MUSEUM OF THE YEAR 2007

Sywell Aviation Museum (SAM) is a voluntary, non-profit-making organisation which aims to preserve the history of Sywell Aerodrome and Northamptonshire's rich aviation heritage from the early days of aviation to the Second World War and beyond.

SAM began life in 1998 and the Museum building was opened in 2001 by the legendary aviator Alex Henshaw MBE who is also our honorary president. Alex flew from Sywell regularly during the Second World War, airtesting Vickers Wellingtons from the aerodrome so we were honoured that he agreed to launch our small Museum.

The Museum consists at present of three Nissen huts, dismantled at thew now-closed RAF Bentwaters and erected on site at Sywell. The buildings themselves are artefacts having been used as bomb fuzing sheds at Bentwaters by the USAAF during WW2.

In the Museum, Sywell now has a permanent base from which to celebrate its rich heritage, an important educational resource and an added attraction within the Aerodrome's thriving boundaries.

The Museum staff are all unpaid volunteers and members of the Sywell Aviation Museum Trust. The membership is around 30 in number, both ordinary members and Trustees.

Things are still progressing; we're not a Duxford or Hendon but we are determined that all visitors should enjoy their time with us, learn about the aviation heritage which is part of our locality and above all remember those who lost their lives in the conflicts of the 20th Century.

The Museum is proud to be associated with the following organisations:

• Member of the British Aviation Archaeology Council
• Member of the Northamptonshire Museums Forum
• Member of the International Cockpit Club
• Honorary Member of the Aircrew Association
• Honorary Member of the Air Gunners Association

The Museum is always pleased to receive details of crash sites or accept the donation of artefacts or items on loan - please contact us if you have something of interest. We're particularly interested in expanding our aviation book archive and any spare mannequins/dummies, aviation or wartime artefacts, models etc.

Thank you to all our past and present visitors, Sywell Aerodrome Ltd, FOSA, our donors and supporters over the years - we would not be here without you!