East Essex Aviation Society and Museum

About the museum

The East Essex Aviation Society was formed in 1985, after local interest grew in the recovery of a US Army Air Forces P-51D Mustang that had come down in the sea off Clacton in January 1945. The Martello tower at Point Clear was chosen as a place to keep and show the wreckage, and the museum has been open to visitors since 1986.

The tower is one of the chain of Martello towers built on the east coast of England between 1808 and 1810 to guard against invasion by Napoleon. It was later used as a coastguard station and an observation post, and was a tea room before the museum moved in. It is a Grade II listed building and a scheduled monument.

On the ground floor are items recovered from local crash sites, cleaned and preserved by volunteers. The first floor shows uniforms, equipment and personal items from the First and Second World Wars, including material from the American 479th Fighter Group, the Home Front and the Royal Observer Corps. The partial remains of a second Mustang that crashed near Frinton are also kept here.

Highlights

• Wreckage of the P-51D Mustang recovered from the sea in 1987
• Finds from local aircraft crash sites
• Uniforms and memorabilia from both world wars
• Grade II listed Martello tower dating from about 1810
• Remains of a second Mustang that crashed near Frinton

Permanent exhibitions

• P-51D Mustang wreckage – The wreckage of a US fighter that ditched off the Essex coast in 1945 and was later recovered, which led to the founding of the society.
• Local crash-site finds and wartime memorabilia – Aircraft parts recovered nearby, plus uniforms, equipment and personal items from both world wars, shown on the ground and first floors.

Founded

1986

Operated by

East Essex Aviation Society

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free and donations are welcome.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Martello tower at Point Clear, on the coast south of St Osyth.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

There is a small gift shop. The Ferryboat Inn next door serves food and drink.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit