Wings Aviation Museum

12/06/2026

Hear Terry HillIard tell of his experiences in his own words at the Wings Aviation Museum in West Sussex - First-of-its-kind New permanent exhibition on Britains nuclear tests title "INTO THE ATOM".

He spent seven minutes collecting samples in the turbulent cloud of Britain’s hydrogen bomb before returning to base for an ice-cold shower

12/06/2026

I had the great pleasure to meet 88 year old Adrian Michael Eric Adams today at his home in Sussex. Adrian is a veteran of Britain's nuclear tests and witnessed first hand 6 nuclear bomb detonations including Grapple X and Grapple Y on Christmas Island. Adrian was part of Operation Grapple headquarters and had some of the highest security clearence. He served with Naval Party 2512, later HMS Resolution. Adrian told me what it was like to witness an atomic bomb. He said "we were told to close our eyes and cover them with our hands and sit with our backs to the explosion in a crouching position with our knees brought up in front of our hands. I could feel the heat on my back and there was a count down from 0 to 20 seconds, after this count down we could turn around and look at the mushroom cloud forming. I had no special protective clothing and as the blast wave reached us several of us were bowled over by the blast.

We are very grateful to Adrian to include original items of his memorabilia for our first-of-its-kind NEW permanent exhibition titled "INTO THE ATOM" at the Wings Museum in Sussex. This display pays tribute the 20,000 strong force that played a major part in creating Britain's Nuclear deterrant. Many vetrans and their children and grandchildren are living with the consequences of these tests. Its time the MoD recognised this and give them the compensation that is long over due.

11/06/2026

A view from the Wings Museum workshop today. B-25 Mitchell Bedsheet Bomber project ongoing and making good progress.

02/06/2026

The Wings Museum has thousands of unique items from World War Two, each with a story to tell. We recently acquired one such very special artifact which survived those dark days of life on the home front. This table cloth was hand stitched during the London Blitz by a lady sheltering from the bombs. I love these thought evoking items from our past.

02/06/2026

Visitor Notice: There are road closure signs at the end of Brantridge Lane near the museum. Please note that the museum remains fully accessible, and you can safely ignore these signs.

26/05/2026

This Father’s Day, give your dad an unforgettable experience with a truly unique day out at the Wings Museum.

For one day only, visitors will have the rare opportunity to step inside two incredible pieces of living history:

Sit in the pilot’s seat of a 1943 Douglas C-47 Skytrain Paratrooper aircraft — the very aircraft featured in the TV series Band of Brothers. Capture a once-in-a-lifetime photo from the cockpit where history was made.

Climb aboard a 1944 D-Day GMC DUKW Amphibious Truck and take the wheel of this remarkable wartime vehicle for another unforgettable photo opportunity.

This special upgrade is available for one day only and can be purchased on the door for £25 per person, including full museum entry. Explore fascinating exhibits from World War Two and beyond, each with its own story to tell.

And here’s a little secret — you don’t have to be a dad to enjoy this experience!

Please note: visitors should be reasonably fit and able to climb into these historic vehicles safely.

museum

15/05/2026

"INTO THE ATOM" at the Wings Aviation Museum, a new first-of-its-kind permanent display dedicated to service personnel that took part in Britain's Nuclear tests received some new items of memorabilia that will be included in the display in the very near future.

Jenny Young is the daughter of Squadron Leader Thomas Antony Ball - OBE who served with the Royal Air Force as a catering officer and was stationed on Christmas Island during Operation Grapple.

The collection includes a number of original colour photographs and slides taken on Christmas Island and his original Grapple Tie and a bible given to him by his mother and father just before sailing to Christmas Island. We are always looking for photographs, paper work and any memorabilia to help us better interpret the service and memory of our the Air Force, Army and Navy that played a major role in creating Britain's nuclear deterrent.

01/05/2026

GB News were at the Wings Aviation Museum covering a new first-of-its-kind exhibition on Britains nuclear testing which is now open to the public. This marks the first cold war display at the Wings Museum. Founding curators of the Wings Aviation Museum have family connections with the Britain's nuclear testing and feel this is a story that needs to be told and recognised.

‘Into the Atom’ looks at the RAF crews who were ordered to fly through the mushroom clouds

12/02/2026

Stuck for something to do with the kids this half term? Support a local charity and come and explore the 1940’s at the Wings Aviation Museum, located near Balcombe West Sussex RH17 6JT.

Sit in aircraft cockpits, learn about life in World War Two, hold historical rifles of the time, come rain or shine you are sure to get a warm welcome at Wings.