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HMS Tern Living Museum

@hmstern61.bsky.social
392 followers 1K following 59 posts

We are creating a Living Museum at HMS Tern in Orkney. The team of volunteers and paid staff are recreating the look, smell and feel of a training airfield in World War II on Orkney. The site is open to the public, see our website for opening times.

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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
In a remarkable milestone for HMS Tern, a photograph has been successfully developed in the new darkroom at the #Orkney airfield for the first time in 80 years. #navalhistory tinyurl.com/bdcn67pv
tinyurl.com
Reviving History: HMS Tern's Darkroom Project Marks First Film Development in 80 Years at the Site. - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
In a remarkable milestone for HMS Tern, a photograph has been successfully developed in the new darkroom at the Orkney airfield for the first time in 80 years. This significant event marks the revival...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
New event at HMS Tern #Orkney 13/09/26 @ 11.00am. Experience life on a Royal Navy Air Station during WW2. Discover the fascinating world of wartime photography in our newly built darkroom, test your skills with authentic aircraft recognition training, and learn what life was like on the Home Front.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Great news...we have been awarded funding from the #Orkney Health Board Endowment Funds to support a new analogue photography, heritage, science and wellbeing project at HMS Tern in Birsay. tinyurl.com/vm994mp8
tinyurl.com
The Orkney Health Board Endowment Funds supports HMS Tern Analogue Photography, Heritage, Science and Wellbeing Project
Looking after our community and providing excellent care
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Helen Cromarty from the RSPB to our site. Part of the vital ‘Species on the Edge’ project, which aims to engage local communities in the conservation of our unique wildlife. hmstern.blog/2026/08/23/h...
hmstern.blog
HMS Tern's Wildflower Initiative Enhances Orkney's Biodiversity - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
In addition to conserving artefacts and buildings, the volunteers at HMS Tern are committed to creating and preserving wild habitats on the site for the unique flora and fauna that make Orkney so spec...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Join us this summer in #Orkney for exciting new events at HMS Tern! We look forward to seeing you.👉 July 26th 'Life on the Homefront' 👉 1940's Day featuring children's games 👉 September 13th '1940's Training Day' - Travel back in time to when HMS Tern served as a training base.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
In today's blog, we examine our well-worn aircraft compass, discuss aircraft navigation, and address the challenges trainee pilots faced when flying out of wartime #Orkney #navalhistory hmstern.blog/2026/07/17/p... 📷Wiki Commons IWM
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Fantastic day at HMS Tern #Orkney today. Thanks to everyone who made it such a great community event.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
A huge welcome to the Anchor Community Group Stromness, who joined us at HMS Tern to view the tapestry they made and enjoy a picnic in the sun. More on the tapestry in our blog hmstern.blog/2026/06/06/c...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The story of the 'Mickey Mouse Gas Mask' on display at HMS Tern living museum. #Orkney #navalhistory #heritage hmstern.blog/2026/07/13/f...
hmstern.blog
Facing the Threat: The Story of the 'Mickey Mouse Gas Mask' - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
During the tumultuous early years of the Second World War, the threat of gas attacks loomed large, instilling fear in the hearts of civilians across Europe. The impact of gas attacks during the First ...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
HMS Tern Living Museum is excited to welcome a group of vintage military vehicle enthusiasts to the site from July 12th to July 15th, 2026, marking the finale of a drive across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. hmstern.blog/2026/07/12/j...
hmstern.blog
Join Us for a Historic Gathering: Vintage Military Vehicles Take Centre Stage at HMS Tern Living Museum. - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
HMS Tern Living Museum is excited to announce a special event welcoming a group of vintage military vehicle enthusiasts to the site from July 12th to July 15th, 2026. This exhibition will not only sho...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Our lodgers in the air raid shelter are growing up fast and looking out for mom to return by the look of it! #Orkney #Islandlife
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
We're in the news..... Thanks to the team at @theorkneynews.bsky.social for this fantastic article on HMS Tern #Orkney #navalhistory theorkneynews.scot/2026/07/10/c...
theorkneynews.scot
Curious and Interesting Findings at HMS Tern
Visit the post for more.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
A closer look at those torpedo air tanks that created so many questions a few weeks ago. This was before the area was cleared, so they haven't multiplied while we were not looking. 😃
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
The day in the life of a volunteer at HMS Tern #Orkney #Navalhistory Happy music too, so turn on your speakers.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
It is incredible to think that stars such as Gracie Fields, George Formby and John Mills performed on the stage in the cinema at HMS Tern #Orkney during WW2. A stage which you can still visit today. See blog for more. #navalhistory hmstern.blog/2026/07/01/s...
hmstern.blog
Stars of the Stage at HMS Tern - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
During the Second World War, HMS Tern welcomed a remarkable array of entertainers who travelled long distances to the remote Orkney Islands to perform for the personnel stationed here. Some of these e...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The local birds are finding our buildings particularly cosy. These guys were found in the air raid shelter this morning. We'll leave them be for a while. #wildlife #Orkney #islandlife
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
The collection of World War II artefacts at HMS Tern #Orkney includes a fuel tank from a Blackburn Skua aircraft that crashed into Scapa Flow during the Second World War. #navalhistory hmstern.blog/2026/06/28/u...
hmstern.blog
Unearthing History: The Blackburn Skua and Its Legacy at HMS Tern - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
The collection of World War II artefacts at HMS Tern includes a fuel tank from a Blackburn Skua aircraft that crashed into Scapa Flow during the Second World War. Unfortunately, specific details about...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Amazing footage of US sailors on shore leave in Kirkwall #Orkney during WW2. Unlike most UK towns & cities, nothing has changed very much. Source: WWII Public Domain #Navalhistory youtu.be/b3sIDI8Z1X8?...
youtu.be
WWII U.S. Sailors, Kirkwall, Orkney Island (full)
YouTube video by WWIIPublicDomain
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Now form an orderly queue.....Fabulous weather at HMS Tern #Orkney today
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
The Home Front Exhibition Appeal. HMS Tern are organising a temporary exhibition focused on the Home Front, featuring documents, clothing, and equipment from #Orkney. If you have any items available for loan, get in touch. hmstern.blog/2026/06/22/t...
hmstern.blog
The Home Front exhibition appeal - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
At HMS Tern, we are frequently asked about the events around our islands, not just at the airfield, but also on the Home Front. What was life like during that time? We are organising a temporary exhib...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute staff visited the site at HMS Tern on 19/06/26. See their blog for more.... archaeologyorkney.com/2026/06/19/h...
archaeologyorkney.com
Experiencing wartime Orkney on staff visit to HMS Tern airbase - Archaeology Orkney
Last Friday, June 12, UHI Archaeology Institute staff took a morning fieldtrip to HMS Tern in Birsay, also known as Royal Naval Air Station Twatt.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
HMS Tern volunteer Nick has been working with vintage cameras, and this past week he captured stunning photographs around the airfield using a 1939 Leica IIIb camera. More on the blog hmstern.blog/2026/06/19/r...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Volunteers have been working hard this week, clearing the Vehicle Wash area at HMS Tern Living Museum, uncovering a concrete platform dating back to the 1940's. #orkney #navalhistory
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Blooming marvellous.....flora and fauna bursting into life across HMS Tern. Even the snail is making a break for it.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Today, we tend to overlook the radio, viewing it mainly as a convenient source of music and relaxation. However, during World War II, radios were far more than just entertainment devices; they were vital tools in the larger conflict. See blog for more #history hmstern.blog/2026/06/16/v...
hmstern.blog
Voices of Resistance: The Crucial Role of Radio During World War II - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
Today, we tend to overlook the radio, viewing it mainly as a convenient source of music and relaxation. With advances in technology, we now have smart radios that respond to voice commands, allowing u...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Desktop trainee navy pilot graffiti from WW2 at HMS Tern. All meaning is now lost, except for the enigmatic GOOD LUCK. 🙂 #NavalHistory
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
The first German air raid on British territory during the Second World War occurred over Orkney on 17 October 1939. Junkers Ju88 aircraft attacked ships in Scapa Flow, damaging HMS Iron Duke, which was anchored off the island of Hoy. hmstern.blog/2026/06/13/e...
hmstern.blog
Echoes of history: HMS Tern’s air raid siren
The first German air raid on British territory during the Second World War occurred over Orkney on 17 October 1939. Junkers Ju88 aircraft attacked ships in Scapa Flow, damaging HMS Iron Duke, which…
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Think I may make this into my mobile ringtone. Our air raid siren making a rare outing at HMS Tern #Orkney youtu.be/z3TdvUb6MMw
youtu.be
Air Raid Siren at HMS Tern
YouTube video by HMS Tern
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Just testing.....Just Testing....yep seems to work....OK. You can turn it off now.🤣 Just one of the many vintage pieces of equipment brought to life by our skilled volunteers at HMS Tern #Orkney
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Reel Escape: How Cinema Boosted Morale at HMS Tern During WW2 tinyurl.com/mr57nxwr
tinyurl.com
Reel Escape: How Cinema Boosted Morale at HMS Tern During WW2 - About Tern - the blog for HMS Tern Orkney
Imagine sitting in the small cinema building at HMS Tern, with its curved corrugated iron roof arching overhead, eagerly waiting for the main feature to begin. The place would be packed with off-duty ...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
HMS Tern in the news tinyurl.com/3jknydxu
tinyurl.com
Wartime wall hanging to go on display - The Orcadian Online
An impressive wall hanging has been created, commemorating Orkney’s wartime past. The work, which includes fabric recovered from a parachute, will soon be on show at the HMS Tern fire station. The pro...
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
We are excited to present a beautiful wall hanging created by the talented members of the Anchor Group, Stromness. Showcased in the cinema alongside ‘Vera’s Story’- the inspiration for the artwork.’ #Orkney #NavalHistory hmstern.blog/2026/06/06/c...
hmstern.blog
Celebrating History and Creativity: Vera’s Story Inspires the Anchor Group’s Stunning Wall Hanging
We are excited to present a beautiful wall hanging created by the talented members of the Anchor Group, based in the Orkney town of Stromness. This remarkable piece reflects the creativity and craf…
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Just a quick trip through the foyer of the cinema building RNAS HMS Tern #Orkney #NavalHistory #islandlife
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
I just love it when a place stirs someone to write.....and especially when it's HMS Tern.........Terry Thornhill sent us this haunting poem entitled 'The Voices of the Past 'about the airfield and the men and women who served there. hmstern.blog/2026/06/04/t...
hmstern.blog
The Voices Of The Past
On the airfield here they say In the twilight of the day  You can listen to the pilots As they talk From the shadows far away As the grass begins sway In the silence round the grounds They all stil…
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
The Mystery of the Whisky Bottle in the Air-Raid Shelter. tinyurl.com/3psnssu9
tinyurl.com
The Mystery of the Whisky Bottle in the Air-Raid Shelter
This is not the title of a new murder mystery television show; rather, it is the intriguing story of an everyday object from the 1940s that was recently discovered in an unexpected place. This obje…
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
HMS Tern Living Museum is a treasure trove of fascinating equipment and memorabilia that vividly captures the 1940s wartime era, when the airfield was fully operational and bustling with activity. Among the impressive collection is the quirky Excelsior Autobyk. tinyurl.com/mr2hey9j
tinyurl.com
Reviving History: The Excelsior Autobyk and Its Role in Wartime Britain
HMS Tern Living Museum is a treasure trove of fascinating equipment and memorabilia that vividly captures the 1940s wartime era, when the airfield was fully operational and bustling with activity. …
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
I agree. Flying into Orkney is a treat on an ordinary fixed wing aircraft. Not sure there are any Hoverflys in a flying condition left?
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Orkney and HMS Tern were at the forefront of innovation at the close of World War 2. It was here that the Sikorsky R-4, also known as the Hoverfly I in the UK, flew from the airfield on training and evaluation flights. #orkney #history hmstern.blog/2026/05/29/p...
hmstern.blog
Pioneering the Era of Helicopter Innovation at HMS Tern
HMS Tern truly stood at the forefront of innovation in the latter years of World War II. It was here that the Sikorsky R-4, also known as the Hoverfly, flew from the airfield on training and evalua…
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Keeping history alive! This week, the 1st Dounby Rainbows and 1st Dounby Girl Guides visited HMS Tern. Despite the overcast conditions, we had a great time showing them around, exploring the exhibits, wildlife, and buildings on the site.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Some of the air raid shelters constructed in 1941 still stand today. This video showcases the old cinema block and the interior of a shelter on the site. Volunteers have cleared away decades of debris, revealing a glimpse of the conditions that people endured during those desperate times.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
The Orkney landscape surrounding HMS Tern attracts a wide variety of wildlife. Just yesterday, we discovered baby pigeons in the control tower. We will leave them undisturbed until they are ready to fledge.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
And what of the humble brick? How did they get the building materials to #Orkney to build WW2 training airfield HMS Tern? #history tinyurl.com/2f4xp9kh
tinyurl.com
Another Brick in the Wall
When you visit HMS Tern, you might not give much thought to the humble brick. However, consider the vast site, with all its buildings on the airfield. Have you ever wondered about the immense effor…
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Nice write up by @theorkneynews.bsky.social theorkneynews.scot/2026/05/21/o...
theorkneynews.scot
Orkney Vintage Club Visit HMS Tern
Here at The Orkney News we have followed the development and future plans for the site of HMS Tern, (RNAS Twatt aerodrome), in the West Mainland. We’ve taken excellent guided tours of the sit…
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
HMS Tern Living Museum relies heavily on its volunteers; without their support, this incredible place would not be able to function. #museum #WW2 #orkney Maintaining the model of the airfield, ensuring that visitors can appreciate the significant scale of this important site.
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HMS Tern Living Museum @hmstern61.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Welcome to HMS Tern - a Living Museum depicting a WW2 training airfield on #Orkney #Scotland. See our new blog for more info. Follow us as we develop this historic site. seanpage519-lmgri.wordpress.com?_gl=1*vur4u8....
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