Narromine Aviation Museum

03/11/2026

01/10/2026

Do you have visitors coming to stay this long weekend? If so make sure you bring them out to the aviation museum…you/they won’t be disappointed!

13/09/2026

We were excited to welcome Neville and Rhonda Parnell to the NAM this morning, along with their daughter Megan, a curator at the Australian National Museum.

Neville is the author of three books held in the Narromine Aviation Museum collection: Whispering Death: A History of the RAAF’s Beaufighter Squadrons, Beaufighters in the Pacific: A History of the RAAF Beaufighter Squadrons in the South West Pacific Area, and Flypast: A Record of Aviation in Australia, co-authored with Trevor Boughton.

Neville and Rhonda generously donated seven boxes of books, magazines and journals relating to aviation from Neville’s extensive personal library, an incredible contribution to our collection and to preserving Australia’s aviation history.

But just as wonderful as the donation were the stories Rhonda shared with us.

As a child growing up in the city, Rhonda always wanted a horse. When that wasn’t possible, she found another passion: planespotting. Santa even encouraged her interest, leaving aircraft identification books in her Christmas stockings.

At school, Rhonda wrote in an exercise that she wanted to become an aeronautical engineer. Her teacher told her that would never happen, that she would be a housewife instead. Rhonda made sure that prediction never came true!

Her love of flying eventually took her to Bankstown Airport, where she would learn to fly in the early mornings before racing off to work as a kindergarten teacher, making it there before 9am.

For Rhonda, flying has always been about the freedom of simply being alone in the skies. She also has a deep passion for sharing the stories of Australia’s under-recognised female pilots, including Lores Bonney, the first woman to circumnavigate Australia by air and the first woman to fly solo from Australia to England.

Hearing Rhonda’s stories was a wonderful reminder that aviation history isn’t just about aircraft, it’s about the people who dreamed, challenged expectations and found their own way into the skies.

A huge thank you to Neville, Rhonda and Megan for visiting, for their incredible generosity, and most of all, for sharing these stories with us. ✈️

19/08/2026

Just some of the wonderful feedback we have recently received. If you haven’t been to the Narromine Aviation Museum it’s a must if you are in the district! ✈️🛩️

11/08/2026

Please note: to all our members and ‘friends of the museum’…

08/08/2026

Heading to the Mundi Mundi Bash via Narromine? Don’t miss this!

Make sure you allow a little extra time to stop at the Narromine Aviation Museum - it’s an easy detour and well worth it!

Travelling through Narromine towards Trangie, head out along the Mitchell Highway to the Narromine Aerodrome, where you’ll find this fascinating museum celebrating almost a century of aviation history in the region.

Inside, you’ll discover incredible stories brought to life through photographs, records, artefacts and aircraft - from the pioneering days of aviation through to Narromine’s important wartime history.

Living stories on one of Australia’s truly historic aerodromes.

It’s a great stop for aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, families - or anyone who enjoys discovering the stories behind the places they travel through.

You won’t be disappointed - put it on your Mundi Mundi Bash road-trip itinerary! Open every day (except Tuesday) 10am-4pm.

17/07/2026

🛩️ | Take flight in Narromine
Need something to do these school holidays?
Why not take a trip through the skies without leaving the ground.
Head to the Narromine Aviation Museum and discover a world of aviation history, incredible stories and fascinating displays for the whole family to enjoy.
Open every day (not Tuesday) from 10am - 4pm.
So pack up the kids, plan a day out and let your adventure take flight!
🚗 Visit the Narromine Region - it’s worth the drive!

12/07/2026

The end of an era: Noel was likely the last living graduate of No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at Narromine. (Please get in touch if you know of anyone else). He's listed with No.31 Course on the museum's Memorial Wall as Noel Mayes; he later changed to his father's surname, McDermott.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19CPtGXvHJ/

We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of South Australian based WW2 Bomber Command veteran, Noel McDermott.

Born in Ayr, Queensland, in December 1922, Noel was a telephonist working with the Post-Masters General when he enlisted in the RAAF in October 1942. He completed basic flying training at No 5 Elementary Flying Training School, Narromine, and then advanced flying training at No 1 Service Flying Training School, Point Cook, receiving his Wings in November 1943.

Selected for duty in Europe, Noel arrived in the UK in late January 1944 and was posted into a holding position at No. 11 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre at Brighton from February to early June. During this time he was attached to several flying schools completing various training. He was then posted to No 11 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Calverley in Cheshire for in-country family training on Airspeed Oxfords. In early August 1944, he was posted to No 85 Operational Training Unit flying the Vickers Wellington at RAF Husbands Bosworth in Leicestershire. He then attended No 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire.

In late February 1945, he was posted to No 625 Squadron. Based at RAF Kelstern in Lincolnshire, 625 SQN (RAF) flew Avro Lancasters as part of No. 1 Group RAF in Bomber Command. Noel flew 13 operational missions recording 84 operational flying hours with 625 SQN.

He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in late March 1945.

In early April, 625 SQN was disbanded and Noel was posted along with others to form C Flight of No 576 Squadron based at RAF Fiskerton near Lincoln which also flew the Avro Lancaster. With 576 SQN, he flew seven operational missions recording nearly 40 operational flying hours between April and September 1945. He was promoted to Flying Officer in September 1945.

Returning to Australia in late 1945, he was discharged from the RAAF in December.

He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, Australian Service Medal 1939-1945, the Defence Medal, and the War Medal 1939-1945.

Noel was a long-time member of the Air Force Association Mitcham Branch.

Noel was the last South Australian based Bomber Command pilot that we are aware of.

Fair skies Noel and thank you for your service.

You are one of a special generation that gave so much for our Nation in WW2 for which our country will be forever indebted to. Your service will not be forgotten.

Image of Noel McDermott courtesy of Australian War Memorial Digital Online Collection taken in 2016 as part of the Memorials "Reflections – Honouring our World War Two Veterans" project.

21/06/2026

This invitation from the Narromine RSL Sub-Branch is open to the whole community…mark the diary for this moving event on 31 July 2026.