CONTROL TOWER THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH WEST AIRFIELDS HERITAGE TRUST

ISSUE No.16 September 2013

www.southwestairfields.com The Editor’s column

Welcome to the third newsletter of 2013, sum- The next edition will be the Christmas one so I mer has come and gone and we should have no need all articles in by 10th December please so I complaints….except….wings and wheels! It was have plenty of time to layout and edit prior to a horrible day on the Saturday, Sunday fortu- distribution before Christmas Eve. nately more than made up for it. A full report will be in Chairman's Chatter. E-mail it, scribble it on a bit of paper and post it, put it on the blog section of our website, just let The Nissan hut at Upottery is attracting quite a me have your stories. Thanks to the Internet we few visitors and is just covering costs already. can flesh the article out if we need to. That is such a relief to all the members of the Trust especially all those who worked so hard to For updates on this and many other things refurbish and equip it. please do go to the web site at www.southwestairfields.com. We have some great material in this edition and I thank from the bottom of my heart everyone Dave Steel who has contributed. It really does become a [email protected] pleasure to put this together when you have the opportunity to choose what you are going to publish. With the welcome addition of Robert Turner from RAF Westonzoyland to the SWAHT family. I suspect there are many articles to come from that source.

The Re-Enactment group in even more action all over the West Country, why not join them.

In this Issue

●Readers Letters. ●Wings and Wheels 2013 report. ●A membership form for you to fill in and send to us. ●A Tribute to the . ●Stuff you can buy & e-mail addresses. ●Chairman's Chatter. ●Part 1 of Jack Walker’s World War II Service. Chairman’s Chatter

A very warm welcome to new members who have joined us since our last newsletter. The Trust is a fast-growing group of like-minded people with an abiding interest in aviation history. In the south-west of England we are blessed with an abundance of stories covering the 110 years since the Wright brothers claimed the first controlled flight under power in the USA. Progress since then has been (and continues to be) rapid, accelerated by the periods of greatest conflict, and here in the south-west many of the airfields have a strong association with progress in aviation technology and the use of that technology in air operations aimed at defending the UK and its dependent territories.

In any growing organisation there is a constant healthy debate about scope and purpose, and sense of direction. SWAHT is no different and your views matter, whether you’ve been a member for a number of years, or have only recently joined – your views are important to us, so please let’s hear them.

Even in a modest group with a historical focus, where much of the working material is based on established fact, there are a multitude of ways to capture the detail and present the stories from differing perspectives. It isn’t just a matter of collecting artefacts and putting them on display with some narrative description, although that has a part to play in what we do. Digital media (DVDs, computer-generated imagery and the like) give us the opportunity to make the historical material more dynamic and interesting (e.g. the Dunkeswell War Stories project). We are currently formulating a strategy for supporting schools with an extracurricular programme aimed at informing youngsters about the aviation history surrounding them, and the context within which it sits.

The growth in popularity of re-enactment groups, including SWAHT’s own, provides an opportu- nity to add real and literally ‘hands-on’ detail to the broader picture, with uniforms and restored weaponry and equipment from the period (generally WWI or WWII) presented by enthusiasts with a detailed knowledge of their subject.

Events such as our annual ‘Wings and Wheels’ weekend provide the ideal stage (weather permitting of course!) for these groups and period entertainers to show-off considerable interest and knowledge in their chosen subject. The presence of historic aircraft adds a three-dimension- al aspect to the subject that only aviation can deliver, and we were fortunate this year to be entertained at our Wings & Wheels event by a lovingly restored and maintained PBY-5 Catalina of the type based for a time at Dunkeswell during WWII

Our monthly talks programme – presented by subject matter experts – provides an additional opportunity for those able to attend to ask questions and fill in knowledge gaps. This is important for all of us, as the passage of time is keenly felt in an organization looking to preserve and present material in its historical context.

As those involved directly in making the history take their leave of us, so direct access to the stories goes beyond our reach. Next year we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944, and the subsequent operations in Europe that led to the end of WWII. Only thirty years before that of course, a greater conflict had begun, and we also commemorate next year the beginning in 1914 of ‘the Great War’. In the Blackdown Hills there is a cluster of three airfields within a few short miles of each other and all operational in the early months of WWII that have distinct stories: Dunkeswell, home to anti-submarine operations and operated for the most part during WWII by the US Navy; Upottery (actually closer to the village of Smeatharpe) - best known for its part in launching US Airborne Divisions on the invasion of Europe in 1944; and Culmhead – a fighter base sufficiently remote and secure for the RAF to locate its first jet training squadron there flying Meteor 1s.

To the east, lie Yeovilton and Merryfield – both associated with the Fleet Air Arm, to the north, Weston Zoyland, and to the south-west Exeter, Harrowbeer, Bolt Head, and – to name a few. Some of these fields are already associated with their own historical groups, and the Weston Zoyland group, under the leadership of Robert Turner, has recently become affiliated to SWAHT.

Cooperation with other organisations is an essential part of the Trust’s future. We are represent- ed on the Blackdown Hills Heritage Working Group, and through that associated with the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership, whose team is very active. We also work with the Airfield Research Group (ARG), which has a national presence. We are working hard to reinforce relationships with our contacts in America – both in the USN and US Army. At the Wings and Wheels event this year we were privileged to have US Air Force Col Travis ‘Flak’ Willis, the current US Air Attaché in London.

In June this year, Councillor Paul Diviani, Leader of East Devon District Council, opened our first Archive and Heritage Centre in a restored Nissen Hut at Smeatharpe. The current exhibition there is focused on the history of RAF Upottery, and is open to the public on Sundays and otherwise by appointment via David Bunney or Trisha Knowles. Please make a point of visiting the centre and talking to David or Trisha.

All this activity (and much more) is the result of substantial effort and commitment on the part of a small group of people – too small a group, and I make no apology for once again encouraging you to participate in what we do. For those interested in becoming a trustee, or taking a more active part in the Trust’s programme through one of its subcommittees, please let either Victor Bowsher (Trust Secretary) or myself know. We look forward to hearing from you.

Graham Weller - Chairman September 2013

WESTONZOYLAND AVIATION MUSEUM (Affiliated to SWAHT) ● A ‘virtual’ museum in that it is yet to acquire permanent premises but maintains a growing photographic archive displayed at talks and an ex- hibition tent alongside a very active Facebook page. ● As reported in a recent Daily Mail Online article – a permanent build- ing would also act as a memorial centre for the nineteen pilots who lost their lives in the jet age. ● It was the West’s leading Meteor Jet training base and wasn’t decom- missioned until 1958. ● RAF WESTONZOYLAND is one of the country’s oldest small airfields which started its career in the early ● 1920’S.Negotiations are in progress with Westonzoyland Parish Council for placement of a suitable building taking a ground lease is secured so a suitable grant application can be made. Readers letters We love getting your letters, so keep them coming please. Good morning I have come across your newsletter and have read with great interest

During the war I used to 'play' near Exeter Air- port and remember getting under the fence and getting into a Sea Otter parked in a far corner of the airfield. To our surprise a small van arrived with the crew to fly it. they said to us how did you get here? We were surprised with the dark blue uniform with the badge Australia. They did not report us. I have several Exeter Airport stories. I later joined 1169 City of Exeter Sqn ATC just Douglas DB-7 Boston opposite St Luke's School. Sqn Ldr Greenslade was the CO. I used to wonder about Dunkeswell There stood a Policeman with bike who dodged and Upottery but they were too far away for me. the door and made us get out. He told us off and walked us to the guardroom. Is there a 1169 website or anyone with memo- Instead of being frightened we were so excited ries for me? because we walked past the large hangar open doors and looked inside . Lovely newsletter In the guardroom they took our names and ad- dress's and then put us in a cell with iron bars Best wishes for a while! When we were released we walked out of the Dennis Ginger ( N. Notts) gate which had a large sign which read 'YOU ARE LEAVING THE AIRPORT. WHILE HERE YOU HAVE LEARNT A LOT. WHEN YOU Does anyone know of any contact information PASS THIS SIGN FORGET IT ' for Dennis? If so please let us know. Dennis kindly followed up with a second letter. Morning David

I have a short boys' story re Exeter Airport circa 1943 aged 12 We used to cycle up to the Airport from Honiton Clyst. the lane was heavily patrolled by police- men on bikes, we were constantly challenged and we said we lived in Rockbear! One day we stopped at the 'crash exit' with wind- sock the Honiton Clyst side of Airport entrance. The Sea Otter stood just like this I assume it was for There stood a Marauder or Boston just across Air Sea Rescue and D-Day The sign in cockpit read the perimeter track in a 'f'rying pan'. We decided by window ‘beware of Prop' to chance it and waited till the coast was clear Happy memories then ran over open ground to the Aircraft. There were 3 of us. We climbed the ladder and Best Wishes opened the door and climbed in. I sat in pilots seat and we enacted a bombing run until bombs Dennis Ginger (N. Notts) gone, then someone called we are hit bale out.. We staggered to the door which said, 'in emer- Thank you Dennis gency pull' which we did and the door ejected ! Jack Walker’s World War II Service By Andrew Walker

Introduction he entered Officer Candidate School/Pre-Flight It is a privilege to share my father’s World War II Training at the University of Iowa. Following story. Jack Walker was proud of his World War three months of basic military and pre-flight train- II service and 28-year naval career. Like most ing beginning in California, he went on a coast- veterans, he was humble about his contributions to-coast training program that culminated in his and did not talk much about his war experiences. commissioning as an Ensign in the United But as we both got older, I asked more ques- States Naval Reserve and earning his designa- tions and he became more interested in telling tion as a Naval Aviator in September 1943 at his story. I have been fortunate to visit Corpus Christi, Texas. Sometime during his Dunkeswell three times. A Fleet Air Wing 7 reun- flight training, because of his particular flying ion and a visit to Dunkeswell in 2000 with him aptitude or because he felt the airlines would are among my fondest memories of my dad. offer flying opportunities after the war or both, This story is based on my father’s memories, he was assigned to fly multi-engine aircraft. original source material left to me by my father, In December 1943, then-Ensign Walker was reference books in my possession, and some assigned to VPB-210 flying antisubmarine pa- Internet research. trols in the Caribbean Sea in the Martin PBM Getting to Dunkeswell flying boat (coincidently, my father-in-law was a Like many of his generation, Jack Walker was a flight engineer in PBMs flying antisubmarine pa- product of the Depression. Born in 1923 in Michi- trols in the Pacific). My dad told me he didn’t gan, he graduated from high school into an un- care for flying seaplanes and was granted a certain future. Working for the telephone transfer to PB4Y-equipped VPB-103. Following company, World War II gave him and millions of conversion training, in October 1944, he and others an opportunity to serve and create a fu- other PB4Y pilots began ferrying aircraft across ture with careers not thought possible before the the Atlantic. Flying to Britain was a 9-day, multi- war. stop affair with stops in New Hampshire, Cana- After the United States entered the war, my Dad da, Iceland, Wales, St. Mawgan’s (), enlisted in the Navy for pilot training. With the and finally into Dunkeswell. My father said the training pipeline full, he made the most of his trip across the Atlantic was made in company wait by learning to fly a Taylorcraft at Wayne with a large number of US Army Air Forces B- State University in Detroit. In November 1942, 17's and B-24’s. He felt the Army squadrons slow. At Dunkeswell, the advantage of Runway were not as well trained in long-range naviga- 40L was that the ground fell away rapidly on tion and fuel conservation and that they benefit- departure, helping the long, slow climb to alti- ed from accompanying the Navy airplanes. tude. The twin tails were structurally weak and vibrated under full power. The airplane was cold and damp on long 12-hour patrols over the . Weather obviously affected naviga- tion, and my father said the prominent Welling- ton Monument located at the highest point of the Blackdown Hills in Somerset provided an impor- tant visual cue for finding Dunkeswell in fog and low cloud.

Training at Chincoteague Naval Auxiliary Air Station in July 1944 (Ensign John S Walker, front right)

Flying the PB4Y The PB4Y was the US Navy designation of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. My father’s aircraft Pilot LT Dwight Knott (left) and Co-Pilot LT (jg) was the Navy version of the M model with the Jack Walker (right) ball turret suppressed in favour of air-to-surface radar. Defensive armament below the aircraft was thought unnecessary because antisubma- rine patrols were flown at low level, making at- tack from below difficult. My father’s crew occasionally saw German JU-88 aircraft in the distance but those planes kept their distance and likely had no interest in tangling with a well armed PB4Y.

A large aircraft in its day, the PB4Y was not an easy plane to fly; when fully loaded for a combat patrol, it was a handful. The flight deck crew had

no power assistance on the controls and instead Part 2 of this article, the sinking of U-326 relied on muscle to fly the airplane. When taking will be in the next edition, our grateful thanks to Andrew Walker. off under maximum gross weight, climbing was A Tribute to the Hawker Hurricane By Kenneth Grimward Air Chief Marshall, Sir John Both Dowding and Salmond were correct in Salmond and Air Vice Mar- their assumptions that the Fury and Demon air- shall Hugh Dowding were craft were dated. convinced that a modern When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936 fighter aircraft was needed Hitler (now by the RAF specifically an Riche Chancel- aircraft with an enclosed lor) sided with cockpit, retractable under- Franco and aid- carriage carrying eight ma- ed Spain with chine guns with a speed of military vehicles, AVM Hugh Dowding over 300 mph. German bomb- ers, arms and This resulted in an ammunition. Spec 5/34. Aircraft Manufactur- This was then ers Super Marine and Hawker when the Stuka began working on this project Pilots and as early as 1933. Hawker’s BF109 pilots cut design was following closely their teeth in bat- the traditional building methods tle with the Span- which had been tried and test- ish Republicans ed over many years, knowing untill early 1939, that these methods made pro- by which time duction of aircraft reasonably their pilots were easy as they already had battle hardened. Bf 109 flying at Duxford July 2007 skilled and experienced engi- The Hurricane neers and fitters of long stand- was on the design board in 1934 to comply with ing ready to start the project. an Air Ministry Spec for a fighter ACM Sir John Salmond The urgency for this new and Monoplane, single seat with enclosed canopy, 8 modern fighter that made both Dowding and machine guns, 4 in each wing, retractable un- Salmond anxious was because of the recent dercarriage with a speed of 300 mph in level development of the Super Marine S6B for the flight. Hawker’s Chief Designer, Sidney Camm Schneider Trophy race, which was won for Brit- was designing this around the newly developed ain in 1931. This aircraft was a monoplane Rolls Royce engine C class offering 1,023 HP at which averaged a speed of 340 mph over the 15,000 feet. The design of the Hurricane was of course, when our best RAF fighters like the tried and tested methods and followed closely Hawker Fury and Demon just touched 200 mph. with that of the Hawker Fury biplane, its pedi- gree was impeccable. Its tubular metal and fab- It was becoming quite clear at this time that Ger- ric covered fuselage gave it clean lines, its many were not following the rules laid down by wings were fabric covered, but later metal the Versailles treaty drawn up at the cease of skimmed. No welding was required in the fuse- hostilities in WW1. No arms or tanks or military lage, making the aircraft reasonably easy to pro- aircraft should be produced under this treaty. duce and giving a continuous line for the The treaty, drawn up by Britain, France and the production. Also there was a team of very U.S.A. was to last some 30 years. skilled and gifted technicians who were familiar The newly formed Nazi party now lead by Hitler with this type of construction, a very powerful rejected this Treaty with their own Party Manifes- consideration when a country is put on a war to. Thus the BF109 prototype was manufactured footing, as we were becoming aware of Germa- by the summer of 1934 and flown in 1935 the ny’s sabre rattling in 1934. same year as the Hurricane, its major adversary The Hurricane’s first test flight was on 6 Novem- during the . ber 1935 and was later sent for official trials. So successful were these trials, Hawker went into Now at the early part of the war the Hurricane’s production on their own accord and geared up production became a priority and incorporated to produce 1000 aircraft. design changes. As previously stated the wings By June 1936 the Air Ministry order came in for were metal skimmed and were now given a 600 aircraft in time for what lay ahead for our three bladed prop, increasing its speed to 328 country. mph. The Hurricane was the first monoplane The prototype of the Hurricane was first complet- aircraft adopted by the RAF and the first combat ed in conjunction with Rolls Royce and the de- aircraft to exceed 300 mph in level flight. velopment of their new engine known as the The Hurricane served in more theatres of war PV12 under the Air Ministry Specification than any other type of aircraft. Over 14,000 F36/34. This engine later became named as were manufactured during the WWII. “Merlin”. The first flight of the prototype was on 6 November 1935 with Chief Test Pilot George The Hurricane deserves its rightful place in avia- Bulman at Brooklands. tion history often described as the workhorse taking on any job and any conflict. It had a very This aircraft was highly characteristic of Camm’s steady gun platform and in a fight it could out- earlier designs. At a later stage the wings were turn a BF109. metal skimmed. In 1936 the aircraft was sent for It was one of the first “tank busters” fitted with official trials, its maximum speed achieved 315 mph at 16,000 feet. Also reaching an altitude of 20,000 feet could be attained in 8.5 minutes and with eight Browning 303 machine guns, four fit- ted in each wing. One of the good design fea- tures of the Hurricane was its retractable undercarriage with its wheels closing into the wing roots and fuselage, when open for landing they are well spread offering a wide track mak- ing landings safer and easier for low time pilots after battle. The Spitfire, of course was the oppo- site to this offering a narrow track for landing and could be extremely tricky. No aircraft has been brought into service for the RAF more rapidly after production, than the cannons. It could become a Hurricane bomber Hawker Hurricane. carrying two 250 lb bombs. It also operated off Deliveries were made to 111 Squadron at of aircraft carriers protecting convoys. Northolt before the end of 1937. In The Spitfire was indeed a beautifully designed February 1938 the Hurricane was aircraft with both unique and complex construc- flown from Edinburgh to Northolt at tion. It required new skills and techniques to be an average speed of 408 mph de- developed, thus initial production was slow. spite a hefty tail wind, thus clearly demonstrating the aircraft’s capa- Eventually the Spitfire in battle took on the BF bility and worth. 109 leaving the Hurricane the German Bombers. I can only think of these two aircraft as flying On 3rd September 1939, 500 Hurricane’s were side by side, never separated. Indeed both delivered to the RAF. These aircraft were Hurri- icons of our aviation history. cane Mk I with the RR Merlin Mk II engine, giv- ing a maximum speed of 320 mph and fitted with a two bladed wooden prop. The battle order was for 30 Squadrons of Hurri- canes and 18 Squadrons of Spitfires. It was the Hurricane that took the brunt of the battle of Britain and was responsible for shoot- ing down more enemy aircraft than any other fighter aircraft or ground anti aircraft guns during this battle between July and November 1940. Wings & Wheels, Dunkeswell’s 70th 17th-18th August 2013 Anyone who has been involved in the Trust’s annual W+W event knows that even the best laid plans are unable to compensate completely for the weather. Our first priority of course is the safety of our visitors, and our plan for the event is subject to a rigorous examination and risk assess- ment. The cooperation not only of the airfield operator, but a large number of independent par- ticipants in the guise of exhibitors, traders, and entertainers is key to making the whole event a success. If it is hot and sunny, care is focused on protecting visitors from exposure, dehydration, and effects of the sun, but if it rains - and it usually Airborne shot of Duxford-based ‘Miss Pick-up’ does – we fend off the feelings of despair and project our stiff upper lip and British stoicism in the knowledge that it will change for the better. The choice of centrepiece was an easy one: PBY-5s were stationed at Dunkeswell during David Bunney, Trisha Knowles and their organiz- WWII on anti-submarine operations, and this par- ing team did a tremendous job this year in mitigat- ticular PBY-5 is painted in the colours of a USAAF ing the consequences of the bad weather with a Search-and-Rescue machine, similar to those of greater variety of exhibits, displays, traders and its US Navy forebears. activities than we have achieved before, so that even a measure of graceful degradation (no- shows, early departures, etc.) could be tolerated without losing the strength of the show. A very big thank-you to them, to their team, and all those involved, for making this year’s event a success despite the weather.

Late last year, because we were commemorating the 70th anniversary of Dunkeswell going opera- tional in 1943, we decided the show should have a substantial centrepiece. The only available A period shot of of VPN-63’s PBY-5’s at Dunkeswell aircraft type in the UK with an operational link to during WWII. Dunkeswell was the Catalina based at Duxford. At the time we were very hopeful of financial support for the event from the Heritage Lottery We were fortunate also to have Andy Foan’s Fund, and accordingly confirmed the booking in Beech C-45 Expeditor (a version of the Beech anticipation. Sadly the HLF bid was unsuccessful 18) on display, sporting its brand new Royal Na- this year, but sufficient funds became available vy ‘Admiral’s Barge’ colour scheme. These two from donations to protect the arrangement. aircraft side by side on static display (and on Sunday in the air together) provided an unusual The Catalina had arrived from Duxford, Cam- and interesting photo opportunity for those bridgeshire, early on Friday evening and cheered armed with cameras. Andy’s Beech is resident everyone with its graceful arrival and sheer size. at Dunkeswell and is a regular sight in the sky We couldn’t have asked for a better centrepiece above the Blackdown Hills. for the show. Capt. John Warman and his crew With an event that is of necessity held outdoors, from Plane Sailing Ltd. were efficient and friendly, and therefore largely weather dependent, every- and clearly very proud of their PBY-5 – resplend- one holds their breath as the day draws near. ent in its brilliant white colour scheme with US During the week leading up to the preparation for ‘stars-and-bars’ and ‘Miss Pick-Up’ nose art. the event on the Thursday and Friday beforehand, the BBC weather forecast became a hot topic of Sunday began looking hopeful, but it wasn’t until conversation and every hint of optimism from the late morning that the mood and the clouds lifted forecaster was grabbed as an indication that it and we were blessed with bright sunshine – well, would be ‘all right on the day’. some of the time! By early afternoon the number of classic cars and bikes had swelled, We tried changing the date from August to July the military vehicles were putting on their own last year – but that didn’t help. Moving it back display to accompany the re-enactors, our again this year was equally ineffective. And so it guests from the ‘Band of Brothers’ cast were was that Saturday 17 August produced a good busy autographing photos, and the visitor num- soaking for everyone, with heavy showers and bers were close to filling the main parking area – high winds (sufficient to take at least one tent off a much better day was in prospect. its poles) interspersed with occasional periods of hope.

Beech C-45 Expeditor in Royal Navy colours, and sporting an Admiral’s flag

By 13:00 however, we decided to abandon any Members of the cast from the Band of Broth- thought of putting on an afternoon programme ers TV Series autographing photos while and continuing through to the official closing Dave Bunney, Event Manager, in US Naval time. The team remained on duty just in case, Aviator's uniform, looks on. but it wasn’t until the end of the afternoon that the weather improved. We were joined by the current US Air Attaché in London, Colonel Travis ‘Flak’ Willis, as our guest of honour along with his two sons, and during the brief commemorative service on Sunday after- noon Col Willis talked of the enduring ‘special relationship’ between the US and the UK, and the continuing need for close cooperation between our two countries to deter the threats of the 21st century.

Event Manager, “Lieutenant, USN” Dave Bunney in front of PBY-5 Miss Pick-Up, and a sky-full of threatening cumulus The PBY-5 was then towed across the airfield to park adjacent to The Aviator café for the ‘40s dance in the evening, with lively period entertain- ment from Steve Lane. With the Catalina illumi- nated against a clearing night sky, everyone agreed the dance was a great success and Colonel Travis 'Flak' Willis, USAF, speaking at the should be repeated. commemorative service with Trust Vice-Chairman Mike Venn in the background The Trust’s Padre, Reverend Rik Peckham, gave sales of merchandise all contributed well to deliv- a short blessing, and the British Legion provided er a break-even situation. Whilst disappointing, the standards for the short remembrance ceremo- it left us with the confidence that the event is ny. An additional guest joined us representing becoming better established and recognized in the Chelsea Pensioners, ex-Army Air Corps pilot the south-west’s annual calendar. David Jackson, seen here next to Rev Peckham:

This poignant break in the afternoon’s proceed- The Royal British Legion Colour Party - in bright ings provided pause for thought, and put the sunshine whole event into context. The climax of the afternoon was the short aerobatic display provid- ed by Rob Mott in his Christen Eagle, a fly past Dates for next year’s programme will be pub- by Andy in his Beech C-45, and then John War- lished on the web-site during November, and in man’s regal display of the Catalina in clear blue the next edition of the newsletter. skies. Graham Weller As we waved goodbye to the Catalina at the end September 2013 of Sunday afternoon, there were a lot of exhaust- ed people saying ‘never again’, but knowing that this event is a keystone in the Trust’s annual programme, and that planning for next year would begin more or less straight away.

The stalwarts who surfaced on Monday morning the 19th, to take care of the site clearance, were the same core team as always, and they deserve not only a special vote of thanks but an undertak- ing of more support next year from volunteers. If you are a member reading this and would like to support the 2014 event – or any other events in our calendar – please contact one of the trustees and join the organizing team.

A final note: had both days been as bright and well attended as Sunday the 18th was, this year’s A Catalina if flight during a Duxford air show. event would have undoubtedly covered its costs easily and produced a respectable surplus for reinvestment into our operating costs and projects. As it was, gate receipts, donations and RAF DUNKESWELL. 70TH ANNIVERSARY of OPENING. 17/18 AUG, 2013

THE SWAHT SALES POINT

The allocation of a dedicated SWAHT sales point within the Main Marquee and locating it close to the main WI Refreshments area ensured there was a good footfall of visitors in the sales area. Tent furnishings consisted of three folding tables for placement of items for sale and 2/3 chairs at the rear from which the sales persons could conduct their activities. A banner with large SWAHT letters was displayed above the tent entrance to announce the pur- pose of the alcove. Diana Scorer brought her own clean table cloths and David C-A brought flags for the front decora- tion of tables. Items for sale were collected beforehand in cardboard boxes and were arranged by Diana on the tables in an attractive manner. Diana also brought essential stationary items and wrote out explan- atory captions and sale prices on display cards. Used books were displayed on the tables and in boxes laid on their sides in an attractive manner alongside the donated items. Sale of Programmes with a Raffle ticket for a flight on the vintage Beech Aircraft was done careful- ly. A contact name and a phone number of all buyers was written onto the ticket counterfoils. When the ‘Wings and Wheels’ event commenced at 10:00 hrs on Saturday - sales were modest due to the poor weather and few visitors. On Sunday the sun shone and sales improved with the increasing visitor numbers. By early afternoon the ‘Wings and Wheels’ event was buzzing and sales of all items were flourishing. The two persons selling programmes and Tickets were fully oc- cupied. When the Draw for the Winners was announced – all the available programmes in the tent had been sold.

Proceeds from the Sales tent were handed directly to The Treasurer, After deduction of the ‘Float’. £245.20

Late Sales after the Air Flight Raffle - handed to Patricia Knowle. £19.50

At the SWAHT Nissen Hut Meeting –Wed 4th Sept Diana Scorer handed to Treasurer -a packet of misplaced coins from the sales days. £15.00

Total Sales £279.70

Diana Scorer & David Chapman-Andrews

SWAHT Members – ‘Wings and Wheels’ Sales

PS. A note to all SWAHT members.

PLEASE start gathering together some items such as Air, Navy, and Military books etc, into a box in preparation for the next SWAHT event. PUBLICATIONS

Out of Dunkeswell, published by South West Airfields Heritage Trust, 2010 Price £7.50

Illustrated is the front cover of ‘Out of Dunkeswell’, published by the Trust in 2010 in its second edition, with additional material by Trustee and our News- letter Editor, Dave Steel. It sells at £7.50 (£5.00 to Members). It tells the story of the anti-submarine units which operated from RAF/NAF Dunkeswell during World War II, and represents very good value for anyone interested in the subject.

USAAF antisubmarine units played a minor role in the Battle of the Atlantic, but made a far greater contribution in assisting British forces on patrol in the Bay of Biscay. To reach patrol areas in the Atlantic from July 1940 until October 1943, almost a year after the USAAF ceased antisubmarine opera- tions, most German submarines sailed from four French ports through the Bay of Biscay.

Approximately 300 miles from north to south and 120 miles east to west, the Bay of Biscay was a relatively confined transit area that could be patrolled by long-range aircraft flying from bases in Britain. RAF Coastal Command, in charge of Britain's aerial antisubmarine effort, patrolled the bay and was subsequently joined first by the USAAF Antisubmarine Group and subsequently by the US Navy's Fleet Air Wing 7, which replaced it.

Both organisations flew versions of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator (PB4Y-1 in US Navy service) and operated variously from RAF in Cornwall, RAF Dunkeswell and RAF Upottery in Devon. The book draws on historical material from various sources under the authorship of Mike Jarrett, Bernard Stevens and David Steel.

Mudville Heights, by David Earl, 2011

Price £16.95

This paperback - published by its author, David Earl - presents a well- illustrated picture of life at Dunkeswell during WW2. The base opened under the control of the RAF, but was populated mainly by USAAF and later USN personnel. Responsibility for the base eventually passed from the RAF to the USN and it became the only designated US Naval Air Facility in the UK.

Conditions on-base were far from adequate, with roads and paths around the living quarters just a sea of `mud`. It was those conditions, combined with harsh winters that resulted in the nick-name “Mudville Heights". As one crew member put it "The name just kinda stuck!".

This well illustrated book tells the fascinating story of the air- and ground- crews resident at WW2 Dunkeswell, with first hand accounts from the men who served there.

This book is now unavailable at Amazon but it is still advertised at waterstones.com DVDs

The Airman - Memorial Sculpture Unveiling at RAF Exeter

On March 27th 2012, the Mayor of Exeter, and the Head of Devon County Council, together unveiled a life-size bronze sculpture of a WW2 fighter pilot by local artist Frances Margaret. The event was the culmination of years of effort by a small group within the Trust led by Robin Gilbert and, thanks to David Chapman-Andrews, was captured on video. David has compiled his footage into an edited programme that includes clips from WW2 operations at RAF Exeter and published it on a commemorative DVD.

Available through our web-site at £10.00 or contact [email protected]

The South West Airfields Trust – D-Day 60th Anniversary 2004

Copies of this DVD are still available at £5.00. All proceeds will go to the 70th Anniversary Event being planned for 2014.

Upottery Airfield Memorial Dedication

Copies of this DVD are still available at £5.00 each. All proceeds will go towards the 70th Anniversary of D-Day Event being planned for 2014.

Contact e-mail addresses We have had a bit of a revamp of the contact addresses we use for members and officers of the trust. This is to make it easier and a little more logical to contact us. Chairman: [email protected] Anything to do with events: [email protected] Membership: [email protected] The Website: [email protected] Publications: [email protected] This Newsletter: [email protected] Research and Historical information: [email protected]

We will be adding more addresses as and when we sort them out. Any general en- quiries please send to either the chairman or newsletter addresses. They will be dealt with. The last page

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Finally don’t forget to visit our web site www.southwestairfields.com

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The South West Airfields Heritage Trust Unit B24 (WW II Flight Office) Marcus Road Dunkeswell Airfield Devon EX14 4LB

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