The Royal Air Force Museum is looking for volunteers to help catalogue and pack more than 50,000 objects currently held in an MoD storage facility in Stafford.
The items will be transferred to the RAF Museum at Cosford in Shropshire and placed on display in a new permanent exhibition in 2028, one year later than originally planned.
What the collection contains
The Stafford collection spans from the early days of flight to the modern day, according to Amy Seadon, the museum's Collections Care and Conservation Manager. Items range from small pin badges to full aircraft including Spitfires, as well as various aircraft parts.
The collection is made up of donations from individuals with connections to the RAF and from the air force itself.
What the work involves
Before the move, each item must be identified, catalogued, checked for damage, repaired if necessary, cleaned and packed. Seadon described the operation as "like a very complicated house move" requiring thousands of hours of work.
Volunteers are involved in almost every step of the process. Each object needs careful cleaning and packing with specialist materials before transport.
Volunteering requirements
Volunteers do not need a background in museum work or special knowledge. Seadon said: "You just need to have practical skills and also just be interested in the museum and the objects."
All necessary training and tools are provided by the museum.
How to apply
Volunteering opportunities can be found on the RAF Museum Midlands website. Seadon added: "The more the merrier, because we have a lot to move."