Cosford's RAF Museum is on a mission to keep VE Day memories alive - here's how

This Thursday (May 8) marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and the RAF Museum in Cosford is seeking to spread the message about the importance of celebrating Victory in Europe (VE) Day. 

The museum is inviting residents to two special days of celebration this weekend featuring several events to commemorate the occasion. A Lancaster bomber will fly over the museum in tribute to those that fought and lost their lives during the war.

The site features several Second World War aircraft including the world's oldest Spitfire, Hurricane, the Wolverhampton-built Defiant, Wellington and Mosquito. 

Moreover, the museum boasts several artefacts and historical collections for visitors to see.

The RAF Museum Archive's library and research manager Nina Hadaway is responsible for the team that looks after their collections from the time, which they also make available for researchers, conduct their own research on and present at the museum.

She said: "From our perspective, it is the museum's mission to share the stories of the RAF, to share the huge contribution that they made to the war - teaching people why it happened and the effort that was involved in bringing the war to an end, but also looking at the impact of war, both on those who were serving and civilians and on society.

"It is about the opportunity to mark the end of the Second World War but honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is also what it represents and the acceptance of German surrender and defeat of Nazism and their activities."

Shropshire is home to thousands of serving and ex-military personnel with RAF Cosford and Shawbury, and MOD Donnington.

As well as keeping VE Day memories alive for future generations, Nina added that the commemorations "resonate" with people in or connected to the armed forces.

"With those who have a personal connection to conflict, I think it resonates with them quite strongly," she continued. "It is about commemoration which is a really good word, as it is about honouring those who have gone before and experienced that conflict and huge effort that they made during the Second World War in particular."

The museum also boasts a German aircraft, which is on display alongside several exhibits from the Second World War.

"We have quite a few programmes where personnel were going to church services of thanksgiving because we have a record of them going into the pub and enjoying a pint, but then there were also pictures of celebration and of people jumping in the air, really happy," Nina said. "There is that sense of relief and people giving thanks that the war is coming to an end."

Visitors to the museum can soak up the spirit of the occasion with an uplifting afternoon VE Day Concert, featuring live performances between 1pm and 3.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

Proceedings will open with a welcome and commemorative poem from veterans of the National Service (RAF) Association. The RAF Voluntary Band Cosford will then fill the air with rousing tunes, while The Bluebird Belles, a beloved 1940s vocal trio, will revive the joyful sounds of the wartime era with their popular swing classics.

Throughout this weekend, a host of free, family-friendly activities will be on offer at the museum. Visitors can get creative at the VE Day bunting workshop and help craft a Union flag-themed display for the hangar. 

Visitors can also discover stories like that of a prisoner of war who was shot down in a plane.

Nina said: "We are just preparing for the event at the museum this weekend and we have been exploring our collections to find out about the difference experiences of personnel at that time.

"It has been really interesting. We have found some quotes about the experiences and one of them was from a prisoner of war who had been shot down. He had been a prisoner of war for most of the war before being shot down in 1940.

"He was recalling in his memoir that it was his first time back in the aircraft for five years and how he was looking forward to seeing England again. It brings it home really."