Originally Posted by
BEagle
BoB Wings Day?
I have a copy of the 1954 RAF Merryfield At Home Day of 18th September 1954. It includes a programme for the 1954 'Battle of Britain Week'. Nothing spectacular, just local events organised by local RAFA people in a small Somerset market town to commemorate the events of 14 years earlier:
Sunday 12th - Archery competition on Ilminster Grammar School playing fields
Monday 13th - Progressive Whist Drive at the County Secondary School
Tuesday 14th - Film Show (by courtesy of Shell Mex & BP Ltd) at the County Secondary School
Wednesday 15th - Treasure Hunt for Champagne and other valuable prizes
Thursday 16th - Darts and Skittles tournament at the George Hotel
Friday 17th - Grand Modern Ball at the George Hotel
Saturday 18th (after the At Home event) - Combined RAF - RAFA Dance at RAF Merryfield
Sunday 19th - Commemoration Service at the Mynster
As for the Flying Programme (14:35 - 17:00 with a 16:00 - 16:30 tea interval), it included an air sea rescue demonstration, formation aerobatics by Meteors and Vampires, a demonstration of a Wyvern and a helicopter, solo aerobatics by Chipmunk, Meteor, Balliol and Vampire aircraft, height and speed judging contest, 'breaking the sound barrier' by a Sabre of Fighter Command, mock attack by Vampires on a position defended by guns manned by the RAF Regiment, overflights by passing formations, departure and flypast of 19 different types from the static display as well as pleasure flights operated by a couple of civilian aircraft.
All that at just one small Advanced Flying Training station....which was open to the public from 13:30 - 17:30.
Indeed, 58 RAF Stations held similar events the same day including Merryfield, I've just been looking on line at a Pathe news footage reel of Biggin Hill's at home day, the same day, young lads were queueing up to have a go at climbing into the cockpit of a Meteor to fire the cannons at the butts!
FB