INSIDE: The Museum Of RAF Firefighting | Forces TV

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A museum showcasing the work of RAF firefighters is facing closure unless it can find a new home. More than 40 volunteers look after the collection, which is currently housed in a warehouse in Lincolnshire. However, they've been given until mid-December to find a new space.
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[@krautmaster7922]

As a fulltime firefighter from Germany, this is a pleasure to see the restored trucks!

[@Tom65478]

Thanks for your service

[@4TheWinQuinn]

20th century British vehicles are so beautiful. And the veterans are something to be treasured just like the trucks! Really proud of my country.

[@gregnatsch8787]

As a former USAF and civilian firefighter, I loved that video!

[@yomp599]

My father was RAF... He would have LOVED to see this. BRILLIANT article. Thank you for sharing.

[@herbrand47]

This museum has to be saved, it is part of British history.

[@Mark_Bickerton]

I had no idea there was a museum. I served in the RAF fire service from 1981 to 1987. I drove TACR 1 and 2, Mk 8's Mk 9's, Mk 10's and Mk 11's. My favourite was the Mk9, it was a beast of a machine. During the Milfordhaven refinery fire, it pumped without pause for over 24 hours without missing a beat. The TACR's were designed to race ahead to a downed aircraft and have just enough firefighting ability, to cut a path to the cockpit and rescue the pilot and /or navigator. The strangest incident was at RAF Brawdy. I drove across the visiting aircraft park, (there was a single F4 phantom, unattended and with no equipment around it at all) then around the corner of a hanger, at this point, there was a voice from Air Traffic Control screaming that there was a fire on the VASF pan. We all looked at each other sceptically and probably said "WTF, we just crossed that". I turned around and sure enough, we could see the nose and wing tips, everything else was on fire. I never did find what caused it. but about 4 seconds of foam from the MK9's monitor was enough to completely extinguish the flames.

[@stuartnewland3375]

It makes me feel old to see a Mk10 as a museum piece. State of the art when I was in.

[@harryfaber]

I did ATC Summer camp at RAF Wyton in 1975, interesting that one of the fire tenders from that time is preserved. I must have seen that tender, we always did a visit to the fire section.

[@jackharrison6771]

What a find this video is for me; and yes, it certainly rings bells for me. My brother was in the RAF fire section during the 1970s, and my dad was in Ceylon during WW 2, with the Fleet Air Arm. I hope the Museum have a good home forever.

[@jg2072]

Please find a way to preserve this museum.

[@jonathancrone7642]

thank you for keeping all these fire appliances alive its not every day you find out that some where in britain theres a fire museum great .

[@ayrtonandy6889]

My father was a mk5a driver then served on the mk6 until 1967...he would have loved to have seen them

[@johngraham6181]

Bought a Thorneycroft with a roof mounted monitor for the local airfield. Great fun training on it and we did attend a couple of accidents on the field and were also called out sometimes to road accidents on the roads around the field. It really was a go anywhere beast.

[@seanconlin8712]

My compliments to the volunteers and former members of the RAF Fire Service and RN Aircraft Handlers /Firefighters first of all thank you for your service. Second of all keep up the great work of keeping the beautiful equipment restored and operating...thank you a Canadian Firebuff/Rescue Specialist Emergency Medical Responder

[@norriestewart4333]

Regarding the storage of Green Goddess fire appliances there was a hanger at Montrose Aerodrome where the MOD kept vehicles including Land Rovers and 4 Tonne trucks. My dad's twin brother had a job there basically maintaining, servicing and rotating the vehicles. His job was to have a certain amount fuelled and operational and ready to be deployed if required and he used to take them out for a road run to keep them from seizing up. I'd be walking home from school and get a toot as he drove past in a Green Goddess in the good old 1970's. Sadly today Montrose Aerodrome is now an industrial estate but it does have the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre which is well worth a visit.

[@mickford4632]

I wish we had this amount of space at the Essex Fire Museum, Grays. Wonderful staff and a wonderful collection and let's hope it can all stay together for a very long time. A true national treasure!

[@смиренный-х2б]

I think the RAF has an obligation to save this museum

[@bertiewooster3326]

It can't save its care homes they closed them the Chiefs no longer care its all about wokery today in the RAF.

[@ukengland4938]

Will,the RAF Museum at Cosford not build or give u a hanger as it would be lovely to join the collection

[@einarbolstad8150]

What a fantastic collection. I very much hope the museum will be saved.

[@RRS8840]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing and for the service of all the brave men and women who served in them.

[@rodfearnley2486]

I drove some of those fire vehicles during my time as Royal Navy Aircraft Handler. I also drove the RAF types when serving at RAF Honington and Marston.

[@gosportjamie]

What an amazing and varied collection of historic, heroic vehicles, people and memories... Anybody who was in the services at certain times in the past will remember the Green Goddesses, even if not necessarily fondly...

[@nigelcarter9503]

Obsolete, brilliant. I am glad they are preserved. Asbestos, what terrible stuff but, at the time it was the best. Great, keep it up. I remember the 'Greed Goddess' . I was serving when they went on Strike. I was in the Midlands.

[@stuartandrews4344]

This important collection must be found a permant home.

[@phill2010uk]

RAF Upper Heyford has some very large hangers. Could you look at one of those?

[@GC-rf2st]

phill2010uk I think Cherwell District Council has it’s eyes on the land for housing!

[@robertwillis4061]

@@GC-rf2st as usual, more new houses that aren't needed. About time the countries rush to build was put on hold and clear brains look at the need for houses in that area. The only people gaining are the mortgage lenders. Turning the UK citizens into mortgage slaves, so that we can't revolt, or we loose our job and then our home..

[@cartman4885]

Wow what a fantastic collection of firefighting equipment you have there............

[@Hutchkins77]

this was a nice video to watch! sharing our past that is often forgotten about and kind of reminds me of the days my parents lived in. And the green goddesses where used in 2002 at Darlington when the fire brigade went on strike.

[@MrSimpleone]

I hope that the R A F in their generosity find them a hanger somewhere on a working airfield and lets get this collection publicity and a new home!

[@cycleSCUBA]

Particularly liked the 1943 camouflaged working fire engine that went to Normandy. We must keep heritage like this to mark the sacrifices of our lads and lasses, then and now.

[@metronetrail]

Ex RCT and drove a green goddess in the 80s, we had a laugh, since no one really had a idea how to operate any of the equipment, got soaked and i stayed in the cab.

[@Dzeimz]

It's such a shame they cannot find a true home. I suppose this could be the firefighting museum equivalent of the tank museum. We went to the open day pre-covid and it really was a wow! seeing all these trucks.

[@patriot4786]

Britain is the best in the world when it comes to preserving historical objects

[@einarbolstad8150]

Well, perhaps not, as you will see if you read the description. I hope they'll find a way to keep this fantastic museum.

[@markpudwell594]

Well done to Steve Shirley and his team. Great to take a trip down Memory Lane. EX-DFS firefighter Mark Pudwell

[@paulcharlton6015]

Should be given a righteous home nice collection

[@RJM1011]

Those green ones have also been used in the New Forest for forest fires the last time was in the 90's

[@johnhopkins6658]

Back in the late 70s a friend of mine had a Bedford OY fire engine with Aldermaston on the side. Had a short drive of it (about 2 miles). Always wondered what happened to it.

[@mississaugaicedogs]

My grandfather was an RCAF firefighter and has been around the western world

[@barryf1966]

Thanks for sharing this should be open to the public

[@cowboy10uk]

It is.

[@barryf1966]

😀👍

[@jeffyoung5195]

As ex RAF fire myself, we have an obligation to save this national treasure. MOD get this sorted

[@Pancho344]

Good video Steve Shirley. You might remember me, I came and gave you some advice when you were at RAF Scampton. Hope you and your guys are keeping well.

[@paulsettle1]

So much pressure on museums dediacted to the Fire Service. I hope you have success in achieving a new home.

[@hatmanphilly]

Was that Mk9 the one from RAF Wittering? AJ 52 on the registration plate?

[@jonathancrone7642]

why didnt any body tell me about this museum .not just any old museum but a fire engine museum would mind visiting it

[@DaveAinsworth-y8h]

My father was a firefighter in the RAF in national service then in MoD Fire Service in RA Halton Does RAF. Manston still the ghosts of the Hurricanes and Spitfires at night

[@alexandermakrianis]

This is awesome, I'd love to see it sometime!

[@anthonyeaton5153]

The Mk v may have come into service in 1952, I arrived at Sutton in 1956 and trained on the 1945 Monitor.

[@derf9465]

Where is the volleyball net? Pretty sweet ride for the next barrack block fire alarm reset.

[@lindsayyoung5424]

So where is the National Lottery on this subject.... history and heritage.... what a collection.... come on Boris save this lot and give us a change from Brexit.....

[@Zackislivid]

I dont want brexit even tho it happend

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

There must be space in one of the hangars at Scampton as it’s closing soon anyone. It would be nice to have them stored at a historic site

[@MrBonafida]

They had to move FROM scampton

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

MrBonafida I was unaware of that never mind

[@5Albion]

I didn’t know you existed. The collection must be saved and displayed. I use to own and display an Ex Wiltshire 1960 Commercial Miles Pump escape and still hold an ex MOD Green Goddess bell.

[@bigdmac33]

Beautiful.

[@xctrainsleeds3141]

Top draw work chaps.....but did any one notice the dummy in the asbestos suit was next to fire truck ....next time the camera shot panned round it had moved...several times.....spooky

[@jobfilm-joeblattner9024]

great video and great engines. The Dennis looks really cute :-) Greetings from Austria

[@mattharper9795]

Out standing gentlemen

[@Road38910]

Does anybody know where the fire engines from 14MU RAF Carlisle went to? Does the museum have one? My dad was an aux fireman there for 30 something years and used to go to RAF Manston every so often for training. I would love to see an engine he drove.

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Red was common, but so were Coventry Yellow and White ones. It all depended on the local authority; however, the Home Office has always insisted on red.

[@CaptainCruise1]

Well I"m going to go and watch Fireman Sam! :D

[@sappersteve1443]

RAF Manston in Kent is still the Joint Services Fire Training School for the U.K. Armed Forces. They have a small museum there and I am sure they would take all or some of this collection?

[@ilovenitnat]

There’s no room at Manston.

[@sappersteve1443]

@@ilovenitnat There is if they knock the old accommodation blocks down.

[@pedantik]

Most of this lot started off there.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Maston is closed.

[@mrmanning3807]

It was at Gainsborough once till the company Eminox wanted there building back

[@linedriver1]

When was the last time any one used the QR knife or axe?

[@anthonyeaton5153]

I used one in 1963 a jp from Leeming flamed out and both pilots ejected very low. The student hit a low wall and when arrived in Crash One I cut off his harness with THE knife but he was struggling to breathe and eventually died. The instructor fell into a tree survived and went back to flying Lightnings.

[@MarkNorville]

A lot of civvies are responding to this video without any knowledge of what they are talking about. However, they were the jokes of the RAF as literally all what they would do all day is sit around in their string vests playing cards. It actually was one of the most safest trades in the RAF, even a cook faced more danger than RAF fire fighters.

[@Islaharris.12405]

Amazing, well done

[@flagstafup5857]

8:08 why are fire engines red? Because they have eight wheels and four people on them, and four plus eight makes twelve, and there are twelve inches in a foot, and one foot is a ruler, and Queen Elizabeth was a ruler, and Queen Elizabeth was also a ship, and the ship sailed the seas, and there were fish in the seas, and fish have fins, and the Finns fought the Russians, and the Russians are red, and fire trucks are always “Russian" around, so that's why fire trucks are red! 😉

[@huh3721]

Reminds me of Bob Monkhouse

[@jamesgriggs9863]

very good LOL

[@lightning1988]

Drove a TACR2a when I worked at Sandown Airport

[@zeberdee1972]

How far did you manage to lean that TACR in the turns before you chickened out lol , they where fun to drive .

[@pierrevandooren3186]

Very Nice collection you volunteers do a good job great hobby keep on collecting. Please

[@englishkernigit8294]

Good to see an ex mtd mucka (Gareth Jordan) still out there. Nice one, matey

[@gingerbread6614]

Great videos. Thank you

[@Daniel-S1]

Thanks.

[@CATSFAN3000]

nice just nice, I love firefihters because the're heroes

[@robnewman6101]

Great Fires of London. Fireman Sam.

[@NeilM01989]

Excellent video with full of excellent appliances, i've shared this video to my facebook group. If that's ok with you 🧑🏻👍🏻🚒

[@stugill4513]

where is this id love to visit

[@hayleywilliams8750]

Fun fact: 1 of they engines are from London burning from the Christmas special when the dennis crashed THEY HAVE IT though the breaks dont work

[@catwithabat7163]

Where is this museum at?

[@liammiller7511]

Where this museum at?

[@robnewman6101]

Wow.

[@bertiewooster3326]

Been driven in a MK9 and Saracen variant.

[@matthewjolicoeur6482]

what city are you located in

[@kaiserkarl2]

Love this! But why is there a Scania with a Carmichael badge?

[@gordonmcmillan5556]

Because Carmichael do the fire fighting equipment on a Scania vehicle

[@kaiserkarl2]

@@gordonmcmillan5556 I understand, but that would usually be a small badge somewhere on the vehicle, not make it look like they manufactured the whole truck...not super strange, but a bit strange...

[@paulfox279]

Where is this wonderful museum?

[@samgoub]

Lincolnshire

[@mrhutch1956]

Hope you find a permanent home for the collection Steve. must pay you a visit and catch up with you. I will bring Phil along as well. Dave H.

[@stevebailey6403]

The r a f should help in my view , I'm sure a suitable site could be found .

[@carabus0354]

WOW!

[@michaelmiklosofficial]

Brilliant

[@Doc_Rainbow]

I still dont get the fact that most of the trucks dont have emergency lights even when there where common everywhere else

[@normanbrunt2053]

As far as blue warning lights on fire vehicles are concerned the RAF were always decades behind their civilian friends. Perhaps because the vehicles were only intended to operate on airfields or the people who bought or operated them were not interested I don't know.

[@rafman016]

Where’s the volleyball court?

[@ianbennett4910]

Where abouts is it located ? I'd love to visit this place.

[@ffudon]

WOW! 👍

[@lizarmada5660]

May dala po ba silang anaesthesia sa lahat ng pagkakataon para hindi naman masakit pag pinutol ang mga binti???

[@darinjoshuabagin5946]

Actually, yes

[@nobnob4321]

Nagtagalog talaga

[@lizarmada5660]

@@nobnob4321 oo naman..hindi ko masabi ng maayos sa English language...eh di..tagalugin ko sila...ang maganda ay sinasagot nila ang tanong ko...kaya maraming salamat sa kanila

[@Cypher791]

I remember seeing the green goddess on the streets during the 2002 fire fighter strike.

[@mortgagewizard40]

and what with the private sector just about to take over the RAF Fire service..

[@gearreviewwithswampy5794]

Cool

[@Wotdermatter]

Bader crashed and had both legs amputated before the war not during. 'nuf sed

[@zeberdee1972]

Yes that's right but it would have been RAF Firefighters that saved him.....granted not all his legs but the majority of him !!!!

[@gordonmcmillan5556]

nathan whitworth he crashed at a civilian aerodrome, so it wouldn’t be RAF firefighters

[@zeberdee1972]

@@gordonmcmillan5556 oh I stand corrected .

[@dev8969]

wew

[@DaveTaste]

All MOD fire appliances are in this condition because they've never moved.

[@zeberdee1972]

That's not completely true ……..it used to go to the NAAFI at least once a day :-)

[@DaveTaste]

@@zeberdee1972 ah yes. Capita will stop that.

[@zeberdee1972]

@@DaveTaste Crapita !!!!! oh yes that's going to be fun im sure .

[@DaveTaste]

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of FF.

[@zeberdee1972]

@@DaveTaste Im ex RAF but have been working as a contractor firefighter since I left the RAF . The RAF and Navy will stay but the DFR will be made contract . I have to say I think its a mistake as 22 years of being contract . All that will happen is the contract company gets lots of Government money and gives a bad service . The contract has already been messed up and the awarding process had some naughty goings on . Hence they had to pay off Serco , more tax payers money down the drain . Trust me privatisation doesn't work .

[@brandonwagner3873]

Cool