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Post by PB on Oct 3, 2021 5:58:47 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/10/21Sunday morning, where better for your Sunday breakfast than Blackbushe's "Pathfinder Cafe"?Maybe a moment to reflect on events gone by, like this moment of Mustangs at the Airport's 75th?..or a Cat among the Hungarians, as families liberated to Blackbushe during the 1956 Hungarian uprising returned to Blackbushe as our guests to remember their first footfall on free ground.The immortal Dakota returned to Blackbushe for the 75th, such a big player in the theatre of the past.All ages enjoy Blackbushe events!All shapes and sizes..The Army supported us in the air and on the ground.No aviation event is complete without the sound of Merlins, and we had several at Blackbushe 75.Getting airborne is the thing to do at a Blackbushe event, especially when Scillonia Airways are providing pleasureflights in the ageless DH Rapide.That's it, just a few lingering memories from 2017 and Blackbushe's 75th birthday..
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 4, 2021 6:37:00 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/10/21The activity of Blackbushe's home based squadrons during World War Two contributed to the war effort in many ways. The Free French Air Force's Lorraine Squadron's action are legend tasked with bombing their homeland while Blackbushe based. Yesterday, October 3rd, was a day that could not have emphasised the loyalty of Lorraine Squadron aircrew to their homeland.
My friend and all round 'Blackbushe person' Adrian Cox recalled on social media yesterday the events of 3rd October, 1943. For "POTD" follower who might not have seen Adrian's account the Forum repeats Adrian's moving report word for word below. "Today is Sunday 3rd October, and in 1943 the 3rd October was also a Sunday. In 1943, at RAF Hartford Bridge, Boston bomber Pilots of the Free french 342 Groupe Lorraine Squadron were waking up after a night out at the Kings Arms Pub in Camberley, where they were always popular with the young ladies of the ATS billeted nearby. But, this morning, after weeks of training and missions cancelled last minute, something was definately on, the briefing map showing the target as Paris and the electrical sub station at Chevilly Larue near Orly.
For most of the crews, this would be their first sight of Paris since 1940. The 12 aircraft took off at 12.48, crossed the French coast at 13.30 and closed on their target at very low level. Despite a wall of fire from an enemy battery, bombs gone, and the target was totally destroyed, but the aircraft of Lt Yves Lamy and his crew was hit, caught fire and following orders to avoid French civilian casualties at all costs, the pilot crashed into the Seine next to Tolbiac Bridge, Bercy. There were no survivors.
This afternoon, British Embassy Paris, the British Air Attaché, myself and others, will be laying a wreath while reading the whole story of these brave French flyers from Blackbushe. The mission was successful, the results worthwhile, and the bravery undeniable. Those of you with a copy of "Lorraine Squadron", flip to the "Chevilly Larue" chapter, and look towards Paris at 4pm. (Extracting the bombers was no easier - Spitfires sent to cover the flight home met 50+ FW190s downing 10 FW,'s with a loss of 8 Spitfires, including aircraft from Goodwood (West Hampnet) and the loss of a French Pilot from the Alsace Squadron.)" Previously a number of our Forum Members have agreed to donate toward a permanent memorial at Blackbushe when planning when Common Land issues permit. Yesterday was a truly emotional day, further confirming how essential it is that Blackbushe is able to provide a memorial to these and the other airmen who gave their lives for us whilst flying from Blackbushe during World War Two. We owe them so much...
Tomorrow "POTD" looks to the Pathfinder operations lead by AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett, the one person who saved Blackbushe from ultimate destruction, and in whose honour the new Blackbushe Airport Cafe is named!
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 5, 2021 6:56:23 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/10/21Just a month to go and it'll be firework night in the UK, while "POTD" has just reached its 490,000th visit, just another ten K and we'll cross the half millionth 'click', perhaps a moment worthy of some fireworks? Sincere thanks to the faithful few who give their daily 'like' to our morning wallow in things Blackbushe and aviation newsy stuff. Dunno how long POTD will last, depends on various parameters, but it's a bit of fun to start the day I guess, certainly never dreamed of it receiving so many visits back in the day of the first 'click'. Thanks to our 600 plus members and followers for your interest and especially those who add their 'comments'!!
If you visit Blackbushe in the next few days you'll notice some changes happening at the Airport's very popular "Pathfinder Cafe". With the more inclement meteorological conditions of autumn/winter expected eating outside will become less popular.. thus a pergola is being built this week wherein the chance to enjoy the 'outside' feel will continue but with protection from the elements. The Pathfinder Cafe's airside view of the airfield. The new pergola will soon provide sheltered accommodation allowing indoor eating opportunities outdoors when the weather turns inclement..While we're discussing the "Pathfinder", news comes this week of a new book dedicated to the RAF's Pathfinders who nightly risked their all during WW2 by illuminating industrial targets in the great effort necessary to bring World War Two to a close as soon as possible. The book, "The Pathfinders", is featured in the latest Daily Mail 'Book of the Week' article. AVM "Pathfinder Bennett" formed and lead the Pathfinder force in 1942. This elite unit experienced the no nonsense command of Bennett leading its creation following Air Marshal Harris's idea for a new approach to Bomber Command's performance. Bennett's courage and determination would seem to be given a very thorough airing in the book, very much reflecting the attitude and approach he took after purchasing today's remains of old Blackbushe Airport where local politics provided challenging opposition.. The book is published by WH Allen, and is written by Will Iredale selling for £20. Turning to Blackbushe's history once again and this day in October, 1945. Stuart Marshall's account of the 'Wartime Years' provides the detail. 5th October was not a good day. It started well enough as FIDO burned away the fog allowing a number of Mosquitoes and a Dakota to get under way. Tragically, at 12.55 a Czech Air Force Liberator took off carrying Czech civilians back to Prague, peace was returning to Europe. The Liberator developed a technical problem very shortly after becoming airborne. Sadly the aircraft was overwhelmed and came down to the west of the airfield near the Elvetham Hotel. All onboard lost their lives. A moving memorial to the innocent souls lost in the accident is cared for at the Brookwood Military Cemetery.PB
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Post by PB on Oct 6, 2021 7:13:24 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/10/21Imagine, if you will, the scene at RAF Blackbushe on this day in 1945... The full size airfield, hangars, Control Tower over on the east side, assorted military aircraft, personnel travelling around the airfield by the old Mk1 bike issue, except you couldn't see any of it due to another blanket of October fog encompassing the scene. 6th October, '45, dear old FIDO was let out of his cage once again as his fire breathing endeavours burned away the shrouds of clag that otherwise would have curtailed flying operations. Six departures took place through the visibility resulting from fiery FIDO and his expensive breath! Just a thought for you to imagine on this morning's fog free Blackbushe.
Perhaps a moment's further reflection on the past this morning? Back in early October, 1941, the site upon Hartford Bridge Flats was requisitioned and work soon started on the airfield construction by McAlpines who were the main contractor to see through the birth of Blackbushe. A standard three runway bomber base emerged with a main runway of 6,003ft running east/west while the two other runways were aligned north/south and north west/south east each being 4218ft in length.
It was of interest that the gentleman in charge of all machinery involved in construction of Blackbushe was from Germany, a Mr Koff. Reportedly he walked around the site in a hacking jacket and riding breeches with gaiters, a peaked cap and carrying a cane. Under his control were two caterpillar tractors that pulled 12-yard scrapers to level the site, plus a number of bulldozers.. History has shown, and the site continues to show, how ideally sited this new airfield was being atop a large flat plateau offering long unobstructed approaches.
Lord Haw Haw, the German propaganda voice, soon announced that an airfield was being built on Hartford Bridge causing a certain amount of dismay amid local villagers that German air raids would be forthcoming. Unfounded fears, the closest Nazi weaponry got to the airfield was a stray bomb that fell somewhere near the Ely Hotel down the road.
Now, almost 80 years later, that splendid and resilient airfield serves aviation as best she can while looking forward to a future when she will be able to offer once again all the facilities expected of a significant airfield that fully serves the needs of General Aviation.Almost eighty years ago, the broad uplands we know as Blackbushe when the tarmac was new, the hangars were new, and history would keenly follow the many changes that occured during the next eighty years..In the beginning...The A30 crossing Hartford Bridge Flats!The pathway to Blackbushe as we know her today has truly been a long and winding road, we look forward to the day when we can see ahead down a direct and uncomplicated road that leads directly to the 'new' Blackbushe Airport so long awaited..
Agree?
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 7, 2021 6:43:09 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 07/10/21Yesterday was a day and a half, "POTD" enjoyed over 870 visits (wow,thanks !!) while the sun shone providing a perfect October day. Perfect, except for playing with No1 grandson. There are dangers chasing a two year old indoors. Whilst hurtling round the kitchen, two year olds can have quite a turn of speed, your scribe caught his foot on a kitchen fitting flew through the air and crash landed on the hard tiled floor on both knees and apparently his left hand. Whilst the imagination no doubt produces images suitably hilarious the resulting injuries are somewhat less amusing. The knees object to any form of movement whilst the left hand has ballooned up and turning steadily black. Typing continues with the standard two fingers technique, otherwise one is necessarily in significant 'discomfort' and dwelling in degrees of self pity and cursing the bad indoor navigation employed during the final grandson pursuit challenge of the day. Otherwise, yesterday was a really good day...the injuries could have been much worse, my head missed the oven by a hair's breadth whilst my body emulated man's earliest attempts to fly without wings.
Today, who knows what it has in store, A&E perhaps, but it does reflect some moments in man's more successful attempts to fly.. In 1919, KLM was formed, the company to which I will for ever be grateful giving me the doorway into a life time in the world of commercial aviation.. Today's date is one of numerous first flights, The Boeing FB-5 made its first flight in 1926, in 1932 the podgy Stipa-Caproni left the ground, in 1934 it was the Tupolev ANT-40RTs turn for a first flight, in 1963 the Learjet 23 first flew - the first of the Learjets, in 1989 the Entsrom 480 defied gravity for the first time, and in 1995 the Mitsubishi F-2 left the ground looking for all the world like an F-16, man seemingly continues to find new ways to leave the ground. We discussed the new book "The Pathfinders" in POTD recently. Well, in honour of the man who formed and lead the Pathfinders, AVM "Pathfinder" Don Bennett, who also saved Blackbushe from extinction in 1961 Blackbushe's 'Pathfinder Cafe' now offers you "THE DON", the bigger breakfast to lead you through the day... Have a nice day, mind how you go.... PB
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Post by PB on Oct 8, 2021 6:51:36 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/10/21Welcome to October 8th..and thanks to my friends who commiserated over the recent prang. The body remains a resilient piece of kit, walking is now restored if accompanied by some 'discomfort' and an awkward gate while bruises continue to manifest in varied and attractive artistry in varied and less attractive sections of anatomy! Beware the dangers of playing with grandchildren when they get as old as two..
Access to memory lane remains serviceable and at this time of year recall goes non-stop to 6th October, 1962... For it was on this morning that I left home at around 07.00, bike packed with camera and supplies ready for the seven mile pedal to the broad span of a totally empty Blackbushe, just the many acres of the old London airport that lay freshly scarred from closure and demolition. This Sunday was going to be different, very different, for this was 6th October, and "The Great Blackbushe Airport Re-opening Air Display".
I was sixteen, sixth form days, and having spent much time since I was twelve cycling up to Blackbushe to soak up her amazing aviation atmosphere this great day when Blackbushe would be officially "re-opened" was an absolute red letter occasion. By way of getting to know Gordon Wilmer, who was AVM Bennett's airfield caretaker, during visits to the sadly broken Blackbushe and also meeting the AVM on a number of occasions I had become part of the Blackbushe 'friends' I suppose you could say.
From my teenage brain cells some things will forever stand out as worthy memories. This day was one of those... From 10.00 onwards standing in the mid field area the sight was unforgettable. From all directions black dots appeared on the skyline. It was a calm but grey October morning, the kind of sky that shows up distant aircraft with ease. The little distant dots grew larger, all heading for empty Blackbushe. By lunchtime we had parked aeroplanes pretty much the length of the airfield and in many rows. The afternoon airshow brought a wide variety of aircraft to the Blackbushe skies from old to the latest military hardware. Sadly there are few who recall the day with whom one can share such treasured recall..Hawkers sent over the Hart from Dunsfold. Flown by Hugh Merryweather she put on a wonderful display of British craftsmanship in action..Varied military participation included the USAF who brought new shapes and sounds to Blackbushe airspace.Aeroplanes that would become very familiar in the coming years..Classic shapes put together a classic Blackbushe day.Business aircraft of the day painted pictures of the future Blackbushe we all hoped for..Finally, for today, a trip back to this day October 8th, 1945. On this day Field Marshal Montgomery arrived at Blackbushe on his way to London, the airfield was already proving to be a valuable link to the capital. "Monty" arrived in his Dakota KN628 which had a VIP interior fitted. His personal pilot was Squadron Leader Duncan who would fly his distinguished passenger into Blackbushe many times in the future..A later arrival of 'Monty' at Blackbushe...A few more memories from the many and varied collection that the airfield known as Blackbushe holds close to her heart...
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 9, 2021 6:32:28 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 09/10/2107.00 Saturday and it's a FIDO morning at Blackbushe, but having only a few remains of dear FIDO nature will have do its best as no doubt it will in an hour, or so....
Yesterday's "POTD" recalled the arrival of Field Marshal Montgomery at RAF Blackbushe on 8th October, 1945. Additional confirmation as to the considered value of the RAF base known as Blackbushe was the arrival on the same day of the Peruvian Ambassador and his party who arrived from Prestwick by Dakota. Wing Commander Crodon, the Foreign Liaison Officer and other military officers provided the necessary welcome party. Today, that is 9th October, 1945, Blackbushe's convenience for accessing London was further illustrated by the arrival of the Brazilian Ambassador who flew in from Rabat Sali.
Also on this day in 1945, a court of inquiry was assembled with Wing Commander Cabot as president to investigate the circumstances of the Czech Air Force Liberator which crashed after take-off on 5th October with the loss of 23 lives. The tragedy was felt with much sadness across the airfield, the Liberator being on a civilian repatriation flight. The victims' funeral took place at Brookwood Cemetery on 11th October and was attended by Group Captain Maxwell AFC, the Station Commander, and other station personnel. The Czech Repatriation Mission sent letters of appreciation to the airfield personnel for their co-operation at such a difficult time. There she is, viz a bit better than at 07.00 this morning, but through from being RAF Hartford Bridge, to RAF Blackbushe to Blackbushe Airport to the smaller but still perfectly formed Blackbushe Airport known today the invincible Blackbushe heads into the future with a confident air...her spirit remains fully intact!PB
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Post by PB on Oct 10, 2021 6:58:56 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 10/10/21Sunday comes around once more, the big difference to this time yesterday has to be the ability to see the length and breadth of Blackbushe Airport as at 07.00 the runway lights are clear to see and no need to wake up FIDO were he still on duty..
If we could by some mystic process swing back to this the second weekend in October but in say 1962/3/4 where would you have been? A twinkle in Dad's eye still, or if you should be senior enough to remember so far back, where might you have been? From the POTD editorial department's memory it is a certain bet that one of us would have been spending another Sunday at Blackbushe in the finest of company! Weekends were devoted to school studies ..BUT especially to the vast wide open plain known as Blackbushe Airport.
Looking back to Sundays in the very early sixties we had the flat remains of Blackbushe, just the Terminal and the US Navy hangar remained as evidence of days just gone.. AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett had purchased 365 acres of Blackbushe, including a section of the Terminal, plans and optimism for the future were for a new Blackbushe and a General Aviation facility unlike any other in the UK. The AVM had big plans. The golden memories of those far off days must be the camaraderie of the broad mix of people who came together each weekend with one aim in mind..to see Blackbushe survive as an airport. Company directors, teachers, you name it, it didn't matter who did what the spirit of Blackbushe welded us together as one. As a teenaged air minded soul who had loved Blackbushe for as long as he could remember, this association of kindred spirits was quite miraculous. There was only one place to gather on those far off Sundays and that was outside or in the Blackbushe Aero Club room in the Terminal following the Club's formation back in '62.
I could relay a whole string of names that formed the weekend camaraderie, sadly most are no longer here, but they still live in my memory with the inspiration they provided. Blackbushe of today is very different in so much as her users are no longer focused on one room in the Terminal but spread around the premises that have managed to get their feet into Blackbushe soil over the years. We may in 2021 wish for Blackbushe's development, as has been the case for the past 60 years, but going back to 1962 the scene provided by Blackbushe today would have been unbelievable. With so many home based aircraft, various premises, hangars temporary or otherwise, a smart Control Tower, Fire Station, fuelling complex, and the west end's hangars now in the grip of BCA. In 1962 this weekend would have been another helping shift rubble, talking of Blackbushe past and future, and praying that perhaps that passing Auster would decide to land. If you can imagine a bunch of souls on a desert island waving like crazy at a passing aeroplane, such was the scene at Blackbushe on grey October days in the early nineteen sixties when a light aeroplane circled Blackbushe for a look see...Occasionally they landed.Yes, this weekend in 1962 I was almost certainly at Blackbushe amid the other hopefuls. They were indeed cherished times necessitated by the unfortunate demise of London's Blackbushe Airport.. This, the aspects of war, became.......this, one of the busiest commercial airports in the UK.....which became this, a desolate waste land....which in turn slowly slowly became home to a few aeroplanes and occasional visitors..No Tower, no fuel, just the bones of Blackbushe...through to today, where some of us can look back over six decades of devotion to the airfield known as Blackbushe, where hope still flies high and memories of the folks who gathered every weekend back in the sixties will never die. See you at the "Pathfinder" some time, and don't forget to ask for "Don"....
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 11, 2021 6:38:45 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 11/10/2106.00 comes around one more, black as the ace of spades outside nicely matching various parts of the editorial anatomy after last week's encounter with gravity, and 4.9C according to the POTD weather station on the roof. Happily POTD's mission, whatever it may be, continues unabated, in fact we've POTD'd without a single break through the Covid pandemic and way before, must be time for a change to this early morning scrabble with the keyboard? A change of scene would be nice, but on the other hand I'm grateful to be in one piece and in good health, hopefully as our Forum followers are too?
Talking of travel, it was on this day in 1919 that dining in the sky first took off... Handley Page Transport started in flight meal service on their London-Paris service. A pre-packed lunch box consisted of sandwiches and fruit. Served by "cabin boys", in flight lunch cost three shillings. To anyone who arrived after decimalised currency was introduced to the UK, that would be fifteen pence in today's terms.
Looking at Blackbushe movements on 11th October back in 1959, the airfield's last October, I note quite a few military movements on the old Blackbushe spread sheet. Three US Navy Neptunes, a couple of US Army Otters, a Belgian Air Force C-119, an RAF Anson, and an Army Air Corps Auster AOP9.US Navy Neptunes, once one of Blackbushe's regular sights..A Belgian Air Force C-119 (right) at Blackbushe watches a passing Aero Commander.. The Blackbushe grass was apparently considered perfectly stable to take aircraft of this weight. Built on a rock solid gravel base it encourages good drainage as well as a firm base. Note the world's largest aircraft at the time resting in the distance..A couple of the very many Ansons that flew into Blackbushe during Farnborough Weeks in the fifties leading the column of departing Farnborough visitors.The Army Auster AOP9, one of the very few serving military aircraft types that frequented Blackbushe both before and after the Airport's 1960 closure. This example taken in the early 1960's. Without fail the cartridge starter would cause your scribe to participate in an involuntary twitch if not prepared for the loud crack that pushed her engine into life..That's Monday's POTD.. PB
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Post by PB on Oct 12, 2021 6:47:31 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 12/10/21These mornings get darker, and a bit cooler, greeted by +4C at the front door this morning. The latest "winter of discontent" seems to be fermenting with the media portraying images of fuel shortages, soaring prices, the combination of flu and Covid joining hands, and the wonders of the green lobby whose ambitions may yet leave us in the dark..while some choose gluing themselves to our major roads and causing chaos as their contribution to life in England 2021. Oh and climate change, we can but wonder what the doom sayers are expecting for the next few months? However bad the media portray our lot it seems that there are many who continue to risk their all in life-chancing crossing of the English Channel in rubber boats to get here... A state of flux has gripped us, Oxford students have voted to remove a portrait of the Queen while gender fluidity, inclusiveness, diversity, and 'woke' attitudes are pointed at us from all directions. Democracy is truly healthy, if you don't agree you'll be "cancelled".. But, we still have Blackbushe where hopefully common sense will prevail and her years in the political wilderness will eventually give way to common sense..
At Blackbushe Airport life goes on primed with optimism for the future, and gratitude that our fine airfield still breaths the sound of aviation as she goes about her business. Yesterday her international status took a step forward as what must be her first Estonian aircraft arrived... Indeed, the past few months of international jet movements would make an impressive 'spider web' chart with Blackbushe as the center of action. "Welcome to Blackbushe".. all the way from Estonia! Thanks to Neil Randell from whom the excellent photo was borrowed! ..or this resting shot from the Forum's own 'Jaded John'...As you know, or should do, Blackbushe ploughs her way to her 80th year of operation in 2022 - next year! The future of Blackbushe and General Aviation will bring about changes, life and time always do..the pressure to move away from fossil fuel continues to bring about announcements of new 'clean' aeroplanes. The Forum carried an AVweb report recently in our "General Non Blackbushe Discussion" section relaying details of a European air taxi operator who has put a deposit down on future orders of Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 800 to serve its short-hop scheduled service and on-demand flights. It may be realistic to imagine Blackbushe serving these clean green machine in the future, whisper quiet making the airfield even more environmentally friendly than she already is! blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/16407The Bye eflyer 800. A future shape and sound at Blackbushe and around UK and European skies??Are hot air balloons going to be climate friendly on the green agenda? Glancing back to this day in 1907, Auguste Gaudron crossed the North Sea in a hot air balloon named Mammouth. Apparently he flew 1,160 km (721 miles) from Crystal Palace, London to Lake Vänern, Sweden. A man of foresight and ambition, a hot air balloon manufacturer and pilot of the first British public airmail flight in 1902. He was the first balloonist to be issued with a passport when he flew non-stop to Russia. Long before Blackbushe was dreamed of..indeed Blackbushe has witnessed much hot air released as her future has been suspended in the clutches of 'responsible' local politics.
PB
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