German El.Z. Zt. bomb fuze: A complex, impeller-armed design that stays safe until 300–1000 rotations withdraw internal safety pins. It could be set for instant, short or long delays, and its intricate construction was meant to hinder defusing.

RAF MUSEUM NATIONAL COLLECTION Object conditioning day. We were back in the main hangar this morning sorting through various boxes of bomb fuse mechanisms. This one in unissued condition is a Pistol fuse (No75 Mk 3), a real workhorse component in the RAF’s aerial warfare campaign.

www.facebook.com/share/p/16iG... Remembering 2Lt Lester Lowry.

Latest bit of research I played a small part in back in 2020 trickles through to the present! salford.figshare.com/articles/med...

www.justgiving.com/page/phil-ha... Please help Phil get to his target of £1500 to help vets into supported accomodation-a worthy cause!

RAF Museum object conditioning day: today’s standout find was a 1942 RAF uniform by Davies & Son, once worn by HRH The Duke of Gloucester, personal ADC to four monarchs: George V, Edward VIII, George VI & Elizabeth II. A royal career spanning army Lt to Marshal of the RAF: history in every stitch.

RAF Museum object conditioning day: a red-letter moment! While nearing the end of our clothing rack checks, we uncovered a 1920s era uniform of none other than Air Chief Marshal Lord Hugh Trenchard, Father of the RAF, and its first Chief of the Air Staff. A true privilege to handle such history.

Volunteering: object conditioning day at the RAF Museum collection at Stafford: chills seeing this uniform. William George Barker VC, Canada’s most decorated WWI airman. VC, DSO & Bar, MC & 2 Bars, Italian & French valour medals. Fearless Sopwith Camel ace whose courage redefined air combat.

@rakshadigs.bsky.social some snaps of the scale model diorama commemorating Lester Lowry. (I couldn’t get down to site when you were filming so the model didn’t make the cut).

Remembering my 2016 visit to Jersey to assist with the amazing Le Câtillon II, the largest hoard of Iron Age gold and silver coins, jewellery and ingots ever found in Western Europe. I got 4 days of hands on, supervised work with Reg, one of the finders, and this great team of specialists.

To celebrate reaching 6000 followers, I am going to give away a free copy of my book The Road to Mons Graupius, which charts my journey along a Roman road through Scotland! To enter, follow me, then like and repost this post. I will choose a winner at random on Friday 16th May... #RomanSiteSaturday

Time Team Sutton Hoo gig 2024, Episode 2.

Released OTD in 1980 and rarely off my playlist. IMO the best album from the Dio era. open.spotify.com/track/7r2QK9...

⏳There’s still time to take part in our Membership Survey Whether you're a current member, a past supporter, or someone who follows our work, your feedback is vital to help us shape our membership offer. Plus, you'll be entered into a draw to win a £50 voucher! Take part here 👉 bit.ly/4j0KkZH

Very pleased that copies of our new volume with @cypriotartleeds.bsky.social & Thomas Kiely ‘Empire & Excavation. Critical perspectives on archaeology in British-period Cyprus’ have arrived! Thanks to @sidestone.bsky.social 🏺

www.oxbowbooks.com/blog/2023/07... Please consider getting a copy of this fantastic book. Every penny raised has been gifted by the author, Richard Osgood MBE, to SSAFA, which in turn will support many more veterans to engage in archaeology as part of their recovery process. Thank you. 🙂

So, Maiden’s first album came out 45 years ago this week, and I bought it from Malcolm Smith who was running Lotus Records in Mill Street, Stafford at the time! (Small world, Malc!)

Playmobil archaeologists! Exercise Druid Sacrifice, RAF Valley, 2025

RAF Museum Reserve Collection condition survey day: We are back in the main hangars pro temp checking the vast array of items and artifacts on the shelves. Today was mainly about compasses large and small from various aircraft, and personalities. One in particular stood out for me,

New discovery: Venice lagoon reveals submerged #Roman oyster farm: In the heart of the Venetian lagoon, a submerged area has revealed a secret: a brick and wood tank containing about 300 oyster shells, dating back to the first century AD www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeolo... 🏺 #archaeology

Important new #LiDAR guidance now published by the European Archaeological Council as #EAC Guidelines 10, & freely available to download 🎉 zenodo.org/records/1460... Good to see some Welsh examples in there too! Please share widely #ALS @discoveryprogramme.bsky.social @rcahmwales.bsky.social

On Monday our instagram account was hacked and then deleted. We received a ransom note to recover it; obviously we couldn't and wouldn't pay, and therefore lost thousands of followers. Meta support was useless. But we're BACK with a new account: @littletollerbooks. Can you follow us there and share?

Yay, Scottish Archaeological Forum has joined BlueSky

I've just signed "Marks & Spencer - stop advertising on GB News" - Will you support the campaign too? actionstorm.org/petitions/ma... @StopFundingHate

RAF Museum Artefact Conditioning Day: This is one of a pair of 1939 pattern Aircrew Boots. Fleece-lined with heavy leather soles, this pair had the surname 'ASTBURY' hand-written inside. Records indicate there were 5 RAF crew with that surname, so regrettably, the search for the owner ends there

RAF Museum artefact conditioning day: My #PMRAFNS colleagues will have a hoot with this next item! This, seriously, is a 1930 pattern, thigh-length, white cotton 'anti-mosquito' boot, size 4 narrow foot that was issued to PMRAFNS nurses. Designated as a 'BOOT,PROTECTIVE-SPECIAL PURPOSE'

#StandingStoneSunday Thus shot of mine of The Old Man of Gugh, Isles of Scilly. This menhir stands 9ft tall, situated below Kittern hill. I never get tired of visiting these wonderful Isles when chance permits.

Having a sort out: 1988....37 years ago..... TEMPUS FUGIT, FUGIT TEMPUS....

Thrilled that my debut book, 'Eagle Days: Life and Death for the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain', will be published by @headofzeus.bsky.social in May! You can now pre-order here: geni.us/EagleDays Thank you SO much Dan Jones, my agent Georgina Capel & @iainmacgregor1.bsky.social ♥️ 1/4

Always HUGELY proud of the achievements of the service personnel/veterans on Op Nightingale. None more so than today when the terret & bridle from RAF Valley, Anglesey were declared treasure! Great team. Finders - David & Graham both RAF! #veterans #archaeology #ironage #celts photos (c)Harvey Mills

I hate Nazis

OP GRANBY 1991. It’s that time again! Bloody hell, 34, count them, 34 years ago!

Rat Island skull study. You’ll see it on tonight’s episode of #DiggingforBritain #drawingdiggingforbritain

#drawingdiggingforbritain #diggingforbritain #archaeology

#drawingdiggingforbritain #diggingforbritain #archaeology

News | Cultural engagement brings health and wellbeing benefits worth £8bn – research uses new methodology to show monetary value of cultural investment

Digging for Britain series 12 ep 5. The IA hoard recovery I was involved in with colleagues from Op Nightingale. We found two more artefacts from the original hoard. I recovered the terret ring with red glass inlay and Graham recovered the stunning, fully articulated horse bridal bit.

Quick test paint (1hr) on this wee fella. Gawd but my eyes struggle these days! Not three bad an outcome though. Four more to paint tomorrow

Blasts from the past. Excavating at Hougoumont Farm. I was fortunate in recovering these beauties.

They’ve still got it. Hope to see this cracking album out on vinyl soon #aflockofseagulls

And for my PMRAFNS colleagues, you might have been issued this: ‘Hat, PMRAFNS, Tropical, White, Pattern 1940’s’ with a vibrant red silk watch. #PMRAFNS

Here’s an interesting variant of the WRAF headress that did not make it past a working pattern model for approval. In this instance it was a version for overseas/tropical issue. Made from a nylon-type material in Oxford blue with a staybrite badge.

Two fine examples of the ‘Hat, Working Dress’ from the very early days of the Branch. One is for a nursing officer and one or a non-commissioned nurse. What do the shape styles remind you of? #PMRAFNS

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Something as plain and utilitarian as this 1920 pattern RAF ‘cutlery holdall’ links to the past with an indelible service number stamped on it together with the AirMinistry approval stamp dated 1940. In this case it was issued to one Jeffrey Dowell Hunter on enlistment.

As I was working on the RFC ID discs today my colleagues came across this mint, unissued, pair of RFC era full length puttees (from the Hindi word for bandage 'patti'). Just a lovely, small detail from a time long past. Their manufacturing history can be found here: foxlinks.com/foxs-puttees/