de Havilland Aircraft Museum

19/08/2026

Some 20 members of Walter Goldsmith’s family were recently reunited at the aircraft museum he founded in 1959 at Salisbury Hall, near London Colney.

The event was organised by his daughter Mariana Magnussen and drew relatives from the UK, Italy, Denmark and California. The guests had an informal tour of what is now the de Havilland Aircraft Museum. Several archived items associated with Walter Goldsmith were displayed, including his Royal Marines dress uniform and a poster advertising the museum’s public opening in May 1959. Contemporary photographs confirm that wartime fighter ace Douglas Barder attended.

Walter Goldsmith acquired Salisbury Hall as a home for his growing family, despite its dilapidated condition. Fortunately, the Ministry of Works was willing to financially support its renovation, provided that it was open to the public. These works revealed aircraft graffiti confirming that the Hall was the secret development base of the Mosquito aircraft in 1940-41.

Senior staff at de Havillands factory in Hatfield were keen to loan Walter Goldsmith memorabilia associated with the Mosquito for public display. These included the actual Mosquito prototype W4050 built there in the early 1940s.

Mariana remembers that, as a small girl, she and her friends would clamber over what is now a priceless exhibit and slide down its wings.

15/08/2026

Statement from the de Havilland Aircraft Museum
15 August 2026

The de Havilland Aircraft Museum acknowledges the incident involving the Shuttleworth Collection’s de Havilland DH.88 Comet, Grosvenor House, during this evening’s Flying Proms Air Show.

We are deeply relieved to hear that the crew member has been extracted from the aircraft, is responding, and has been taken to hospital for further assessment. Our thoughts are with them, their family, and everyone affected at this difficult time.

We understand that detailed investigations will follow in due course. In the meantime, we extend our full support to the Shuttleworth Collection and the wider historic aviation community.

28/07/2026

Got any summer plans this week?

Don’t forget that we are running our Summer Holiday activities here at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum.

☀️🦋 SUMMER HOLIDAYS AT DE HAVILLAND MUSEUM ☀️🦋

Join us at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum for our Summer Holiday Fun starting from Saturday 18th July - Monday 31st August!

We have our Quiz and Lucky Dip prize along with outdoor games and indoor Hangar Games!

We are also hosting Arts and Crafts with make your own Peg Planes and Butterflies!

Alongside this we have our 20 Aircraft to explore, outdoor play area and our Aeroshop and Comet Cafe which is stocked with tasty treats (and ice cream!)

So why not come and visit us this summer!

We are open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:30-17:00 (last entry at 16:00) and open on Bank Holiday Monday!

23/07/2026

We’re often privileged to receive some quite remarkable visitors to the Museum, all with a unique and special link to the de Havilland story. None more so than 100-year-old Stanley Hills who - along with family members - recently visited from his home at Walton-on-the Naze.

Born in 1926, Stanley grew up in the Kings Cross area and joined the de Havilland Aircraft Company in June 1940, aged just fourteen. Living in London Colney, he was sent to Salisbury Hall where he worked as an assistant/tea boy to the Mosquito Design Team, remaining there for over a year until transferred onto Mosquito production at Hatfield. As such (and as far as we’re aware), Stanley is now the last surviving member of the Salisbury Hall Mosquito design/production team, it was therefore fascinating to hear his memories of life during this period!

Perhaps Stanley’s most remarkable recollection concerns the maiden flight of Mosquito Fighter prototype, W4052, from a field at Salisbury Hall during the evening of 15 May 1941.

Stanley later assembled bomb doors on the Mosquito production line at Hatfield, before enlisting in the army at the age of eighteen. He served during the Second World War and went on to enjoy a remarkable and varied career.

It was an absolute privilege to host Stanley and his family; we very much hope to see them again soon.

There is more of Stanley’s story on our Museum Blog which you can view on our website

de Havilland Veteran Visits the Mosquito Prototype by John Veall | Jul 22, 2026 | Blog, NewsWe’re often privileged to receive some quite remarkable visitors to the Museum, all with a unique and special link to the de Havilland story. Non more so than 100-year-old Stanley Hills who – along with f...

18/07/2026

⭐️ NEW AEROSHOP PRODUCT ⭐️

Chipmunk fans rejoice!!

Just launched today by Ben Griffiths and Ian Black, we have the brand new book, Chipmunk at 80 (vol 1) we have been very privileged to receive some copies to sell on the launch date!

This book is for sale in our Aeroshop for £37.99, so why not pop down and purchase a copy from our Aeroshop!

17/07/2026

☀️🦋 SUMMER HOLIDAYS AT DE HAVILLAND MUSEUM ☀️🦋

Join us at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum for our Summer Holiday Fun starting from Saturday 18th July - Monday 31st August!

We have our Quiz and Lucky Dip prize along with outdoor games and indoor Hangar Games!

We are also hosting Arts and Crafts with make your own Peg Planes and Butterflies!

Alongside this we have our 20 Aircraft to explore, outdoor play area and our Aeroshop and Comet Cafe which is stocked with tasty treats (and ice cream!)

So why not come and visit us this summer!

We are open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:30-17:00 (last entry at 16:00) and open on Bank Holiday Monday!

03/07/2026

⭐ NEW AEROSHOP PRODUCT ⭐

We at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum are excited to share our new T Shirt design!

This Mosquito T Shirt features the museums DH Mosquito FB.VI TA122 in a “blueprint” layout and is only available to be purchased in the museums Aeroshop for £19.99 each (Not available online)

We stock sizes Small - 3XL and they make a great gift for any aviation enthusiast!

Why not come down to the museum and buy one today!

30/06/2026

An exciting day in the museum today!

Our replica DH.71 Tiger Moth racer has been assembled for the first time!

Our DH.71 project has been worked on in the background of the museum for a few years under the care of Alex, a museum volunteer.

This has been recently handed onto our DH.88 Comet Racer team who are using modern woodwork materials and 3D modelling tools to bring this little racer to life.

We hope to see more work on the DH.71 in the coming months and we look forward to her joining the rest of the museum collection in the future!

27/06/2026

The de Havilland Aircraft Museum, recently hosted the 72nd International Marquetry Competition. An annual event, this year’s was organised by the St Albans Marquetry Group. Visitors from across the country attended.

While most entries were from around the United Kingdom, there were a number from overseas.
Marquetry is the art of applying pieces of veneer to form decorative patterns and designs on furniture and small objects.

To mark the occasion, the St Albans Group donated a marquetry box containing marquetry coasters, each one depicting a different de Havilland aircraft. The box was presented to the museum by Mr Enrico Maestranzi, President of the UK Marquetry Society, to Tim Crichton, a Museum Trustee

The museum expresses its thanks to both the National Marquetry Society and the St Albans Marquetry Group for allowing us to host their wonderful exhibition. The coaster box is proudly on display for the public to view in our Aeroshop.