When Airborne Assault moved to IWM Duxford in 2008, only a selection of objects was chosen for immediate display. The rest of the collection was carefully packed into four specially designed containers, with dehumidifiers running around the clock to protect the objects from damp. This became the museum’s Reserve Collection — the objects not currently on public display, but which remain an important part of the story of Britain’s airborne forces. Before being transferred to the new museum team, the collection was also treated to protect it against pests.

Moving a museum is a huge undertaking, but this was just the beginning of a much longer project. Over the years, information about the collection had been recorded in a variety of places, including handwritten accession registers, databases and spreadsheets. Bringing all this information together was essential to understanding exactly what the museum held and ensuring that every object could be properly accounted for.

Rebecca Blackburn devoted considerable time to digitising the original accession registers and creating a master spreadsheet of all objects donated before 2008. Meanwhile, museum staff Jon Baker and Becks Skinner undertook important safety work to ensure that firearms and explosive items had been appropriately deactivated and certified safe, and that objects containing or associated with radioactive materials were correctly identified, labelled and stored. The museum takes its responsibilities for the safe storage and care of these objects extremely seriously.

The project received a significant boost with the arrival of Bob Hilton, a former member of the Regiment who had also volunteered at the museum’s previous location. His first-hand knowledge of the collection proved invaluable. Matt Wood and Caroline Lebre also made important contributions, helping to bring the museum’s records together within its MODES collections management database.

In 2022, Gemma Leader joined the team, bringing valuable experience from the Collections Trust, an organisation that supports museums in caring for and managing their collections. With the historic records brought together, the museum was finally in a position to move on to the next stage: a comprehensive review of the collection.

Launched at the end of 2024, the Collections Review set out to examine every object held in reserve. Each item is assessed, photographed, documented, labelled and valued, before being carefully repackaged for long-term storage. This painstaking process helps ensure that objects can be located, understood and protected, while also identifying opportunities for future research and display.

A dedicated team was established, comprising the Curator, Collections Assistant and volunteers Alex Walker, Jacob Hill, Allen Prior and Peter Knight. Regular visits to the Reserve Collection became part of their routine, as they worked methodically through the many thousands of objects in the museum’s care. The arrival of Francesco Maione, a trained conservator, in 2025 brought additional expertise in the preservation and long-term care of the collection, helping the project move towards its final stages.

The work has been made possible through the generous support of the museum’s Board and financial assistance from The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity (PRAFC). This funding has provided essential shelving, storage boxes and conservation materials, enabling objects to be repackaged and stored in conditions better suited to their long-term preservation.

It is a mammoth undertaking. Originally expected to take around two years, the Collections Review had reached approximately 90% completion by the end of 2026, with the finish line now in sight.

Much of this work takes place away from public view, but it is fundamental to the museum’s purpose. Every object has a story to tell, whether it is a uniform worn on operations, equipment used by airborne troops, or a personal item that offers a glimpse into an individual’s experience of service. By bringing the collection and its records together, the museum is safeguarding these stories for future generations — ensuring that the history of Britain’s airborne forces can continue to be researched, shared and remembered.