Blackhill Farm nr Cricklade

[arthur harbrow]

Whilst looking for a factory near Cricklade and getting lost, i came across 2 memorials to D/C3 and glider crews.The memorials mentioned D Day and i think Canadian crews who took off from the adjacent Blackhill Farm.
Any information anyone, please?

[Malcolm G O Payne]

I think the name is Blakehill Farm and it was an FTS in the early 50s

[cringe]

The plaques in question:

http://worldwar2airfields.fotopic.net/p8249230.html

http://worldwar2airfields.fotopic.net/p8249232.html

[Conan the Librarian]

Blakehill farm is now a nature reserve and until recently, had a humungous aerial set dead centre. It was a GCHQ research site, apparently.

One of the famous RCAF squadrons (410 or similar? Think they are Airbus now) was formed there in 44 I think, but now, all is tranquil, unless you are looking for Bird Flu, I suppose.

Arthur, you might be thinking about Down Ampney, which is just up the road and now farmed by the Co op. The church there, is something else with a DC3 in one stained glass window and all of what religous types might call kneeling or prayer cushoins. Even for an atheist, it is very moving.

Conan

PS The Composer Vaughan Williams was born in Down Ampney. A wonderful place to sit and look over the broad leaved Oaks whilst listening to Greensleeves or Thomas Tallis maybe... I digress and will now STFU

[arthur harbrow]

Thanks for the replies.Cringe has kindly supplied the links to the 2 memorials i saw.
Conan, i will pay a visit to Down Ampney.Never knew Vaughn Williams was born there.It`s good to learn something every day.