The RAF Air Museum near Hendon, North London, is a sanctum where heroes of the past intertwine with eerie tales, bringing past valour into present mystique
In the north-west of the bustling capital, lies a haven of aviation history – the RAF Museum London.
Unveiled on 15 November 1972, this repository showcases a century of flying heritage within its five grand halls.
Yet, amid the steel and silence, whispers of a bygone era linger. The ghosts of RAF Hendon Air Museum are as much a part of its fabric as the legendary aircraft they once commandeered.
The Phantom Airman
The jewel in London’s Air Museum’s crown is undoubtedly the Avro Lancaster Bomber, R5868 ‘S-Sugar’. This vintage beauty is not just a spectacle for its metallic sheen and grandiose wingspan but for its illustrious service during World War II.
R5868 was the first RAF heavy bomber to complete 100 operational sorties, with its 100th mission marking a raid on a military camp at Bourg Leopold in Belgium on 11th May 1944.
Yet, its service seems to extend beyond the living realm. The bomber is reputedly haunted by one of its former crewmen. Late at night, the apparition of a gunner has been spotted manning the aircraft’s gun turrets, and the spectral sounds of crewmen at work echo through the stillness.
The narrative of R5868 ‘S-Sugar’ is well-cemented within the annals of the Royal Air Force London Museum.
This aircraft, having flown 137 operational sorties during the war, was preserved post-war and stationed at various RAF bases before finally nestling into its current residence at Hendon (or more specifically Colindale) in 1972. The ghostly gunner, seemingly tethered to ‘S-Sugar’, continues to serve, ensuring the aircraft is ever battle-ready.
Echoes From The Foundations
The eerie tales extend beyond the aircraft. During the early stages of constructing the museum in the 1970s, a tragic mishap led to the death of a man.
His spirit is believed to roam the corridors of the Royal Air Force Museum London, particularly in galleries 3 and 9, where visitors have reported hearing unexplained noises during the stillness of the night.
In the realm of the supernatural, the RAF Museum London not only preserves the tangible but seemingly the intangible essence of the Royal Air Force’s rich history.
The whispers of the past resonate through the halls, making a visit to the museum not just a lesson in aviation history but a rendezvous with the spirits that once soared the skies.
Amidst the cold steel and historical relics at RAF Air Museum, the warmth of valorous spirits breathes life into the annals of the past, ensuring the legacy of the RAF’s gallant airmen lives on.
The Royal Air Force Museum is located in the northwest part of London and is well-connected by public transportation, with Colindale being the nearest underground station. Its full address is: Royal Air Force Museum London, Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL.
Have you seen anything strange at RAF Air Museum London? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
