Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum

The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum was based in Browning Barracks in the Aldershot Military Town area near Aldershot in Hampshire. As well as the history of Airborne Forces in general, in particular the Museum told the story of the The Parachute Regiment, which was based in the town from its creation in 1940 until 2003.

Origins of the Museum

The Museum was established by a meeting of the Committee of the Parachute Regiment Association in October 1946, being housed in various barracks until it was officially opened in Browning Barracks on 23rd March 1969 by Field Marshall Montgomery. The Museum traced the history of British Airborne Forces from 1940 to the present day.

The Exhibits

The display included the original briefing models for the airborne operations of World War II, including Bruneval, D-Day, Arnhem and the Rhine Crossing, as well as the post-war campaigns such as the Falklands War. Exhibited were an indoor and outdoor collection of vehicles and guns, guns and parachutes of the early and modern airborne soldiers, displays of World War II German and US airborne uniforms, weapons and equipment, sections of gliders including a Hotspur and Horsa, dioramas of military actions and displays of Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces historical artifacts.

Medal Gallery

The Medal Gallery exhibited many of the medals awarded to British airborne troops, including the posthumous VCs awarded to Lt. John Hollington Grayburn of the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, Captain Lionel Ernest Queripel, attached to the 10th Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and that awarded in 2007 to Corporal Bryan Budd, of the 3rd Battalion.

Outside the Museum there is a collection of artillery pieces as well as a Douglas Dakota and an Argentinian Pucara aircraft captured during the 1982 Falklands War.

The Future

The museum closed in December 2007. In partnership with the Imperial War Museum, a new museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces will open at Duxford [ [http://www.airborneassault-duxford.com/ Airborne Assault – Duxford ] ] in late autumn 2008.

This new visitor attraction will be known as Airborne Assault Duxford [ [http://www.airborneassault-duxford.com/ Airborne Assault – Duxford ] ] . It will present the story of men who go to war from the air, and so complete the Duxford picture alongside its Aviation and Land Warfare exhibits.

The vision for Airborne Assault is a new and unique attraction bringing alive the history and modern reality of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces, from the Second World War to the Falklands, Kosovo, the Gulf and Afghanistan. Much of the 67-year history is captured on film and veterans from the D-Day landings and Arnhem are still alive and actively involved. Although Airborne Assault will chronicle a proud history it is also about the present, looking at those who are currently out in the field “making history”.

Central to this will be ParaData - a comprehensive database record of all who have served, set against multi-media presentations of relevant campaigns and engagements. The database will be a definitive history and a continually updated document for an estimated 500,000 descendants by 2016. Whilst paying respect to those who have served and their families, this will engage a younger audience, especially with reference to the National Curriculum, through the use of cutting-edge technology. Families will be able to research their history at touch screens and online.

References

The Museum of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Souvenir Brochure and Guide. Printed and Published by the Airborne Press HQ 16 Parachute Brigade. 1970

External links

* [http://www.army.mod.uk/para/af_museum/ Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum website]
* [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/1-b/airborneforcesmus.htm Unofficial guide to the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum]
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccairbor.htm List of Victoria Crosses held by the Museum]
* [http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000009-Airborne-Forces-Museum.htm The Museum on the Ogilby Trust's website]