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Originally Posted by POBJOY
(Post 10813121)
CHEV During school hols (I was a Cadet at Kenley) I used to get a lift or hitch hike to various airfields one of which was Northolt (quite a hike).because a comms flight was based there (may have been 32 Sdn)..
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Actually the CCCS was the CCCF. Coastal Command Communications Flight. Pedantic I know, but I am sure that was what it was called when I was on it in 1961/2. We were much smaller than Fighter Com with 4 Anson,s a VIP Valetta and a Flight Lieutenant boss called Dickie Colbourne.
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Cadet 'Air Rides'
Although living near Kenley was a boon for the gliding it was devoid of RAF power flying by 59 as was Biggin Hill, hence having to 'go north' before one could start 'Air Hitching'. and even Northolt was not 'around the corner' so to speak.
However what was evident was how helpful all the various units were to get you airborne even if you arrived at the Guard room 'unannounced' so to speak. In my case the Gliding took over from power 'rides' plus led to an amazing association with the famous BoB stations of Kenley and Biggin Hill: we described our Cadet MK 3 gliders as the fretwork fighters. In fact the initial 'winch launch ' experience in a MK 3 was far more exciting than the sedate t off in a Chipmunk with 800-1000 ft gained by the airfield boundary (and Kenley was quite small). From the Kenley circuit both Croydon and Biggin were only a short hop, and indeed it was not unknown to take the T21 to Croydon using the thermals from the built up area. The original 11 Group Fighter haven had migrated across the Thames and East but you never take its history away. |
indeed it was not unknown to take the T21 to Croydon using the thermals from the built up area. |
Originally Posted by POBJOY
(Post 10812839)
The Stumps went to Halton. SL 574 still has the three marks on the wing, Bromley is built up and Maguire was low. His arrival did little damage to the airframe (it was on its wheels the next day) but the prop was shattered.There is a wonderful image of the ongoing cricket match going on after lunch with 574 on its belly near the boundary. Peter Arnold had some great shots. There was quite a debate on whether the stumps could have caused dents in the leading edge of the wing and it got quite heated. Considering they would have been impacted at about 50 mph, and images were produced that showed the repairs in progress the 'non believers' as I described them would not have it, got even more annoyed when I suggested a test with someone hitting them on their head with a suitable stump and then asking them if it hurt (when they woke up that is)
There were indeed some lovely pics on that thread. |
Creeping Again
Originally Posted by treadigraph
(Post 10814828)
I have seen current Kenley residents (can't recall if they were Surrey Hills or 615) north of Croydon, possibly as far as Crystal Palace. Easier feat than in a Barge I should imagine!
Anyway the 21 would have been on AE trips so it was not encouraged to be up too long. Looking back on it it was quite a large machine for a P2 staff Cadet + px to get caught out in away from the circuit. I had been lucky to fly the T53 at Swanton and thought this would be great when we got them as it would have allowed more probing away and less problems with ground handling if a squall came through. It was not to be, and the organisation eventually had the Venture which was considered too underpowered to operate from Kenley.(what was needed were thinner Pilots) , and a licence built Blanik. that could take the 'all winch' operation. My other abiding memory of BV was the line of Ansons on the flight line which added a 1930's theme to the place, some had come from Kenley when they ceased ops there. |
John Young's Bovingdon memories
For those who haven't seen it, here's a link to famed aviation artist John Young's compendium of memories and pictures of Bovingdon airfield. Just scroll down to the relevant pdf link.
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Accident P40E Warhawk 41-36028 at Berkhamsted 23-9-1942
John Young lists the presence of P40s in his Bovingdon diary. During 1942 two and in 1943 one Curtiss P40E Warhawk aeroplanes were based with the 8th A.A.F. at Bovingdon. They were used for fast liason and other general duties. Both aeroplanes were destroyed in fatal accidents. I'll mention here that I'm downloading excerpts from the original accident reports and the quality leaves much to be desired. However it's worth a squint.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d5a5f55058.jpgBerkhamsted (in 1938). Looking North-east. Small highlight gives approx location of crash site on L.M.S. Railway. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....dd0db13f35.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fe5b7511a1.jpg Aftermath looking North. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1c0dd575e9.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....075ace072b.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....613dedb65a.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ced4786930.jpg David's Home was on Castle Hill Avenue which is to the right and above the houses in the foreground.The view is to the south-east. Impact point (approx) and Bovingdon Aerodrome high-lighted. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....eece666c07.jpg I suppose this is the equivalent of what we used to call the tech log. It shows that the aircraft has just had an air test on September 21st following replacement of much of the tail-plane. This was due to damage, caused by diving in to the propellor wash from B17s , which the P40 had sustained during simulated attacks. On the day of the accident the aircraft was once again tasked to do this but crashed before the exercise started. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cb4f6753d6.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5e18c1dcfb.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1e7347b7d9.jpg The Thomas Coram Foundling School. Some staff members saw the starboard elevator flutter to the ground and retrieved it. Postwar (and still) Ashlyns School just off Chesham Road.. Approx location of crash site high-lighted. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c258c84474.jpg A very experienced Captain and perhaps his first flight in a P40? Captain William K Knowles. Described by Brig.Gen. J. Kemp McLaughlin as 'a very senior Captain we called "Pappy" . We all went to the American Cemetery at Madingley for his funeral, for everyone loved him' Whipsnade tomorrow........ |
Accident P40E Warhawk 41-35934 Whipsnade 9th October 1943
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8e110d6fb7.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....01d7fdeb62.jpg P40E 41-35934. Photo credit IWM - Roger Freeman Collection. In comparison to the investigation of the crash at Berkhamsted this accident appears to have been investigated in a rather cursory manner. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2bd11f97a5.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f3a1f2bd2f.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8a727616a2.jpg The Chequers Pub Whipsnade 1944. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b219e0fe21.jpg The crash is said to have occurred in the garden of the house opposite the Pub. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....95948abb64.jpg No longer a pub. The house opposite is, I believe, where The Land Army Girls based in the village came for their meals. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2852cc75f5.jpg Another view of what was The Chequers with the village green beyond. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c87a86f7ac.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a1338230df.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....13677db218.jpg Major Glenn E Hagenbuch came from an Illinois farming family. He had been the Commanding Officer of the 427th Bomb Squadron flying B17s. On the day of the accident he was carrying out self proficiency training. He was 24 years old and left a Widow in the United States. Most of the data I've found on Glenn Hagenbuch gives his dob as December 12th 1918 - however the publicity photograph and press release taken just after his arrival in Britain in 1942 (see American Air Museum photos on link below) state that he is 27 years old. He certainly looks 27 but then combat weighs heavy on the brave. I've also added a Flying Tigers link - you then need to scroll down to find the article about his life. A few associated links here:https://flyingtigersavg.com/avg-books-articles/ http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241051 https://virtual-library.culturalserv..._whipsnade.htm |
A Few Avro Yorks at Bovingdon and Farther Afield
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b6353da60d.png
G-AHFD Once with B.S.A.A. and now with Skyways. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2b06df3635.jpg In Trooping Livery as WA 500. G-AHFD was sold to Middle East Airlines in 1957 becoming OD-ADB. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6037e2ed8f.jpg OD-ADB looking very smart at Beirut 1957. Photo The Peter Keating Collection (c) A Flying History ltd. Sadly OD-ADB and its five crew was lost over the Mediterranean on September 29th 1958. It was operating a cargo service from Beirut to London with a tech stop at Rome. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9f500ef1b9.jpg G-AGNY Eagle Aviation at Bovingdon 1950 In 1949 Harold Bamberg purchased Eagle's first Yorks. In 1950 the airline moved its base from Aldermarston to Luton where it was to remain until 1952. Eagle Aviation's Halifaxes and Yorks were a familiar sight at Bovingdon. The company's first commercial flight carried cherries from Verona to Bovingdon in a Halifax on May 9th 1948. During the period of 1950-52 many flights were operated by Eagle from Bovingdon due in no small part to restricted airport opening hours and restricted customs facilities at Luton. It wasn't until 1951 that Luton Airport was granted a one year 'Customs facilities Trial' . Until then I believe that Customs and Excise staff from Bovingdon motored over to provide cover at Luton. Eagle like several of the larger British Independent Airlines relied on Government Trooping Contracts for their bread and butter. Jackie Pritchard writing in 2016 describes a journey on G-AGNY in 1951 when the airline had a contract with The Air Ministry: ' I flew on an Avro York G-AGNY this was in 1951 leaving Singapore and landing for over night stops in Ceylon, Bombay, Karachi, Iraq, Malta, and finally England. This was a bare bones flight, the plane had seating of all descriptions old car seats, coach seats, you name it, we boarded wearing only our tropical uniform but had the sense thank goodness to carry our great coats. The plane was exactly the same as if being used for cargo no heating and the fuselage was clearly visible rivets and all, we half froze to death the steward was the navigator, the food was in little brown cardboard boxes complete with dry curled up meat and not forgetting a small wooden knife and fork. I often think about that journey and wonder if there are many left who were on that flight with me.' https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....27f73c7cd8.jpg Captain John 'Pancho' Villa. York Fleet Captain Eagle Aviation. When Bamberg sold his Yorks to Skyways, Villa went too. Photo - Peter Villa. Peter Villa Remembers: ' My father was a Captain with Eagle and later with LAC/Skyways. I attended Bovingdon Primary School and was there when the King died. We later moved to Garston and after that, Tring. I too spent time at the end of the runway and in the hangars when I could persuade Dad to take me. Independent aviation was so precarious Dad bought the caravan so he could move the family from base to base and job to job. Bovingdon sticks in my memory. We lived at Highcroft in a caravan for a while. It was parallel to the runway and you could hear the Merlins popping on the Yorks as they landed.' (pers com) https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....802a6c4b38.jpg G-AGNY at Adelaide Circa 1953. Photo credit Robert Wiseman. On June 26th 1954 while inbound to Berlin flying empty near Kyritz (Soviet occupied Germany) G-AGNY suffered an engine separation and crashed following loss of control. The crew of three were killed. The daughter of one of the pilots subsequently wrote in 2017: ' I flew in this plane in 1953 on a test flight from Stansted airport, my father was one of the pilots. He died in 1954, June 26th. It crashed over Germany with 3 crew , ironic as he flew through the war earning the DFC. I was 9 at the time and remember it clearly.' https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....75357bce56.png Previously G-AMRI of Surrey Flying Services and now sold in 1955 by Freddie Laker to Air Liban OD-ACD is seen at Bovingdon. Photo credit Bovingdon-Airfield.co.uk https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3ed448b3f0.jpg OD-ACD at its new home, Beirut, 1955. This aeroplane was destroyed in a take-off accident at Tehran May 27th 1960. Three crew were injured. Photo credit The Peter Keating Collection (c) A Flying History ltd. AND NOW FOR A BIT OF YORK DRIFT (OFF THE RUNWAY) https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....26af35a37c.jpg Brize not Bovingdon. MW168 November 28th 1946. Loss of power on N2 engine during take-off contributed to loss of control on this training detail. Photo credit baaa-acro By 1949 the RAF had nine Squadrons of Yorks. During The Berlin Airlift 29,000 sorties were flown by these aeroplanes transporting approx 239,000 tons of supplies. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....011a08e18f.jpg G-AGJD of BOAC at Castel Benito Libya February 1st 1949. On departure for London the York was caught by a strong gusting cross-wind. The pilot over-corrected and ran off the runway. No fatalities. Photo credit Andy Frish baaa-acro. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d6c4e2a1db.jpg G-AMUM Scottish Airlines Luqa, Malta April 13th 1954. Prior departure for Stansted one engine suffered starter motor failure. The Captain elected to start the engine by wind-milling it during a high speed taxy. This was successful but control of the aircraft was lost in the process. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fb991d4595.png CF-HFP Pacific Western Airlines Cape Parry Airfield, North West Territories. June 25th 1957. Over ran on landing resulting in loss of Starboard undercarriage and damage that was beyond repair. CAPE PARRY NORTHWEST TERRITORIES CANADA Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8e70484d97.jpg CF-HFX Arctic Wings at Hall Lake, Nunavut April 12th 1955. While taking off from Hall Lake the aeroplane hit a snowbank and broke its back. Both Arctic Wings and Pacific Western were amongst airlines using Yorks to re-supply the DEW Line project in Northern Canada. Photo credit baaa-acro. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....85f164d8e9.jpg As seen in 1972. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....76503a45d9.jpg More recently. HALL LAKE NUNAVUT CANADA Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com And, if you have time to spare:http://www.ruudleeuw.com/search116.htm |
Crash P51 AM138 Bellingdon February 22nd 1944
The following link is to an article by Katherine Dallas assisted by Chris Brown of Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Local History Group and Retired Master Sergeant Craig Kirwin.
It is hoped that one day a Commemorative Plaque will be placed at the accident site. https://cholesbury.com/pdf/lhgnews-2015-16.pdf Scroll to page Four. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ebebae4b0c.png The Bull Pub (now closed) highlighted. It seems the accident was somewhere nearby. https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/101398 |
Miscellany
9th October 1942
J Kemp McLaughlin was co pilot to the Squadron Commander leading the 407th on this early raid on Lille mounted by the 92nd Bomb Group from Bovingdon: 'After crew checks and engine run-ups, we began our takeoff roll at 1000hrs. We formed up over the field and began our climb eastward along our planned route. We joined another group in trail at the coast at about fifteen thousand feet and continued our climb. It was a bright clear morning, and we were climbing directly into the sun when my pilot Major K decided we were closing too fast on the lead Squadron. Without notifying his wingmen, he reduced power, and they began to overrun his lead ship. As they fought to stay in formation and began to maneuver back and forth, Lt. Eugene Wiley's numbers three and four propellers chopped the vertical stabilizer entirely off Lt Jimmy Dempsey's airplane. Both slipped out of formation and luckily made it back to England. Wiley landed with two good engines at an RAF field (Detling) and Lt. Dempsey made it back to our home base at Bovingdon.' https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....69600570ca.png Safely returned to Bovingdon without serious injury. Lt Dempsey (at left) and his crew. Text and image extracted from ' The Mighty Eighth' by Brig.Gen. J. Kemp McLaughlin. 20th December 1943 I was trying to find a new image of P47 42-7921 but could only come up with this: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....77355f7d8e.jpg Yes, It's our old friend Cass Hough again with his favourite Thunderbolt which was written off at Bovingdon on December 20th 1943. First Lt Franklin L Robertson had taken this aeroplane on a local test flight and was about to land back at Bovingdon when the aircraft caught fire on the approach. Robertson was partly blinded but landed and ground-looped to a stop. He was removed from the cockpit in a 'dazed state' by two bystanders. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain. On the 9th of February 1944 Robertson was again at the controls of a Thunderbolt (42-75204 ) on a test flight from Bovingdon but was unable to maintain height due to an engine defect. He carried out a successful forced landing at Westwick Hall Farm, Gorhambury near St Albans. 1944 https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0d9e7b0933.png I found this image somewhere but can't tell you anything about it! October 26th 1951 A slight upset on the Chesham Road.... https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....27c47f97b8.png Avro Tudor 5 G-AKCC. Image credit John Dent (Bovingdon Remembered). 1955 https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c9bae9e999.jpg Burmese Air Force. I believe this aircraft survives in one form or another in an Australian Air Force Museum. Photo credit the Late Arthur Pearcy. Nineteen Fifties? Meteor Quartet. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....263935cc99.jpg Late Fifties early Sixties? https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....58d5553e70.jpg I was probably with my pal David Rayment when he took this photo of a C54. It had just landed on the shorter runway (27) and was taxying around to the ramp. It is just about to cross the threshold of 04. I lived then at Ashley Green and David used to cycle over from Watford to watch the aeroplanes. One afternoon we were cycling home for tea, going a hell of a lick down a hill on Two Dells Lane when my pedal lodged in David's rear wheel and we both came a hell of a cropper, bending our bikes rather badly. 1961 The War Lover https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cc122194d2.jpg John Crewdson opens the taps. Photo credit William Schneider (Bovingdon Remembered). https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a20450760b.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....38d0a5e793.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fe02d445fa.jpg Photo credits: Warbird Information Exchange. Circa 1963 ? https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f254315e46.jpg I believe this Mosquito was used in both '633 Squadron' and 'Mosquito Squadron'. October 26th 1968 The Battle of Britain. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8b8fdf7d85.png https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fb5c6b52b7.png Photo credit Bernard Martin. I don't know if any parts of the Battle of Britain film were shot at Bovingdon. This appears to be some sort of Open Day? However I do remember one morning watching a CASA 2.111 trailing 'smoke' from one engine whilst performing low runs over the control tower upon which a gunner was firing off blanks. |
From memory, all the BoB aircraft acquired by Spitfire Productions gathered at Bovingdon, though I don't think much if any filming took place there.
If I haven't mentioned it before, "Everything but the Flack" is Martin Caidin's book about the acquisition and delivery of the War Lover B-17s - worth getting a copy if you can! Bernard Martin - is he still around? Used to enjoy his chatty round up of UK registration happenings in Air Britain... |
Log Book
I was going to attach a copy of my Father's log book, mentioning the Tudor crash, but I cannot get the pdf to attach!
I can remember Father talking about this as he was at the holding point waiting to take off when the Tudor landed down wind and went whistling past them. It also touched down a considerable way down the runway. Ahead of him was a USAF Neptune and its crew shut down and got out presumably to help. At that point the Tudor caught fire and the Neptune crew hurriedly ran back to their aeroplane to move it. Unfortunately the hot engines wold not start and the crew must have had a uncomfortable wait. Father also seemed highly amused that the fire tender arrived with some of the firemen running behind it. |
If it's not too much trouble take a photo of the log-book and then down load it on to the thread from your computer. Perhaps the Mod can help you?
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Photo
Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF Ops
(Post 10851099)
If it's not too much trouble take a photo of the log-book and then down load it on to the thread from your computer. Perhaps the Mod can help you?
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Well thanks for your post P - just great. We could do with some more of the same.
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Photo
Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF Ops
(Post 10851443)
Well thanks for your post P - just great. We could do with some more of the same.
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Get another couple of replies in on this thread and you should be ok. Posts on JetBlast don't count!
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Does anyone know the operator of the Tudor? I think it might have been Surrey Flying Services? From memory I am pretty sure the Captain flying the Tudor was Marian Kozubski.
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Company was William Dempster Ltd. Kozubski was 'Chief Pilot of the Tudor Fleet'. (Tony Merton Jones - British Independent Airlines 1946-1976). http://www.aviapc.com/nonmember/news...econd%20Glance
Scroll down to read 'The Polish Eagle and the Falcon' (Written by a fellow Ppruner). |
Characters
There were certainly some characters about in those days!!
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Ten up PV1 - should be able to post image of log book now?
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Log Book
Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF Ops
(Post 10853130)
Ten up PV1 - should be able to post image of log book now?
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....61017ea98e.jpg |
Originally Posted by PV1
(Post 10853656)
See if this works
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....61017ea98e.jpg |
I do not know if this film/movie has been mentioned on here previously...The Liquidator (1965)
A spoof/comedy spy film with Rod Taylor and Trevor Howard.Some lovely 60's scenery (Nice/Monte Carlo),a couple of lovely 60's cars and the finale scenes set at the mythical 'RAF Gayborough' actually start with a couple of nice shots at Bovingdon Airfield and then switch to Wisley Airfield - this includes a Valiant doing a RATO take off and during the landing scene you get the best quality images I have ever seen of Wisley airfield and the Assembly/Flight Test buildings. |
Originally Posted by chevvron
(Post 10814308)
Many of us cadets from squadrons in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire would do the same scrounging at Bovingdon, in fact the Guardroom had a separate book for ATC cadets to sign on and off the station. When they amalgamated FCCS and CCCS into 'Southern Communications Squadron' (at the same time at Northolt the different units initially became 'Metropolitan Communications Squadron' long before they were assigned the squadron number of '32', and that was only when The Queens Flight became part of the squadron) it was easier because they used the 'old' terminal building which had been occupied by the USAF so you only had one place to visit to enquire about 'spare seats' rather than 2.
Sorry to be pedantic but you are way out on your time lines for 32 squadron. The Metropolitan Communications Squadron was rebadged as No. 32 Squadron in 1969, along with all the other RAF Communications units, way way before the Queens Flight disbanded and was merged into 32 Squadron in 1995, thus giving the existing 32 squadron the title 32 (The Royal)Squadron. |
5th January 1945
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....46bb0684a6.jpg
Note the newly laid hard standings by the threshold of R/W 35 and to the north-east of the Control Tower. Most of the aeroplanes appear to be C47s. Photo credit Military Airfield Directory. |
4th January 1946
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....08eff210c6.jpg
In this image the hard standings between the Control Tower and R/W 35 have been completed. Many C47s are on the dispersals. Control of the airfield passed from the USAAF to The Air Ministry 15th April 1946. Afraid I can't enlarge. Credit American Air museum in Britain. \ https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b5ebaf0012.png Slightly better definition. |
William Wyler's Film 'Memphis Belle'
I expect many of you are familiar with this classic. I must admit I've never watched it through until recently. The closing sequences were shot at Bassingbourn and then Bovingdon commencing with the presentation of Captain Morgan and his crew to General Devers by General Eaker. In the closing moments of the film Memphis Belle departs from Bovingdon's R/W 04 and then performs a flypast. You can just catch a glimpse of the Control Tower as it was on June 9th 1943. However all was not what it appeared to be. Graham Simons and Harry Friedman's researches have revealed the following:
The timeline of the journey home – from last mission to Washington DC. May 17 – Morgan’s 25th mission. May 19 – Memphis Belle’s 25th mission. May 26 – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Bassingbourn. Date Unknown Medal ceremony at Bassingbourn. June 8 – Test flying/filming/proficiency flying from Bassingbourn June 9 – Depart Bassingbourn -filming en-route for one hour. Land at Bovingdon. June 9 – ‘26th Mission’ ceremony at Bovingdon. June 12 – Depart Bovingdon for two hour thirty minute flight to Prestwick, Scotland. June 13 – Depart Prestwick, Scotland for eight hour flight to Greenland. June 14 – Refuel. Depart Greenland for ten hour flight to Bangor, Maine. June 14 – Refuel. Depart Bangor, Maine for three hour flight to Chicopee, Massachusetts. June 15 – Arrive Washington DC area. June 16 – Official arrival at Washington National Airport. Graham Simons has identified other film locations as Bassingbourn, Alconbury, and Chelveston. The B17 concerned was 41-24485 of the 91st Bomb Group. William Wyler and his Film Crew previously visited Bovingdon in 1943. I've extracted the following from Brig.Gen. J. Kemp McLaughlin's Memoir (The Mighty Eighth in WW11). He, together with his Captain, Tom Hulings were then Duty Pilots at Bovingdon with the 11th CCRC. 'Sometime in February1943, Major William Wyler arrived at our station with a group of cameramen experienced in aerial photography. All of them were Commissioned Officers and being ten to fifteen years our senior, they were all First Lieutenants and Captains. Tom Hulings and I were assigned to fly for them and we began immediately to experiment with manned camera stations all over the airplane. We set one up in the radio room hatch, with the camera on an installed tripod and the cameraman's head and shoulders outside the airplane. Other photographers were set up in the nose, tail, waist gun and ball turret positions. After preparing these camera positions, we flew several orientation flights to give our cameramen an opportunity to adjust to their tasks of photography from an aerial platform. We then flew to Bassingbourn the home field of the 91st Bomb Group. There after several meetings and briefings, we finally took off, climbed to about nine thousand feet, where six of our P-47s began making fake combat gunnery passes at us. Their maneuvers were from all quarters, both high and low, while we cruised as slowly as possible so that the cameramen, especially the one whose head and shoulders were outside the airplane, could get good shots. These films turned out to be excellent footage, and we were told that they would be used to help train aerial gunners. About a month later I saw some of these shots on the Pathe News in a London movie theater shown as actual aerial combat over Germany ! ' https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....53c5500b17.jpg William Wyler at Bassingbourn. January 1943. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d90c3c04d.jpeg Memphis Belle quite possibly photographed en route to Bovingdon from Bassingbourn on June 9th 1943. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c6fe0f250.jpeg Ditto... https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f4e45d5f6.jpeg Memphis Belle at Bovingdon June 9th 1943. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0f2a8fd491.jpg Bob Morgan and crew. General Devers at the microphone, General Eaker looks on. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain. |
Page Three
Page Three? Good Lor ! Here we are on Page One again......... Emma Peel was never on Page Three. Here she is at Bovingdon in 1965 but sadly not heavily featured. I remember when 'The Avengers' came to Luton in 1967. We gave them the use of one of our clapped out Heralds (awaiting upgrade and reintroduction with Autair following a hammering up in The Highlands and Islands with BEA) and John Steed came and used our staff lavatory where a notice from The Chief Pilot complaining about fag ends in the bog had been recently defaced. Sadly there was no sign of Mrs Peel......
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2a389350ad.png https://archive.org/details/the.aven...ver.was_201910 |
She's gotta lotta bottle...
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[QUOTE=OUAQUKGF Ops;10850890]9th October 1942
1944 https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0d9e7b0933.png I found this image somewhere but can't tell you anything about it! Just noticed that this image is reversed. Richard |
Flipped and cleaned a bit. Mosquito VI from the LR3xx range. P-47, 7U, 36th Fighter Group, 23rd Fighter Squadron?
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a55ce6e1c2.jpg |
Would have had to be an 'LR' variant appearing in FEAF markings in England!!
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Presently Offered on a well known internet auction site
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Recording of Eric W Bowkett (obit 2012)
In 2009 Eric Bowkett retired ATCO and one time Navigator recorded his memories for The Imperial War Museum. Eric joined The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation at Bovingdon as a Halifax Navigator and served on the Berlin Airlift based at Schleswigland Germany flying Diesel Oil into Berlin (Tegel). The Company operated a dozen Halifax/Halton aeroplanes on the airlift with a pool of twenty crews. It seems very likely that a crew would remain together for the duration.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80024106 Reels 3-5 cover the period in question. Most of the images below extracted from The Berlin Air Lift booklet published by The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation (I found a cheaper copy than that offered on that auction site.) https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....69ac845793.jpg I dare say some of us oldies have come across one or two of these chaps during our time. Credit LAC. With regard to the above Captain Robert Freight, Navigator James Sharp and Flight Engineer W.J. Patterson were killed when Halton G-AJZZ crashed at Schleswigland on 21 March 1949. The Radio Operator J.Hamilton survived. In addition three LAC Ground Engineers were killed in a ground accident with a Hastings at Schleswigland on 15th January 1949: They were Theodor Supernatt, Patrick Griffin and Edward O'Neil. I believe their German driver also died. Eric Bowkett mentions both these incidents. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....942b9adb34.jpg The U.S Mobile canteen at Tegel mentioned by Bowkett. Photo credit LAC. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....90f77a103f.jpg Hastings TG534 of 297 Squadron. Fuel leak on startup at Schleswigland 6th April 1949. Mentioned by Bowkett. Photo credit the Late Peter Hewins. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c4ac2b7045.jpg Photo Credit LAC. |
Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF Ops
(Post 10906471)
In addition three LAC Ground Engineers were killed in a ground accident with a Hastings at Schleswigland on 15th January 1949:
They were Theodor Supernatt, Patrick Griffin and Edward O'Neil. I believe their German driver also died. |
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Why for me?
Obviously parked on the Whelpley Hill side although I thought this area had been closed down by the '60s. |
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