Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum in West Sussex stands on the former RAF Tangmere airfield, once one of Britain’s most important fighter bases. During the Battle of Britain it was home to legendary pilots such as Douglas Bader, and its runways saw intense action throughout the Second World War. Today, the museum preserves this heritage through a rich collection of aircraft, artefacts and personal stories that bring the drama of wartime aviation to life. Inside, visitors can explore iconic aircraft including the Hawker Hunter, English Electric Lightning and the rare Westland Lysander, famous for secret missions inserting agents into occupied Europe. Detailed cockpit sections allow you to sit where pilots once flew at extraordinary speeds. The museum’s interactive flight simulators offer a hands‑on taste of aerial manoeuvres, while the “Merlin Experience” reveals the power of the engines that drove Britain’s fighters. Among the most intriguing facts is Tangmere’s role in early radar development and covert operations, making it a hub of innovation as well as combat. Personal exhibits—letters, uniforms, escape kits—add emotional depth, showing the human side of aviation history. Tangmere remains a place where courage, technology and memory converge, preserving the spirit of the airfield that helped defend Britain.