RAF Cosford

RAF Cosford is a Royal Air Force station in Cosford, close to Wolverhampton, Shropshire

The station opened in 1938 as an aircraft maintenance, storage and as a technical training unit. Cosford is still in use as a training facility today. A Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service hospital was also constructed at the base, using wooden huts, it closed in December 1977 and demolished in 1980. The empty hospital was used by the Royal Observer Corps for training. A huge barrack block was also built on the site, it is still in use for technical training.

RAF Cosford also has extensive sports facilities, based around a banked indoor running track. These facilities became well known when the indoor championships were televised and open to all the top athletes from around the world.

The site is also famous for the Royal Air Force Museum, which is free to all. The museum features a unique collection of research and development aircraft, including the TSR2 multi-role combat aircraft as well as various missiles and airliners.

The Cold War Collection was opened in 2007, by Baroness Margaret Thatcher and HRH Princess Anne. A feature of the collection is the V Force, all three V bombers, the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan, displayed together.