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Post by PB on Apr 22, 2022 5:56:21 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 22/04/22Fifty days to go and all being well efforts through the past winter will yield a decent crop of aeroplanes flying in to celebrate the passage of eighty years since Hartford Bridge Flats were converted into one of the best airfield sites in the south of England.
Below the story of early Blackbushe continues, when eight decades ago the scrub of Hartford Bridge became RAF Hartford Bridge as aviators first lined up on her runways as they still do to this day... The continuing story of the airfield today reaches the latter part of June 1943 when 16 Squadron arrived with Mustangs and Lysanders.Blackbushe's 75th Anniversary witnessed the return of a genuine ex 16 Squadron MkXI Spitfire. This one arrived with 16 Sqn by the time they had moved into Europe so did not see action here at Blackbushe, but the colour and appearance is just that of their Spits to whom Blackbushe was home. Hope upon hope that this Spitfire will be able to join us in fifty days from now!The story continues...June, 1943"It was on the 29th that another photographic squadron arrived. This was 16 Squadron which was an elite unit. It was operating the Allison powered Mustang Mk1 aircraft although it also had Westland Lysanders available for use. The squadron arrived from Middle Wallop airfield with 14 Mustangs which were fitted with an oblique camera fitted behind the pilot on the port side. The aircraft was fast having a maximum speed of 390mph and took just over eight minutes to climb to 15,000ft. Having a range of over 1000 miles the aircraft were well suited to the photographic role but had a dubious engine reliability record. Another problem was that the Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane sent to provide cover for their sorties did not have such a long range as their aircraft. This meant that the Mustang could not operate at high level to targets at Cherbourg, St Malo or the north coast of Brittany if there were clear skies, as their fighter escort could not cover them at such distances. There was an urgent requirement for photographs of these areas and the task had to be undertaken when there was ideally a low cloud base of 2000ft or below to minimise the risk o enemy attack. At least it was possible to to climb into cloud cover should an enemy aircraft be encountered.
The squadron was therefore looking forward to receipt of their promised replacement Spitfires. They made use of the early 140 Squadron Spitfire V's whenever possible to convert their pilots onto type pending delivery of their own Mk XI's. The 140 Squadron machines were generally in a poor state and their reliability was questionable. This caused much concern but as their new Mosquito aircraft were delivered their surplus Spitfire Vs were allocated to 16 Squadron who received them with mixed feelings.
Dispersal for 16 Squadron was on sandy soil to the north west of the airfield. One or two unusual aircraft were often to be found there, including a sole blue-painted Lockheed P38 Lightning operated by the unit and sometimes a Lysander previously used by the Squadron".16 Squadron crews with a Spitfire at RAF Hartford Bridge....Long ago, but not forgotten.Again, our gratitude to Stuart Marshall for the Hartford Bridge story, he did much research and interviewing so as to put together his account of Blackbushe at war.
Tickets for the 80th celebrations on 11 June are selling fast, and they are limited in numbers..It might be an idea to buy yours soon to avoid disappointment! You may buy them online via this link.. www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/80thTomorrow, another slice of history from the veritable store house of history we know as 'Blackbushe'...
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 23, 2022 7:04:00 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 23/04/22It was today, seventeen years ago, on 23rd April, 2005 that the aeroplane who has put 'jet' very much in connection with Blackbushe's operations first took to the sky. The Cessna Citation Mustang first flew and with it a new era of 'very light jet' operations. During the Citation Mustang's seventeen years she has proven to be a versatile business aeroplane bringing jet comfort from shorter runways to smoother higher altitudes, at the same time seeing the demise of the once very active piston twin markets. Blackbushe has had a reasonable share of light jet movements including the Mustang, jet engines are no longer a rare sound as Blackbushe continues to attract this form of propulsion from VLJs to the Gulfstream.Hopefully some of POTD's visitors have been following the morning typing exercise bringing you accounts of Blackbushe's earliest days. This morning we flip back to June 1943 when PR operations took off as resident 140 and 16 squadrons got down to the serious side of taking photos. IF you are finding these accounts of interest, PLEASE say so...!!..continuing life at RAF Hartford Bridge, June 1943.."..the bicycle was the favoured means of transport on the airfield. It should be remembered it was well in excess of a mile from one end to the other [main runway was just over 6,000ft] and without transport it took a long time to walk the distance. Crews and ground crews often brought their own machines with then but heir was a busy bicycle pool operated on the field. They were also used for other purposes than on the airfield; sorties to the local pubs were often undertaken and many a crossbar was seen with a small painted camera signifying a successful night sortie to a 'local' and a good night out!
By the end of the month both squadrons were operating with seventy photographers billeted in huts alongside the A30. The squadron's films were received at the processing trailers where they were titled and details given of how many prints were required. It was not unknown for pilots to stay until the films were processed to see how they turned out. 34PR Wing which encompassed both photographic squadrons acted as the long range eyes of the 21st Army Group and 2nd Tactical Air Force; their results were therefore of the utmost importance and vital for intelligence gathering".It would be amazing to step back in time and see and hear the people, the activity and to realise the importance of this work carried out at what was then RAF Hartford Bridge. Sadly the historic facets that gave any form of witness to those days were heartlessly destroyed by the bodies who wished to eliminate 'our airfield' back in the early sixties.Blackbushe served us well in war, she served us well after the war, and today she continues to serve General Aviation with the basics of a superb airfield. Just need that touch of common sense to return (after six decades) to allow her to flourish and enhance her facilities so as her value may truly be felt by General Aviation, employment, and the local economy. Anyone who does not agree with that should perhaps seek something else to read!!
Have a great weekend!!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 24, 2022 6:53:35 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 24/04/2206.00 and +7C on the outside air temperature, a definite improvement as our dear old planet rolls itself into warmer times in the northern hemisphere for a few precious months. Summer is round the corner, Blackbushe 80 will soon be in touching distance, Putin's obsessions and threats of nuclear attack too awful to contemplate, Covid advances and retreats, activists gluing themselves to roads, airports, and anything they can to cause upset, and turbulence in Downing Street as the media and politicians continue their frenzied "partygate" obsession to defrock Boris and plunge us deeper into the pit of uncertainty. There is a degree of uncertainty perhaps as to the how this year will pan out in the UK and perhaps further afield too...
However, closer to home dear old Blackbushe sails ever onward, maybe this year seeing a resolution to six decades of obtrusive politics that have prevented the necessary infrastructure improvements that would move her from survival mode to viable mode. How many businesses would have stood, or survived, the oppression metered on Blackbushe Airport for so very long? It's not far short of a miracle that the airfield has survived, it is a miracle that she is now in the hands of the investor group who not only own the Airport but also care so deeply for its future and have the ambition to see her through to becoming a first rate General Aviation centre.
Over the years so many people have learned to fly at Blackbushe, some moving on to becoming commercial pilots. Airfields such as Blackbushe have a highly important role to play in the provision of future professional aircrew. How far are trainee pilots happy to travel in order to reach an airfield where high quality training is available? Ten, twenty, thirty miles? Not much a great deal more perhaps? If Blackbushe were removed from the flying training equation the options for those who fly from here would be seriously where Blackbushe offers a convenient commute.. Blackbushe is so well placed amid the high density population south west of London, has fantastic road access, yet remains very acceptable when it comes to environmental suitability. For her hard runway, facilities, flying training opportunities, environmental benefits, and ease of access, Blackbushe is unique for student pilots, flying club membership, private owners, and business flying...Just needs that next step for daylight to appear before those who have been opposed to Blackbushe for so long that will see the provision of hangars, new offices and Terminal, and that most needed facility - aircraft engineering. At that point Blackbushe will truly become a shining star amid the UK's General Aviation facilities.It's not just flying that makes Blackbushe so popular!! The brilliant Pathfinder Cafe serves the needs of both pilots and passers by..That was this morning's look into the future, now back to the past and July, 1943, as we continue our look at early days Blackbushe, or RAF Hartford Bridge.."July, 1943..
On the 4th the airfield was called upon for the first time to handle Bomber Command aircraft returning from operations but unable to reach their home bases. All services responded smoothly as two Wellingtons of 196 Squadron landed short of fuel and a 76 Squadron Halifax from RAF Holm-on-Spalding-Moor, in Yorkshire, badly shot up and with no hydraulics, landed almost out of fuel. The tail gunner was suffering from shrapnel wounds and was swiftly transferred to a local hospital for attention. The aircraft was shortly followed by another of the same type - this one from RAF Lisset in Yorkshire, which diverted in and hand its undercarriage collapse on landing. The ground personnel were given a testing tie that evening and it served to prepare them for many such incidents which followed on a very regular basis over the following months of the war.
F/O A.G. Rathbone arrived on the same day to take charge of the Mobile Meteorological Section which was formed to give support to 34 Wing. He was joined by George Cowling who was ex Met Office and who was later to become the first TV weatherman. This section operated from a specially converted vehicle - basically a caravan mounted on a three-ton lorry chassis. Their service was a great asset to the Wing, as accurate weather information was vital if they complete their tasks successfully".Busy Blackbushe. Taken some while ago, simply conveys evidence of the Airport's potential for business flying as the Airport's remaining piece of apron swells with passenger carrying flights.Time for that Sunday morning cuppa..
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 25, 2022 6:33:13 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 25/04/22AS every passing day lengthens the time since the delightful if rather rotund Vickers Viking served Blackbushe in numbers, the time also shortens to the day when hopefully a Viking will return to Blackbushe, a permanent artifact recalling those heroic times when the Viking was the staple flying machine of the numerous independent airlines for whom Blackbushe was home...Some Viking images today thanks to Barry Burford who provided these and many more for use by the Blackbushe Forum. From the memory of a very young lad in the fifties, Vikings close to the A30 were just a part of life.Orion Viking on Blackbushe 'south' adjacent to the Silver City/Britavia engineering works.Falcon Airways, another name that rolled off the tongue 'back then'....Pegasus..again, when one was very young, these names were part of life..From the Farnborough Grammar School collection, the well named 'Independent' flew Vikings and DC-4 aircraft from Blackbushe 'once upon a time'.....and from the late Stuart Marshall's huge collection, the Eagle Viking, Eagle's Vikings outnumbered all others! The dear old Viking, together with Blackbushe she took British independent air transport across Europe and into Africa. This was truly the beginning of what is today a multi million pound industry served also by hard working twin engined aeroplanes..Flying back in time to July, 1943, the continuing story of that first summer of Blackbushe (RAF Hartford Bridge) in action, thanks again to Stuart Marshall as we work hand in hand, as it were, with great friends who although no longer here, are still contributing to the Blackbushe story..July, 1943 continued..."The airfield was getting a lot busier with gliders of the Airborne Aero Section still very much in evidence and conducting many varied trials with the Horsa and Hamilcar gliders. The latter was a large glider produced by General Aircraft Ltd at their Hanworth works, being 68 feet in length with wingspan of 110 feet. It had been designed to carry heavy loads and trials at the airfield included the loading and unloading of a 7-ton tank. After landing with the tanks aboard, the hinged nose of the glider would be opened allowing the tank to drive out onto the airfield. This capability was put to good use later when more than 60 of the Hamilcars landed in Normandy during the D Day landings delivering their tanks directly to the battle front".Another example of Blackbushe's varied history. I do hope these extracts from the past are of interest...the POTD editorial team would love to hear!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 26, 2022 7:00:07 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 26/04/2226th April. Just another day to most, to some it has meaning. For example, on this day in 1917 a significant change took place over at the Pacific Aero Products Company.. They changed their name. From now on they were renamed and known as the Boeing Airplane Company. A year earlier Pacific Aero Products had been founded by William Boeing.
26th April. Just another day, but on this day in 1924 Imperial Airways operated its first scheduled flight from Croydon to Paris using a DH34 aircraft... Prior to this British carriers had a tough time facing the heavily subsidised European airlines and a number had already gone out of business since 1921 on this route Croydon to Le Bourget which had become the world's busiest air route. Imperial Airways were subsidised by the UK Government but as a limited company were still expected to turn in a profit. Four struggling operators were combined into forming Imperial Airways and their aircraft used to form Imperial, they were Instone Airlines, Daimler Airways, Handley Page Transport Limited, and British Marine Air Navigation.
Blackbushe Airport with its hard runways and easy access was still many years away, Croydon proved difficult in the winter when rain caused its surfaces to become boggy, a problem especially noted in WW2 when Dakota operations transferred to Blackbushe.Andrew Dixon pulls up in the Dunsfold Dakota forming part of our ground exhibition at Blackbushe's 75th Anniversary celebrations in 2017. Sadly the aircraft is not available for this year's 80th Open Day and Fly-In, one wonders if perhaps this will have been Blackbushe's last Dakota? Unless you know something that I don't we will be Dakotaless this year. Letters have been sent, emails have been sent, but......but, all being well the heroic days of British independent airline operations will be remembered if and when the Blackbushe Heritage Trust bring this Vickers viking back to the UK and Blackbushe, the focal point of Viking operations in the 1950s. It's a significant task and work proceeds to secure the aeroplane and its return to the UK. One day you may drive past Blackbushe Airport and happen to notice an Eagle Viking once more sitting by the road side, resplendent and a moving token of yesteryear at Blackbushe and the skies of southern England and Europe...If a Viking is going to speak for the past at Blackbushe, there's one other that should share the stage too..and Blackbushe has hosted these in great numbers right from the beginning of her flying days. Dakota.I'm not sure if our recent daily accounts of Blackbushe's early days are being read, but hopefully they are! We'll carry on today as we move through July 1943....... " On the 7th of the month a Tactical Air Force Communications Flight arrived at the airfield with Auster 1s. On the same date 140 Squadron were operational overnight on a photographic mission over Bayeux. The Squadron was by this time using their Venturas on night missions while a newly formed Flight with Spitfire MkXIs was undertaking the daytime photographic work. It was the intention to re-equip the Squadron with this mark of Spitfire but this was later to be cancelled and the Mosquito was introduced instead. Since the end of June when 34PR Wing had formed, a grand inaugural celebration dance had been been planned which was to take place on the 23rd. Don Twidale the Catering Officer had been working hard to organise ample supplies of food and drink, neither of which was easily come by. The Wing was lucky to have its own dance band which also doubled as a classical quartet and was in great demand both on and off the airfield. They were very highly thought of with local church parades and village events also being catered for. The quartet was very versatile, being able to play most types of music. The dance was to prove highly successful which was in no small part due to the efforts put in by Don Twidale and the band..
Anti-aircraft defences were at this time delegated to 4146 Anti-Aircraft Flight which was to move out of RAF Locking and be replaced by 2780 Anti-Aircraft Squadron".We'll continue the daily accounts from the past, tomorrow turning to August, 1943. An important month at RAF Hartford Bridge. Thanks as always to our great friend Stuart Marshall for the words he gave to me, but I'm sure will be delighted to have shared amid the Forum membership, the Forum that Stuart and I decided to launch a few years back... In 2022 here we are preparing for another celebratory event with ample food and music on the aerodrome, this time celebrating the airfield's 80 years of operations.
Hopefully you'll be present on the day? IF you've read this far, you might care to glance at the Blackbsuhe Airport website where you'll find a list of aircraft already booked to attend on 11 June, both Fly-In aircraft and those that will be forming our large static aircraft exhibition for more close-up inspection by our visitors... Click this >> www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/80th
Please let me know if the Blackbushe history component of "POTD" is of interest to you!!!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 27, 2022 6:22:29 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 27/04/22 Time is short this morning, early letter writing complete, the very sad task of burying my daughters beloved cat in a few hours, and one of those rare things known as a "GP appointment" a couple of hours from now. Hopefully the GP will not be touching on the 'time is short' angle?A memory from our first 'Air Day' in 2016...Just 45 days to go until 'Blackbushe 80' and another open day for the public to get a closer look at aeroplanes and the people who operate them! Some different aeroplanes will be on show, and certainly even more than there were in 2016.. naturally, work goes on angling for one or two more!With the time shortage and a need for the day's first food, "POTD" will move directly to dear Stuart's writings and his words pertaining to Blackbushe's early days, we now move to August, 1943...."August 1943. The month was to prove an important one at the airfield, with a lot happening. The new staff headquarters opened on the 1st of the month. This was much to the relief of all the personnel who had been working with great difficulty, having been in improvised accommodation for the past six months. They were understandably very pleased to move into their own purpose built premises.
It was also early in the month when a visit was made by the Director of Aircraft Safety accompanied by a senior member of the Petrol Warfare Department. They had some to assess the suitability of installing a fog dispersal system on the airfield. Following their assessment it was decided that this work should be put in hand. The corresponding orders were issued for the work to proceed on what was to prove a very valuable asset in the future.
Conditions facing 34 Wing, although generally improving, still left much to be desired. The ablutions block for instance was hardly reliable and the language to be heard when the showers changed without warning from very hot to freezing cold due to the inadequate water supply was to say the least not complimentary! There could often be heard some very choice words in this area! This may have been one of the issues raised with Group Captain C S Moor of 11 Group who came to inspect the existing airfield buildings and those under construction to ensure that they would be adequate to house the personnel of a further three squadrons due to arrive later in the month.
The concrete surface of the runway was taking a toll on the aircraft tyres and it was decided to cover the runway with wood shavings on top of the abrasive concrete to lessen the wear being experienced. A thin spray of tar was applied and the wood shavings were rolled in....".More from the early days tomorrow..Faithful Annie.. Around fifteen years after Stuart's account above from 1943, some of the many Avro Ansons that flocked to Blackbushe during the then annual Farnborough Air Show weeks. Blackbushe was so perfectly placed to serve as the Farnborough arrival port for so many of the visitors from home and abroad. Yes, and one of the very rarest sights will fly into Blackbushe on June 11th. a fabulous Avro Anson!!
Thanks again to Stuart for the work he did putting together his so valuable gathering of details from the birth of Blackbushe, and thanks to you for dropping by and sharing a few Blackbushe minutes! Please come back.....soon!!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 28, 2022 7:32:41 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 28/04/22Time is the enemy today...I think we'll slip straight back to 1943 and Stuart's writings of the era.Continued from yesterday, it's still August, 1943, RAF Hartford Bridge has been open since November last year.."...A hot cup of tea might have been the answer for those caught out in bad weather while carrying out their duties on the airfield dispersals. By now the ever popular NAAFI was to be found providing this service to personnel working outside all over the site. This was a most welcome improvement in facilities. The 30cwt van with its lift-up side was eagerly awaited at many ports of call as it made its slow progress around the perimeter road. Depot work shops, hangars, armament sections, crew rooms as well as the dispersals were all visited and at each stop a queue would quickly form. Tea and a wad ( which was a hard baked yellow scone made with dried egg powder) were much sought after and some, if they were really lucky, might even come across an embedded currant in the mixture! The wagon was manned by tow ladies in NAAFI uniform who were very special to the troops and who would usually be shown the greatest of respect. However, should the need arise these ladies were quite able to hold their own with any banter thrown at them. This was probably just as well as at least on one occasion one of the wagons on the lunchtime run got lost in very thick fog and didn't turn up at some of the furthest outposts until after tea time!"Today we have the Pathfinder Cafe at Blackbushe looking after thirst and appetites. Such a luxury only dreamed of in wartime when food was rationed...I guess you can still imagine those stalwart NAAFI ladies and their 30cwt van trundling round out there before so much of the precious airfield became overgrown.
Getting lost on the aerodrome in fog might sound impossible? Back in the fabulous sixties Three Counties Aero Club had a 'party' every Friday evening, part of the week you could not miss... On one winter's night I departed from home in Crowthorne in my trusty Mini. It was kind a foggy to the point I considered scrubbing the mission and returning home. But, the call of fun at Blackbushe was too loud and I continued. Drove through Yateley and approached Blackbushe via my usual route to the then very quiet twisting narrow Vigo Lane that then lead straight onto the place we call Blackbushe Airport. I knew the airfield like the back of my hand, but the fog closed in to the point that headlights were useless, you were entombed in a glaring bowl of nil visibility. Lights off, you could see swipe all.. Now on an expansive airfield in the dark in very thick pea soup your bearings and judgement of where you are are shot to pieces. Now back then Blackbushe was still subject to the shameful way the government had abandoned it with ditches, holes, trenches and who knows what waiting to grab you in the night...I found a runway but which way was it going, was I going up it or across it, zero vision was a challenge. Might sound pathetic, but I invite you to try it, but NOT on Blackbushe or you'll be nabbed.. Flying in solid cloud at night provides a similar vista although with the necessary aids you have a somewhat better idea as to where you might me... Anyway, for some reason I ended up off the tarmac and picked up a heading, a compass would have been handy. Now, this was Friday night and some had made it through to the Three Counties bash. At some point my ears picked up the Three Counties frequency of 1960's music penetrating the fog having stopped 'mid field' - or wherever - I now now had a beacon to home in on by pointing my bouncing Mini in the direction toward the sounds of Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely", Elvis "Are you lonesome tonight", "it's Now or Never", the Beachboys "Good Vibrations", or pehaps Cher with "I got you Babe!", sounds of the sixties all of which would have proved apt for the occasion while also providing excellent homing qualities; was I glad to see the Club lights come out of the pea souper and to have missed the few aeroplanes anchored somewhere on the grass....A distant memory from a summer's day in the sixties. We'd pop off in formation (loose) down to Sandown IoW for a cup of tea and island air. As shown in this photo the formations could be varied..Tiger Moth, Comper Swift up front, a Miles Whitney Straight and probably an Auster from which I took the snap. Such glorious happy carefree days, airspace was so much less controlled, 'freedom of the skies' was more apt back then!See you tomorrow?
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 29, 2022 7:37:35 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 29/04/22Another cloud free start to an April day, nothing more wonderful than that great blue dome into which we can ascend and look down upon the troubled world below. Last night ended with a dream of being in the circuit at some unknown airfield where unwanted loss of altitude caused ever closer inspection of the greenery. I awoke before the dream concluded, just as well, but a bit disconcerting! On the subject of aviation dreams I do have one featuring an event at Blackbushe, I'm in the Terminal looking across the airfield with the feeling of great excitement and satisfaction that the airfield is about to receive a lot of aeroplanes. Perhaps that's why I keep getting involved in such events trying to achieve the elation that this recycled dream promises? We'll try again on June 11th and see what happens!! I was offered a date for eye surgery yesterday that clashed with 11 June, no way am I allowing anything to detract from our 80th Anniversary do, it can wait until after..
Today's date, as does every day, holds numerous aviation 'occasions' in store.. 29th April, for example, in 1984 TWA started services to ten new cities in one day, in 1988 the A320 entered service with British Airways, while on the same day the 747-400 made her first flight. The Cessna CitationJet made its first flight on this day in 1991.An image from Blackbushe during the sixties. Farnborough Week traffic accounted for the non-British registrations and the Anson on the tarmac. Apart from the 'temporary' Control Tower we built on the end of the Terminal the airfield had no other structures although we might have built the temporary lock-up hangars way down at the west end by this time..The occasion is dated by the crumbled tarmac in the bottom left hand corner, Yateley Parish Council had commenced their programme of destruction tearing up and destroying all that remained of Blackbushe Airport's eastern end. One might hope that the elections next week will produce a change of attitude from the old parish?Moving further back in time to 1943 once again, we continue with Stuart Marshall's brilliant account of life in the early days."...The airfield was being used increasingly as a diversion field. On 11th August, 1943, a 158 Squadron Halifax unable to reach its hoe base at RAF Lisset in Yorkshire due to engine trouble made a successful landing and this was followed a couple of days later by a further eight aircraft returning from a mission.
On 14th August Squadron Leader Barnes took over as Station Commander and found a busy airfield with much flying taking place. About this time, possibly on 16th, 34 Wing were moved into tented accommodation with the explanation that it was to harden them up and test the equipment. This didn't prove at all popular as especially it was at about this time a large number of WAAFs were arriving and it was surmised that the Wing's move under canvas was possibly due to a lack of nissen huts to billet them in! However to pass the time 16 Squadron would make the best of things by holding a sing-along in the ground crew marquee while their aircraft were away on operations. Such songs as 'Good Night Ladies, Sleep Tight Ladies' and many others could be heard drifting across the airfield! The choir master was a well know character by he name of George Oldham who would always start off the proceedings thus: "Not for us the thrill of action, tension and strain - but on us relies the safety of the Spitfire plane."...More from 1943 tomorrow..1962/3. The respect for Blackbushe Airport for the local council sadly obvious by this image of their investment in destruction. This in preference to the large sums of money offered to acquire just a small amount of the old apron and preserve it from such a ghastly fate.Around the same time as the photo above this was taken, the French Air Force flew this C-47 into Blackbushe with an assembly of 342 "Lorraine Squadron" crew members who last flew from here during the war and had no option other than to bomb their home land to rid it of the Nazi menace. Seeing RAF Hartford Bridge, as Blackbushe was named during their time here, largely destroyed by British local government not to mention Westminster must have been a saddening experience as they remembered Squadron friends they last saw here before another sortie into enemy skies.It's hard to believe that war is one again raging in Europe, but this time with potential consequences beyond imagination...Humanity has a way of showing its worst when the opportunity arises.
See you tomorrow!!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 30, 2022 7:28:54 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/04/22A step back to the 1960s and the Daily Telegraph/St Johns Ambulance Air Display and Sky Diving Championships.. 3 September, 1967. One of those very rare dates in the sixties when Blackbushe felt the weight of many public footsteps, an exciting air display, supporting the feeling that she was very capable of hosting flying events!! Sadly, rule makers combined with today's world of risk averse attitudes has so badly affected the once so popular family outings to air shows. At Blackbushe while the men in grey suits make the rules and ground display flying the ambition to bring people and aeroplanes together is very much alive...see you on 11th June, not much more than a month to go!!Back to the forties for now, and another serving of Stuart's priceless account of life at RAF Hartford Bridge before she became known as 'Blackbushe', RAF Blackbushe.Back to August, 1943... "...One of 140 Squadron's pilots had a lucky escape when his Spitfire burst into flames at 28000 ft over Dorset. He escaped from the aircraft and parachuted down to a safe landing, but yet again the reliability of the old and well used Spitfires was called into question. The amount of flying being undertaken was emphasised by the fact that this was the fourth flight of the day by this particular aircraft.
There was great activity on the airfield as final arrangements were made for the expected arrival of three light bomber squadrons. There had been much speculation about which squadrons would arrive and what aircraft they would be flying. These questions were answered on the 19th when three squadrons of 137 Wing arrived. 21 Squadron came from RAF Oulton in Norfolk with Lockheed Ventura 1 and IIs coded YH; their motto was 'Viribus Vincinimus' of 'By strength we will conquer'. 88 Squadron was the second to arrive with Douglas Boston 111As from RAF Swanton Morley, also in Norfolk, coded RH with the motto 'En Garde' or 'Be on your Guard'. The third to arrive was 107 Squadron from RAF West Raynham in Norfolk also flying similar Douglas Boston 111As which were coded OM. Their motto was 'Nous Y Serons' or 'WE shall be there'. 88 Squadron was additionally known as the 'Hong Kong' squadron. They and the other two arriving squadrons were supported by 137 MT Section which was formed on the same day. There was almost a disaster for 88 Squadron as they flew down to their new base when a heavy wooden chock which was being transported in one of their Bostons fell out of the bottom hatch of the aircraft. John Reeves flying in another machine below and behind this aircraft, suddenly saw a small black object heading directly towards the nose of his aircraft and instinctively took evasive action to miss it. He was, however, only partially successful as the chock struck the port wing of his aircraft causing substantial damage to the wing spar. With severe juddering from the deformed wing he immediately returned to his departure airfield where he landed without further problems. The nose gunner was forever thankful for his quick reactions! When the other aircraft arrived at Hartford Bridge they elected to land in formation with four aircraft in line astern, much as they had been used to doing at their former base, which was a large grass airfield with plenty of room. This caused the duty controller much consternation as he did not consider landing aircraft in such a fashion on the in-use concrete runway good flying practice and made this known to them in no uncertain terms. They never did it again!!".Who needs a war to destroy a perfect airfield? 19 years after Blackbushe's first bomber squadrons arrived, this was the appreciation shown by the local council. Believe me, it was a hard scene to swallow. No doubt to many who never witnessed or appreciated the full size Blackbushe it might not mean a great deal, especially if the tangled scrub that has replaced it is all you have experienced...Quite a job for a Parish council to undertake from a financial perspective, not to mention historic aspects or the value of such an airfield that would support local employment and the local economy. What happened happened, happily we still have the lion's share of Blackbushe serving the needs of aviation, the potential for a fully equipped first rate General Aviation airport still exists.
You'll see.... PB
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Post by PB on May 1, 2022 6:29:33 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/05/22"May Day"...a term you hope to avoid the use of whilst in pursuit of defying gravity, but a more popular term regarding today's date which was considered an ancient festival marking the first day of summer either on 1st May or the first Monday in May.. It's certainly warmer today at 06.30 although a grey overcast spoils the moment. I read that in 1889 May Day was chosen as the date for International Workers' Day by the socialists and communists, as well as anarchists, labor activists, and leftists in general around the world, to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago and the struggle for an eight-hour working day.
It's "Next month!!"....Blackbushe's 80th is next month, where did those winter months go? Currently cherry picking one or two more aeroplanes that would befit the occasion. The Ground Exhibition and Classic Car Show are gathering momentum, should be an interesting day for the young and less young.This was the view from the Terminal Building in 1962 as the local parish decided to remove as much of Blackbushe from the map as they could...This is the self same view but taken yesterday, just sixty years later, whilst I decided to take a stroll in the Spring sunshine that beamed across Blackbushe... good day for adders!The southern taxiway leading from the main apron, behind the Control Tower, and eventually to the 26 hold. It was 26 back then...I'm now standing on the threshold to runway 32! Head through the mud and the yellow gorse flowers and you're pretty much on track!Six decades of nature's architecture. Somewhere not far from here is where airliners were towed across the A30 to Blackbushe 'south' and the engineering bases of Silver City, Britavia, and Eagle Airways.Things have certainly changed since this photo was taken in 1959!The view of runway 32 in the fifties! A little different to the view of 32 above, when London's Hounslow Airport was fog bound and Blackbushe offered the most convenient refuge..No matter how you look at it, the airfield we still call 'Blackbushe' has claim to the most extraordinary history since she first opened eighty years ago!!
Time to reflect on another slice of that past from Stuart's work... back to 1943, and recall of Blackbushe and bombs."...137 MT Section was formed initially with five drivers, who incidentally stayed with the section until it finally disbanded in November 1945. LAC Ken Dwyer recalled that having driven down from Great Massingham in Norfolk, he moved into a brand new nissen hut in No. 4 Site on the north east of the airfield. They soon received six new Austin 6x6 bomb carriers onto which were applied the Section details. The vehicles were constructed and supplied with a ribbed floor onto which the bombs were placed unsecured. These vehicles stayed with the unit throughout its operational service and went with it when it moved onto the Continent in October 1944. The vehicles were used at Hartford Bridge mainly to transport bombs from the railway sidings at Fleet station to the bomb dumps on the airfield. This often caused panic in the local people, who tended to scatter when they saw what appeared to be a load of unsecured bombs heading in their direction.
The newly arrived bomber crews were busy settling in when it was decided by 107 Squadron that they should have a flag pole in front of their billet. A suitable pine tree was found on the grounds of Minley Manor quite close to the airfield's south-eastern boundary. It didn't take the tree too long to make the short journey across the A30 and once suitably prepared the pole was erected outside the squadron crew room. Today there is a noticeable one tree gap in the magnificent avenue of trees leading through the grounds of the Manor up to the very imposing house - I wonder if the Army realise where it went to?"...and thereby hangs another tale from the many that arose from this cherished piece of Hampshire ground. Tomorrow its 88 Squadron's settling in account...
Whether you're flying round a Maypole or flying round the circuit, have a yourself a good day...
PB
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