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Post by PB on May 2, 2022 5:32:47 GMT
Photo of the Day" 02/05/22Just turned 05.30, sleep in short supply, it's May Bank Holiday... grey and damp, but slightly warmer than of late at this hour..
Had you been around on this day in 1952 BOAC launched the first regular jet flight as the de Havilland Comet Mk1 brought jet powered air travel to the world.., G-ALYP left London's aerodrome near Hounslow with 36 passengers on board, she arrived in Johannesburg 18 hours later. 'YP' was one of the numerous BOAC Comets that crew trained at Blackbushe through the fifties. Had a crystal ball been available, what would air travel back then have thought of the high-tech wide bodied wonders that roam the skies today?G-ALYU, Comet Mk1 on a crew training detail at Blackbushe, 'YU' crew trained here during 1951 to 1953. Mk1 Comet G-ALYS was at Blackbushe crew training on May Day, 1952. Meanwhile, the world continued flying with propellers and engines that made the most wonderful sounds. This Hermes served with Blackbushe's Airwork for many years until being sold to Falcon Airways in 1959.Had you been at Blackbushe during May, 1952, this Silver City Freighter, G-AGVC was very busy flying horse charters in and out of the Airport..Time now to slide back to August, 1943, continuing Stuart Marshall's intimate details of life at RAF Hartford Bridge's erly days, and some time before she changed her name to Blackbushe."...88 Squadron moved into nissen huts which were laid out in fairly standard format. The door at the end of the hut opened into a short corridor with a second inner door at the end, all designed to meet blackout requirements. On opening this door, metal beds lined the walls in dormitory style and a wood burning stove was positioned in the centre of the room. These heaters needed constantly feeding with fuel that was in short supply, causing major problems. They also needed a lot of attention to stop them going out. There were canvas-backed easy chairs pulled up close in the winter months as it was always very cold due to the lack of any insulation. Other furnishings were very sparse.
At the end of the month the squadrons had familiarised themselves with the local area and were ready to undertake missions from their new home base. It wasn't to be long before they were in the thick of the action...."Tomorrow, RAF Hartford Bridge strikes back!!
Happy Bank Holiday.. PB
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Post by PB on May 3, 2022 6:36:32 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/05/221958, an Aerotransport Viking rests abeam the A30. This Barry Burford photo captures the international feel of Blackbushe in her former days, the time when passing traffic had ever changing and exclusive views of aircraft of all shapes and sizes, civil and military. The Blackbushe Heritage Trust is gearing up to bring a Viking back to Blackbushe as a salute to those magnificent days and the magnificent aeroplanes that made them... Yesterday "POTD" recalled 88 Squadron's arrival and settling in at RAF Hartford Bridge. This morning we remain in August, 1943, and recall 88's getting down to business...".... On the 25th August, eight Bostons of 88 Squadron plus six from 107 Squadron successfully mounted an attack on Beaumont Le Roger in France lead by Wing Commander Pelly-Fry. Accompanied by an escort of fighters they were lucky not to encounter any flak on the mission but it was to be a different story on the 27th. The target on that day was the power station at Gosney which 107 Squadron were to attck with six aircraft. The power station had to be put out of action at all costs as it produced electricity for a huge area. The squadron had fighter cover on the way out to the target but none was provided for the return journey. Two of the aircraft flew in at 50ft to deliver 8x50lb bombs which has 11 second delayed fuses to permit the aircraft enough time to avoid the effects of the explosions. The remaining four aircraft then commenced their run into the target but it was to prove a disaster. One of the aircraft turned too sharply and missed the intended target completely , while a second having scored a direct hit on the target collided with another in the formation and both crashed to the ground where they were seen to be on fire. A further aircraft BZ226 (O) was hit by flak and crashed into the Channel killing the crew of four onboard. The fourth aircraft was flown by F/O Jim Allison with F/Sgt Rod Mcleod as navigator and F/O Norman Fairfax as wireless operator/air gunner. They had with them "Skeets" Kelly of the RAF Photographic Unit, who had joined them to record details of the raid. It was the crew's thirteenth operation and things soon started to wrong for them too. They were suddenly set upon by a German FW190 fighter which attacked them from the rear. When I spoke to him, F/O Fairfax recalled the incident very clearly. He told me, "It was a fine August evening when we left Hartford Bridge and we only met light flak as we crossed the enemy coast. This was in contrast to the target zone where it was extremely heavy and I vividly recall seeing two of our squadron aircraft going down in flames. However we continued, only to receive a hit in one of our two engines and found ourselves falling behind what was left of the other aircraft of our formation. Returning fire, I advised Jim Allison, the pilot, to corkscrew in an effort to lose the fighter but this proved difficult as by now the damaged engine was out of action. I recall seeing holes appear in the fuselage as the fighter pressed home its attack. I receive a terse message from the pilot, who was having major control problems by this time, to prepare for a crash landing. Skeets quickly scrambled up to sit on my knees, which was the correct laid down procedure.."Meanwhile Rod Mcleod in the nose of the aircraft was in a very dangerous position as it would be the nose of the aircraft that would be expected to take the brunt of any collision with a ground obstruction. Jim Allison, however, made a marvellous belly-landing in a ploughed field, which due to his skills caused no injury to any of us. We were very pleased to be on the ground in one piece . We all scrambled out in very quick time and set light to the aircraft to deny the enemy its secrets, as we rapidly made for the nearest cover...."Tomorrow we continue Stuart's account of operational flying from RAF Hartford Bridge, a little different to taking an afternoon sortie to the coast in 2022. The price paid by crews flying from here in WW2 was high, a terrible ask of our young aviators of the time. The least we can do is erect a memorial to their sacrifices once the planning authorities see fit...A page courtesy of the International Bomber Command Centre. Scenes at what is today's Blackbushe Airport, scenes that few of us will have known, scenes that hopefully will be revered and respected long into the future..Meanwhile, work goes on toward the 'big show' at Blackbushe this year, the 80th Anniversary Fly-In and Open Day on 11th June...the list of expected aircraft grows and grows..
PB
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Post by PB on May 4, 2022 6:33:03 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/05/22Governments come and Governments go... Under the Conservative regime in the sixties under Harold Macmillan's premiership Blackbushe Airport was sacrificed and left to the dogs, under another Harold, pipe sucking Harold Wilson the Labour government took the TSR2 and threw it out the window in 1965. They cancelled it in favour of the General Dynamics F-111, but then did not buy that either...4th May, 1965 was a not a good day for the many who had devoted themselves to TSR2, an aeroplane we might have sold around the world.. Airfields come and go too, seemingly many of our UK airfields are under threat from developers and the promise of becoming leafy garden suburbs, however, there is one that has battled the politics of local government for sixty years and has not one notion of any development other than becoming the south's premier affordable airport supporting business flying and all other forms of General Aviation. As you know, it's called Blackbushe.... You just need to browse the GAAC 'Aerodrome update' to see how dire is the state of many British airfields. www.gaac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AERODROMES-UPDATE-30-SEPT-2018.pdfSo many years of Blackbushe's survival! Here we are in 1963, Reg Gregory in his 'whites' who at the time was i/c fuelling and aircraft handling with a visiting Mooney, possibly Three Counties Comanche and the Airlines Flying Group's resident Auster "PCY"... The apron in the background is in the process of being destroyed by the Parish Council of Yateley.Back in those unique days of the sixties when we all expected Blackbushe to flourish in the near future, the flak from local authorities would surely not last long, we enjoyed the benefit of having six runway headings to choose from. Here Three Counties Auster V, G-ANIS, is on short final for runway 32, the unmistakable US Navy hangar presenting as it did in many a Blackbushe photo of the time.The US Navy hangar makes the occasional topic for conversation. Curiously, some of the local voices who totally falsely claim Blackbushe Airport will become a housing estate or a business park if it should receive permission to build new hangars perhaps overlook what they permitted on the site of the Navy hangar. It was on Common Land, but after a land exchange was agreed the US Navy hangar vanished and a business park was built instead...the very thing it is suggested will become a blight on the locality were Blackbushe given the freedom to build on their airfield!!!!!!!!Moving on, we'll continue with Stuart's words from his study of life at Blackbushe in 1943, the airfield known as RAF Hartford Bridge at the time... yesterday, we recalled the early days of Hartford Bridge's squadrons venture into combat and Flying Officer Jim Allison's crash landing his Boston following flak damage and a FW190 attack.."...There had been so much going on while we were in the air that I didn't have time to consider my feelings but once on the ground and in the relative safety of our hiding place I realised how calm it was now after the turmoil of the crash landing. Skeets was bemoaning the loss of his camera which he had to leave in the aircraft wreckage, as he thought that he had captured some of the best shots ever of aerial combat. As I quietly gathered my thoughts I began to think of the horror if seeing our fellow flight crews plummeting to the ground and there was, I recall, some discussion between us with speculation on which of our friends had been lost. As we lay there trying to relax with a cigarette we reviewed our situation and I recall thinking with regret that I wouldn't be able to keep the date that I had arranged with a WAAF that evening back at base. No doubt the others would ave been thinking of their wives back home, especially Rod, as his wife was pregnant. It was soon time to make a move so we split int two groups of two and drew lots to decide who would go with whom. Jim and Skeets went off first and we followed a little later. Jim and Skeets eventually split up to make their own ways home but unfortunately Skeets was eventually caught and spent the rest of the war as a POW. Jim eventually made his way back home via Spain and Gibraltar. Rod and I got back in mid November and after a period of rest, recuperation and retraining all three of us returned to Hartford Bridge, but this time to serve with 88 Squadron".Memories..Happier times in the sixties, just 20 years after the airfield went to war... Left to right..Reg Venning who owned resident Taylorcraft G-AHUG, Mike Tunnicliffe, your scribe PB, Terry Jones and Jack Smith. A much loved Three Counties Tri Pacer providing the background. Sadly Reg and Jack are no longer with us, but the photo captures the mood of the day, carefree days on a Blackbushe where the future was uncertain but there was nowhere better than Blackbushe for the freedom, camaraderie, and flying that captivated us amid dear old Three Counties Aero Club. Back tomorrow... PB
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Post by PB on May 5, 2022 6:11:52 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/05/2237 days to go.
Blackbushe 80.
Over 100 aircraft booked.
Hope you've got your ticket, they are limited in numbers...
Something you might be able to do to assist. The Blackbushe Heritage Trust, now a fully qualified up and running charity will be at "Blackbushe 80" on 11 June to talk about where we are and future ambitions..The prime objective being to recover a Viking from afar, bring it back to Blackbushe and restore it to pristine condition and so show the world a sight that was once very much an everyday part of Blackbushe's operations. Right now we are seeking COLOUR photos of any of the Vikings that operated from Blackbushe.. That's Airwork, Continental, Eagle, Falcon, Hunting-Clan, Independent, Orion, Pegasus, Tradair, and Universal. All operators who found Blackbushe the ideal base for airlines in their early days who needed to be close to London, long hard runways, easy access, and a good weather record... Side views that show the operator's logo preferred. Respecting copyright, of course, if you have any such photos we'd love to borrow them in respect of something we want to have ready for 11 June.. Thank you in advance!! 2-COOL by wokinghampaul, on Flickr Bang up to date, another cool photo from Paul Phillips. Thank you Paul!! The super cool Piaggio Avanti... Great to see Blackbushe handling more business aircraft types and movements..2-COOL, N542AP, N542MP by wokinghampaul, on Flickr Further proof from Paul how Blackbushe's apron can swell with serious aviation. Gulfstream 500, Avanti, and a Honda Jet. A PC-24 also added to the scene. Shows that given the facilities Blackbushe would become a force to be reckoned with! Shame the Parish council of the day paid so much money to destroy most of the apron and valuable sections of runway, but the airfield enjoying these movements sure exceeds the wildest dreams of sixty years ago when the future of Blackbushe was very much touch and go..!!Thanks to Paul and everyone who supports the Forum's 'movements' pages.
Back to 1943 now, and the continuing story of those days when aeroplanes were becoming very much a part of life on the Hartford Bridge Flats.."... Flying Officer Dinty Moore recalled that during his time with 88 Squadron at the airfield many of the crews when not on duty made their way to the 'fleshpots' of Reading, while others would settle for the local pubs in Yateley or would visit the cinema in Camberley. Having been married for only six months prior to his move to the airfield, he set about finding digs locally for his wife Norma. He first found somewhere in Yateley and later with, in his words, 'a dear old spinster' in Sandhurst. He remembered that the the cottage was really quaint with gas lighting and he also recalled that they often cycled through the grounds of the Military Academy at Sandhurst on their way to Camberley. The practice of wives living near the base was very unofficial but the authorities turned a 'Nelsonian' blind eye to the practice. During the latter part of the month aircraft from the airfield were involved in what were known as 'Rhubarb' flights. This was the name given to flights which were to harass all types of transport, often deep in occupied France.
On the 30th of the month Flt Lt George Holloway of 16 Squadron was flying back to base in Mustang 1, AP263, in company with a similar aircraft, when he was set upon by a German FW190 fighter and shot down 10 miles off the French coast. For four days the British and German Air Forces were to fight an air battle over him as he drifted helplessly toward the French coast. He was eventually rescued by our Air-Sea Rescue forces from the sea in what had become known as 'Operation Holloway'. by the time he was picked up, twenty five Allied aircraft had been involved in the fight to keep track of him and ensure the enemy did not reach him before he could be rescued..."I hope these early morning exercises with the keyboard are proving of interest, for me they certainly help create an idea, and images, of how life would have been at Blackbushe in a time most of us can but imagine... Much as it would have been fascinating to see the airfield as she was, a vast expanse of runways and taxiways covering so much more than today, I guess we're lucky to have the history combined with the prospects of a better busier Blackbushe in the future.. Hopefully!
Any comments are always welcome!!
I'll be back..
PB
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Post by PB on May 6, 2022 6:54:31 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/05/22Friday morning, the weekend lies ahead...and then it's Monday once more. Viking time.
But what of Monday?? Well, by around Monday lunchtime on 9th May the daily "POTD" dalliance with the keyboard will have had around 1,000 more visits from your good self and +/- 999 others.... What you are invited to do is pop into Blackbushe Airport on Monday evening at around 18.30 and proceed to the Pathfinder Cafe... There you will meet the Blackbushe Heritage Trust team for an informal gathering starting at 19.00 where the Trustees will explain the Trust's objectives and plans to initially return Viking G-AGRW to Blackbushe where in due course she will stand a permanent salute to those days when Blackbushe and the numerous Viking equipped independent airlines based here forged a path for British commercial aviation's place in European skies.
You are cordially invited to arrive from 18.30 for a 19.00 start when the Trustees will each introduce themselves and explain briefly their role in the Viking project and where we are today in regard to the aeroplane's recovery.
The evening will also provide you the chance to put your name down on the Blackbushe Heritage Trust 'volunteer list'!! This could get you involved in many ways. Being part of a team attending fund raising activities at air shows, for example, or hands on work on the air frame, the opportunities will be numerous. But, first of all, why not join us at Blackbushe on Monday evening and lend an ear?
See you there? May 9th, 18.30 for 19.00.... You don't have to volunteer, just attending will give the team some moral support!!The Viking as she looks today in a foreign field...An Eagle Viking at Blackbushe. Such a familiar scene in the fifties, with your help we can place an Eagle Viking back on Blackbushe where passing motorists will again see a true vestige of the 'golden era'...and visitors can get a taste of air transport as it was in the propeller age..Staying in the past, back to September, 1943, and Stuart Marshall's account of life at RAF Hartford Bridge...".. September, 1943. On the 3rd a Ventura of 21 Squadron, AE776, crashed in the Gravelines area with the loss of Flt Sgt Elam and his three crew members.
A simulated invasion of Europe code-named 'Operation Starkey' was designed to lead the Germans to expect an Allied landing in the Boulogne area. Planned to start on the 9th of the month, it was hoped that the exercise would entice the German Air Fore into an air battle with the RAF fighter squadrons so that they would be considerably weakened when the real attack took place further down the coast in Normandy. In an effort to obtain more up to date equipment, 16 Squadron let it be known that they were not keen to participate in their unreliable aircraft. It brought quick results as the squadron was immediately issued with two new Spitfire MkXIs and would gradually receive others until the squadron was fully equipped with this model".This genuine ex 16 Squadron PR Spitfire MkXI bridged the gap between Blackbushe's 75th Anniversary celebrations in 2017, and life in 1943. She would have been here again in June for the 80th but the owner will be away on important family matters.. Although this Spitfire did not join 16 Squadron until later in the war when they had relocated into Europe, it was very moving to see the light blue colours that once were so much a part of Blackbushe, or RAF Hartford Bridge, as was still known at the time.
PB
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Post by PB on May 7, 2022 6:53:05 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 07/05/2235, thirty five, days to Blackbushe 80.
Far less to 9th May and the Blackbushe Heritage Trust gathering at the Pathfinder Cafe. If you have a desire to help with the Viking project, or just would like to hear more as to how the Trust plans to return a Viking airliner to Blackbushe now's your chance. Pathfinder doors open from 18.30 for 19.00, why not pop in and say "Hi", a chance to get involved - if you wish. Today marks the Anniversary of the HP Hastings first flight..back in 1946. Photo is a 114 Squadron Hastings from RAF Colerne, June, 1959 resting on the Blackbushe apron. Only 63 years ago...Back to 1943 and the daily news from RAF Hartford Bridge...continuing how life was in September, '43...." ... A mock invasion force had been assembled in the Channel and the Hartford Bridge Boston squadrons were detailed to lay a smoke screen around it for protection. Aircraft taking part were painted with invasion markings, which comprised black and white alternate stripes on the fuselage and wings, plus a white aircraft nose. Flt Lt Dinty Moore of 88 Squadron recalled:
"On arrival at Hartford Bridge from RAF Swanton Morley, in Norfolk, on the 19th, we were surprised to see our aircraft having vertical white stripes painted on them which, we assumed, was to make it easier for allied gunners to distinguish between friend and foe... Needless to say this sparked off numerous rumours and speculation, paramount among which was the theory that we were about to launch an invasion on the Continent. The planners, however, had other ideas in mind, namely to bring the Luftwaffe into a full-scale battle and to force it to withdraw fighters from the Italian front. This was to be achieved by a simulated invasion made convincing by a heavy onslaught on German airfields and military targets, together with the assembly of large concentrations of troops and assault craft". More of Operation Starkey tomorrow...
PB
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Post by PB on May 8, 2022 7:47:40 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/05/22Not a good start to Sunday, the Blackbushe Forum appeared to have been wiped out!! Why I have no idea, just the Forum header but otherwise blank...The temptation to freak out was fairly strong, but in the interest of ongoing health decided to stay calm.. For those years of dedicated input to have been wiped was a prospect hard to bear, but after a while service has apparently been resumed, all is not lost!! Phewwwww....
Enjoyable couple of hours at the airfield yesterday seeing some 'old' faces and equipping all the flying schools and the Pathfinder with this notice which is now to be seen around the various airport premises...
PATHFINDER CAFE
MONDAY 9TH MAY 18.30 FOR 19.00
MEET THE BLACKBUSHE HERITAGE TRUST TEAM!!HEAR OUR PLANS TO RETURN AN HISTORIC VICKERS VIKING TO BLACKBUSHE AIRPORT
FIND OUT HOW YOU COULD GET INVOLVED, BECOME A TEAM MEMBER AND HELP US SAVE A PIECE OF BLACKBUSHE AND AVIATION HISTORY..
INTERESTED? JOIN US AT THE PATHFINDER CAFE AND GET THE FULL PICTURE!!MONDAY 9TH MAY FROM 18.30 SEE YOU THEN!!As it says, "See you then!"..hopefully!A "POTD" image from Farnborough Weeks past..Around 1978 perhaps, Blackbushe's daily crop disperses to whence it came. Always good to see the old apron handling business movements as one jet is refuelled another awaits its approaching passengers..Brief continuation from yesterday of Flt Lt Dinty Moore's recall of 'Operation Starkey' in September 1943.."...All the 2 Group Squadrons took part in Operation Starkey but for our squadron it began on the 2nd when we laid smoke ahead of a minesweeper flotilla seven miles off Boulogne, without interference from the enemy. I must confess to thinking that the sailors on those ships would have been happy change places with us.
On the 4th we lead two boxes of six Bostons in a circuit attack on marshalling yards at Amiens. Apart from some inaccurate flak the whole operation went off according to plan, apart from one upsetting detail: the Luftwaffe declined to come up and be shot at...!!
The following day, as part of part of a force of twenty three Bostons, we took part in a 'ramrod' operation, the target being the Luftwaffe base at Woensdrecht which we bombed despite some pretty heavy flak. I should perhaps add that 'ramrod' meant the target was the primary objective, whereas a 'circus' meant that we merely acted as bait to attract enemy fighters, the target being of secondary importance.."That's it for today, having seen the apparent demise of the Forum first thing, I hope tomorrow does not not see a replay....
Enjoy Sunday,
PB
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Post by PB on May 9, 2022 6:25:30 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 09/05/22Monday has dawned, Blackbushe bathes in early morning sunlight while last night's Atlantic crossings lace the morning sky with their thin silver trails.. what a great day day to visit Blackbushe!! Especially if you do so this evening because TONIGHT you may join the BLACKBUSHE HERITAGE TRUST at the PATHFINDER CAFE, 1830 for 1900, to hear exactly what's planned to recover a VIKING airliner to Blackbushe and our hopes to place her on show as a permanent salute to the independent airlines who employed the Viking to such great effect and launch air travel free of state intervention and set the footings for today's mass air transport... SEE YOU THIS EVENING AT THE PATHFINDER!! Your chance to get involved hands on at the Airport and play a part in saving a page of aviation history!!A Viking moment Farnborough Week 1959. Blackbushe in action, US Navy aircraft on the north side, a variety of civil and military dotted around the apron.There is some kind of mystical divide between those days and now. Back then Blackbushe was London's second most valuable airport, home to the US Navy in the UK, home to numerous independent airlines, and the myriads of other traffic that made Blackbushe not only unusual, but unique. Appreciated for her advanced lighting systems, easy access, and good weather record as testified by diversions from London Airport - Heathrow today. Loved by the many who worked here, "The Happy Airport", it all came to an end on May 31, 1960. Whilst most of the airfield was saved by AVM Bennett's acquisition, we have ever since endured sixty years of interference and opposition from certain parties who'd prefer the site to join the many hundreds of acres of surrounding land that are unused and largely overgrown. The days of pre May 1960 have to those of us who remember them, and the role Blackbushe played in our nation's up and coming independent airline development, a certain mystical quality that haunts and tugs and says, "Come on, at least let Blackbushe serve aviation again with some proper hangars, some decent new offices, Terminal, lighting, and bring back some of that mystical flavour...". Think of the employment and benefits to the local economy! We'll continue our journey back to 1943 and Stuart Marshall's account of life at RAF Hartford Bridge during her first year of operations, continued from yesterday..
"..."The climax of this came for us on the 9th [September] when we again laid smoke for a Royal Navy flotilla, once again off Boulogne. The result of the grand design of the operation was extremely disappointing; few enemy fighters engaged our escorts, with only two being destroyed, nor were any withdrawn from the front". During the whole period of the operation there had been intense activity at Hartford Bridge with all squadrons taking part. Group Captain McDonald, who took over command of the airfield early in the month, must have been impressed with the activity as raids on targets in occupied France were often undertaken by aircraft of all the squadrons flying together. On the Amiens raid on the 4th, for instance, 88 Squadron was joined by 107 Squadron to press home the attack, while the Abbeville marshalling yards were attacked by 21 Squadron Venturas. This was to be one of the last times that they would use the Ventura as they moved out to RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk, on the 27th to re-equip with with Mosquito Mk VIs but not before they bombed Abbeville again on the 9th from 11000 ft. It is also interesting to note that on this date 88 Squadron attacked 'E' boat pens in Boulogne harbour while more of their crews were also laying smoke in the Channel. One Boston was able to lay about 1000 yards of smoke which was dense enough to hide naval craft from the watching enemy troops in occupied France".We'll continue with September, 1943, tomorrow.
The above goes to show it was not only the commercial days of the nineteen fifties that have bestowed a certain mystical aura over Blackbushe Airport. So much has happened here, so much largely unrecorded or unreported, so many lives given....
We'll be back tomorrow, meanwhile will we see you tonight at the Pathfinder??
PB
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Post by PB on May 10, 2022 7:40:38 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 10/05/22What a great evening!!
The 'all new' Blackbushe Heritage Trust took its first steps into the outside world last evening, and it has to be said it was great success! Huge thanks go to all who made it to the Pathfinder Cafe to hear what we had to say about our plans to initially recover Viking G-AGRW from the lonesome field where she currently stands in Austria and bring her back to Blackbushe where Vikings once ruled supreme so as she can live out her life very much like the ugly duckling who grew into her finery of white feathers. Or something like that...
Seeing a good showing of well known faces, some faces not seen for many years, and faces new, the evening resulted in a valuable collection of enthusiastic future volunteers for duties regarding fund raising missions around the air shows to others who would be pleased to employ their engineering skills toward the restoration of "RW" when she comes home hopefully later in the year.
A massive "THANK YOU!" to everyone who joined us last evening, to Kieron for opening up the Pathfinder Cafe and being the perfect host, and to fellow Trustees without who this venture would never get off the ground! The gods approved! The evening concluded with Blackbushe showing off her fabulous sky watching opportunities as the great fireball of fusion paid us a stunning, "Goodnight!"Stepping back in time, probably 1963, when DH Herons were still doing useful work. I took the photo during my few years working for AVM 'Pathfinder' Bennett as his 'operations' department. How the years fly, today is the Heron's birthday for she first flew on this day, 10th May, in 1950....and so, back to 1943 and our recall of RAF Hartford Bridge in her first year of operation..
"...On the 5th September, 1943, a third Boston squadron arrived from RAF Great Massingham, Norfolk. This was 342 "Lorraine Squadron" of the Free French Air Force which proudly displayed the Cross of Lorraine on the nose of each aircraft. Their motto was 'Nous-Y-Sommes' or 'Here we are' and the squadron code was OA. They were soon busily engaged on working up to operational status, which they achieved by the end of the month. They were dispersed to the north-east of the airfield and it wasn't long before the French flag was proudly flying over their quarters. Many of the French crew flew under assumed names to protect the identity of their families in the event that they were shot down over their occupied homeland. There were two Britons attached to the squadron and they were the only non-French nationals serving with it.."A 'Lorraine Squadron' crew with their Boston, and the Cross of Lorraine proudly worn on all of 342's aircraft. Just imagine being based across the sea from home and having to fly to bomb your home land to rid it of the Nazi infestation... What went through their minds whilst based at Hartford Bridge we may not know. If you could acquire a copy of Paul Lambermont's excellent book, "Lorraine Squadron" you will get an idea.. Those runways at Blackbushe, once RAF Hartford Bridge, hold many secrets.
PB
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Post by PB on May 11, 2022 6:47:03 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 11/05/22Eleven degrees celsius on the eleventh of May, temperatures are getting closer to 'comfortable' as we move toward summer's domain, the other interesting fact being that next time we write 'the eleventh' it will be the day of Blackbushe Airport's 80th Anniversary Open Day and Fly-In.... It's getting close!!!!!!!!
Come the eleventh of June, Blackbushe will be looking to the future with her plans for the day when they become reality, a reality that will eventually manifest itself! The "History Hub" will also be open for all to pop in and see pictures and models that reflect the past with Rob Belcher putting together many of the facets that have made the rich and varied history that is uniquely "Blackbushe".. The future will also be on display with schemes and ideas ready for inspection.
Talking of history, I Googled RAF Hartford Bridge amid the world of YouTube and came up with this....I'm grateful to one of the Forum's most recent members, Tim, in Australia who is in the process of researching the life of AVM Bennett and well associated with members of the Bennett family in Australia from when our AVM originated.... He has very kindly sent me some fascination YouTube links featuring just some aspects of Bennett's extraordinary life in aviation.. Long distance flight and navigation were high on Bennett's agenda long before the Second World War... The following video reflects on the 'joined-up' thinking that lead to early trans-Atlantic commercial activity..Huge thanks to Tim for passing the above links for our consumption. As we all know, if it were not for AVM Bennett, Blackbushe Airport today would most likely be a desolate and abandoned tract of land where only the old runways would tell a story of brave days past.. Very much the Council owned desolation of the eastern end or the north that tragically has been allowed to become overgrown, but at least runway 14/32 survives but for a few cracks that are no doubt due to tree roots flexing their muscle. Bennett was a man of many ideas and accomplishments, after the war Fairthorpe Cars and Dart Aircraft were two of his business projects. Fairthorpe cares produced a variuty of models using glass fibre bodies. The photo taken during the great freeze of 1962/63 shows a tiny white car amid the snow and airport vehicles. This was one of Fairthorpe's less attractive models! The Airport, of course, belonged to the AVM by that time.The Fairthorpe Zeta, in metallic dark blue was a much more elegant design, seen here on the Blackbushe apron in 1963. The AVM at the controls, Ken and Paul Gray in conversation...Ken was a prime mover in the establishment of the new Blackbushe Aero Club in 1962.The collection. Bennett's company Fairtravel produced the Linnet seen here alongside a Fairthorpe sports car. The location is Blackbushe Airport facing the A30, another of Bennett's possessions! Tragically the County Council destroyed two thirds of the Terminal Building. The Airport was managed by Bennett's company Dart Aircraft, who in their judgement witnessed your scribe as a suitable employee to look after the Airport's operations back in 1963... Airport prospects looked good back then, we had no idea that sixty years later Blackbushe would still be fighting the rigours of local authority. Sadly, career prospects dictated I moved on as the future looked ever more uncertain with the preposterous opposition that ceaselessly/shamefully reached from local bureaucracy.Now for today's extract from World War Two and the early days on the airfield..."...88 and 107 Squadrons were still heavily involved with 'Operation Starkey' with varied duties, mainly smoke-laying, but on the 8th [September, 1943] a raid was carried out by 88 Squadron on Poulnic airfield near Brest where they encountered fierce flak. On return to base it was found that six of their aircraft had been damaged. The last day of 'Operation Starkey' was on the 9th when 88 Squadron was again laying smoke in support of the naval forces, this time to four destroyers, 30 minesweepers, a headquarters ship and a number of tank landing craft. The aircraft were unable to land back at base following this operation and were diverted to land at RAF Harwell, Oxfordshire.
F/O Deeks, a navigator with 88 Squadron, was on this mission and he recalled that even after landing things failed to go according to plan. They found that their aircraft had a leaking port fuel tank and in addition to this problem one of the smoke canisters burst, covering everyone in dense acrid smoke. It was also a day pf mixed emotions as they said farewell to their Commander G/Capt Pelly-Fry and welcomed their new leader W/Cdr Ian Spencer. He was taking over a squadron that by now had a number of very experienced crews..."I should add that Stuart achieved his writing of life at RAF Hartford Bridge by meeting and interviewing personnel whose lives were of those that shared life at RAF Hartford Bridge long ago..
See you tomorrow, I'm always open to comments on "POTD", if you have any...
PB
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