The No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum in Terrell, Texas preserves and educates about a UNIQUE part of Texas history and British-American cooperation during World War II, now 83 years in the making. Help us preserve and exhibit these irreplaceable parts of history, as well as, add new exhibits. Our top ten items include:

Keeping our recently-donated Stearman PT-17 biplane, flown by Terrell cadets during 1942-43 (repairs, inspections, fuel, etc.) for veterans' flights and promotional tours
Adding a video exhibit featuring a cadet
Adding a 2nd video exhibit, which is still being defined
Preserving our period-correct Link trainer
Sustaining development of our Aviation STEM Center
Adding the ability to broadcast educational programs and other events on the web
Editing of cadet video interviews recorded last summer
Continuing research of cadets
Adding interactive exhibits for our younger visitors
Speakers/Presenters for our "A Conversation With..." programs

We are looking for:

10 people/organizations to sign up for $25 each month, for 12 months, or a one-time gift of $300

In special recognition from us, you will receive a unique, newly created Terrell Field soccer t-shirt, plus a copy of Tom Killebrew's book "The Royal Air Force in Texas", Training British Pilots in Terrell During World War II

AND

10 people/organizations sign up for $50 each month, for 12 months, or a one-time gift of $600

In special recognition from us, you will receive invitations to private BFTS Museum events, two unique, newly created Terrell Field Soccer T-shirts, plus a copy of Tom Killebrew's book "The Royal Air Force in Texas", Training British Pilots in Terrell During World War II

In 1941 the British Union Jack flew over the skies of Terrell. It was not an invasion or even a friendly takeover, but the result of a visionary action taken by the leading citizens of Terrell. Thanks to the U.S Lend -Lease Act, six civilian flight schools, of which the Terrell location was the first to open, were established around the United States to train British pilots during World War II.

More than eighty years after the school closed, the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum is soaring!

In 2023, we welcomed Stearman Old 42 “home” to Terrell, a donation by Lt. Commander J. Phillip Webb, (US Navy (Ret.) The plane was used as a trainer at the Flying School and will be used by the museum for rides and touring.

And. our attendance has tripled since 2016!

We are a growing Museum and have a number of initiatives for 2024, including:

Building on our relationship with the British Consul General in Houston to further the national and international reach of the museum
Continuing to build on our record-setting attendance of more than 3,000 visitors in 2023 and the continuing growth of more than 10,000 visitors to our website
Expanding our educational programming and displays of traveling exhibits
Moving forward on the building campaign for our expansion in downtown Terrell

Personal stories are the essence of the Museum, from the British cadet, Henry Madgwick, who met his Terrell-born wife while training at the school, settled in Terrell and eventually became the mayor to British cadet M. W. Palmer who wrote this, “...after so long in wartime Britain the grapefruit juice, unlimited ham and eggs, marmalade and sugar will seem like a mirage- but they are real things, as are the ice-cream sodas and bottles of Coca-Cola.”

Your support is critical to our accomplishing the initiatives planned for 2024. Without you, we would not be able to offer visitors a unique look at the experiences of British RAF Cadets and American citizens during a critical time in our shared history.

No. 1 BFTS Museum's (1st ever!) Campaign to add: 10 Donors at $25/mo & 10 Donors at $50/mo

By No 1 British Flying Training School Museum Inc

No. 1 BFTS Museum's (1st ever!) Campaign to add: 10 Donors at $25/mo & 10 Donors at $50/mo

Help us fund our Top 10 list of preservation and exhibit ideas!