Post by flyboy on Feb 25, 2015 0:06:40 GMT
RAF Hartford Bridge / RAF Blackbushe.
I have the greatest respect for all the veterans that I was lucky enough to meet during the period when I was Manager at Blackbushe Airport between December 1984 and October 2006 when I retired. Thankfully I was able to record their wartime experiences and what the wartime airfield operational life was like. I think it is a unique record which has not been published up to the present time. Many of those that flew from the airfield are unfortunately no longer with us but some who are now getting on a bit luckily still survive. To all of these very courageous men and women, of all rank, who gave so much that we can enjoy our lives today, I dedicate this history of the wartime airfield. Stuart Marshall.
I intend in this thread to briefly run through details, perhaps not covered elsewhere, of the airfield history up to the end of the second world war:-
In the late 1930s military manoeuvres had been taking place on rough common land covered in gorse, scrub and silver birch trees which today includes the airfield site. There were two thousand troops involved on what was an ideal training area. It was recognised that such a large flat area could be used as a landing ground for enemy aircraft. Therefore, all over the area trenches 12 foot by 3 foot were dug and stakes placed down either side of the A30 to deter any invasion by air.
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If the site was considered as a possible landing ground that enemy aircraft might use, it could certainly be developed for our own use and as such in late 1939 the site was offered to the Fleet Air Arm, who promptly turned it down! It did however prove that the site was a reality.
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Tiger Moth aircraft exercised with a master searchlight unit located on concrete bases in triangular positions around the site, one at Derby Green, one at Eversley and the other at Sandhurst. Local resident Gordon (Bengy) Wilmer recalled how the very bright light illuminated the local area on the ground as well as in the air!
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In 1940 the war came a little too close as a string of bombs intended for our troops based at Arborfield Camp were dropped by a German Heinkel 1-11 bomber. They missed Arborfield and instead landed just behind the Ely public house only a short distance to the east of the airfield proposed site.
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On 6th January 1941 prior to the land being requisitioned as an airfield a demonstration took place of early airborne forces. Eight parachutists from 2 Commando jumped from a converted Whitley bomber.
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It was early in October 1941 that the airfield site was requisitioned and work soon started on the airfield construction with McAlpines as the main contractor. The main East/West runway would be 6003 feet long with two others of 4218 feet in length. The North /South runway would cross the main A30 road while the other was orientated North West/South East. Strangely the man in charge of all the machinery was a Mr Koff - and he was a German!
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The airfield was ideally situated on top of a hill with few obstructions to the approaches. It was necessary to raise the ground level considerably at the eastern end of the site where it sloped down in the direction of Camberley. Two cottages had to be demolished in this area and another owned by Ted Vicars was removed at the western end which was on the edge of the forest.
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Three T2 hangars and six blister hangars were to be constructed adjacent to dispersal pans. Concrete was needed in massive amounts for runways, taxiways, dispersals and hard standing areas. A massive concrete batching plant was constructed in the centre of the airfield to supply these requirements.
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It wasn't long before Lord Haw Haw announced that the airfield was being built, much to the consternation of the local people who were very worried that the German authorities, having knowledge of what was going on , would soon mount bombing raids on the developing base. However, their concerns were luckily to proved groundless.
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July 1942 and by the 13th of the month work was sufficiently advanced to allow the first recorded landing on the partially completed runways. Completely unofficially G/Capt Wheeler, Commanding Officer of the Aero Airborne Flight at Farnborough arrived in a Miles Magister. His visit was to speed up the contractors as he wanted to move his Flights glider test flying to the airfield.
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Two of the construction workers died in an accident but contractors McAlpines received a telegram in recognition of the speed at which they were laying concrete. It was from: Air Ministry, Director of Works and read:-
"Understand yesterday's output of concrete on runways was 1535 cubic yards. Please congratulate Directorate, Staff and all workmen upon this magnificent achievement." 1300
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In August a section of the Aero Airborne Flight, as it was known , moved into a very incomplete airfield under the command of F/Lt WD Davie. Construction traffic was constantly moving about all over the airfield paying scant regard to aircraft movements but the Flight started test flying initially with two Airspeed Horsa Gliders and two Whitley tugs. Later these aircraft were joined by two additional gliders, a General Aircraft Hamilcar and a Waco Hadrian.
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The Aero Airborne Flight had all sorts of problems when they first arrived and had to supply their own motor transport fuel, aerodrome guards, medical and fire services, plus food and accommodation for its flight and ground crews. Martin Dilly recalled walking around the aircraft as a young child while his mother collected blackberries. He particularly recalled the smell of the mix of fuel and dope.
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The Commanding Officer at Farnborough was able to help out the Flight by supplying such items as bedding, feeding equipment and rations which allowed the Flight to move into 'Eleven Acres House' in Yateley. This building had been requisitioned to form temporary barracks as no billeting facilities were available at the airfield. A smaller property 'Much Common', was also acquired to provide much needed office space. There were some twenty five of the flights personnel based at the airfield with others visiting regularly from offices and workshops at Farnborough.
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It was on the 1st November1942 that the Airfield was officially opened with S/Ldr Houchin, named as being the first Officer Commanding. It was known as either RAF Hartford Bridge or RAF Hartford Bridge Flats.
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Having been hurriedly completed the Control Tower was initially manned by one Controller, F/O Cole, and his assistant, with five Radio Telephony operators working in a radio monitoring room. S/Ldr Cannon an Australian, arrived shortly afterwards and took over on arrival. The unit was to continue to provide the air traffic service until the arrival of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in 1943.
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By the end of the month this time personnel were being accommodated in the newly erected communal site which was situated to the north east of the airfield in Nissen hut buildings.
Services were ,however, far from complete and conditions were very difficult. There was for instance no electricity which meant that meals had to be cooked and eaten prior to dark or earlier to be in daylight.
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As an advanced party moved in from RAF Odiham they took over the first sites to be erected apart from those being used by the hard pressed Aero Airborne Flight and were soon getting to work preparing for the arrival of the first squadron to be based at the airfield.
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December 1942 saw the arrival of 171 Squadron flying Tomahawk and Mustang aircraft, they were soon settling in but their stay was short lived and they were destined to move out on the first of the following month.
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