World War Two pilots' pubs
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dunsfold pubs
Further to virgo's post of a while ago, I gained the impression that the 'Leathern Bottle' on the A281 was favoured by wartime aircrew, the other ranks favouring the closer Three Compasses.
The Three Compasses is still doing well, but the Leathern bottle is now a house.
Airfield staff also frequented what was the 'Hawk and Harrier', one of 2 or 3 pubs in Dunsfold Village - as Hawkers had an account for staff above a certain ( quite low ) level to have lunches there; they were charged from their wages on a genteel monthly set-up.
When this account was closed by BAe, the pub sign was changed in about 2 seconds ! Don't know what it's original name was, last I saw years ago was something awful like 'Rumpoles' but there is/ was a much better place nearby.
None of the Dunsfold village pubs had any memorabillia when I last saw them - they're actually a bit of a drive from the airfield - but the Three Compasses has a fair bit, mostly post-war though.
I don't know what's being done about it, but a few WWII Veterans of the airfield had assembled a lot of relevant - largely B-25 - material in a portacabin on the airfield, with hopes of a small museum; as Dunsfold Park keep getting their property development plans refused ( excellent ! ) they were pretty sulky about aviation when I last dealt with them.
The Three Compasses is still doing well, but the Leathern bottle is now a house.
Airfield staff also frequented what was the 'Hawk and Harrier', one of 2 or 3 pubs in Dunsfold Village - as Hawkers had an account for staff above a certain ( quite low ) level to have lunches there; they were charged from their wages on a genteel monthly set-up.
When this account was closed by BAe, the pub sign was changed in about 2 seconds ! Don't know what it's original name was, last I saw years ago was something awful like 'Rumpoles' but there is/ was a much better place nearby.
None of the Dunsfold village pubs had any memorabillia when I last saw them - they're actually a bit of a drive from the airfield - but the Three Compasses has a fair bit, mostly post-war though.
I don't know what's being done about it, but a few WWII Veterans of the airfield had assembled a lot of relevant - largely B-25 - material in a portacabin on the airfield, with hopes of a small museum; as Dunsfold Park keep getting their property development plans refused ( excellent ! ) they were pretty sulky about aviation when I last dealt with them.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SOUTH OF EGQS
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Horse & Jockey - Waddington
Check out the Horse & Jockey in Waddington village. Favourite watering hole of the Australians during WWII.
Has some photos that cover WWII and V-Force era. There is a framed print of 467 RAAF Sqn's Op Order for Friday 13th 1945. They weren't flying that evening so they put out an Op Order for their pub run that night.
Covers the Horse & Jockey, Prince of Wales and Assembly Rooms, all still in existence. Also included in the list is brakedwell's Saracen's Head. Known as the Snakepit and referred to in Guy Gibson's Enemy Coast Ahead as a meeting place around about the time of the 'Battle of the Hats'.
It is now occupied by Waterstones, opposite HSBC Bank. There is a blue placque nearby commemmorating its existence.
Has some photos that cover WWII and V-Force era. There is a framed print of 467 RAAF Sqn's Op Order for Friday 13th 1945. They weren't flying that evening so they put out an Op Order for their pub run that night.
Covers the Horse & Jockey, Prince of Wales and Assembly Rooms, all still in existence. Also included in the list is brakedwell's Saracen's Head. Known as the Snakepit and referred to in Guy Gibson's Enemy Coast Ahead as a meeting place around about the time of the 'Battle of the Hats'.
It is now occupied by Waterstones, opposite HSBC Bank. There is a blue placque nearby commemmorating its existence.
The Woodman at Nuthampstead. In the middle of nowhere almost, but almost on the edge of what was once the Nuthampstead airfield.
Nuthampstead was home to the 398th bomb wing, and hosted 3 squadrons ( 601,602 and 603) of B17s. P38s and P47s also flew from there.
The EAA's B17, "Aluminum overcast" which flies out of Appleton giving rides over the Oshkosh show, is painted up to represent a Nuthampstead based aeroplane.
Lovely memorial stone outside and some extraordinary photos inside. One stunning photo of a B17 that flew back after being hit over the target by flak, and lost it's nose is iconic and well-known. I met the 2 pilots at a reunion of the 398th at the airfiled nearly 25 years ago. I took them for a short flight around in a 172. The skipper didn't fly again after the war, he became a lawyer. The co-pilot had retired at 60, having been a Captain with Eastern airlines, A300s I seem to recall. Fabulous old boys; meeting them was a humbling experience.
Good little country pub. Great ham, egg and chips and good beer too, for those that don't fly in to Nuthampstead of course!
BSD.
Nuthampstead was home to the 398th bomb wing, and hosted 3 squadrons ( 601,602 and 603) of B17s. P38s and P47s also flew from there.
The EAA's B17, "Aluminum overcast" which flies out of Appleton giving rides over the Oshkosh show, is painted up to represent a Nuthampstead based aeroplane.
Lovely memorial stone outside and some extraordinary photos inside. One stunning photo of a B17 that flew back after being hit over the target by flak, and lost it's nose is iconic and well-known. I met the 2 pilots at a reunion of the 398th at the airfiled nearly 25 years ago. I took them for a short flight around in a 172. The skipper didn't fly again after the war, he became a lawyer. The co-pilot had retired at 60, having been a Captain with Eastern airlines, A300s I seem to recall. Fabulous old boys; meeting them was a humbling experience.
Good little country pub. Great ham, egg and chips and good beer too, for those that don't fly in to Nuthampstead of course!
BSD.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kent UK
Age: 70
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A plan forms.....
Thanks to all your replies, XV490's thread, Google and the Smith/Ellis book, I now have a list of pubs that are "going-concerns" in southern East Anglia. The Swan, Lavenham and The Woodman, Nuthampstead stand out, as having significant history, food and accomodation. Somewhere to lay my head for the night, within staggering distance of the pub, is a pre-requisite essential!
Must admit though, I'd like to find a cosy watering-hole that was maybe half-a-mile from the dispersals, that isn't caught up in its 15th century history and gourmet food
.
Must admit though, I'd like to find a cosy watering-hole that was maybe half-a-mile from the dispersals, that isn't caught up in its 15th century history and gourmet food
.
White Hart at Brasted was still recognisable as a pub when I went there in 1977, being temporarily at RAF Biggin Hill at the time.
Nowadays it isn't.....
See White Hart - Brasted, Westerham - Pubs ....
Nowadays it isn't.....
See White Hart - Brasted, Westerham - Pubs ....
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kent UK
Age: 70
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know, Beags. Went there a couple of years back after the Biggin Air Fair (of blessed memory 
) - a nasty pubco eatery. To be fair, it does do photographic justice to the station but the pub itself bears no relation to the homely images I've seen in the old books.
) - a nasty pubco eatery. To be fair, it does do photographic justice to the station but the pub itself bears no relation to the homely images I've seen in the old books.
Last edited by kevmusic; 12th Mar 2011 at 23:14. Reason: Just read the White Hart reviews......blimey!!
