You know the thing. You’ve been promising to go somewhere for what seems like an eternity but you never make it. You’ve read a few reviews documenting how impressive it is, despite being free and entirely staffed and run by volunteers. You know, partly because of the volunteers that it’s only open on Sundays, with a Wednesday addition through June, July and August. That!!! But yesterday ‘that’ all changed for Parham Airfield Museum….
There are a number of these air control towers in the area but this was by far the closest to home. First thing to say is that are a huge number of exhibits to view – probably, and ironically, too much for one visit! There was a museum dedicated to the British Aux Units, a fifth column of saboteurs intended for use in case of invasion in WW2. Also a reproduction of one of their hideouts.
The tower itself contained a number of aircraft engines. Very informative with the added attraction of a pleasant café, which obviously had be utilised, purely in the interests of research you understand. The staff we encountered were both friendly and particularly well informed and helpful.
This next bit is taken straight from the website, which is slightly unusual on this blog but any extra promotion is warranted for the museum and hopefully appreciated.
The Museum is situated on an old World War II United States Air Force Station. The Museum actually consists of 2 separate Museums, which join together to show how this corner of rural Suffolk was affected by the War in two very different ways.
The 390th Bomb Group Memorial Air Museum pays tribute to the 740 servicemen killed or ‘Missing in Action’ from this airfield and the further 754 who were taken as Prisoners of War.
The Museum of the British Resistance Organisation provides an insight into ‘Britain’s Secret Army’, with contemporary artefacts housed in the Nissen Huts and a unique replica secret underground bunker. The Museum aims to shed light on “Britain’s best kept war secret“.
Definitely a museum that could support multiple visits and a complete surprise and completely deserving of donations – been to plenty of places that charge plenty for far less. Got there in the end!!