The RAF Museum is undertaking one of the most ambitious moves in its history—relocating more than 50,000 historic artifacts from a hidden storage site to a new, purpose-built Collections Hub at its Midlands location. The massive operation, dubbed The Crate Escape, is also a public fundraising campaign aimed at unlocking over a century of untold stories from RAF history.
Currently, less than 1% of the RAF Museum’s vast national collection is on display. The remainder—ranging from aircraft parts and ejector seats to uniforms, medals, and logbooks—has been stored away in a secure but largely inaccessible facility at MOD Stafford. These items, each with a unique story to tell, represent a rich but underexplored facet of Britain’s aviation heritage.
Ewen Cameron, Curator of the Stored Collection, says the task ahead is monumental. “The move from Stafford to our Midlands site is no small feat. Our specialist staff and dedicated volunteers are preparing to relocate more than 50,000 objects. That’s over 31,000 hours of work, involving cataloguing, conservation, cleaning, and packing each item by hand,” Cameron explained.
The new Collections Hub is part of a broader transformation of the RAF Museum Midlands, scheduled for completion in the summer of 2027. The expanded site will also feature a new permanent exhibition covering the RAF’s role from the 1980s to the era of space and cyber defense, as well as a modern Learning Centre and enhanced green spaces for visitors. The project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Royal Air Force, and the Museum’s own investment.
To help realize this vision, the Museum is calling on individuals and businesses to sponsor part of the move. Through The Crate Escape, supporters can choose to fund a packing box and, in doing so, help preserve and share stories of courage, innovation, and sacrifice.
“This isn’t just about transporting objects,” said Ella Hewitt, Individual Giving Manager at the Museum. “It’s about bringing hidden stories to light. By sponsoring a box, supporters become part of our mission to ensure these powerful RAF stories are never forgotten.” Sponsors can choose from three levels of support—Bronze (£30), Silver (£100), and Gold (starting at £1,000)—each offering varying levels of recognition and engagement. Every participant will receive a unique box number and updates about the items their donation helped preserve, which could include anything from a pair of boots to a piece of a historic aircraft.
The RAF Museum is encouraging the public to get involved and be a part of this once-in-a-generation project. More information about The Crate Escape and how to contribute can be found at rafmuseum.org. The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m., and admission is free.
