PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
21/06/22

While we live in never ceasing optimism that Blackbushe will eventually be permitted to enhance her infrastructure to a level becoming of a modern fully equipped business airport cum flying training mecca it's always good to see international flights arriving as per yesterday with PC-12s inbound from Saint-Tropez and Paris. The Gulfstream 500 parked on the apron adding to the rightful image of a business airfield.




Which ever way you look at it, the Gulfstream is an impressive bird. Took the photo last autumn during a walk about, please excuse the uncared for foreground courtesy of the County Council's investments in managed decay.



Yesterday took lunch at the ever popular Pathfinder Cafe that so conveniently awaits all who visit the airfield, the airfield having a floatplane amid its residents I opted for the "Floatplane Flyer", a delicious combination of smoked salmon, scrambled egg, choice of toast, and salad.. No wonder the "Pathfinder" has been such a success and is so popular! And such delightful crew to look after you!!

Backtracking in time to continue our reports on life at Blackbushe, RAF Hartford Bridge at the time, when she was first opened in 1942. Before the 80th Anniversary we celebrated on 11 June this year, our extracts from Stuart Marshall's "The Wartime Years" had been dealing with the rudimentary conditions of a new and rapidly built air base experienced by crews and personnel in those very early days. We had heard from Kay Watts, WAAF, stationed at the new airfield. We had learned that the bicycle was the prime method of travelling the significant distances involved upon what was then a most extensive airfield.
We continue..

"On foggy mornings Kay recalls it was a strange sight to see the ghostly shapes of Bostons standing in their dispersals with their tails looking like Viking ships ready to sail.

The airfield was very active with shifts being worked as operations carried on 24 hours a day for seven days a week 52 weeks a year and there was very little respite. When time off was possible it was spent to to maximum effect both on and off the airfield. Kay recalled visits she mad to the dance halls in Camberley and to the Chinese laundry where collars could be starched to an unnatural stiffness. It was also popular to visit the various eating places and cinemas for a change to what was on offer on the airfield.

The wearing of jewellery by a WAAF was forbidden with uniform, but cosmetics were permitted. Hair had to be two inches above the collar but femininity had to be maintained! It was occasionally possible to purchase scarce food items such as fruit or chocolate to supplement the meagre rations available in the mess halls but this normally had to be directly after the fortnightly pay parade as these items were expensive. Never mind, there was always the NAAFI wagon to fall back on with its supply of cakes and hot tea or coffee and Penguin biscuits.

They were often invited to ballroom dances held at the Army or Canadian camps in the Aldershot area. Terrific hospitality was shown to them with doughnuts and coffee being especially appreciated. She told me: " This was in stark contrast to the Yateley venue. Dancing it never was, more a suffocating shuffle, but at least it kept everyone warm!"


Just another taste of years gone by, we'll step back to '42 again tomorrow. Tonight I'll be at the cinema in Aldershot, none of the WW2 spirit will be at large, nor the streets filled with uniformed personnel and the concerns of what tomorrow might bring...Nope, "concerns of what tomorrow might bring" in 2022 have a different focus... we've got unions planning war against the United Kingdom where untold misery is about to be released on all - as if the consequences of post pandemic life and galloping inflation are not enough. There's always the business aeroplane that can speedily deliver you across the nation to a convenient aerodrome should the rail network's absence be a problem..

Today's the longest day of the year, for some it undoubtedly will be when they're robbed of their transport to work.........




Important appointment, no trains, choked major airports, flights cancelled? A business aeroplane from airfields such as Blackbushe could offer the perfect solution...


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
22/06/22

Another flaming June day, wall to wall sunshine all being well, the kind of day we remember when winter sets its feet across the land...When winter comes, or before, all the photos that we've been given the "OK" from their owners of Blackbushe's 80th Anniversary have been placed here... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/thread/976/photos. Sincere thanks to all who have made their photos available to aid memories of what was a day to remember, and if anyone else cares to add theirs please say the word...




30 years earlier, the Blackbushe 50th Anniversary weekend. Saturday rained all day, Sunday pretty near perfect, had an air-display too! The two Harvards of Gary Numan and Norman Lees put on a spirited display. The white Harvard being G-AZSC owned by Gary Numan, previously owned by Doug Arnold.




Thirty years later and same white Harvard is back, only wearing a new coat having dispensed with the pseudo Japanese look for these mighty effective US colours..she looks amazing, and thanks to Kristina Harmsworth for the lovely shot.


Back to 1943 and Stuart's graphic recall of life on a Hampshire airfield that was just a year old..


"...137 Wing was formed on the 15th November, 1943, to permit maximum mobility and to obtain the flexibility necessary for the operation of light bomber squadrons and servicing organisations in 2 Group. The Wing Airfield Headquarters was to control the operation and servicing of the three resident Boston squadrons. W/Cdr ME Pollard assumed temporary control of both the Wing and HQ during the absence of of G/Capt MacDonald. No 2733 Anti-Aircraft Squadron from RAF Stapleford Tawney in Essex moved in to replace the resident No. 2851 Squadron, which was to disband.

A Whitley bomber crashed into a field in Mil Lane, Yateley village. All the crew managed to bail out, with one being found on a lawn of a local house with obvious back injuries and he was quickly transferred to the Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot. A short time later another crew member was reported to be in a private house with ankle injuries. He and a couple of others were found in the Crowthorne area where they had landed and yet another was located in sick quarters in Bracknell. This still left one crew member unaccounted for and the worst was feared. However, he next morning good news arrived when he managed to raise the alarm , having crawled to a house where he explained that he had been forced to spend the night in a field when he injured his foot on landing. The official medical report of theri injuries shows:

F/O Brand - fractures and compression of the lumbar vertebrae
F/O Dickie - ankle injury, detained for X-ray
Sgt Barnett - fractures to 1,2,4,5 bases of metatarsal bones
Sgt Manning - ankle injuries, detained for V-ray
Sgt Cockerall - uninjured at Bracknell SSQ
P/O Horner - no injury

This accident could have had a far worse outcome..

At this time 16 Squadron were busy photographing Western Europe ready for the invasion of France which was planned to take place in 1944 and was to be known as 'Operation Overlord'.

The newly installed and upgraded FIDO system was under test on the 19th-20th of the month. Reports indicated that it was judged to work well, with the exception of some minor teething problems which needed sorting out.

AVM Embry visited the airfield on 20th November and on the following day G/Capt Mac Donald reassumed command of No. 137 Wing/Airfield HQ, RAF Hartford Bridge..."


Our recall of Blackbushe at war continues from 25th November, 1943...tomorrow.

Enjoy your day, commiserations if rail travel is/was part of it, life in 2022 is not always bestowed with the peace and tranquility bitterly fought for in the 1940s.

PB.

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
23/06/22


I don't know about you, but I find activity and events concerning Blackbushe's closest neighbour aerodrome, ie Farnborough, to be of interest especially as the two airfields have worked in some form of co-operation or co-ordination since days long before many of us will remember...The regular Farnborough Airport Consultative Committee meetings are for public attendance, but since Covid's restrictive practises have been held via MS Teams format. Today's meeting details may be found here www.facc.org.uk/. The link provides the afternoon's Agenda plus a link to join the meeting as a member of the public purely for monitoring events. There is a window for the public to place questions during the meeting.




A glimpse of Blackbushe during Farnborough Week in the fifties when Blackbushe was a fully equipped London airport and so valuable for Farnborough visitors..




A glimpse of Blackbushe during Farnborough Week years later, 1970s... Blackbushe for a few days became a busy airport, now in private hands the airfield was embroiled in the seemingly endless adversity that stemmed from local authorities, but nevertheless found enough Farnborough traffic to line runway 14/32 on both sides with light aeroplanes and a few bizz jets. The rare F-27, or such like, would be usually be parked on the main apron.




If one was fortunate enough to take a ride with the Red Arrows photo ship the Air Show took on a different perspective..




The late Arthur Gibson aboard G-FOTO for official Red Arrows coverage we were locked at exactly 6,000ft, the Reds assuring they would stay beneath. The speed a red Hawk, and its friends, can transit from near ground level to somewhere near our Aztec was quite educational...


A little more from "The Wartime Years" and back to November, 1943 at RAF Hartford Bridge..

"..On 25th November an attack was mounted at Audinghen near Criel in France, the known headquarters of the Todt Organisation who constructed 'Noball' sites. Having taken off at 0840 the aircraft flew at low level at 250mph. Two aircraft lead the attack dropping their bombs at a low height as markers for the following ten aircraft which dropped their bombs from 1500ft. Three German posts were destroyed and despite losses the raid was pronounced a great success. One of 88 Squadron's aircraft, BZ217 (Q) flown by P?O Gibson, was hit by flak but managed to make it back to land at RAF Hawkinge in Kent even though the pilot had been injured in the hand. The other aircraft of the squadron to suffer damage was BZ278 (G) which was also hit by flak over the same area. This aircraft managed to struggle back across the Channel and very nearly reached base but was forced to crash land only a couple of miles to the south-west, with Sgt Lock and his crew members all sustaining injury".


Next time the Wartime Years recalls a severe outbreak of influenza at Hartford Bridge in November '43.



Back to Farnborough Week at Blackbushe. During the 70s and 80's when Farnborough traffic peaked the late Roger Russell and I would man runway 14/32 on a voluntary basis and take command of parking our visitor aeroplanes in an orderly fashion. My long buried Cortina would sometimes act as the "Follow Me" vehicle as aircraft would arrive from different directions at the same time when things got busy, but it was always satisfying fun! The shere pleasure of arriving at Blackbushe each morning knowing that a lot of aircraft were expected was a wonderful feeling, seeing them arrive in the circuit in numbers and subsequently lined up along the length of the runway provided an innate sense of satisfaction. 1970s/80s Visions of how Blackbushe might look someday when eventually/if ever a fully equipped GA airport? The nearest we've been to repeating that 'Farnborough Week feeling' of recent was on the morning of June 11th this year when at around 08.45 the sky provided a chain of inbounds for the 80th Anniversary, inbounds including Harvard, Spitfire, Anson, Miles and de Havilland designs etc etc..



Time to stop waffling, time to hit the kettle and the cereal packet...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
24/06/22

Sailing ever onward, the aerodrome on the plateau continues its life under clouds of uncertainty..

The aerodrome known as "Blackbushe", assisted by 3,000 guests, celebrated her 80th birthday as 80 plus aeroplanes joined the party a couple of weeks back, eight decades moving from key strategic air base at war transitioning to a key London airport and then six decades (so far..) as a ghost of its former self, but nonetheless determined to employ all her unique assets to become the south's most outstanding General Aviation centre.

Interwoven amid the fabric of the aerodrome on the plateau that has enjoyed two names, Hartford Bridge becoming Blackbushe, comes a human story wherein many players have performed on the stage of what is truly a natural airfield..

From my point of view the chance to play a part in the theatre of Blackbushe airfield slowly came about from times when my parents would sometimes stop the car adjacent to this great spread of aviation activity that consumed both sides of the A30 trunk road and I could first soak up the essence of somewhere that would occupy much of my life to come. Living in Sandhurst until I was four I so clearly recall the regular sound of heavy multi engined piston powered aeroplanes getting airborne and my Dad listening to the changing sounds as they became 'airborne'. That word stuck with me, "airborne", how wonderful!!

Moving to Crowthorne we still could hear her aircraft, they regularly flew overhead in Blackbushe's traffic pattern, often lowering their undercarriage as they did. Getting older, by twelve I was cleared to go solo and travel on my bike to visit Blackbushe during school hols and weekends as and when the mood took me. My Mum died when I was eleven, an event that to this day carries its hurt, I needed an escape, Blackbushe Airport provided a shoulder to lean on and when I could I found an escape in the wonders of many commercial airlines, Vikings, Dakotas, Hermes, Yorks etc plus the varied and exciting types flown by the US Navy who happened to have their UK landbase at Blackbushe. Here, indeed, was the perfect escape where this then huge airfield carried me to somewhere I rather enjoyed..

31 May, 1960. All change. The government closed Blackbushe deciding to build a new London airport far away on the misty plains of Gatwick race course. Blackbushe had to be eliminated at full speed while bids by her resident airlines to form a consortium to take over and run Blackbushe Airport were firmly squashed by the government and their West Sussex investment.

So it came about that as a schoolboy Blackbushe Airport was driven over by a steam roller, as it were, and destroyed in a very short time. I well recall my last ride up to the airfield and staring across at Airwork's hangar complex and the 'old friends' parked on the then active tarmac plus the new tiny Cessna aircraft Airwork had started importing into the UK. I too well recall cycling up again in the summer to be greeted by a scene of utter devastation.

Blackbushe was dead. Another key player in my life taken.

But, was it? AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett's foresight led him to purchase 365 acres of this now desolate place. I, during school holidays, would ride up to the old airfield and transit the now silent runways wondering how my view of 26 from the handle bars matched that of those whose previous use of that self same 6,000ft of very flat runway was now cast to history?

I met "Pathfinder" Bennett during one of my lonesome sorties to the old airfield. He very politely asked me to watch out less an aeroplane should land. I well recall, it was a hot September afternoon, the Farnborough Air Show was in progress, Blackbushe should have been covered in the 'Farnborough visitors' who in years before had liberally covered her acres in various aircraft types from around the world. Instead, it was just me and my bike and memories. Memories that had a wake-up call when a Lockheed Constellation joined the 'circuit', gear came down, flaps too... I cleared the runway! She went east before turning through 180 degrees and lining up on 26. What was I about to witness? Nobody else around, was I dreaming? Sure enough, the Wright Cyclones opened up and the Connie overflew and turned north and vanished following an overshoot...I often wonder who it was that took perhaps a last look at Blackbushe?

Then came the events that have carried through to this day. The new Blackbushe Aero Club was formed and I became a founder and its youngest member. Names that would become legend came to light. Names of the few who formed the nucleus of the new aero club, Ken Gray and his wife Dorothy, a school master at France Hill in Camberley, "Johnny" Walker a BEA executive, Ken Barker a Vickers engineer who worked on the VC10 project, David Inman another very junior player, Stan Cornford a local business man, Rex Coates, a BEA Engineer, who would become a close friend for many years to come, Gordon Wilmer the airfield caretaker and another close friend for many years after, Jon Meggeson who'd bring in the RAE Tiger Moth at the weekends now and again, Dave Cotterell a man of great knowledge in aircraft engineering and totally dedicated to Blackbushe, Holly Birkett the Farnborough vet who wrote the "Bushe Telegraph" the Blackbushe Aero Club's journal, Maurice Gosling "Big Mo" who arrived every weekend for years aboard his moped and was one of the most devoted helpers. Phil Johns who today is a fellow Trustee of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, and many others whose names have now slipped from memories grasp. Sadly, time has taken so many in its passage, but what an amazing time it was as most Sundays we would gather at this scene of devastation and do our bit toward cleaning, clearing, and forming a unique bond between those who could see clearly the future that belonged to Blackbushe.

Today, the airfield does look quite different to those days, there were no or very few aircraft to be seen, no structures other than the Terminal that by rights should have been demolished too, none of the scrub and view blocking trees that have wildly consumed the Airport's disused acres, just the US Navy hangar to the north-east whose future also hung in jeopardy...

Somehow, this patch of north-east Hampshire has interwoven itself into the minds of many who appreciate the value of what was London's second airport during the fifties. Happily the investors in the future of Blackbushe hold a view common to that of all who have played some part in the airfield's passage through time since the AVM wrote out his cheque and acquired a significant portion of what would remain known as "Blackbushe"..AIRPORT!!




A scene typical of Blackbushe 'today'...




A scene of wanton destruction, 1960s style, poor old Blackbushe..




Nice place to spend the weekend? Many of us did!




Nice place to spend the weekend? Getting better, and we had all six runways to use. By now a fence had been erected the length of the airfield, Three Counties Aero Club and Blackbushe Aero Club were firmly established, and now more than a handful of aeroplanes called Blackbushe "home"...




..and so to today! June, 2022, as thousands prepare to share Blackbushe's "80th"....



And tomorrow? The hope and ambitions for Blackbushe "tomorrow" are still as strong as ever despite the appalling negativity from local officialdom spread across the past sixty years. For those of us who have carried the cross of Blackbushe in their hearts for quite some while, the journey goes on, it's been quite a journey so far....

The 1943 story will continue tomorrow..as will the ceaseless story of Blackbushe as it unfurls into yet unknown directions!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
25/06/22


First and foremost,news from the Blackbushe Heritage Trust. As you know, the Trust has been formed to promote Blackbushe's unique aviation history in association with the Airport management and their plans to secure a suitable museum collection at Blackbushe when the day comes and it is possible to build a new and permanent airport infrastructure. The first objective if the Blackbushe Heritage Trust is to secure the return of a Vickers Viking airliner to Blackbushe, the Viking being the staple aeroplane of many of Blackbushe's resident airlines of the fifties... A lot of work and much cash remains required to achieve this first objective, volunteers - as always - will be the keystone to success.

The first BHT volunteer meeting was held at the Pathfinder Cafe a few weeks back and was well attended with valuable volunteer skills coming to the fore. Now you have another opportunity to attend an open evening at the Pathfinder on Friday July 29th starting at 7pm. Please feel free to attend, learn of progress toward securing our Viking, and perhaps what you could do toward achieving that end! Food and drink available, come on down and make it another successful evening, we certainly look forward to seeing you!!!




Imagine!! The history and memories that will be unleashed when a Viking once again rests proudly aside the A30!!



Now back further to the forties, and another excerpt from 1943 and a one year old RAF Hartford Bridge as written by Stuart Marshall..

"...At the end of the month [November, 1943] a bad outbreak of flu hit the camp and it wasn't long before it reached epidemic proportions. Things got so bad that a variety show was put on by the people of Yateley in an endeavour to cheer everyone up and this was quickly followed by gramophone concerts, dances and a brains' trust. Additional sick quarters had to be opened up to accommodate those suffering from the outbreak and S/Ldr Fuber, the Senior Medical Officer, took personal charge, having just returned from an anti-gas course. More and more personnel fell ill as the flu bug took hold and RAF Nursing Sister Taylor was sent to the camp in an effort to help. She remained at the airfield for a week looking after the most badly effected and departed on the 12th December.

During November and December great emphasis was being placed on attacks against the 'noball' sites. [Attacks against German rocket launching sites]. 34PR Wing were sent to photograph suspected launch sites which once located were attacked by the based squadrons. These attacks often took place very shortly after the photographs were received and had been immediately processed and and analysed.

A Mosquito of 140 Squadron photographed the Antwerp, Brussels and Liege area on 29th November from 34000ft in a sortie lasting 2hrs and 55minutes.

The Meteorological Section was involved in a ground observation trial on the same day of the new FIDO installation which was now virtually complete with the problems solved".


That concludes our look back to Blackbushe's past in November 1943 as she reached her first full year of operations. Christmas was getting closer, we'll continue with life at the airfield when Christmas approached under wartime conditions..




Back to the sixties. A visiting Beagle Terrier, but it's the Terminal that begs your attention. In the background the MTCA aircaft marshallers hut, now long gone, but once the small extension to the front of the Terminal wherein the orange suited ground staff would be found prior to May 1960, but thereafter in the AVM's era it became the Ground Control hut where bookings in and out took place and landing fees paid! The signage indicated the runway in use (01 on this occasion) and the necessary black "C" on a yellow background.. Seems like yesterday, while almost hard to believe we survived so many years of very basic existence as Blackbushe clawed her way forward in hopes of that brighter "tomorrow". While the Airport is now much advanced from those tough times, the quest for that brighter "tomorrow" still goes on...


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
26/06/22

Two weeks have passed by since we marked Blackbushe Airport's 80th Anniversary, subsequent weather conditions indicating how fortunate we were to have excellent met handed down by the weather gods with the wind's direction aimed directly in line with the main runway..

Time. This weekend we've seen graphic images of time's passage with Paul McCartney headlining Glastonbury and memories of the Beatles passage to fame that took off early in the nineteen sixties, the time when some of us grew hair long, fashion took a step forward from the drab postwar years, almost everybody drove a Mini or so it seemed, and last night's television brought back 80 year old McCartney to remind some of us of days long gone - and friends and family also no longer in life's daily round.

The perhaps astounding fact is that even before Beatle mania took hold the present Blackbushe story and the airfields struggle against local adversity was in full swing. For SIXTY years this superb aviation facility has suffered under the hands of generational bureaucracy out dating even the Beatles... Still Hampshire County Council preside over the Blackbushe status quo. Perhaps "Yesterday" should be forgotten and "Come together" or "I want to hold your hand", "All you need is Love", or even "Here comes the Sun" could be applied to what's been missing for a long while within Hampshire's bureaucracy and its regard for Blackbushe - the "natural" airfield...

So, that's dated me, and if anybody has got the time to add comments to any of the Forum's daily serving of thoughts let's be hearing from you............ Please!




Before the Beatles, Blackbushe Airport US Navy side where many a military machine lined up long before works such as Sergeant Pepper were dreamed into being, and it wasn't "Yellow submarines" that Blackbushe's US military were tracking...


Another serving of 1943 history will appear tomorrow..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
27/06/22

We'll start with a conclusion this morning. Leaning on Stuart Marshall's account of Wartime Years at RAF Hartford Bridge this morning we step into December, 1943, the airfield is now past is first birthday and war continues to prove the benefits of building an air base on the flat expanse of the Hartford Bridge plateau.. A benefit experienced over the past 80 years for military, commercial and General Aviation use.


"...December 1943.

After a quiet start to the month another attack on Mesnil Allard and other V1 launch sites had to be abandoned on 21st due to more bad weather but the attack was rescheduled for the following day when 88 and 107 Squadrons carried out a circus attack [bombing operation with fighter cover]. One aircraft received damage when it suffered a bird strike.

Military targets were photographed by 34 Wing in the Pas de Calais area which included V1 launch sites. The photographs were so urgently required that once printed they were immediately flown up to 2 Group at RAF Swanton Morley in Norfolk the same afternoon.

The Met Flight was sent out every day when an operation was planned to ascertain the suitability of the weather conditions on the route and in the target area. Operations by all three Boston squadrons on he 23rd were directed against Mesnil Allard, a V1 Launch site, and resulted in several casualities. F/O Payne, the lower gunner in an 88 Squadron aircraft, was injured by shell splinters while on this operation and the aircraft as forced to land at RAF Hawkinge, Kent. In another incident Sgt Bapst, a 342 Squadron air gunner, received severe injuries which necessitated his aircraft making an emergency landing at RAF Ford, Sussex, in order that he could receive urgent treatment. Two other aircraft of 342 Squadron failed to return to the airfield that day - BZ269 (S) crashed near RAF Dunsfold, killing W/O Prandi and Sgt Genestal. The pilot and navigator escaped but due to their injuries were taken to No 6 Canadian Clearing station at Cranleigh for treatment. The other machine, BZ392 (E), was hit by flak and crash-landed near Pommereval, which was their target. Of the four onboard, Capt Ghigliotti and Sgt Marin were unfortunately killed, while the other two crew members were taken prisoner".


Tomorrow we arrive at Christmas Eve, 1943.. Life at Blackbushe has seen all aspects of its possibilities, we should not forget the price paid by her early occupants and what must have preyed on their minds as squadron partners all too frequently failed to return.




Peace! Scillonia Airways Rapide on another pleasure flying sortie during the Blackbushe 75th Anniversary weekend, while the AN2 biplane was employed doing parachute lifts. Same aircraft flew pleasure flights for this year's 80th..




Dear old Dak..another 75th Anniversary participant but no longer available for the 80th. Various aeroplanes that I would have loved to bring back for the 80th were no longer available. Beech 18 and Pembroke no longer flying whilst others were vastly pricey for a one day event..



I don't know what the future might hold, but I'd love to see a two day event with a 'garden party' atmosphere with some limited demonstration flying to add a little zest to the proceedings. Just me muttering to myself, but with the limited opportunities for the public to mingle amid aeroplanes in the south-east of England I could see the Blackbushe garden party weekend theme becoming a feature on the aviation calendar. We've got a solid volunteer base, and there is no doubt the recent 80th Anniversary 'Open-Day' was going in the right direction judging by the acclaim received from both public and pilots. Compared to most other viable airfields in the south-east Blackbushe is without doubt a very well located asset, yet so environmentally friendly!!

Meanwhile, the seemingly endless battle of saving Blackbushe in order to turn her into a fully equipped GA airfield goes on, while the plans to return and restore a Viking continue with the Blackbushe Heritage Trust.

Life goes on!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
28/06/22

Early meeting at Blackbushe this morning, weather lookin' good, just wish the crows would take a holiday... For some reason a group of crows have moved into the area and at around 05.30 they sit in the garden and make the most god awful racket. Crows have a deep Corrr, corrr, or is it cawww, cawww etc? Huge volume and they seem to flit from one garden to another, perhaps land mines are called for? They're huge and not that beautiful, but nonetheless impressive by their size compared to the regular robins who are not much larger than a crow's head..

Anyway, moving on before I move off..Advance notice of the next Blackbushe Heritage Trust 'volunteers' meeting...As you know we're planning on the return of a Viking airliner to Blackbushe to stand in the footprints of history and in due course remind all who pass by of the glorious history attached to Blackbushe Airport and one of the aeroplanes that made it happen.. Your help - or interest - will be greatly valued, so please mark the evening of 29th July as a summer's evening at Blackbushe...







Distant memories of the Fly-In, not this years' but 60 years ago, I was still at school but cannot forget the excitement and build-up to an event involving aeroplanes flying in to Blackbushe. That sense of excitement remains the same today, take the 80th for example! This year we had over 80 machines arrive, back in '62 far less but at least it was a positive move toward reshaping the concept of Blackbushe into something positive with a solid aviation future.



Journeying further back in time, continuing the scene at Blackbushe in December, 1943...


"...Christmas Eve saw 107 Squadron attack V1 launch sites on the Cherbourg peninsular , which was bombed from 13000ft.

There was an all ranks' dance helid in the evening when all base staff were able to let their hair down and unwind following a few very intense and exacting weeks. Christmas Day followed the usual tradition whereby the officers and sergeants entertained the other ranks and another all ranks' dance was held in the evening. A number of ATC cadets arrived on Boxing Day for air experience flights. Six aircraft and crew were detailed to undertake the flying, which did not go down well as the crews were still feeling the after-effects of the previous night's party!

The last operation of the year was on the 30th when another 'noball' was mounted, this time on the Foret D'Hesin. It didn't start well when two aircraft of 342 Squadron BZ364 (J) and BZ299 (P) collided just after takeoff and crashed at Minley, near the Fleet Road, which resulted in the loss of Capt de Montal, Adj Canik, Sgt Chef Carton and Sgt Urge in BZ299 and P/O Challier, Sgt Hussar and Sgt Latrille in BZ364. There was one further casualty who was treated at the Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot. It was an horrendous start to the mission which continued, with bombing going well with lighter than usual flak in the target area but it was a rotten way to finish the year's flying and the whole base reflected a sombre mood.

At the year's end there were in excess of 3,000 personnel at the airfield and operations were proceeding with increased vigour. More and more aircraft were increasingly using the field for emergency purposes. USAAF B17 Flying Fortresses, often badly shot-up or flak-damaged, were becoming a common sight as they limped into the circuit to make a forced landing with the airfield emergency vehicles ready for immediate action should they be required.

On New Year's Eve the local pubs were full to overflowing, including the 'Dog and Partridge', where a bucket of beer cost just five shillings which meant that everyone had a lot ot drink and a good time was had by all.

WAAF Paddy Marshall recalled that there was usually a good singsong too and her party piece was a spirited rendition of 'Blaydon Races'.."



..and there we leave RAF Hartford Bridge at the end of her first full year of operations. It's not hard to imagine the mood/atmosphere/spirit that engulfed the airfield at such uncertain times. It's not hard to imagine the mood/atmosphere/spirit at Blackbushe when the day comes and she is free to transform into the fully equipped General Aviation centre dreamed of for the past six decades..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
29/06/22


Do you ever wish you become a little more 'involved' with aviation activities, a wish driven by the endless pull of aeroplanes, the sky, and the atmosphere unique to aerodromes and airports? Well, if you attend the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's 'open evening' on 29 July we may have just the thing for you??? 7pm at the Pathfinder cafe..29 July.

Yesterday was a good example of an aviation day. Breakfast meeting at Blackbushe at 08.00 followed by introduction to guests from the SAA Museum in Jo'burg who have a common interest in restoring a Viking airliner..Another chance to take a tour of the excellent 'Blackbushe History-Hub Collection' now located within the Terminal Building and spend some time briefing on Blackbushe and her amazing history. Sighs of disbelief when pointing to where the US Navy hangar used to be when now all you can see is a mass of tangled trees, scrub, and dereliction. Attended to domestic matters in the afternoon, but the evening devoted to a MS Teams meeting with the Blackbushe Heritage Trust Trustees. Followed by some Wimbledon as Serena fought on and I fell asleep before the game concluded.

Today, woken by crows and jackdaws around 05.30 and perhaps some garden time once 'POTD' is put away..Anyway, please make a note of 29 July and we can update you on the next stages of bringing that Viking back to Blackbushe.

Question. 'POTD' has recently carried extracts from Stuart Marshall's "The Wartime Years". I know from a couple of our members that these have been of interest, but before we continue with this any further perhaps some comments 'yes or no' as to whether there might be a collective wish for these bites of detail to continue their daily appearance. It's up to you, a word like "yes" in the POTD comments section is what we're looking for......My typing speed is not that great, but I'm happy to continue if the wish is there!




Making history. Didn't realise it at the time but our little air show back in '77 seems to have become a 'moment' in the Airport's history. Some of our static park abeam runway 14/32, memories that will last a life time or what's left of it...So sad that the entire area north of the main runway, the hub of the '77 show, is now lost to the relentless effects of abandonment..but at least we still have an operational airport called "Blackbushe"..




The march of time. A Gordon Wilmer photo from the sixties. The Cessna Skymaster, banned by the local authorities under a Planning Agreement 'cos they thought it was too noisy...and the collection of retired Navy Dragonfly helicopters that for whatever reason were left at Blackbushe for far too long and get in everyone's way. The two characters being the late and much missed Rex Coates to the right, with your scribe just behind. The years make a difference one way or another...




The bosses run about.. Earlier Blackbushe owner, Doug Arnold's Twin Comanche. He usually had his personal hack for nipping around as necessary. Photo taken at the Airport's much missed west end, now the teaming metropolis of BCA and their pre-owned car sales business. Another source of pain seeing the Airport's precious acres shrink for non-aviation purposes. One day we'll have aviation purposed hangars on Blackbushe. One day! Just hope I'm still around to witness them after sixty turbulent years....




Still out west, the hangar complex where warbirds lived and were rebuilt and aviation activity was high! One of Doug's JU-52 aeroplanes and a visiting Beech 18. Radial engines have a certain magic to them, even those on the Ju-52 although they did seem to rattle somewhat..



07.15, I hear the sound of hunger...see you tomorrow, and don't forget to note 7pm 29 July at the Pathfinder where the Heritage Trust team will be waiting with open arms. As it were.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
30/06/22


The year is but half over come the end of today.... Time has definitely got a new momentum, just now it was months until Blackbushe 80, and now it'll soon be 'last month'. Must be an age thing, once there was a time when the 'new school term' hung over you like a life sentence, at today's time values you'd hardly notice it!

Hopefully all our followers, and there are some, are keeping in touch with the progress made by Blackbushe Heritage Trust and endeavours to return a Viking not just to British soil, but Blackbushe soil... The meeting on Friday 29th July at the Pathfinder will reveal the latest news plus new important roles for volunteers to fill. Your chance to play a part in restoring a piece of British aviation heritage that will be preserved for generations to come. The meeting starts at 7pm and we look forward to seeing you either for the first time or the second time if you attended our launch meeting..




That's her, G-AGRW, in her Hunting-Clan/Blackbushe days. (Photo not taken at Blackbushe, our thanks to the member who provided it). With so many airlines based at Blackbushe who operated Vikings it is very possible that following restoration Romeo Whisky will be finished in Eagle Airways colours simply because Eagle was beyond any shadow of doubt the most prolific Viking operator at Blackbushe plus their extensive engineering operation provided further reason for us to salute Eagle and keep their name synonymous with Blackbushe for long into the future.



Got to move on today, some technical issues to resolve...My phone dropped behind a radiator and quite unreachable without removal of said radiator from wall. At least the heating is not on so any incoming calls will no doubt be cold-calls?

PB