Cockpit from Horsa Glider used for airlanding operations

Set inside the spectacular AirSpace building, the Museum's heritage collection tells the story of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces since 1940 in a clear, vivid and compelling way.


On entering the museum you are presented with the modern Airborne soldier of 16 Air Assault Brigade- his uniform and equipment and current theatre of operations. The displays then 'wind back' to discover the origins and heritage of today's airborne soldier.


From 1940

Airborne Forces were created in 1940 at the insistence of Winston Churchill, who had seen the sucess of German airborne troops in their invasion of the Low Countries.

Exhibits include the historic original briefing models - held on behalf of the National Archive - from the Bruneval raid, the D-Day 1944 airborne landings at Pegasus Bridge and Ranville and Operation Varsity, the Crossing of the Rhine in 1945.

The phases of the battle for Arnhem in Operation Market Garden are also explained in a special display. More unusual items include a Horsa glider nose and Bing the Para dog, who dropped in Operation Varsity. Gliders, jeeps, heavy drop guns and many other exhibits are dramatically mounted as if being dropped from the air. They are interpreted by accompanying vintage film of the objects in use, facts and figures, dates and product specifications.

Displays of medals, uniforms, documents, equipment, weaponry give a complete story of the many historic campaigns and the men who were involved. This human story provides a counterpoint to the impressive aircraft display in IWM's AirSpace hall.

Post War Operations

Showcases also contain artefacts and soldiers' stories from the many operations post World War 2, including Borneo, Suez, the Falklands, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.

Special Exhibitions

Airborne Forces' history continues to be made today. From time to time we will hold special exhibitions that celebrate key anniversaries like Arnhem or the Falklands, as well as mark present day operations like Herrick in Helmand, Afghanistan.