RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
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rafadrm.bsky.social
RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
@rafadrm.bsky.social
4K followers 310 following 140 posts
Award-winning, Norfolk Broads-based, volunteer-run museum of all things radar and air defence from 1941 onwards at the former RAF Neatishead base.
Open Easter-November, Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm.
Got a question on WW2/Cold War air defence? Send us a DM
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rafadrm.bsky.social
RAF Air Defence Radar Museum @rafadrm.bsky.social · Jul 4
We're pleased to launch our new digital guide to the museum on #BloombergConnects

This free app allows users to download a guide to the museum before you visit to enhance your experience and improve accessibility.

Find Bloomberg Connects on your app store and search RAF Air Defence Radar Museum.
rafadrm.bsky.social
We're proud to announce today the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum has been awarded the King's Award for Voluntary Service.

The award is the highest that can be given to a voluntary organisation, championing the outstanding work of volunteers in their community. #KAVS2025
a white crown made up of pictures of tiny figures against a purple background.
November 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
The museum is based in the R30 ops building (bottom left of the photo), now a grade 2* listed structure as a "uniquely intact electronic 'frontline' of the Cold War of international importance". The museum opened in 1994, with the rest of the former RAF Neatishead site now in private hands.🧵
Photo, colour, an aerial view of the site of former RAF Neatishead in the Norfolk countryside, with the white dome of the new RAF radar in the centre and the museum area at the bottom left inside a dark green building.
November 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
theguardian.com
Peter Watkins, Oscar-winning director of The War Game, dies aged 90
Peter Watkins, Oscar-winning director of The War Game, dies aged 90
Radical English director who clashed with the BBC over his ‘horrifying’ film about nuclear war, was forced to look abroad to continue working Peter Watkins, the radical British film-maker who won an Oscar for his controversial drama-documentary The War Game, about a nuclear attack on Britain, has died aged 90. His son Patrick confirmed that he died on Thursday, but no cause of death has been given. Watkins was an uncompromising figure who clashed with the BBC after the latter failed to show The War Game on broadcast TV, and subsequently led a peripatetic film-making existence, looking overseas for backing. He was wary of the press, in a rare interview he spoke to the Guardian in 2000, saying he was “someone who has been working for 30 years to help shift the power balance between public and TV”. He added: “Had TV taken an alternative direction during the 1960s and 1970s and worked in a more open way, global society today would be vastly more humane and just.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
ianmac.bsky.social
Royal Air Force Boulmer has announced the following:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Warrant Officer Alastair ‘Paddy’ McNickle. The entire of RAF Boulmer and the wider Air Command and Control Force extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Royal Air Force Boulmer has announced the following: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Warrant Officer Alastair ‘Paddy’ McNickle. The entire of RAF Boulmer and the wider Air Command and Control Force extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Paddy joined the RAF in April 1989 and served across the UK as an Aerospace Systems Operator and Manager. He deployed on many occasions to the Falkland Islands, Iraq, the former Yugoslavia and wider Middle East. However much of his later career was spent at RAF Boulmer when he chose to settle with his family in Alnwick. The Station Commander of RAF Boulmer, Wing Commander Joe Redhead, said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the death of Warrant Officer McNickle. Never without a smile, Paddy lit up a room with his honesty, quick wit and sharp operational focus. A true gentleman, he was always happy to pass on his knowledge to those with less experience and a delight to work alongside. My thoughts are with his loved ones.’ The Air Command and Control Force Commander, Group Captain Lisa Foy, said: ‘I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of WO Paddy McNickle. Paddy made a profound impact on everyone around him - within the Air Command and Control Force and across the wider RAF. The many heartfelt tributes from colleagues far and wide speak volumes about the high esteem in which he was held, and I hope these messages bring some comfort to those closest to him. His dedication, passion, and leadership truly embodied the core values of the RAF. Paddy will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to serve alongside him.’
October 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM
rafadrm.bsky.social
A few of the photos from last weekend's outstanding 1940s event.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers, entertainers, re-enactors and enthusiasts who help make the event such a success.

We'll be planning more events for our 2026 season so stay tuned for updates.

www.radarmuseum.co.uk
photo, colour, of the staff and volunteers of the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum in 1940s period costumes gathered at the entrance of the museum photo, colour, of a pair of 1940s re-enactors dressed as Dad's Army characters Private Walker and Private Godfrey photo, colour, a volunteer dressed as a 1940s policeman standing with an RAF bicycle in front of the museum. Union flag bunting hangs along the handrails of a ramp behind photo, colour, of Bombshell Rheanne, one of the excellent singers entertaining visitors to the museum. She is dressed in 1940s costume and stands in front of a green RAF lorry that has been decorated in Union flags
October 16, 2025 at 9:50 AM
rafadrm.bsky.social
Mystery object of the day - can you name this piece of equipment and how it is connected to Dr Who?
a black and white photo of a mystery object, a component of a radar aerial
September 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
stephencollins.bsky.social
Autumn days when the grass is jewelled
[Scene is a 1960s suburban sitting room, with a grand piano in it. The religious songwriter ESTELLE WHITE is sat at the piano, with a rotary phone sat on top of the lid. She is on the phone to her music publisher, someone I've made up called JERRY] 1 ESTELLE WHITE: OK Jerry I’ve got another banger for you 2 ESTELLE WHITE: Listen to this! [She slams the receiver on the top of the piano]. 3 ESTELLE WHITE [hammering on the piano]: AUTUMN DAYS WHEN THE GRASS IS JEWELLED AND THE SILK INSIDE A CHESTNUT SHELL! JET PLANES MEETING IN THE AIR TO BE REFUELLED, ALL THESE - JERRY [voice from the phone handset]: Eh? 4 JERRY: What was that last bit, Estelle? ESTELLE WHITE: “Jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled”… 5 JERRY: Is that a thing you often see in autumn? ESTELLE WHITE [Smoking from a long cigarette holder]: All the time, Jerry. Aaaaall the time.... 6 JERRY: Nothing to do with it being the only thing that rhymes with ‘jewelled’? ESTELLE WHITE: No! 7 ESTELLE WHITE: It’s one of the high-speed, high-altitude feats of military aviation one often sees in autumn time. 8 JERRY: What about leaves and squirrels and - ESTELLE WHITE: Now listen, Jerry. 9 ESTELLE WHITE: Do you want a crap hymn about conkers… 10 ESTELLE WHITE: Or do you want an all-time earworm banger that everyone who hears it will sing in their heads, every single time they see a fallen leaf, until the day they die? 11 JERRY: OK… sorry… carry on… 12 ESTELLE WHITE: FROS-TY WINDOWS ON HARR-IER JUMPJETS AND THE SMELL OF NUCLEAR SUB-MAR-INES… JERRY: How about acorns? [ends]
September 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
#Onthisday 17th September 1944 at 12:45pm the Dunwich Microwave Early Warning plot of American airborne forces approaching the Netherlands for Operation Market Garden.

@nationaltrust.org.uk
photo, black and white, of a radar plot showing the coast of north-west Europe with spokes radiating from a spot of light on the Suffolk Coast where the Dunwich radar station stood. A thin shape of dots marks the armada of aircraft taking the American airborne forces towards Nijmegen in the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden, 17th September 1944
September 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
ianmac.bsky.social
Fast forward to the real workers in the Royal Air Force from 6:30.

#RadarLove
#AirDefence

Don’t blame me for the rubbish titling.

@rafadrm.bsky.social
@mambolica.bsky.social

youtu.be/5KgPHijS7Fw?...
Inside the training of the UK's military Air Traffic Controllers
YouTube video by BFBS Forces News
youtu.be
September 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
rafmuseum.bsky.social
We’re not wishing the Bank Holiday away… but on Tues 26 Aug at 12pm join aviation historian Dr Victoria Taylor for Battle of Britain: Eagle Days ✈️

A free virtual lecture exploring the Luftwaffe’s role in 1940.

🎟️ Register here
👉 crowdcast.io/c/llm-2025-t...

#BattleOfBritain85
A Luftwaffe aircraft flying over pens containing RAF aircraft.
August 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
To celebrate reaching 4000 followers on #Bluesky here's our 4000th archive record - showing RAF 114 Signals Unit at Luneberg, Germany in 1948.

114 SU were positioned to assist with the Berlin Airlift and the RAF radar units supporting air traffic control.
photo, black and white, a scan of personnel of RAF 114 Signals Unit sitting on a lorry in Luneberg, Germany in 1948
August 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
Funday Thursdays continue next week with our popular Camouflage workshop with Clive, as well as our teddy bear trail, outdoor games, scavenger hunts, dressing up and Lego challenges, plus all of our regular flight sims, interactive games, open cockpits and volunteer talks.
photo, colour, a brown teddy bear wearing a pullover and a name badge stating 'Babs Bear' sitting holding a spoon in front of a poster advertising Funday Thursdays of family events at the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum.
July 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
We're very proud to have earned the coveted Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice award for another year. It really means a lot to us to read so many wonderful reviews of our museum and for the repeated mentions of the care and dedication our volunteers demonstrate to engage visitors with our history.
photo, colour, a certificate awarding the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum the Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice Award 2025.
July 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
jamiemctrusty.bsky.social
BATTLE OF BRITAIN 85: 19th July 1940.
Intense aerial clashes took place around Dover, with ships and dockyard facilities damaged. Both the RAF and Luftwaffe lost several aircraft, but 9 Defiants of 141 Squadron, ‘bounced’ by Bf 109s near Folkestone, suffered worst.
📷 key.aero
🧵1/3
Defiant crews of 141 Squadron, pictured in 1940. 📷 key.aero (Group of aircrew standing in front of a single-engine turret fighter)
July 19, 2025 at 6:46 AM
rafadrm.bsky.social
*record scratch* *freeze frame*

Yep, that's me. Pilot Officer P. Peacock.
You're probably wondering how I got here on the No.104 Fighter Controller Course at West Drayton in 1977.
photo, black and white, the No.104 Fighter Controller course. Men and women of the Royal Air Force are seated for a group photo, one lady is holding a peacock on her lap, the peacock is labelled as having the military rank of Pilot Officer. photo, black and white, a close up of the peacock sitting in the front row of military personnel
July 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
We've been very pleased to see visitors using the new Bloomberg Connects free digital guide to discover and explore the museum.

If you haven't downloaded the app yet, please do, and if you have used it we're interested in hearing your thoughts below on what you enjoyed and what we can improve.
photo, colour, a person holding a phone with the Bloomberg Connects digital guide to the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum. In the background is the cockpit of a Tornado F3.
July 15, 2025 at 12:10 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
Some of you haven't watched Angels One Five, and to be honest it shows
Photo, black and white, actor Jack Hawkins in the 1952 film Angels One Five. The man stands in front of a wall mounted map of Europe, a ceiling light hangs in the top left corner.
July 11, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
bexhillmuseum.bsky.social
We have a small new display about the WW2 Wartling Radar Station. The display is in our Sargent Gallery. The radar station also now features on our WW2 model railway. #Bexhill
An RAF Wartling tie. It is a royal blue with a gold crest sitting just below the knot. The crest is the Wartling Coat of Arms. It was donated to the museum by Mrs Crofts, whose late husband was one of the first radar controllers at Wartling.
June 21, 2025 at 10:32 AM
rafadrm.bsky.social
We're pleased to launch our new digital guide to the museum on #BloombergConnects

This free app allows users to download a guide to the museum before you visit to enhance your experience and improve accessibility.

Find Bloomberg Connects on your app store and search RAF Air Defence Radar Museum.
July 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
Are we the coolest museum in Norfolk?
It's going to be a hot weekend so great for our solar panels, but if you're looking to escape the heat you can step into our (genuinely cold) Cold War room!
photo, colour, the Cold War Operations Room at the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum. The room is full of glowing radar consoles, lots of illuminated buttons and information boards. Headsets for the operators have been placed on the closest console.
June 27, 2025 at 11:32 AM
rafadrm.bsky.social
It's #InsectWeek organised by the Royal Entomological Society as a celebration & recognition of these beautiful creatures so vital to the planet.
Being in the Norfolk Broads means we attract lots of different species of butterfly and dragonfly to our wildflower patch
photo, colour, a cream-spot tiger moth in a perspex pot standing on a light blue piece of wood. The moth is triangular in shape, with an orange tail and rear wings covered in black spots, the forewings are black with creamy-white spots.
June 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
theslides.bsky.social
"NORAD 35mm presentation slides," slide 40 of 41 [gallery]
June 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
We've seen a fair bit of media coverage of our neighbour over the last couple of weeks, but we've also had a few questions about the museum, so for clarity...🧵
June 16, 2025 at 10:17 PM
rafadrm.bsky.social
Our next episode for #ColdWarWeek features museum volunteer Vince Taylor talking about his time at RAF Neatishead in the 1970s, Fylingdales and Germany.

youtu.be/2ARtc2UGQKM

#history #coldwar
Cold War Week - Vince Taylor
YouTube video by RAF ADRM Manager
youtu.be
May 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
rafadrm.bsky.social
We've been hosting Q&A sessions for #ColdWarWeek with some of our volunteers who served in the RAF during the Cold War. Not to worry if you missed any as we've recorded them to listen back to on our Youtube channel, with the first conversation with John Baker available here. youtu.be/UooJnomD1ck
Cold War Week - John Baker
YouTube video by RAF ADRM Manager
youtu.be
May 22, 2025 at 1:51 PM