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Post by PB on May 8, 2015 6:42:34 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
08/05/15VE Day..a significant day for our country. Today's images from Doug Arnold's era show a couple of types that contributed to our Victory in Europe. No longer operational aircraft, but part of Warbirds of Great Britain's fleet, the image shows these aircraft located at the western end of Blackbushe now lost to the world of car auctioneering..   The future of Blackbushe as an airfield is uncertain, but whatever happens, her glorious past cannot be undone. From a vital contribution to our wartime effort to seeing the spawning of our nation's uprising of independent airlines in the fifties, we can but hope that sanity prevails and the south's best placed all weather runway can look forward to a future that involves the logical use of its advantages...advantages that suit aviation, and what aviation can do to serve our needs. PB
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Post by PB on May 9, 2015 9:35:18 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
09/05/15As the sacrifices of World War Two are remembered with the 70th Anniversary of VE Day and its great significance being remembered this weekend, it's a sad fact that despite the carnage of the forties human beings are unable to keep the peace for long. Located close to the HQ of the British Army, Blackbushe played her part in moving our troops to post WW2 war zones until 1960 when, of course, war was declared on Blackbushe and her destruction was willful and almost total as government and local 'influences' set about her demise. They played what they thought was the ace card in removing Blackbushe, but 55 years later they have not achieved their goal, let's hope they never do? Looking over our shoulders at the Airport's historic past, I am grateful to the News & Mail group of papers for today's reflection of the past.. As I said, Blackbushe played her role in our 1950's conflicts...  1956 and British women and children arrive at Blackbushe Airport having been evacuated from Egypt due to the Suez Crisis. Men from REME board an Airwork Viking at Blackbushe Airport directed by Air Hostess Daphne Turner. At the time the picture was taken their destination was simply given as , "somewhere in the Middle East".
..and from somewhere in Hampshire I wish you a peaceful day. PB
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Post by PB on May 10, 2015 5:52:04 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
10/05/15Following on from yesterday's photos from the local "News & Mail" Group..  1956 and the Suez Crisis. The Duke of Wellington Regiment pass time at Blackbushe while waiting for their Hermes to be repaired prior to leaving for the Middle East
 3rd Battalion Para say "Farewell" departing Blackbushe aboard an RAF Shackleton for Cyprus in 1956.PB
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Post by PB on May 11, 2015 6:01:05 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
11/05/15Further continuation of the "News & Mail" photographs. Here's a couple more.. Some doubt has been cast as to the accuracy of yesterday's POTD where we reported Parachute Regiment departures from Blackbushe by way of the Avro Shackleton. Well, there is no doubt that in January, 1956, 28 - Yes TWENTY EIGHT Shackletons arrived at Blackbushe to transports troops to Cyprus following the occupation of the Suez Canal. 28 troops were shoe horned into each Shackleton...  The Paras before boarding one of the many Shackletons waiting to leave Blackbushe bound for Cyprus in January, 1956. Skyways Hermes takes aboard more troops bound for the Middle East. A little more comfort than the Shackleton was on offer.. ..and finally, the troops wore plimsoles for these flights. They carried their boots to avoid inflicting damage on the aircraft interiors.
PB
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Post by PB on May 12, 2015 5:07:27 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
12/05/15A final couple of views courtesy of the "News & Mail" Group... The sombre scene during the 2011 Memorial Service remembering the 34 who perished when a Viking 'military flight' crashed shortly after take-off from Blackbushe in 1957.  The memorial plaque that is permanently attached to the Control Tower was unveiled during the ceremony January, 2012, and Blackbushe becomes yet another movie set.. The Pits being built for the 2012 F1 movie, "Rush". Runway 14/32 still has its uses!!..and Kevin Costner adds to the many film stars seen at Blackbushe over the years!  Filming "Criminal" in 2012 and the very rare sight, an aeroplane on runway 14/32Let's hope that some day more aircraft will be allowed to venture across the acres to which they belong...  Or should I say, "Belonged"?? PB
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Post by PB on May 13, 2015 7:19:47 GMT
"Photo of the Day
13/05/15The Shackleton, subject of recent POTD coverage when 28 of these aggressive looking AVRO products descended on Blackbushe simultaneously for emergency trooping movements, was not an uncommon visitor to Blackbushe during the fantastic fifties... The vaults contain various examples of the days when large four engined aircraft were quite the norm at what was then the second airport for London. Here are just some of them...  5th September, 1959. Shackleton T4, WB819, MOTU coded R makes her way across the main apron. 5th September, 1958. Shackleton MR2 of 38 Sqn, WL791. Another Farnborough Air Show jolly...  Hard to ident, but a fine study of a fine aeroplane on a fine airfield...Or, if you crossed the road to Blackbushe south you'd quite likely meet the forerunner to the Shack in the form of the Eagle Airways Lancaster. Blackbushe based and used on MoS contract work.  Long lost days, but how good they were!PB blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/1416
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Post by PB on May 14, 2015 5:22:01 GMT
"Photo of he Day"
14/05/15Following the almost biblical destruction of Blackbushe Airport in the summer of 1960, he who saved her from eternal damnation - AVM Bennett - stands behind another of his progenies, the Fairtravel Linnet. No idea who the more visible person is...  The AVM, almost hidden behind the Linnet's sizeable canopy, took on a formidable task by rescuing Blackbushe from the fate that would probably have left the entire airfield resembling the shameful entangled council maintained common that once was the 'eastern end' of London's second airport.. Some idea of the clearing-up work can be gained from the debris in the background... Our first post closure windsock is proudly flying. The first post closure signal square can also be seen adjacent to the windsock.. I still recall how good it felt as that windsock took up residence, it showed the world in defiance of government decisions and locally powered plotting that Blackbushe was not dead. PB
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Post by PB on May 14, 2015 23:11:37 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
15/05/15The sky and its mighty cloud armadas are still above us..  ..sadly Airwork, the Hermes and the sound of her four magnificent Bristol Hercules engines are not. Just one of Blackbushe Airport's residents from another age as she enjoys the vistas that only flying can give.. PB
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Post by PB on May 16, 2015 7:45:37 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
16/05/15Having produced the last POTD of the week before 06.00 this morning seemed a good move, however, it was not to be as the internet connection ran aground and the day's link with the past also hit the rocks. That makes me as mad as hell, a virtual version of road rage perhaps, but here we go again and if it happens again..someone else can take over! Now, with blood pressure restored to where it should be we can proceed. Yesterday, dear reader, you will recall we visited the ethereal face of aviation as a Blackbushe based Hermes posed gracefully above a vista of assorted Cu,and StCu before the camera of Camberley's Ron Francis. Today, while feeling the need for another ethereal experience in the great void above our heads we are back seeing another Blackbushe based aeroplane through the viewfinder of Ron Francis. Anyone who has looked at the "Airlines of Blackbushe Airport" sign near the Terminal will have seen today's airborne study..photos where she, and numerous other 'Blackbushe' airlines are back 'on view' where they belong 24/7.  Eagle's DC-6 G-APOMCaught from a perfect angle one of our once home based 'heavies' shows her elegant Douglas lines perfected by the colours of Eagle Airways. Sadly a long while ago, locked in the past maybe, but we can hope that before too long her sister ship, G-APSA, the Eagle DC-6 that returned briefly Blackbushe a few years ago will complete her rebuild and return to the skies with all the majesty of her past and her predecessors. The plan is, or certainly was, to finish SA in her old Eagle Airways colours. Who knows, the time maybe coming when another photo like that of today's POTD will be a possibility? Maybe in time for Blackbushe's 75th? Just a thought.. PB
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Post by PB on May 17, 2015 6:10:24 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
17/05/15Another week dawns, and the 17th May returns to our calendars. Seventy two years ago today 617 Sqn set about their most audacious mission, the details of which are well known to all of us. Curiously as I drove past Blackbushe yesterday a Lancaster flew directly across my field of vision. A wonderful greeting if only a radio controlled one from the Blackbushe Model Show that was under way, nonetheless it looked the part. Model building has come a long way! My continued journey past old Blackbushe was thence filled with memories of the Lancasters that I had seen here during the years of peace.  Neil Williams arrives with G-ASXX.."Just Jane" as she is known today Life in the Eagle hangar at Blackbushe - still hard to believe it's gone when I look at that empty deserted corner where the Eagle enterprise once thrived.
Back in the sixties Neil Williams brought G-ASXX to one of our early air shows, and during the fifties Eagle operated a Ministry of Supply Lancaster on survey work. This meant that often the route I was taking yesterday would have yielded a real Lancaster parked up near the A30 on Blackbushe 'south'... I was very young back then, not old enough to appreciate the sacrifice and loss of life that the Lancaster represented - on both sides of the wartime equation. Indeed, we are lucky to live in the years of peace, a peace in which the Lancaster played no small part in achieving. I know I'm drifting off the Blackbushe subject now, but if you ever get the chance to visit East Kirkby in Lincolnshire do go and visit "Just Jane"..G-ASXX as she is now. Seems along while since her day at Blackbushe, but her heart still beats by doing regular taxi runs - with passengers. £290...  Just Jane Not the most comfortable accommodation  ..but some great views..and finally, some You Tube moments from when three Lancasters sang together for a brief moment in time last year. Lest we forget.... Back to Blackbushe, and maybe some new chapters in her life story are about to be written??? Stay tuned. PB
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Or should I say, "Belonged"??
