|
Post by PB on Mar 15, 2024 7:36:33 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 15/03/24"Beware the ides of March", ie today's date... By superstition a day of misfortune, it certainly proved to be that for Julius Caesar assassinated on this day in 44BC. The Romans had a complex way of measuring the year's passage from three fixed points, the Nones, the Ides and the Kalends.. The Nones were eight days before the Ides, the Nones were on the 7th or 8th of the month, eight days before the Ides which fell on the 13th of most months but in March, May, July and October fell on the 15th. The Kalends were on the first of the following month. Originally the Ides were determined by the full Moon reflecting the lunar origin of the Roman calendar. I'm sure you're glad to know that! It's so much easier to refer to your Blackbushe Heritage Trust calendar....
Celestial bodies had a say on 15th March, 1938, when DH Comet Racer G-ACSS began a record breaking flight from England to New Zealand and back. A trip that lasted just ten days and 21 hours.
In 1996, the 15th March brought its bad luck to the Fokker aircraft company in the Netherlands - they declared bankruptcy.
Back here in "POTD" HQ the editorial staff continue to be dogged with post-prang problems plus an exciting ongoing variety of other problems. I don't think the date will have influence?
Now, if you're at Blackbushe on Sunday I think you should take the opportunity of visiting the new Blackbushe Heritage Trust shop. All new with loads of aviation material and memorabilia for sale and every sale generates the money necessary to fuel the Viking's progress. It'll also give you a chance to see how the Viking is progressing! The Pathfinder awaits to welcome you with perhaps a "Flyer" breakfast or a whole raft of other eating opportunities.
Should you be shopping at the Meadows Shopping Centre in Camberley on Sunday the Trust's Exhibition and Sales Stall will be open from 10am to 4pm. We hope to see you at one or may be both venues!!Talking of Vikings, here we see one detaching from Blackbushe's runway 26 demonstrating the exciting initial rate of climb enjoyed by 1950s transport aeroplanes. Passengers had so much more time to enjoy the passing scenery while the cockpit crew had more time to study their road maps.I jest, I think, but remembering boyhood days when Vikings ruled the skies around Blackbushe it was just the norm for the aircraft to slowly become airborne and thus proceed on a very flat looking departure where height gain was somewhat conservative in nature. The sound of those two Hercules engines is still in my memory, or I think it is, powerful, quite loud, marvellous! The warning is that we always take 'today' as being the norm and don't appreciate its unique experiences that perhaps won't be available 'tomorrow'. Back then Vikings were just totally everyday sights - you didn't stop to think how it might feel in years to come when such delights were no more.. Now we know.
A bit like every time I look in the mirror and wonder how on earth did the reflected image get like 'that'...Another quest for your imagination. Imagine you're standing on this spot today, the overgrown and currently boggy remains of Blackbushe 'east', and this flew over your head. Oh those sounds, and it would soon be followed by another, or maybe a DC-6 or a Navy Neptune...We know the reality, but it's still sad seeing the 'way we were' while imagining the sound effects!However, the modern day miracle is that Blackbushe continues to operate, is home to a Viking again, is enjoying the installation of a completely new lighting system, and has the best prospects of 'development' than at any time during the past six decades..
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 16, 2024 7:45:51 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 16/03/24Three months today and it'll be all over, the airfield having its annual Air Day on 15th June this year...
If by some chance you are unaware of the forthcoming event then look no further than the full details awaiting you on the Blackbushe Airport website.. www.blackbusheairday.com/
The weather will be whatever the weather decides, but for the record all our flying events at Blackbushe for as long as I can remember (too long..) have been blessed by really good conditions. Just the one had a bit of bother with the weather! The 50th Anniversary of the Airport back in 1992 was a two-day event. Lots of aeroplanes gathered, months of work netting those flying machines, arranging ground exhibits, dedication of a Memorial to crews who 'failed to return', a flying display on the second day and a dinner held in the marquee on the Saturday night. Months of endeavour witnessed the first day subjected to conditions that would have looked familiar to visitors from where monsoons are part of life. It just dumped itself on us all day. The US Navy arrived as did the Royal Air Force in the shape of two Tucanos from RAF Cranwell who emerged on Saturday afternoon from the north, rather low, as the visibility did not give way to them until they appeared somewhere in the Vigo Lane vicinity. As was often the case RAF participation was not forthcoming 'officially', some negotiations beyond the norm were called for! Can't recall the details now but I found myself in contact with the 'right person' at Cranwell who were only too happy to take up their invitation!!
The dinner on Saturday night held in the marquee adjacent to 'European Flyers' was well attended, except for the weather! Have you ever eaten in a marquee at night whilst a thunderstorm and more monsoon descended upon the proceedings. The food was good, all the places were filled, lightning and thunder claps added to the atmosphere and the 'roof' of the marquee continued to bulge ominously as it gathered the contents of the monsoon above our heads. Nobody said it would be easy, but somehow the overhead swimming pool remained overhead long enough - had it burst the scene one can only imagine!!
At this stage I was not exactly 'happy' as seemingly months of work were heading down the drain -literally!!Sunshine again! The RAF and the US Navy back at the airfield where both have significant history...Day two was a different ball-game altogether. The rains had gone, the sky was clear, it was a good day for flying, it was also the day set aside for the flying-display and the official dedication of the memorial plaque presented by John Varndell. It remains in place on the Terminal to this day.
Day two went like clockwork, one's suicidal notions could be put to one-side - I cannot say how months of prep work crammed into one's full-time work commitments felt when cometh the day the heavens opened up to full tilt and the airfield was a soggy thing domed with low cloud and vis that permitted views no further than the airfield's northern boundaries.. Such is life if you play with fire, you can burn your fingers.
The Sunday was great, plenty of aircraft some of which had arrived on the Friday previous, a Dove for pleasure flying all the way from Farnborough, Pembroke, an Optica, Spitfires, Mustang, Su-26, An-2, a bevvy of Tiger Moths from the 'Diamond Nine' team, Gary Numan and the late Norman Lees in their Harvards, and a fly-in that filled a large amount of Blackbushe grass. The Royal Netherlands Air Force offered an F-16 but sadly this had to be turned down! Various dignities attended representing the nations who were involved with Blackbushe during the war, France, the Netherlands and Czechs were with us. A young visitor meets the United States Navy's crew!A seagull that fell victim to the rotors of RAF Odiham's Chinook during their fly-past was the only casualty, and the event closed with a degree of satisfaction although that wet Saturday still niggles something in the memory!Formation aerobatics from Norman Lees and pop-singer Gary Numan. The 'borrowed' Airport fuel for their smoke burners was put to good effect...The Memorial plaque manufactured and presented by John Varndell.At 3pm exactly the airfield was silent as the Memorial plaque was officially blessed during a brief religious ceremony. Perfectly on time the sounds of a Mustang and Spitfire coming in from the east broke the silence and cascaded the airfield with sounds only those aircraft can make. Looking around it was hard to see a dry eye...The end of Day two in sunshine. The 50th Anniversary cake is presided over by Airport Manager, the late much missed Stuart Marshall, surrounded by various individuals while it looks as if somebody is trying to place a bottle of whisky into his pocket....The luxury Dove that was busy operating pleasure flights when the weather permitted!Oh well, I didn't mean to recall the 50th this morning, but it just slipped out! Tomorrow another piece of text describing life at Blackbushe - RAF Hartford Bridge - as it was in the months leading to D-Day just 80 years ago.
Seems that blue skies await those for whom the sky beckons this morning - ENJOY!!
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 17, 2024 6:48:53 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 17/03/24Another week begins, an unearthly 05.30 start here at "POTD" HQ thanks entirely to my nose that since the prang three weeks ago last night has not been in the best of shape - it keeps me awake for hours reducing sleep to precious bursts more often than not of an evening when the TV tranquilises my senses. Seemingly the impact when it head butted a solid piece of concrete caused the side to rupture, a tad like Mt St Helens when it blew from the top but also blew out its side too. Stitches were taken out but by the nature of the injury a number did not bed-in and having floated about in the 'site' they occasionally surface when the dressing is changed. You'd think my far better half had found gold with a "here's another one!" to note another loop of thread had made it to the surface!! There's no doubt a lifelong change to the side of Peter's konk will be there to remember the experience! Could have been sooo much worse, onward and upward! Just bloody stupid it happened at all....I look forward to getting up to the airfield again soon and seeing how the lighting installation is looking. This was last week, and how good is it to see big steps being taken toward the Blackbushe with hangars and the new infrastructure we've longed for for years. Decades!Continuing the story of life at RAF Hartford Bridge in the months and week leading up to D-Day in 1944 herewith the end of January of that year..The previous piece on March 6th, 2024 described attacks on Flying Bomb sites, sad losses, and the King's approval of the awarding of the DSO to F/O Riseley of 88 Squadron.
We now move to the latter half of January, 1944...
"At the end of the month [January 1944] command of 88 Squadron was handed over to Wing Commander A B Wheeler.
During the month the airfield had been visited by Sir Roy Fedden (Ministry of Aircraft Production), Dr Abbott (Board of Education), and an officer of the Directorate of Technical Development, Air Ministry, to investigate its suitability for post-war activities. It was suggested that Hawker Aircraft Ltd., might move into the airfield to establish an aircraft production facility but this plan was to be subsequently shelved and they eventually moved into Dunsfold in 1950.
Ronald McCall, a young local lad at the time, recalled seeing a Lancaster bomber overshoot the runway on landing. The aircraft, which had both wings ripped off in the accident, came to rest on the eastern boundary of the airfield and was quickly attended by the emergency services. Once they had departed he remembered collecting ration packs and that a friend foolishly picked up an emergency flare which he took into a concrete shelter in the Dungells Lane area. On letting it off, it ricocheted around inside as it hit the walls. He recalled that the lads left in a very great hurry!"
Now we move into February 1944..
His Majesty King George VI was pleased to approve the award of the DFC to F/O G W Attenborough and the DFM to F/O C B Carter, both of 107 Squadron, during the month which was to prove a busy one for all concerned.
16 and 140 Squadrons were completing their re-equipment with replacement aircraft and were photographing areas of Normandy using survey cameras to capture what to them seemed large areas of open farm land. In fact they were recording possible sites to be used by Allied aircraft when the invasion had occurred and it was safe to establish forward landing grounds on French soil. It was, however, time for one of the based squadrons to move on and 107 left the airfield to take up residence at RAF Lasham where they were to re-equip with Mosquito Mk VIs. They took with them 3122 Echelon, their servicing crew, while leaving their redundant Bostons to be made available for use by 88 Squadron. While the two remaining Boston squadrons, 88 and 342, continued to bomb French construction works on the 4th, 140 Squadron was training to use Gee and Rebecca radar navigational aids. The following day 88 Squadron was again active, this time with a raid on Beauvais airfield.
On the same day two unusual aircraft landed at the airfield from Farnborough - Avro Tutor K3234 flew in to conduct stability trials with the Baynes Carrier Wing Bat experimental aircraft RA809 which had been built by Slingsby...
(Quote from Wiki.. "In the late 1930s, armies were looking for a way to airlift heavy military units. There were then no cargo aircraft big enough to lift a tank, and even if such a large aircraft had been created it would have needed many special facilities. A solution which was explored during the Second World War was to tow tanks as gliders, and for this wings had to be added. Most designs were based on straight wings with extended empennage and stabilizers. The design of L.E. Baynes AFRAeS in 1941 was for a 100 ft wingspan "Carrier Wing Glider" consisting chiefly of a swept wing with vertical stabilizers on the wingtips.
A 1/3 scale prototype was built entirely of wood in 1943 by Slingsby Sailplanes at Kirkbymoorside, and the Baynes Bat made its first flight in July 1943 at the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at RAF Sherburn-in-Elmet, Yorkshire. Most of the test flights were piloted by Flight Lieutenant Robert Kronfeld.
Tests were successful, but the project was abandoned because a suitable tank was not then available and a decision had been made to develop gliders which could carry heavy equipment within their fuselages. The strategists were not convinced of the practicality of retrieving large numbers of Baynes Bats from the field, but in wartime this was not a critical factor.
The one Bat which had been built was the first tailless monoplane with flaps to be available for research and it was flown extensively by the Royal Aircraft Establishment to test the stability and control of tailless aircraft. The Bat was sold as surplus in October 1946 and entered on the British Gliding Association register in November 1947. The Bat was last seen in 1958, lying behind a hangar at Croydon Airport").
Boston BZ218 of 342 Squadron was hit by flak on the 9th over Fruges. Despite the fuel lines being shot away, the crew managed to keep the engines running by use of hand pumps until the aircraft was able to make a crash landing at RAF Friston, Sussex.
Problems were being experienced by 2 TAF Communications Flight as Taylorcraft Auster 1 aircraft tail skids were becoming entangled in the metal PSP matting. Aircraft on their strength at this time included LB266, LB279, LB299, LB322, LB334 and LB342.
It was about this time that a local chicken keeper discovered a wallet on his property. He had for some time been concerned that his livestock had been disappearing at fairly regular intervals. On examination he quickly deduced from the wallet contents that the culprit was one of the locally based airmen from the airfield. He therefore decided to do the correct thing and return the wallet to its owner, via the Squadron Commander with an explanatory note that the money it had contained had not been stolen but had been kept by him to pay in part for his missing stock!"
Next 'episode' in life on our airfield will relate to the second half of February, 1944. Grateful thanks to dear Stuart Marshall for providing the text...A respectful look back to the days of war at Blackbushe and the famous '342' Lorraine Squadron.PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 18, 2024 7:06:02 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 18/03/24Way back in 2008 it was on this day that Delta airlines offered voluntary severance to 30,000 employees - somewhere around half of their workforce! Times were hard in the airline business back then. IATA described it as "the deepest depression experienced by the commercial airline industry since the 1930s". The great downturn, mergers amid the big names in the US airline business, oil prices.. I took a severance deal as my carrier vanished in name via a complex merger and 'retirement' was the name of the game. It was often up to individuals to negotiate their own separation terms, my boss said that I'd "done a blinder" and although it was sad leaving the airline environment the past years in 'retirement' have been some of the best!
There is always a 'pull' looking back in time or when 'your' airline drift overhead letting down for LHR at the completion of another Atlantic crossing. That tug will never go, but aviation activity has never gone away, retired or not!
Talking of floating around, it was on this day in 1965 that the first human took a walk in space! Now that's really flying! Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov, stepped from his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, he was then - and always will be - the first human to 'step outside' and take a walk. 17,000 mph, or whatever, with views like non other... Arm yourself with a Cessna 150 and you don't need to go into orbit for stunning views! Thanks to Mike Biddulph for the view.Google images from space are amazing, but nothing nicer than capturing your favourite airfield from 1,500ft! My car's still there!! Taken before the Viking arrived and the new Blackbushe Heritage Trust hangar was erected..Enough for this morning, the eye hospital awaits! Eye drops to dilate the pupils until they're big and round enough to sail a ship through, the prelude to another round of laser surgery! It's all good fun being retired. Laser surgery does not hurt but can work miracles in post-cataract treatment..The eye drops are the worst bit!
See you!
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 19, 2024 7:56:19 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 19/03/24Another morning, nose pressed up against the screen seeking thoughts not of the past as "POTD" is known to do, but to deliver the future too... From the "POTD" driving seat it is always fun to visualise what that future may be. Of great significance are the moves now being taken by the Airport toward securing the right to build hangars and to totally re-engineer the Blackbushe 'product' from the currently limited operation to a modern fully equipped General Aviation centre providing what the GA market needs at a location where it is needed....
For six decades long before "POTD" was dreamed up the possibilities for Blackbushe as a General Aviation centre were exciting and seemingly realistic. AVM Bennett had great visions having purchased 365 acres of the old airport, but from the outset these visions were damned by local 'politics'... However, we have moved into a new and more enlightened age where the 'vision' of a future Blackbushe has every chance of progressing to fully fledged reality.
The future of such an airport would be geared to the way the GA market evolves. Again, we are at a turning point as to what GA encompasses. "POTD" has from time to time ventured into the future looking at the craft being envisaged for 'tomorrow'. New power sources, eVTOL, flying taxis, you name it! City Airbus....Vertical Aerospace..Vertical Aerospace.. On a number of occasions "POTD" has looked into the crystal ball in best 'Mystic Meg' fashion and concluded that Blackbushe would be an ideal location for the new era of eVTOL craft that are sure to be with us in the coming years. A recent quote from Blackbushe Airport's declared traffic increase from 'new market sources' states, "The aviation industry is pursuing new and innovative types of aircraft, including electric and hydrogen fuelled aircraft. New operational methods are also emerging including eVTOL and BVLOS operations. Blackbushe is well placed to provide homes to these start-up sectors, bringing high-skilled jobs to the Hart District. At this time it is not possible to predict what these movements volumes might look like".
From the national press yesterday came this declaration of a vision of 2028, the 'revolutionising' of air transport - in fact a whole new chapter in the book describing what General Aviation is.. Yesterday's press...What are your visions of who or what will be flying in UK airspace over the coming ten years??
Strikes me that the plans for the development of Blackbushe are well timed to meet the needs of 'tomorrow'?
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 20, 2024 7:23:08 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 20/03/24The world of aviation is never dull, it feeds news morsels pretty much most of the time. For example, take events at Brisbane recently when a switched-on ground refueller noticed that a Singapore Airline A350 was preparing for push-back with the pitot covers still in place. Previously a Malaysian Airways A330 had departed Brisbane with the pitot covers still in place. Procedures at Brisbane have subsequently been addressed to avoid repeats.
Boeing have confirmed to Federal accident investigators that it has no records of work completed on the 737 Max 9 that shed a door plug in flight back in January. No record exists of the personnel who worked on the door.
The UK Ministry of Defence has decided to continue with its order for 14 long-range Chinooks having concluded a significant price reduction from Washington.
But, of greatest significance to all who follow the Blackbushe story must be the fact that a new lighting system is being installed thanks to a work project that will take until June for completion costing around some £1.5 million. Who says the owners of Blackbushe Airport are not serious?
Yesterday's "POTD" focused on the prospects of eVTOL development and the possible suitability of Blackbushe for such in the future when/if they become accepted modes of transport. "POTD" invited your opinions on the exciting possible developments in 'green' affordable air travel but as yet no comments received. Anyway, "POTD" is fully behind such developments...Rockwell Turbo Commander at Blackbushe during the 80's. Fitted with Astafan turbo-fan engines, will the future of propulsion see similar pods containing hydrogen or electric powered thrust?What do you think? Tap into the POTD Comments pages here ... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/thread/51/potd-comments?page=346
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 21, 2024 7:38:22 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 21/03/24Lighter skies each morning indicate the arrival of Spring (yesterday) and the ever closer Air Day on 15th June, Blackbushe's new lighting system construction and its completion in June, and at some point in hopefully the not too far distant future news regarding the Land Exchange and the Planning Inspectorate. All your responses to the recent Consultation no doubt churning around in the Planning Inspector's filing system. Spring seems to have come quickly, no doubt due to the pleasantly mild winter and a lack of the Arctic conditions that can come with the winter season. Time, however, drags by very slowly when it comes to waiting for the processes that necessarily have to be endured in the long saga of Blackbushe Airport and the need for some hangars! Funny business, in 1942 hangars were built along with every other necessary structure, in 1960 they are all knocked down followed by six decades of endeavours to be allowed to build some again..
I note that still no responses have been made regarding POTD's recent consideration of the future, eVTOL, and Blackbushe. Somebody must have a point of view?
Moving on, the General Aviation Advisory Council recently updated their listing of British airfields. There's still a few left!! gaac.org.uk/uk-ga-airfields/
Also, here's a link to their Aerodromes update for Q1 this year... www.gaac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AERODROMES-UPDATE-Q1-2024.pdf
Blackbushe remains the most secure and free of housing plans to the area south-west of London having absolutely no housing plans. Except houses for aeroplanes.Work in progress! The Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking restoration moves onward, the fuselage now enjoying the first stages in restoring her to colours once familiar to the Blackbushe scene. Primer meets the Viking!! The volunteer tech team are doing the most excellent work! A Viking back at Blackbushe - it's still hard to believe!! Photo Phil S. Another nose, namely the one attached to my face, continues to ooze the red stuff almost a month after the prang. Amazing how things can change in a split second - and then drag on somewhat!
All being well, back tomorrow...
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 22, 2024 7:22:51 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 22/03/24"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem, all four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control. I trust you are not in too much distress."And so the immortal words of Captain Eric Moody greeted his passengers as their British Airways 747 suffered a four engine flame-out. The Jakarta area had experienced a severe volcanic eruption, the resultant cloud reached high altitude and consumed Captain Moody's aeroplane. After 12 minutes of zero thrust the aircraft exited the cloud that had truly sand blasted it and somehow all four engines were restored.
Sadly Captain Moody recently passed away in his sleep aged 84. He, and his crew, will long be remembered for saving the BA009 in 1982 on its leg from Kuala Lumpur to Perth. His quote describing the task of encouraging four sand-blasted engines to return to life is legend, "..a bit like negotiating one's way up a badger's arse" was how he described the task of keeping the 747 flying..The one and only time a 747 visited Blackbushe flown by Senior Training Captain Alan Chalkley, one can only wonder at the adrenaline rush in that cockpit when the type became a glider operating the BA009 service back in 1982.Yesterday I popped into to Blackbushe to catch up with events, quiet but the Pathfinder continues to do roaring trade. Hardly surprising, it's run buy such a great crew who serve great food!! The view that struck me most as I arrived on the A30 from the west was the amount of engineering activity along the main runway in connection with the new lighting installation programme, in a spit second it rekindled recall of another moment in transit down the A30. This was back in the fifties when famously Blackbushe was having her main runway resurfaced, I was only small at the time but I well recall the machinery along the runway as seen from my Dad's car as we passed by. How I remember I've no idea, but the fact that Blackbushe was severely restricted was quite a news item at the time, obviously it was much talked about. I seem to remember black smoke rising from the work site, but that might be a false memory - who knows?
Hopefully it won't be too much longer until the next construction work on Blackbushe is involved in building hangars etc.?
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 23, 2024 6:45:02 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 23/03/24Saturday!! The invasion of the grandsons..big demand for flight-sim time thus a very hasty "POTD" while it's still peaceful!!
Another week passes into history, while history continues to grow. Aviation history is still in its infancy spanning only something little more than a Century since it really took-off..Nothing in the span of human history but what a remarkable story of imagination, courage, determination, tragedy, inspiration, and achievement. Take today, 23 March, back in 1948 on this day Grp Capt John Cunningham set a new world altitude record of 59,446 ft in a de Havilland Vampire. Ahhh de Havilland!
Looking back in time I find it hard to believe that this month records the passing of 62 years since my first flight aboard the Blackbushe Aero Club's Piper Colt. A grey Sunday in March my time had come, I still recall my heart beating with anticipation as we taxied from the apron for a departure on runway 08. It was 08 then.... According to the log book I've subsequently flown in 130 different aircraft types from 200 airfields/landing strips in 517 aircraft. Hard to believe but spread over quite a few years! It's all slowed down to a trickle nowadays, but every flight where and whatever came with a compulsion to 'log it'. For whatever reason my log book is one of my most precious possessions! Like me, it's curling up at the edges a bit... There she is, G-ARNL sitting on the otherwise empty space known as Blackbushe way back in 1962!!The photo speaks volumes for Blackbushe life in 1962. AVM Bennett had saved 365 acres while the rest of the airfield awaited its fate. The US Navy hangar so obvious in the photo, and an awful lot of precious tarmac that was destined to be ripped up by the Parish council.. No trees or scrub, Blackbushe was still a very large flat open space, a scene that has relentlessly changed with the passage of time.
Tomorrow's "POTD" will continue with the description of life at the airfield during the months leading to D-Day, an historic event that this year marks its 80th Anniversary. RAF Hartford Bridge played a significant role in the story before, during and after D-Day in June 1944. A sight we never thought we see again! A USAF Dakota at Blackbushe. They dropped in on a Sunday long ago to pick up a para team..A welcome weekend visitor in those bleak days of the early sixties, the RAE Flying Club's Tiger Moth G-AJHS.. Seeing an aeroplane on the ground at Blackbushe was a BIG event back then..Back tomorrow, I'm suddenly in demand!! It's flight-sim time....
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Mar 24, 2024 6:58:42 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 24/03/24Today we continue with our look at life at RAF Hartford Bridge during the period leading up to D-Day 1944, this time from 14th - 24th February, 1944. My hope is that by D-Day in June of this year, the 80th Anniversary of this outstanding event in our history - and one that at last turned the tide of war in our favour - it will be clear how life was at what is now 'our' airfield during those months and the great significance of its contribution to D-Day and the pathway to peace..."A new squadron arrived on the 13th flying Mitchell bombers, a new type to be based at the airfield. This was 226 Squadron which arrived from its former base at RAF Swanton Morley in Norfolk, bringing with them their servicing unit No. 3126 Echelon. They were initially assigned to the north-east corner of the airfield which was under guard by the RAF Regiment with machine guns. As they commenced a training period of nearly a month their squadron code letters MQ became a familiar sight to station personnel. In April a number of their aircraft painted in an all black colour scheme and carrying no other markings would form the Squadron's 'C' Flight which was to be assigned to top secret special duties
On the same day (13th) a 34 Wing crew established a record by photographing proposed landing sites in France in a single sortie. It was vital to get as much up-to-date information as possible on the proposed landing sites to allow for planning to be undertaken o where to establish these forward landing grounds. It was seen to be of the utmost importance that once the invasion took place, aircraft which were moved forward would be able to provide adequate cover for Allied troops fighting their way into occupied France.
342 Squadron was again in action on the 14th when they bombed a construction works using 500lb bombs dropped from 7500ft.
The mess was a popular as soon as possible after landing, where crews could relax and unwind. In the Officers' Mess the 'Boston Bar' was the meeting place where the 20-foot-long bar was always busy.. The crews made the most of the comfortable surroundings and would discuss the day's flying or sit playing cards around the large fireplace which had built in the ante-room. Visitors to the bar tended to be very impressed and admired the excellent construction and painting of the bar area. F/O Mike Henry of 107 Squadron was responsible for painting the squadron badges on a panel over the portcullis above the bar.
Noball raids (V1 flying bomb targets) were continuing at a brisk pace and the 15th was to see both Boston squadrons active against a common target, this time Cherbourg. As their bombs were dropped from 12000ft, F/O Byrons of 88 Squadron received a direct hit and his Boston was seen to disintegrate in mid-air. Meanwhile a 342 Squadron aircraft, BZ333, was similarly hit but was able to limp back to the UK where it made a crash landing near Swanage in Dorset..
A Spitfire XI of 16 Squadron crashed into the Channel off Beachy Head on the 22nd with the loss of W/O R Lidgate.
Exercise 'Eagle' was held in the North Riding of Yorkshire over the 22nd/23rd of the month. 34 Wing were carrying out night photography using a new and experimental illumination method in Wellington, Ventura, and Mosquito aircraft.
On the 24th the Wing flew 31 sorties, of which 29 were successful with 7451 negatives being processed and 73466 prints made, an epic effort!"Next weekend we'll travel from February through to the first half of March, 1944. Our grateful thanks to dear Stuart Marshall and his works, "The Wartime Years" created by many hours research and meeting personnel for their individual accounts of life 'back then'.. I know Stuart would be delighted for us to share his words at this historic time..Just some of the Hartford Bridge boys enjoying the base's very popular "The Finger Inn"...Their views of the airfield would have been so different to ours in many way, but we all share the living spirit of RAF Hartford Bridge/Blackbushe.The destruction of the airfield entertained by the local council in the sixties was conducted without a thought for the many airmen who gave their lives flying from here whilst undergoing wartime activities. It has long been a fervent hope of mine - and others - that we correct this dreadful oversight and see a memorial constructed in memory of the wartime occupants of our airfield and the terrible price they paid. Numerous members of our Forum have already committed to contributing to the cost involved.
PB
|
|