PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
01/06/22

06.00, 1st June, and just 5 degrees C beyond the front door. At least we've got pure blue skies for a while until the temperature goes up a bit, and the showers come down a bit.

Time remains a strange partner, back in October when the first batch of emails left in pursuit of aeroplanes to attend this month's "80th" at Blackbushe it felt as if the event was a lifetime away. Now it's just days away. It's always the same, seemingly vast amounts of time condense into a mere blink. Hopefully 11th June will confirm the time was well spent...I know the Airport Management Team have ploughed a huge amount of time and effort into ensuring the day is a great success, just need a nice day now...

Don't forget, admission to the 80th is strictly by ticket only, space is limited and unless you're walking up from the Yateley direction a car park pass is also required.. all the details are here >> www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/80th




Five years ago, awash in sunshine and aeroplanes, the 75th, feels like it was yesterday..




Talking of being awash with aeroplanes, BUSINESS aeroplanes, the past week has emphasised the role Blackbushe is increasingly playing as business flights arrive and depart from across the UK and Europe. Thanks to Rob Belcher for this great view of the Piaggio P180 during turn round.



...and great thanks to Paul Phillips for the following medley of some the past week's traffic at Blackbushe!




















Add some Falcon 900 movements too, and you get the picture of Blackbushe's affordable business benefits being realised..



Now the daily keyboard bashing as we return to November, 1943, and life at a one year old RAF Hartford Bridge...


"....When 107 Squadron were not flying they could field a reasonable football team. The story goes that they had an American crew member who expressed a wish to join the team although he had never seen football before, let alone played the game. Always keen to accept new players, the team offered him the position of goal keeper in the following game against the Officers' Mess team, which he enthusiastically accepted. Unfortunately, he didn't do too well, which was probably easily explained as nobody had told him until half-time that he could use his hands as well as his feet! Unfortunately there is no record of the final score.

The Officers' Mess building consisted of two large Nissen huts which were positioned parallel to each other with another hut placed at right angles half way along and between them, forming an H shape. The latter hut accommodated the cloak room, toilets, and Commanding Officers' private reception/entertainment room. The other two huts consisted of the kitchen and dining room in one and the bar and lounge area in the other. There was a separate games room nearby which contained snooker, bar billiards, shove halfpenny and a dart board. The whole of the Officers' Mess was well used and no doubt provided a suitable venue for much entertainment for the hard-pressed crews. The Mess was situated at the bottom of Dungells Lane where it joins Handford Lane on the opposite side of the road. From the Mess there was a much-used path which eventually came out beside St Peter's Church in Yateley village centre close to the Dog and Partridge pub, much frequented by airfield personnel. It was also a quick way down to the bus stop for those making their way either to Camberley or Reading.

Meals provided in the Mess were usually of a reasonable standard, given the shortages being encountered due to food rashioning, but it was the bar that was the real showpiece, having the theme of a castle. The walls of the room were decorated with landscapes and murals, with the castle battlements painted prominently in the foreground. The bar itself was very wide and boasted a tower at each end with a portcullis suspended between. The bar top was the pride and joy, being a two inch thick slice of tree trunk which gad been very highly polished. This and all the other materials which were used in the construction had been 'obtained' from close by and around the airfield and the finished product was something that the crews were justifiably very proud of. A lot of hard work gad gone into the construction".



Thank you to Stuart for his daily contribution to POTD, it's good to still be able to 'work' with him.... While relating the above, it's sad that we will not be privileged to meet the people who shared the life of wartime Hartford Bridge, or wandered the leafy lanes of Yateley, or who had to cope with the grief of missing friends. Perhaps I had a brief vision of our local planning departments who have objected to almost every move Blackbushe has wished to make during the past sixty years, and how they would have treated RAF Hartford Bridge had they had a say in the matter... Some local parties, I am advised, complained about the noise of bomber engine being run-up on the airfield. Many engines have been run-up in the subsequent 79 years, Blackbushe today treats occupied Yateley with the greatest care and respect and happily lives harmoniously with almost all of the local population.


PB

[PB]

02/06/22


An historic extended holiday weekend begins today, in history Her Majesty the Queen becomes the second longest serving monarch in history, a reign only exceeded by King Louis XIV who logged 72 years (1715-1774). While Blackbushe Airport prepares for her 'oak' 80th anniversary in less than a fortnight, the Blackbushe Forum extends gratitude and appreciation to Queen Elizabeth II in reaching her Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years at the helm..




HM the Queen and Prince Phillip prepare to depart London's Blackbushe Airport aboard a Royal Air Force Viking.



The Queen has called for her Jubilee to result in 'Happy Memories'..She will have many and mixed memories of her 70 year reign.

It's sad to reflect that six out of her seven decades have seen the airport from which she once flew 'on duty' suffering from what can only be called abuse by various local authorities. We must hope that before Blackbushe reaches her seventy years under private ownership (1960-2030) that she too will enjoy the long awaited moment when common sense prevails and the assets that Blackbushe holds are unfurled for all to see..and those of us who have waited so long for 'the day' will have their "Happy Memories" of a rejuvinated Blackbushe Airport..

Long live the Queen.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
03/06/22

Yesterday, day one of the current historic public holiday to mark the Platinum 70th Anniversary proved that "ER" has an immensely strong field of support from the population, and we're not talking of the other ER that glues itself to roads preventing citizens going about their business... The flypast over London whereby a perfect stream of aircraft of widely differing performance appears with perfection timing makes one boggle at the detail required in getting one and all in the air from their various starting points, holding, assembling, and running in to the 'target' to appear as one homogeneous formation. A fairly low run over the City being the icing on the cake?

Tried it once when we operated G-BVOL, the Army Dakota, from Blackbushe for the 1995 display season. I offered our services to the organisers of the Newtonards air show in Norther Ireland and once suitably financially viable off we tootled for an away weekend. This was the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of VJ Day, accordingly we joined the Anniversary fly-past over Belfast departing Newtonards where we'd arrived the day before climbing into shower clouds that also formated over N Ireland. Recall of water squeezing in from around the cockpit perspex and an RAF VC10 dragging two Tornadoes behind it leaping out of a cloud and sweeping across our trajectory come to mind. The B-25 and Blenheim with which were to be 'associated' in the flypast made their own way, but all went well and we rumbled across Belfast while one Prince Andrew, Duke of York, took the salute a few hundred feet beneath us, no sweat.... Great fun, the air show at Newtonards later in the day was blessed with better weather and we departed for home in a mass take-off with the Blenheim and Duke of Brabant B-25. Crossing the Irish coast the trio were good company until we split to go our various ways.




Dear old BVOL... long gone, but bits of her are still flying and the fuselage rests in an air museum in the Netherlands wearing KLM colours.



Back to RAF Hartford Bridge and more words from Stuart Marshall's account of the early days in 1943. The following from November, 1943, the airfield was just one year old..


"... The late F/Lt Les Walker, WO/Air Gunner with 88 Squadron, told me that when operational flying was not taking place there was still plenty of training flying that had to be undertaken.: "Between operational duties we were engaged in a continual training programme. This consisted of cross country flying around the British Isles, navigation exercises, Formation flying, bombing and gunnery. It was felt that the formation flying practice was of particular importance and involved flying at various heights between 7000 to 15000 feet in groups of six aircraft in very close proximity. One vic of three would be slightly above the other which followed slightly behind them with their wings tucked well in, forming a box of six aircraft. This was extremely hard work for the pilots, who needed constant and total concentration. This was a very stressful time for all the crew, lasting over a number of hours which was worse when conditions were turbulent or we went into cloud. The purpose of the formation was twofold. Firstly by holding a tight six-aircraft formation we were able to give the maximum cover of gunfire power in the event of an enemy attack and secondly we wee able to get the maximum concentration of bombs on the target. The navigator in the leading flight commander's aircraft was responsible for advising when to release the bombs in order to get the maximum number on the target and this ensuring that the bombs would burst almost simultaneously in close proximity to each other, causing maximum damage. We were probably most vulnerable during the long run-in which lasted about 30 Seconds and consisted of flying straight and level until the bombs were released. The aircraft were sitting ducks and the Germans knew this and took full advantage. It was always good to hear 'Bombs Gone' and then take evasive action". Kay Watts, a WAAF, recalled that as a transport section driver her duties were very varied and included conveying service personnel of all ranks to and from their places of duty or driving stores and equipment to any number of destinations both on and off the airfield. Vehicles in use at this time included three and thirty hundredweight Bedford trucks. There was the daily routine of delivering rations and food stores to the Mess kitchens where the stores were unloaded by others - certainly not the driver! Sometimes it was possible to coax a cup of cookhouse tea from the corporal in charge of one of the three messes. Officers', Sergeants' and Airmen's/WAAFs'. Unusual tye of food occasionally appeared at meal times and included tins of melon or pineapple jam, which was liberally spread on hunks of fresh bread. This as followed now and then by bright yellow slab cake. Things could change radically depending on what rations were available and mugs of well brewed were usually called upon to wash down some of the less palatable items served up. It was occasionally possible to obtain some perks that helped to make life a little easier, the odd can of milk, a few slices pf bread, butter, ta, and sometimes even sugar. The it would be back to the billet for tea, which was brewed in an old jam tin on top of the stove as they all sat round keeping warm and making toast - I was told that was a luxury!..."



That was life out there on the aerodrome we know today. Another world, at least we have words and images from Hartford Bridge ready to strike at the enemy across the Channel, they could have had no idea how the airfield would look in 80 years time, nor perhaps did they care!




A Royal occasion at RAF Hartford Bridge..Investitures away from London were rare occasions when crews are invested with honours or rank... Here King George VI presides over such an occasion on the airfield while the Queen Mother is engaged in conversation.


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
04/06/22


A day in Oxfordshire sunshine awaits, one of those weddings where sunshine would be a blessing in perfect Oxonian countryside, more likely a day in Oxfordshire awaits but perhaps sans the sunshine as the weather gods have put the Jubilee weather into reverse. The English weather continues to have a controlling effect over the 'mood of the day', year in - year out. Looking toward 11th June and the Blackbushe Open Day, too early to say with any assurance, but the weather looks ..like weather of the English variety, could be this, could be that! Good or bad, we shall see. Meanwhile, it looks as if we may glean one or two more rare birds for the static park..

Running way behind schedule today, a quick paragraph from November 1943 as we continue our visit to Blackbushe back then, or RAF Hartford Bridge as she was then known...

Transport to the airfield was a key issue with the needs of war including bombs to be brought in by road "...Items had to be transported from the goods yard at Fleet station and one of the vehicle used was the Bantam Karrier. This was a lorry-cum-trailer which gave a slow and not unusually extremely cold ride at a maximum of 34mph. This often resulted in a lot of barracking from drivers of other faster vehicles with "Take your foot off the brake ducks"and a "Get a move on speedy" followed by roars of male laughter. [These are the continued words of WAAF Kay Watts] Kay recalled how the various uniforms stood out among the RAF blue. The RAF Regiment wore khaki while the Free French wore their quite distinctive blue uniform. The 322 (Dutch) Squadron members who arrived in April 1944 stood out from all the others in their very smart navy blue and gold and added to the mix of various nationalities to be found around the airfield. The WAAF billets were constructed of corrugated metal with each housing about a dozen girls and were situated near the administration site off Vigo Lane. They were close to the commercial area where the NAAFI canteen was located, along with a gymnasium, cinema and station sick quarters, which helped to lessen the somewhat austere way of life. Their were also haidressers, and barbers' shops, a library and a tailor's shop where uniforms could be altered, plus a boot and repair shop. All these shops were run by RAF and WAAF personnel who had been in these various trades in civilian life. There was also a bicycles store and workshop which was one of the most important facilities on the airfield as there were by now vast numbers of machines in use all over the camp. A bicycle would be issued to newly arrived personnel and was then subjected hard life being ridden around the airfield, which was al are area to cover by foot, and they e also used for trips off the airfield".


I often wish that some psychic powers would give the ability to 'look back' and see the scene of this vast new airfield as it was. Just to see the 'people' going about their business, hangars, workshops, varied aeroplanes in war clothes, the shops, the messes, the spirit of Hartford Bridge as it was in the beginning..




All good things come to an end. We see and hear much of what Putin has done to Ukraine of recent. This is what the British government did to London's second Airport in 1960. Utter desolation. Hitler dropped a bomb behind the Ely a mile down the road from the airfield, but otherwise this most strategic of wartime airfields was free from unwanted attack by Adolf and his warriors. It took the government of the day and local councils to finish the job....



On that note, I wish you a peaceful day and improved weather conditions...


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
05/06/22

Time waits for no man...late night return from darkest Oxfordshire and a mega wedding bash, today number Grandson reaches his third amazing year, and another bash in Wimbledon combined with street party..

What's more this time next week Blackbushe 80 will be over apart from the clearing up and returning the airfield to normal operations.

We'll continue Stuart's journey into 1943 and a one year old RAF Hartford Bridge in a day or two. The airfield played a very significant role in D-Day operations on 6th June, 1944. Today 5th June, 1944, it was a hive of activity. The A30 was now closed 24 hrs a day, black and white stripes appeared overnight, aircrews feverishly checked that 'all was ready'.

Final confirmation that the 'big day' was at hand was when Group Captain MacDonald called the entire base together, speaking to a hushed audience he said these words,"Gentlemen, from this moment Hartford Bridge is on standby. You are confined to quarters." The invasion of Europe was about to begin.




5th June, 1944, Group Captain MacDonald briefs RAF Hartford Bridge personnel that the invasion of Europe is coming, maximum security clamp down would follow. The airfield would soon play a strategic role in achieving the aims and ambitions of D-Day.



POTD will return tomorrow with accounts of action at RAF Hartford Bridge on the historic 6th June, 1944.


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
06/06/22

6th June..... What this date must have meant to the many for whom it would be decisive on this day in 1944 we can but imagine. D-Day.

Blackbushe Airport, in 2022, prepares for the action resulting from months of behind the scenes action for next Saturday's 80th. In 1944, the airfield, then known as RAF Hartford Bridge, was ready to release the results of months of behind the scenes action, results that so far as the security of Great Britain and the direction of the tides of war would be utterly decisive, THIS WAS D-DAY.

"POTD" can think of no better way of remembering 'the day' than once again turning to Stuart Marshall's excellent account of life at RAF Hartford Bridge in his work, "The Wartime Years". Very sadly, Stuart is no longer with us, but I am certain he would be happy to share his words amid members of our Forum, all of whom must share something of the passion felt by Stuart for matters concerning our much loved airfield.

This will be quite a long exercise, so here goes...

D-Day at Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge.


...On 5th June, 1944, new crews were arriving at RAF Hartford Bridge. A B-25 crew consisting of Tom Hervey, Pilot, Lloyd Bruce, Navigator, and Gord Hammell, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, arrived at Camberley Station at about 4pm on June 5th. He told me, "I can remember Jimmy Betts, who was in charge of our group, being quite upset because someone at the airfield had forgotten all about us and Jimmy had to phone to get transport to come and pick us up. As we later found out they were too busy and for a very good reason.

"When we did finally arrive there was much confusion and we finally got settled into our nissen hut, which didn't impress me much We then found the mess hall and food and later that night we managed to liberate some wood and get the pot-bellied stove stoked up for some much needed heat. We were only allowed a bag of coke every two weeks or so and as a result soon became experts at foraging for fuel of all types. We soon discovered, however, that a few rounds in the mess helped to take the chill off the evening.

Early the next morning at between 4am and 5am we were awakened by the floor vibrating from the sound of aircraft engines.. Staggering outside, we saw aircraft of all types as far as the eye could see and in all directions. Dakotas and bombers towing gliders and flights of fighters went roaring overhead from tree-top level to high altitude.

"Our own field was sending up Bostons and Mitchells which were taking off too. We noticed that each aircraft had black and white stripes painted on the fuselage and on top and on the underside of wings. Noe of this was in evidence as we arrived the day before. At great altitude and continuing throughout the day, huge armadas of heavy bombers droned overhead. This was it, the long-awaited invasion had begun and we were going to be a part of it!"

In fact on the previous day on the 5th, although they didn't know it, preparations for the the invasion had been proceeding at a furious pace. On the ground there was feverish activity; aircraft and crews had got to the state where they were double checking things they had already checked, such was their keenness to ensure that everything was absolutely ready. The first indication that things were underway was when G/Capt MacDonald called the entire base together and speaking to a hushed audience said, "Gentlemen, from this moment Hartford Bridge is on standby. You are confined to quarters." The invasion of Europe was about to begin.

Les Walker, Air Gunner with 88 Squadron, recalled events for me: " The airfield was placed on 24 hour standby and we had to report our whereabouts to our superiors and the airfield was cut of from the outside world. We were not permitted to contact anyone off the airfield.

On a number of our recent flights we had seen many unidentified structures and formations including the Mulberry Harbour, various and numerous types of landing craft and huge convoys of vehicles for miles and miles. Late evening on the 5th saw the smoke cylinders installed in the aircraft and white stripes painted on the aircraft fuselage and wings. All of the messes were closed at 1800 and there was intense anticipation. At midnight all crews were called to a briefing and the atmopshere by this time was electric. This was enhanced bu the continual noise of a vast stream of glider-towing aircraft as they passed overhead."

D-Day had arrived,

Once G/Capt MacDonald had put the station on standby the scene changed dramatically with terrific activity taking place all over the airfield. It appered that everyone was getting in each other's way. There were armourers bombing-up aircraft and fitting smoke canisters to others and fitters checking over engines as final minor airframe problems were being rectified. Crews were undertaking their own last-minute checks. Bomb trolleys, crew transport vehicles, tankers delivering fuel, ammunition being delivered and personnel all over the place, often very keyed-up, made a scene of frantic preparation and movement across the airfield. Add to this the painting of so many aircraft markings, which was being done at very short notice by most of the station personnel, sometime in a somewhat haphazard manner, and we can envisage a scene of extreme activity.

While all this was going on at the airfield 264 Squadron were busy throughout the period patrolling between St Pierre and St Martin, watching for enemy aircraft. They wee also operating on D-Day itself when eight of their aircraft patrolled the Cherbourg area but no enemy aircraft were seen.

It was the intention that 88 Squadron would lay smoke in support of the Navy Second Cruiser Squadron, while 342 Squadron would undertake the same task in support of the American invasion fleet which lay off the Cotentin Penisular. The Bostons were manned by a crew of three instead of the usual four as the aircraft weer flying at such low level that a lower gunner would serve no purpose. Masks had to be worn at all times as the smkoe would seep into the aircraft and was highly poisonous. 342 Squadron were airborne at 0500hrs and flew at wave top height, weaving their way between convoys of ships. On reaching their allocated area, runs were mad at four minute intervals to maintain the smoke cover. They were flying so low that fire from both sides was passing overhead their aircraft and in addition they were being fired at by enemy coastal batteries. One of the aircraft losses was a 342 Squadron machine, being Boston BZ213 (J), which was hit by flak and crashed into the Channel, with the loss of Sgt Boissieux and his crew of Sgt Henson and Sgt Canut. P/O Boyle and his crew of 88 Squadron also failed to return from smoke laying and are presumed to have crashed into the Channel.

Les Walker continued: " Our orders were to lay covering smoke for the invading naval forces along the Normandy coast. The force included battleships HMS Ramilles, Achilles, Warspite and Rodney. We took off at 0430hrs in pairs led by W/Cdr Paddy Maher, our CO, and proceeded at 500ft to cross the coast at Selsey Bill and then turned to course over the sea in the direction of the French coast. We had been briefed to lay smoke from the mouth of the River Orm to Bayeux, starting at 0500hrs. Attempts were made to contact HMS Ramilles to advise them by radio that the Squadron was ready to commence the smoke-laying operations., but no response was ever received. As we approached the ship at below deck level they opened up with their guns at us but luckily we were not hit and continued on past the other battleships, being relieved to receive a more friendly response from them. I recall that we made smoke and passed over a monitor ship with a very large gun on it which was firing at the shore batteries, which were by now very close. We could hear the noise from the gun as it fired from inside our aircraft.

"While flying over the beaches we realised that we were taking part in an historic event, not only because of our own involvement in the operation but because we could see the vast armada that stretched from the English coast right across the Channel. It was made up of every type of marine vessel you can imagine belching black smoke from their funnels. The activity on the beach head as fantastic and as we were flying so low it was difficult to absorb all the activity that was taking place at the speed we were travelling. We learned later that the powers-that-be had estimated there would be a 75% loss rate of the 24 aircraft from the two squadrons taking part. We think we got away lightly as only three aircraft were lost on this hazardous operation.

"On return to base our ground crew of Nobby and Netty told us we had sixty flak holes in our aircraft. We had been too busy to notice at the time but we had smelled the cordite, which means that the flak bursts must have been close. Once back at the airfield we had the chance to turn our thoughts to our forces on the ground in France as they fought their way inland. The Germans put up a terrific resistance, having been misled into believing that the attack would come in the Calais/Boulogne area. It was amazing how effective the secrecy and deception had fooled the German forces. Only a very few of our oqn forces had known the actual details of the operation."

Back at the airfield the last Boston home was an 88 Squadron machine, BZ214(T), which limped back into the circuit with only two of its three wheels down. On landing it crashed and caught fire and despite the waiting rescue crews burned fiercely regardless of the liberal use of foam to extinguish the flames. The aircraft crew perished, as did a brave soldier who tried to help rescue them. The runway melted in the heat and the burned patch if runway was found to cover a 50-foot-square area. Despite the great sorrow at the losses sustained throughout the day, the missions flown were considered a great success which had contributed to save many lives among those in the invasion force.

Very early on the morning of D-Day an accident at RAF Lasham, which had closed the runway, caused a Mosquito MkVI aircraft of 305(Polish) Squadron to divert into Hartford Bridge. The pilot Tony Wilson recalled that there was a continuous string of gliders being towed overhead on their way to the beach heads. On landing and checking in at the control tower, he noticed a glider which had also just landed, its tow rope having parted as it passed overhead the airfield. He recalled that on exit from the glider it was very obvious that the troops who had been aboard were very annoyed that they would miss the 'show' and were very keen to be picked up and returned to their base so that they could restart their journey.

The Mitchells of 226 Squadron were also in action later in the day when they took part in bombing road junctions behind the beach heads in support of our invading forces.

Once the landings had been completed the role of 264 Squadron changed to patrolling the Normandy beach heads. They were to continue these patrols continuously for two days and nights with two aircraft over the beaches at all times. Due to very bad weather at the airfield with a 300ft cloud base, the landings were accomplished by use of FIDO as necessary."




Tomorrow, POTD will return with details regarding other activity taking place at RAF Hartford Bridge at the beginning of June, 1944. D-Day was delayed by a deep depression (weather wise) sweeping the Channel, the month can indeed host some tricky weather as demonstrated yesterday. We must think positive for June 11th this year...



Shades of yesteryear. Six B-2 Mitchell bombers returned to Blackbushe (RAF Hartford Bridge) in the seventies for moving making purposes...One could only reflect on what their predecessors must have been able to tell of days such as 6th June, 1944.

Hopefully you found our account of RAF Hartford Bridge on 6th June, 1944, suitably though provoking?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
07/06/22

In no more days than the fingers on one hand, Blackbushe celebrates her 80th and the months of planning by the Airport team will show their results as will hopefully the communications sent out amid the General Aviation fraternity encouraging them to fly-in and enjoy a free landing at the south's airport with so much still locked-up potential.... There is nothing I love more than the chance to spread the word according to Blackbushe, and if it results in bringing some aeroplanes to the airfield so much the better. It's 05.45 right now and the sun has found its way to brighten the morning sky, please be with us on June 11th!! It's at times like this that I reflect back on all the great people who have formed the backbone of support for the Airport right through from 1960, recalling our very first fly-ins around 1962, forming of the new Blackbushe Aero Club, and AVM Bennetts battles to keep the airfield flying. I won't mention any particular names, there have been so many, but with them in mind, and too many are sadly no longer in our midst, I hope they may look down and smile at seeing the old airfield having a great day on an occasion that I know they would love to have been able to attend and be a part of. I fervently pray that I may be spared to see future aviation events at Blackbushe and play some part in them?




One of our latest recruits from Shipping and Airlines at Biggin Hill. They brought the beautiful DH Dragonfly to Blackbushe for our 75th Anniversary weekend, this year they're bringing their fleet of six aeroplanes. Nothing gives me more joy than being able to welcome the aviators who arrive to support our special days at Blackbushe after all the written exchanges that have flown back and forth to get them here..if they're glad to see us even better!!!



Yesterday was D-Day. I hope the marathon typing exercise to bring you Stuart Marshall's account of the day at RAF Hartford Bridge proved of interest??

As promised, here are more words from Stuart surrounding D-Day, actions that most will probably be quite unaware of? I hand the words back to Stuart....


"..Not all our based crews were, however, directly involved in the support of our forces on D-Day as described in this unusual story attributed to Navigator JJ Parker. , who was a member of Grant 'Sut' Sutties crew, flying with 226 Squadron. This crew, which went on to complete a second tour of operations in October 1944, were attached to the top secret 'C' Flight. In his account Jack Parker wrote: "On the night of 5/6th June my pilot and I were summoned to the Operations Room for briefing. Expecting to be ordered to take-off there and then on support mission for the landings, we were surprised to be told that as far as we were concerned our trip was to be a VHF calibration in our Mitchell, serial number FV900. Our route was to be Hartford Bridge - Point of Ayre - Trevose Head and return via Basingstoke. Our operational height was to be 20,000ft. "I prepared the flight plan with some foreboding. The met were forecasting a cloud base of 1000ft, tops at 20,000ft or above with icing index high (in present days of course this would be nothing - but the year was 1944!). I was to appreciate the time I spent on this flight plan...

"We took off and soon found the weather as bad as, if not worse, than forecast. Going up through the ever thickening 'clag' we at one stage had ice hurled off the propellers hitting the fuselage. I suggested the possibility of returning to base and George junior, our 18 year old Canadian gunner, expressed the same idea though more forcibly! Our Aussie skipper 'Sut' was, however, the press on type - so on we pressed.

"The VHF was full of static, the Gee box packed up (not uncommon) and we flew by dead reckoning. We were by this time at about 20000ft, on oxygen and freezing cold (aircraft heating - don't make me laugh). We passed messages as detailed, but no acknowledgement, though from time to time a broad northern accent came through with 'turret to turret over' which meant nothing to us. We saw no Isle of Man, we turned on ETA, and flew hopefully down to Cornwall, where we repeated the process with the same negative results. So we pressed on to Basingstoke.

"At long last it seemed suitable to commence our let down. After what seemed an age we had reached the stage in this let down when to quote an old joke 'if this altimeter's right we must be in a ruddy submarine'. Then all of a sudden through the clag we saw a fairly large river and a built-up area. Thames, Seine or Rhine? The I shouted ... 'OK Sut 260 magnetic sharpish'... There in the not-too-far distance and directly ahead were Big Ben and the House of Commons. With a near vertical bank (a split-arsed turn was the crudity then in vogue), we arrived at Hartford bridge, landed and taxied to dispersal after 4 hours and 30 minutes flying time. Old Sut had flown on instruments for most of that time. He deserved a medal but didn't get it. VHF off, Petrol off, Switches off...off. Back in the Mess, to the strains of of 'Mairzy Doats' clashing with 'Lili Malene' we consumed our operational bacon and eggs. It was only on reaching our billets that we heard of the D-Day landings. There was a sequel in July 1945 when a B-25 similar to ours did collide with the Empire state building in New York. But for Sut's timely emergency turn we might have made an even more spectacular impact!"


As for the reasoning behind this obscure flight, POTD has no answer. 'C' Flight was a secretive operation, known as the 'Special Signals Flight'. Aircraft were equipped with special radio sets that were also given to the French resistance, radios that operated on a narrow band that would prevent the Germans tracking their movements. RAF Hartford Bridge had its mysteries, 'C' Flight for example and the all black painted B-25s that lived detached on the south side of the A30. Also very much on the quiet at the time were two Lysanders involved in dropping agents into France. No secret today, agents were housed at the Old Manor House in Hartley Wintney. It's very sad that so much bravery, nerve, and sacrifice has passed by unremembered. It is to be hoped that the Airport will be able to include a suitable 'museum' in its future plans, plans assisted by the very new Blackbushe Heritage Trust whose first objective is to recover a Viking to the Airport to display as a token and salute to the foresight of those who founded the numerous Viking equipped airlines based at Blackbushe Airport..




The Rapide is back on Saturday for pleasure flying and a chance to see north east Hampshire from the best of vantage points; the 80th is now a 'sell-out' occasion with all tickets sold, hopefully you've got yours and are ready for Blackbushe's 80th Anniversary Open day?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
08/06/22


The Pathfinder Cafe once again turned up trumps last evening as it provided an excellent venue for Chris's volunteer briefing prior to Saturday's 80th Anniversary Open Day. Great to see the volunteer team turn out once again, five years having flown since our briefing for the 75th held in the Aerobility hangar. As always, some self pinching is necessary to realise that the months of pre-event activity have reached their objective, and what was "months away" is suddenly not much more than a couple of days from reality. I always find the "days before" provide an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement in the knowledge that something long awaited is about to happen. Probably does not compare with the atmosphere on this very airfield 78 years ago as D-Day action gripped the entire air base, but it's always highly satisfying to see Blackbushe supporting an aviation event. Long may she do so!!

While we mark Blackbushe's 80th birthday this week, just 114 years ago down the road at Brooklands aerodrome one Alliot Vernon Roe took flight in his first aircraft, the Roe 1, sadly no official observer was present to verify the flight. The name A V Roe becoming the AVRO aircraft company with names like Lancaster and Vulcan to their credit.



The late Neil Williams brings an AVRO product to Blackbushe in the sixties. Now known as "Just Jane", she resides in a hangar at East Kirkby living in hopes that she may yet fly again...



A final look back to the Invasion of Europe following D-Day from Stuart Marshall's account of events.. continues the last couple of days coverage of D-Dy at RAF Hartford Bridge.


"...226 Squadron were again undertaking night intruder flights on 7th June to Villedieu les Poeles and Mezidon.

By the time the Hartford Bridge squadrons were being used more and more in support of Allied troops as they started their push into occupied France and this was to continue later as the push spread into Europe. 88 Squadron were in action again on the 8th as they made a night attack on marshalling yards behind the bridge-head at Mezidon. Due to smoke and haze over the area some of the crews were able to carry out their bomb runs while others were forced to return with the bombs still aboard. Following this on the 10th, 226 Squadron flew a mission with their Mitchells against the Chateau de la Caine PAnzer Headquarters building whee they destroyed many of the assembled tanks and much heavy armour. To accomplish this they flew no fewer than 35 sorties in an eight-hour period. The following day 88 Squadron took off at 0235hrs to attack the railway system between Le Hay and Cherbourg St Saviour, the flight time for the attack being 2 hrs and 10minutes. It was a busy day on the 12th too. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands accompanied by Prince Bernhard, paid a visit on the first anniversary of 322 (Dutch) Squadron [then based at RAF Hartford Bridge]. Also present was AVM BAsil Embry, AOC 2 Group, and Air Commodore HM Pearson CBE, of 85 Group. The few British members of the squadron politely asked not to be available during the visit as they considered it should be a 'Dutch' day. Prince Bernhard was in fact a fairly regular visitor to the airfield, which he used to take great pleasure in beating up before landing in his DC3.




Prince Benhard on a previous visit to RAF Hartford Bridge is shown over a 16 Squadron Spitfire. The Prince's dog is also being briefed on the Spitfire, apparently he was also a keen aviator...



Success came to 264 Squadron (Mosquitos) on the same day when their pilots shot down two Ju88s while on patrol over the beach-heads. Meanwhile the Boston Squadrons and the Mitchells of 226 Squadron were continuing to support the Allied advance as they struck again and again against marshalling yards and steel works. Smoke up to 5000ft could be seen as they pressed home attacks against ammunition and supply dumps...".


That's all for today, duty calls elsewhere!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
09/06/22

Well, it is beginning to look as if the Gods on high who control those Atlantic weather systems have listened to months of silent prayers and might just grant us a day perfect for aviating come June 11th... Obviously we don't wish to appear over confident, but it looks as if our forthcoming event on Saturday will join all the others we have given to Blackbushe with a rather nice day. A one day event runs the risk of British weather, the thought of all those winter hours wasted by a dose of precipitation on the wrong day is one contemplated throughout, but it's a joy working toward bringing a crop of aeroplanes to our airfield, a risk very much worth taking when it's us vv the weather.

Friday will see some early arrivals, one of which being the Miles Magister, this as you well know being the first aeroplane type to land on the all new RAF Hartford Bridge in the autumn of 1942. Spoke with the pilot yesterday and he's coming down in the company of another Miles aeroplane, the beautiful Gemini.




Shades of yesteryear... Maggie G-AFBS, Blackbushe based in the early sixties when "Wilbur" Wright moved in from White Waltham to take over the Blackbushe Aero Club. He brought FBS and the Auster G-AGVJ also seen in the photo. Sadly the Maggie found a hole left by the airport demolition gangs and suffered some serious injury as a result. FBS is now an exhibit at IWM Duxford and looking much more healthy. Photo is dated by the existence of the full size apron, a not overgrown east end of the airfield and a view of the eastern horizon.


The Maggie joining us will be wearing colours appropriate for her wartime adventures training new aviators.

To continue our recall of RAF Hartford Bridge following D-Day in June, 1944, back to Stuart's words of history..


"....George Hines of 226 Squadron gave an insight into how the crews prepared and their feelings as they participated in an attack. He was on the raid on 12th June - it was their first crew operation. Prior to the flight the crews were apprehensive as they didn't know what lay ahead - they were well aware that many crews failed to return from the first trip. They just hung around doing little things to keep their minds off the assignment. However, once in the aircraft and at their posts all the weird feelings vanished as if by magic and confidence in their training came to the fore. Furthermore, as they flew over the English Channel and were picked up by their escort fighters, the Spitfire, (George recalled at this point what beauties they were -Ed) they knew that they were on their way and were ready for whatever lay ahead. On the return trip they again felt quite secure once the Spitfires joined up with them again. This feeling was amplified as the magnificent white cliffs of Dover came into sight. They knew they had completed and survived their first mission. The remainder of the month saw continued attacks being flown against various targets in support of the advance. The attacks briefly recorded below represent just some of the operations in this vital period as the Allied troops advances were being made. The pace that things were happening at this time were really staggering as all as all the based squadrons, often flying together, carried out constant operations of support to the Allied troops.

On the 17th a German Panzer division came under attack in the Foret de Grimbosq south of Caen where some 1050 vehicles were hidden. Again south of Cenanothe attack, this time at Bretteville, was aimed at more transport hidden in woods. The 21st Panzers were attacked as they hindered the progress of the 51st Highlanders in the Orne river area. An ammunition dump was attacked at Conde-Sur-Vire near St Lo and the St Pierre Panzer Headquarters also came under attack.

Motor transport was again a target wherever it was located. There was another ramrod attack carried out on the marshalling yards at Meizdon by 226 Squadron, in an area full of enemy troops. A station building was one of the targets hit. A raid on the V1 launch site at Abbeville, where hits were seen, and another noball raid at Ecalles Sur Buchy, where heavy and accurate flak was encountered.

226 Squadron supported night operations being carried out by Mosquitos on the 18th when 54 flares were dropped on targets in France including La Haye, Periers, St Lo, Cerisy la Salle, hyenville and Brehal. As can be seen the pace was fast and furious..".


The heroes of Hartford Bridge played a massive part in the efforts to remove the invaders from land that was not theirs. War is a ghastly subject, we see that today with the Russian onslaught on Ukraine as thousands of innocent lives are pointlessly wasted. Nonetheless, it brings forward the very best in humanity too, the best as demonstrated by the crews of Hartford Bridge who so often participated in sorties that for many would be their last. We must remember them!

Back tomorrow, the day before the 80th!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
10/06/22

Just one day to go, time has evaporated - where'd the winter go? Blackbushe's 80th Anniversary Open Day tomorrow is sold out ticket wise, the weather is promising to be fine, large numbers of exhibitors and aeroplane operators will be here to create an enjoyable day providing the chance to get close-up to flying machines and their pilots, maybe book a trial flying lesson (why not?) or take a pleasure flight in the trusty Rapide or a jet helicopter, enjoy the wide choice of food and drink available... Hopefully you've got your tickets as they're all sold out, and viewing from outside the airfield - as some might choose to do - will offer little chance to see what's really going on!

Amid the activity on the airfield, do come and visit the History Hub where much information will be available on the Airport's illustrious past, come and say "Hello", and while you're thinking of the past continue that way by visiting the 'Blackbushe Heritage Trust'.. Your chance to learn more about this new very new organisation, perhaps sign-up as a volunteer and get involved with the exciting project of returning a Viking airliner to Blackbushe, the airport where many Vikings operated during the years when this Airport was second only to Heathrow as a major air terminal.




A moment from the 75th back in 2017. Lasham will be back again with a number of gliders and the chance to talk silent flight!




The Jet provost will be back too, not quite so silent as the Lasham participants, but a reminder of how many RAF pilots learned the art of jet aviation...



"POTD" will continue a little more into the Blackbushe story as recorded by Stuart Marshall after the 80th Anniversary has been wrapped up..

See you tomorrow?

PB