The latest exhibit at the BCWM was on the move today (Saturday March 30th), being put in to position outside the Museum. Here’s a few shots of her on the move for you.

Strange discovery…

cwbalmer — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:53:50 +0000

With all of the excitement of the new season approaching, a discovery was made over the Winter at the airbase. Buried within Rendlesham Forest on the perimeter of the airbase, an unusual looking creature was found. Video footage has been sent off for verification, and skin analysis has been taken to determine it’s origins. Although video verification would tell us very little at present, this is a good start before forensic analysis takes place on the creature later. The creature can be seen on display from the start of the season for a short time only, so that both the public, and experts, can decide for themselves what it is! (Photo: Simon Parker)

Support Squadrons Display

cwbalmer — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:46:08 +0000

One of this years new exhibits is the Support Squadron Display.since we have been open to the public we have had lots of information on the flying squadrons, but little information for the squadrons that kept the Wing flying.

New display material has been loaned/donated by ex service personnel, and with help from the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, we have put together information boards from most of the squadrons that supported the 81st TFW during their time at RAF Bentwaters. This includes information on Civil Engineering, PSA, Equipment Maintenance, Aircraft Generation, Component Repair, and Supply & Transportation to name but a few.We have also added more to the airshow section as well as the POL section, and a new display on the Sports & Leisuresections from both Bentwaters and Woodbridge.

POW/MIA Display

cwbalmer — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:38:16 +0000

One of our staff members, Bob Hale ex-USAF, has been recruited as the POW Co-ordinator for Europe and is keen to honour those members of the armed forces who are missing. This table is symbolic and used across the military. This exhibit is particularly important to all those who have served, or are still serving in the armed forces. You may notice this small table here in a place of honour. It is set for one. This table is the way of symbolizing that members of the profession of arms are missing. They are commonly call P.O.W.’s or M.I.A.’s – those in the profession call them brothers.

They are unable to be with us and so we remember them.

This table set for one is small… it symbolizes the frailty of one prisoner against his oppressors.

The table cloth is white… it symbolizes the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms.

The single rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades in arms who keep faith awaiting their return.

The red ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn on the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting for our missing.

A slice of lemon is on the bread plate… to remind us of their bitter fate.

There is salt upon the bread plate… symbolic of the family’s tears as they wait.

The glass is inverted… they cannot toast with us tonight.

The chair is empty… they are not here.

Remember… all of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended on their might and aid, and relied on them… for surely… they have not forsaken you.

The 2013 season is here!

cwbalmer — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:34:16 +0000

The museum is based in the former USAF hardened Command Post on the former Bentwaters airfield. This is the only such building open to the public in the UK and Europe. The main “War Operations Room” and “Battle Cabin” have been restored to original condition. The BT Frame Room, and Decontamination Showers and Airlock are also as original. Other rooms within the building have been turned into exhibition rooms, covering the history of RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge from W.W.II until the bases closed in 1993. Included in this are histories of the units that operated from the airfield, particularly the 81st Fighter Wing.

Open 1st & 3rd Sundays and Bank Holiday Sundays & Mondays.
£5 Adults. £4 Concessions. Children FREE

New Alien Trail…

cwbalmer — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:24:22 +0000

In order to appeal more to the younger generation we have added a crashed UFO in our grounds and will be encouraging children to help find the missing crew of the craft inside the museum. They have to find ten small members of the crew hidden throughout the building and write down their names to receive a sticker.

Say hello to our new exhibit!

cwbalmer — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:52:42 +0000

Brand new for the 2013 season is the latest museum acquistion, a Harrier GR.3!! ZD667 was purchased by Everett Aero in December 2012 and subsequently bought by the Museum in February 2013 following a generous donation by Bentwaters Aviation Society member, Brian Smee. ZD667 has been re-painted in the very colourful markings it wore whilst assigned to IV(AC) Sqn at RAF Gütersloh in West Germany during the late-1980s.

On this day 20 years ago…

cwbalmer — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:12:41 +0000

Twenty years ago today, Col Roger Radcliff and Col Wally Berg flew the last two A-10s out of RAF Bentwaters. This ended 42-years of USAF flying operations at the East Suffolk base and the subsequent withdrawal of our American friends left a very big hole in the local community…a hole that has never been filled. Bentwaters Cold War Museum will continue to keep the memory alive and will never forgot the contribution the 81st TFW made to help end the Cold War.

March 2013

cwbalmer — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:11:15 +0000

The new season for 2013 is almost upon us. Watch this space for some details about what you can expect to see at the Museum in 2013!