Hello There! After moving to the border of Norfolk and Suffolk, I am now very close to the above museum. I visited it in the 1990's and I found it has taken on a much bigger presence on the same site.
The main thing that caught my eye was the replica of the Colditz Cock. This was based on information from the British in mates of Colditz Castle. This exhibit was built for a Channel 4 program and has been shown to be able to fly. Unfortunately there is only one photograph of the original and when Russia took over that part of Germany, after the war, it was never seen again.
The skin of the aircraft was made from mattress covers stretched across the frame and stiffened by covering in a dope glue. This was similar to aircraft from WW I
Further around the museum was a post was Austin Champ. I knew a garage owner and magistrate, in Great Yarmouth, when I was a teen ager and he had one of these in storage in his garage!
Further around was a Morris, Mk1, light recon car. this was in very good condition.
Next a British paratroop Wel bike.
Now a bit of a trip down memory lane. You cannot imagine the feeling of seeing an aircraft that you spent ten years of military service supporting and find it as a museum exhibit. It makes you feel very old indeed.
There are a number of side rooms holding a number of exhibits from the Second World War. Here are a number of aisles of aircraft parts both donated and recovered from crash sites.
Thee are also a number of completed models showing various aircraft which had flown from the many airfields that existed in East Anglia.
Another building housed exhibits connected to the American groups and squadrons that were also based around East Anglia.
I have seen silk escape maps in other museums but although this one was in pieces it was closer to the cabinet glass that what I have seen before.
Spoils of war are available through many centuries and here is something from the Falklands War. I also found one of these, sitting in a hangar, when I spent some time in the Falkland Islands.
This Phantom was also given the markings of a plane that served in the Falkland Islands post war.
In the corner of one room there was a mock up of a model making room. This had models from a long time period and also bought a few memories back.
The number of times I went to the local toy shop to buy another Matchbox two or three colour kit, to make over the weekend.
This room extended to a display of old models
The Second world war exhibits included a few cabinets of German memorabilia
Here are a selection of incendiary bombs
A number of Dinky toys, or equivalent are also on display
Lastly a model of the Air Naval Station which was on the South denes in Great Yarmouth. The last remaining building from this station was demolished while building the new outer harbour.
Over all this is well worth a visit, for the diversity of exhibits and periods of aviation and conflict covered. I would recommend a visit.
