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

ISSUE No.11 April 2012

www.southwestairfields.com The Editors column

I’m sorry to say that this is the very first “Control A range of interesting talks are on the cards Tower” for 2012. So my most humble and grovel- again this year, Steve Parsons has provided a ling apology for this. My only excuse is the lack provisional timetable. of material to put in here. Mind you after much nagging I am beginning to see some! Finally the same plea from the last THREE is- sues. We can’t forever rely on John Gregory OK end of moan! There is a lot of things happen- and his prolific pen for material. He needs a holi- ing this year and with luck this time next year day now and then! the Trust should be seeing some of the long term projects heading to their climax. I need stories, articles, information, anything of interest please, please, please. The building at Upottery is slowly coming togeth- er, may well be useable around summertime. E-mail it, scribble it on a bit of paper and post it, The command centre at Dunkeswell is progress- put it on the blog section of our website, just let ing, the only hold up now is the cash to buy the me have them. It is so much easier to produce place. A minor detail! one of these if you have material to put in it. Robins heroic work has finally got the monu- ment for Exeter Airport made and installed, the unveiling is on 27th March. More about this in For updates on this and many other things Robins bit later. please do go to the web site at www.southwestairfields.com. We are joining with the Devon Strut in putting on th th Dave Steel an aero rally at Dunkeswell on 14 and 15 of [email protected] July. It is all in the planing stage at the moment but we should have an interesting and varied collection of displays on the airfield. Do put it in your diary and we hope to see everyone there. Any volunteers to help?

In this Issue

Ÿ John Gregory - Can you help? Ÿ A visit to the Battle of Britain bunker at Ux- bridge - Mike Venn Ÿ A visit to Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial- Museum Ÿ A membership form for you to fill in and send to us. Ÿ Robins Bit Ÿ John Gregory - An Afternoon In August - some additional information. Ÿ John Gregory - Wings Over The South West. Ÿ Steve Parson - Timetable of Talks etc. Provisional Timetable of Events 2012

War talks are beginning again!

The 3rd Monday of the month at B24, 7pm prompt. April till September

The first on 16th April “Reasons for the Homeguard & their Role” by Arthur Cook The second 21st May “Conflict in Malaya” by Steve Chinook M.B.E.

The rest of the program is to be confirmed

Costs; £3.00 Non-members, £2.00 Members. (This covers tea/coffee & Biscuits) All proceeds go to SWAHT. Please bring a friend or two.

Do you like war films?

If you do and would like to share your favourite film then why not contact Steve Parsons on 01404 46118 and we will set up film club where we will arrange to screen the film. After we can have a quick why it is your favourite and discuss its strengths and weaknesses and whether it is pure Hollywood or has some historical merit.

Aero Rally at Dunkeswell 14th & 15th July

We are joining with the Devon Strut in putting on an aero rally at Dunkeswell on 14th and 15th of July. It is all in the planing stage at the moment but we should have an interesting and varied collection of displays on the airfield. Do put it in your diary and we hope to see everyone there. Any volunteers to help?

More information will be published in the next edition of The Control Tower and on the website.

For any further information on any of the above contact Steve Parsons (01404 46118) Chairman’s Chatter

As the weather warms up and we enjoy some unaccustomed sunshine (and showers of course), a pause for reflection on the last twelve months suggests we made some significant progress in pushing forward with major projects. 2012 promises to be even more eventful for us, with a good programme of events, talks, and other activity coming together.

During the year we welcomed a small number of very important Patrons to the Trust, who can add valuable guidance in achieving our aims and objectives. In the UK, these were Baroness Browning, Sir Grahame Watson, MEP, and Prof Richard Overy, Professor of History at Exeter University. The southwest has a very strong association with the USA based on wartime activity at Dunkeswell (the only designated US Navy Air Facility in the UK), Upottery, and other airfields in the region that hosted American operations. We are very fortunate therefore to have Florida-based Dr Richard Hallion, for many years Head of USAF History, and latterly a Special Advisor to the US Department of Defence, join us as a Patron.

Our main event of last year – the ‘Wings and Wheels’ weekend at Smeatharpe - was very successful despite the weather. We were pleased to see some of the cast of the ‘Band of Brothers’ TV series sharing our event with their 10-year reunion and, with a large attendance from WW2 re-enactors and their vehicles and equipment the historical quality of the occasion was to a very high standard. I am pleased to report the event made a surplus for the Trust, and the much needed funds will be reinvested back into this year’s programme. We have decided this year to join forces with the Devon Strut division of the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) and thereby add to the flying activity; the event will be held at Dunkeswell this year. Planning is well under way and further details will be appearing on the web-site and in subsequent newsletters – put 14-15 July in your diary!

Our programme of talks last year was ably coordinated by trustees Steve Parsons and Gary Tame, and the subject matter was varied and interesting. When the British Legion in Honiton closed its doors we lost a very good venue and this year the talks are taking place in the Trust’s HQ at the B24 Flight Office at Dunkeswell. Gary sadly left us as a trustee towards the end of last year and moved north to Lancashire. We wish Gary well and hope he will stay in touch. Steve in his inimitable way has taken on the responsibility for this year’s talks programme - single-handed for the moment.

Early this year we signed a long-term lease with the owner of Cherryhayes Farm at Smeatharpe for one of the Nissen Huts used during WW2 by the residents of RAF Upottery. Under a previous arrangement, we had been involved in arranging finance for re-skinning the Hut, and once the lease was signed we began the long process of renovating it for use as an archive and learning centre. Mike Venn, our Vice-Chairman, is leading the project with help from Robin Gilbert, and an enduring memory of mine as the project got under way will be the sight of a mid-septuagenarian energetically wielding a pneumatic drill as though cutting butter! As I write, the Hut is secured and weatherproof, and plans are in hand for fitting out during the course of this year.

Excitement mounted in the Trust during January, as the life-size bronze sculpture of a sergeant-pilot commissioned by the Trust for the Exeter Memorial Project was created from its clay original. Robin Gilbert, ably assisted by consultant Beryl Pym, worked closely with the local sculptress, Frances Margaret and the management team at Exeter Airport. Support was freely given by the RAF Museum who provided actual flight clothing to guide technical accuracy, and sponsorship was led by Devon County Council donating £20,000, with other significant donations from the Polish Air Force Association, East Devon District Council and the City of Exeter. Altogether sufficient funds were raised to cover almost all of the costs. I say almost all as some funds are still to be received by our Treasurer, Neil Hurlock.

This project has taken some seven years to complete and the unveiling at Exeter was carried out on 27 March by the Lord Mayor of Exeter and the Chairman of Devon County Council. An extraordinary commitment over the years has been made by Robin Gilbert in bringing this project to a successful conclusion, and he and his support team have set a clear standard for us to keep up.

Our aim to acquire and renovate the Operations Block at Dunkeswell is not making as much progress as one would have hoped. The Heritage Lottery Fund provid- ed mixed messages last year and in the event we learned we would have to seek funds for the property purchase elsewhere – this is being pursued. Given the other activities demanding time and effort, fund-raising has proceeded slowly, and more resource is needed to accelerate the project. In this respect, our aim is to achieve some significant revenue from the summer event at Dunkeswell and concentrate on a target of 2013 to secure the property and funding for renovation. We are being helped with planning and fund-raising by Paul Lumkin, a very experienced local consultant, and we have reached agreement in principle with the cur- rent property owner as to price. More on this as the year progresses….

We arranged successful visits last year to the RAF Uxbridge Command Centre and to the FAA Museum at RNAS Yeovilton. This year we attended the reopening of the Victoria and Albert Museum in Exeter, and The memorial at Exeter Airport thought is being given to a two-day trip to the Imperial War Museum at RAF Duxford later this year.

Last year was the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbour and the entry of the US into WW2. Closer to home the 70th anniversary of the opening of RAF Harrowbeer near Plymouth took place, and the Trust went along to support Harrowbeer’s special interest group. As we progress through the com- ing decade, there will be other anniversaries relevant to our historical purpose in the region, and plans are afoot to commemorate the events they represent. More on these over the coming months, but to participate in or even lead such commemorations requires time and effort typically on the part of the same small team of dedicated members, their families and friends who willingly devote their time and effort.

Membership of course is the life-blood of the Trust and we are still short of members and volun- teers. Please encourage your family members and friends to take an interest in what we’re doing and help us to expand the Trust. The benefit after all is to the community as a whole.

For those existing members not yet actively involved I encourage you to help with some of the planning and organizing. Don’t hesitate to contact me or any of the Trustees with ideas or com- ments on the Trust and its activity.

Graham Weller - Chairman April 2012

Visit to the ‘Battle of Britain’Bunker RAF Uxbridge

Early in December Robin, myself and 2 other SWAHT mem- bers had the privilege of visiting the bunker at Uxbridge, and what an experience it turned out to be. We were the only visi- tors that day and were given a VIP tour of the museum. Not only did we see what has been restored, to as near as could be achieved, to how it was during its operational days of the Battle of Britain, which is normally shown to the public, we were also shown the workings, such as the generators (still in working order), the air conditioning system and the telephone exchange. All these are not normally on the tour due to Health & Safety rea- sons. The Bunker is about 70 to 100 feet underground, and isn’t obvious as a building, except for a few steps lead- ing down to an old steel door which, once inside, leads down about 70 steps to the operational chamber- known as ‘the Hole’ to those who worked there. It was constructed in a very short time, between February and August 1939, just 10 days be- fore war was declared. RAF Uxbridge has a very long and distinguished history from 1918 to “The Hole” at RAF Uxbridge 2010, but very little was known of this bunkers existence, and that remains today. I have friends who live on part of the old base – now a housing estate- and are not more than 300 yards from the bunker, and they didn’t know of its existence. If you have a chance to make a visit to this very important site and collection of RAF history, which undoubtedly served London and the rest of the country during the Battle of Britain, do go along. Entrance is by appointment only and is FREE.

Contact Battle of Britain Operations Room Museum on 01895 815400

By: MIKE VENN. Can you help...?

These three photographs were amongst several received recently from a resident of Taunton in Somerset, a town fairly close to Dunkeswell. They were said to depict a fire at the base during 1944 and our collective memories seem to recall such an incident at the MT servicing bay. Can you add to our sparse knowledge and, if possible, identify some of the personnel shown.

John Gregory An Afternoon in August.

In previous editions of “Control Tower” we pub- ed to Lt. Joseph Kennedy. It bears an inscription lished, in serialised form, the story of Special Air in French, a translation being: Unit 1 and the operation against the German V-3 gun emplacement at Mimoyecques in the “To the memory of Lt. Joseph Kennedy and his Pas-de-Calais area of northern France. This crew of the U.S.A.F. which disappeared on 12th August 1944 in the course of a bombing mission on Mimoyecques”.

The museum is situated just off the D249 road, between Landrethun-Le-Nord and Leubringhen,

Naval Aviation Cadet Joseph Patrick Kennedy during pri- mary flight instruction at NAS Squantum, Massachusetts on 15th. August, 1941.

mission took place during the afternoon of Satur- day, 12th August, 1944 and claimed the lives of Lts. Joseph Patrick Kennedy and Wilford John Willy when the Consolidated BQ-8 they were flying...a PB4Y-1 stripped of unneces- sary equipment and loaded with explo- sives, being intended to be remotely con- trolled to the target, Memorial at Mimoyecques to Lt. Joseph exploded prematurely Patrick Kennedy over Newdelight Wood, near Blythebor- ough. to the northeast of Marquise. It is intended to re-open for the 2012 season on Over recent years, 16th April, 2012, admission charges being €5.50 the site at Mimoy- for those over 16 years of age; €4 for those un- cques has been Lt. Wilford John Willy. der 16 and no charge for those under 6 years. opened as a museum under the name “For- NB: The Museum authorities have been advised tresse de Mimoyecques”. Limited access is that the mission was a US Navy matter with available to the remaining underground work- both the crew and the aircraft being from the US ings with some of the caverns and tunnels hous- Navy rather than the US Air Force. Regrettably, ing exhibits and dioramas. Memorials have it would seem unlikely that the inscription can be been included to those who gave their lives dur- changed. ing the wartime attacks with one solely dedicat- By: John Gregory In this edition of “Control Tower”, we begin an occasional series of articles under the title “Wings over the South West” and detailing some of the aircraft which were operated from the airfields in the area coved by the Trust. To start, we have chosen probably the most iconic of British World War II aircraft, the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire...the aircraft which came to epitomise Britain’s fight- ing spirit. Wings over the South West.

Despite the number of restored World War II his condition deteriorated and, although he was aircraft extant, either preserved in museums or to live to see the placing of the first production flying on the air show circuit, only a handful order for 310 aircraft, valued at £1.25M, he died have any connection with the Devon airfields. before the first of these flew. However, the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire equipped several squadrons stationed in Devon, Considered by some to be too beautiful a de- during and after the war. The aircraft’s designer, sign to be a harbin- Reginald Joseph Mitchell, was the eldest of the ger of death and five children of a Stoke-on-Trent schoolmaster. destruction to its ad- Leaving school in 1911 at the age of 16 years, versaries, the Spit- he was apprenticed with a firm producing rail- fire was the only way locomotives. During his apprenticeship, he allied fighter aircraft attended night classes in mathematics and engi- to be in production neering drawing, even installing a lathe in his continually through- bedroom. out the war with 20,334 being pro- In 1916 Mitchell became personal assistant to duced in a variety of Hubert Scott-Paine, the works manager and marks and variants. soon to be managing director of the Superma- Additionally, some rine Aviation Works Ltd. on the River Itchen at 2,000 of the naval Woolston, Southampton. The Company special- version, the Seafire, ised in the building of flying boats and Mitchell were also produced. was involved in the design of a number of them. In 1919, he became Chief Designer and was The Spitfire is a low- also appointed Chief Engineer of the Company winged cantilever in 1920 in succession to F. J. Hargreaves. In monoplane of all- Silhouette of Vickers 1928, when Vickers (Aviation) Ltd. assumed metal monocoque con- Supermarine Spitfire control of Supermarine, he was appointed Chief struction with a flush- VB taken from recogni- Designer and a Director of the Company, retain- riveted stressed skin tion handbook dated ing this post until his untimely death through can- covering. The fuse- 1942. cer on 11th. June, 1937 at the age of 42 years. lage is constructed around transverse frames and four main lon- During the early 1930’s, Mitchell had worked on gerons with an Alclad skin, the foremost frame a number of design proposals for a single seat being a fireproof bulkhead with the wing spar day and night monoplane fighter for the Royal center section built into it. The entire empen- Air Force, the designs passing through a num- nage is built as a separate unit with the fin built ber of major changes before the Spitfire was integral with the rearmost portion of the fuselage. conceived. The prototype made its first flight at The main undercarriage units retract outwards Eastleigh, Southampton on 5th. March, 1936 into apertures in the wing and the cockpit is fully powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin C engine of enclosed with a sliding transparency. 1045 hp with Captain Joseph “Mutt” Summers, the Chief Test Pilot of the Vickers Group at the The wing, built on a single spar, is elliptical in controls. Apart from a slight swing on take-off, shape with pointed tips and a dihedral across the aircraft behaved faultlessly and provoked the entire span. The skin forward of the spar is Summers to make the comment on landing, covered with a heavy-gauge light alloy with the “Don’t touch anything”. Mitchell, already a very surface aft of the spar skinned with a lighter sick man, was delighted. Over the next months, gauge. being delivered, on 16th. August, to No.3501 As might be expected of an aircraft in production Servicing Unit at Cranfield, this unit servicing for a large number of years, the Spitfire was con- aircraft being transferred from operational fight- tinually modified and its capabilities enhanced er squadrons to second-line units, such as the as more advanced adversaries appeared and Operational Training Units. the aircraft was employed on further and varying roles. The RAF Form 78 Aircraft Movement Card indi- The Mark 1 aircraft of 1938, with a maximum cates that the aircraft was issued to No. 504 weight of 5780 lbs., was fitted with the Merlin III (County of Nottingham) Squadron at Church engine which developed 1030 hp, giving a Fenton just two days later. However, as No. 504 speed of 365 mph. By 1940, development of the was based at Manston at this time and was any- Merlin had resulted in the Merlin 45 which devel- oped 1470 hp and endowed a top speed of 374 mph to the Mark 5C at a maximum weight of 6780lbs. The airframe also was subject to alter- ation and by 1944 had been adapted to take the Rolls Royce Griffon engine, the Mark 21 achiev- ing 420 mph with a 2050hp Griffon 61 installed at a maximum weight of 9200lbs.

Returning to the earlier days of the Spitfire, as the threat of war came closer the type was hur- ried into production with several aircraft manu- facturers beginning to produce the design under licence. One of these companies was Westland Rare wartime colour photograph of a Spitfire VC se- Aircraft at Yeovil in Somerset and coming from rial EE768 and coded NN-Y of No. 310 (Czechoslo- their production line was a Spitfire Mk. VC which vak) Squadron, returning to its blast pen at Exeter had been allocated the RAF serial AR501 and after an escort mission in 1943. which became closely associated with the South West of England. thing but a “second-line unit”, the entry is consid- ered erroneous. Perhaps confirmation of this The aircraft was first delivered to No.8 Mainte- opinion can be taken from its allocation to the nance Unit, a civilian-manned aircraft storage Churchstanton Station Flight on unit, at Little Rissington on 22nd. June, 1942 20th. August, 1943. Later in this year, RAF before arriving at No.6 MU, another storage unit, Churchstanton was to be renamed RAF Culm- at Brize Norton on 7th. July, 1942. Twelve days head. later on 19th. July, the aircraft was delivered to RAF Exeter having been allocated to No. 310 With the build-up to the invasion of Europe be- (Czechoslovak) Squadron where it was painted ginning within 2nd. Tactical Air Force, the air- with the squadron code letters of NN and the craft was transferred to No. 312 (Czechoslovak) individual letter A. The squadron was based at Squadron at Ibsley on Exeter between 7th. May, 1942 and 26th. June, 16th. October, 1943, remaining with this unit 1943 and had previously been equipped with until 27th. February, 1944 and bearing the the Hawker Hurricane. squadron's code letters of DU. Early in 1944, No. 312 began converting to the fighter-bomber role For part of its time with Nol. 310 Squadron, the and received the first of a complement of Spit- aircraft was assigned to Sqn. Ldr. Frantisek “Dol- fire LF.IXc on 20th January, 1944. AR501 found ly” Dolezal DFC, the unit’s commanding officer. itself next allocated to No. 442 Squadron, Royal This officer was promoted to Wing Commander Canadian Air Force. This unit, previously No. 14 and appointed to command the Czech Wing lat- Squadron, RCAF and stationed in western Can- er in the year. During 1943, it sustained damage ada, had arrived in the UK on 1st. February, which resulted in it being taken back to the Yeo- 1944 and was assembled at Digby where it was vil factory for repairs which were completed by renumbered on 8th. February and equipped with 3rd. July, 1943. The aircraft was delivered back the Spitfire Mk. 5 initially, relinquishing these for into No. 33MU at Lyneham on 17th. July before the Mk.IX version on becoming operational as part of 144 Wing within the 2nd. TAF, in prepara- months, most of these were sold as scrap but, tion for the invasion. fortunately, AR501 was selected as an instruc- tional airframe for use at Loughborough College After almost two years of operational flying and of Technology, being delivered there by road on as, generally, the Mk. VC was being supersed- 21st. March, 1946. In 1961, the airframe again ed by later marks, AR501 was finally relegated became redundant and, despite the intervening to second-line duties with a transfer to No. 2 fifteen years of attention from students, was Tactical Exercise Unit at Grangemouth on 30th. found still in very good condition. It was donated March, 1944. This was a day-fighter and fighter- to the Shuttleworth Trust and was delivered to bomber training unit, equipped with some 50 Old Warden airfield in Bedforshire. early-mark Spitfires and had been re designated from No.2 Combat Training Wing on 15th. Octo- The aircraft remained dismantled as delivered in ber, 1943, after the Wing had been formed from store until 1967 when Spitfire aircraft were being No. 58 OTU on 5th. of that month. sought to appear in the semi-documentary and epic film, “The Battle of Britain” and virtually ev- Had a German invasion occurred, the aircraft of ery Spitfire in the UK and elsewhere was in- this unit would have been formed into two new spected and assessed for suitability. On survey, Squadrons, Nos.558 and 563, each with 18 air- AR501 was deemed to be in such good overall craft and based at Turnhouse, Edinburgh to de- condition as to be readily restorable to airworthy fend against any attacks by the enemy across condition. A rebuild was undertaken and the air- the North Sea. Already the concept had been craft was placed on the UK register of civil air- tested between 19th. and 23rd. October, 1942 craft as G-AWII. when “No. 558 Advanced Training Squadron” On conclusion of filming, the aircraft again was had been mobilised at Ayr in a combined opera- stored, on this occasion at the Royal Aircraft tions exercise at Largs, Scotland. Establishment, Thurleigh in Bedfordshire. Some five years later on 7th. May, 1973 it was moved The aircraft was further allocated to No. 1 Tacti- by road to Duxford where it was restored to fly- cal Exercise Unit at Tealing on 28th. April, 1944. ing condition with the first post-restoration flight In a similar manner to No.2 TEU, No.1 had been being made on 27th. June, 1975. The aircraft re designated from No. 1 CTW on 1st. January, now appears in an authentic 1942-style RAF 1944 to provide operational training for fighter camouflage scheme and again bears the serial and fighter-bomber pilots, the Wing having been AR501 and code letters NN-A of No. 310 formed from No. 56 OTU on 5th. October, 1943. (Czechoslovak) Squadron as when originally based at RAF Exeter. It is currently based at On 4th. July, 1944 AR501 again moved units, Old Warden airfield in Bedfordshire with the this time to No. 61 OTU at Rednal. With about Shuttleworth Trust and is maintained in flying 70 Spitfires on strength, the unit would have condition. formed Nos. 561 and 565 Squadrons, each with 18 aircraft and moved to Woodvale in the event of a German invasion. With No. 61, the aircraft again suffered damage on 9th. September, this time being repaired by Air Service Training Ltd. between 22nd. September and 23rd November, being delivered after repair to No. 33MU at Lyne- ham on 2nd December, 1944 for another period of storage until 24th. April, 1945 when it was issued to the Central Gunnery School at Catfoss, a unit tasked with improving the standard of RAF air gunnery.

With the war in Europe ending on 8th. May, 1945, AR501 quickly became redundant at CGS and it Spitfire VC serial AR501 and coded NN-A photo- arrived at the civilian-manned No.29 MU at High graphed in 2005 by D. Stewart. Ercall on 26th. August 1945, joining many other early mark Spitfires in storage. Over the next By: John Gregory Exeter Airport Monument

On March the 27th sixty-seven years after the end of the Second World War a memorial will be un- veiled at Exeter Airport, in recognition of all those who served there during that period.

The South West Airfields Heritage Trust has campaigned for this since 2007 to enlighten those visiting the airport of the important role that this airfield had played during WWII having been taken over as a military airfield.

The monument will consist of a life sized bronze statue of a Battle of Britain pilot standing on a hex- agonal plinth scanning the sky for his missing comrades, this will be situated in a grassed area by the entrance to the short stay car park. Frances Margaret a local sculptor from Otterton, whose family had close connections with the air- field during the war, carried out the commission.

In addition to the sculpture the sloping sides of the plinth will carry informative plaques giving an introduc- tion and a brief history. One plaque will be retained for credits and completed sometime after the ceremony.

The Devon County Council were first approached after the sale of the airport, to see if they would provide some funding from the proceeds. This was eventually agreed at £20,000. Additional funding came from The Polish Air Force As- sociation with £8,000 and Exeter City Council are con- tributing £5,000. Other contributors include the Sir John & Lady Amory’s Charitable Trust, Arktis Ltd Exeter. RAF Harrowbeer 70th anniversary event, Allhallows Museum Honiton. National Service Association R.A.F. Clyst Honiton Parish Council

Individual donations and funds raised by the Trust for this project currently account for another over £3,000; the Trust is also temporarily committing some of its general funds. The short fall from the original estimated budget has mainly been compensated by the generosi- Our pilot being worked on at the Foundry. ty of a number of Devon based companies, led by Paul Clay who runs a family business Classic Gates and Railings near Exeter, who aided by his suppliers, Dyfed Steels South West, Kentisbeare, South West Galvanizers Limited, Crediton and 1st Choice Finishes, Exeter have provided the plinth and undertaken the installation free of charge. This will be done under the watchful eye of Dean Smith a director of W.T. Partnership who has co- ordinated the entire on site construction in cooperation with the airports engineering manager, M/s Hannah Jones. Dean has also donated his services free of charge. Devon Minor Works of Exeter carried out the foundation work and Mrs Beryl Pym of Venn Ottery has acted as an independent management consultant for the Trust.

The trust acknowledges that with out this additional practical help the project could not be complet- ed at this time. Many other people have contributed with advice and guidance each in their own way helping to fulfil this tribute. Our grateful thanks go to all that have been involved.

Robin Gilbert A Visit to Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum By Steve Parsons

On 29th February 2012 I received a proposal from a lady at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, to come along and check out the new look of the museum. Also bring along a dozen members of SWAHT.

So I duly made a few phone calls and found some SWAHT members interested in taking advan- tage of the kind offer.

Strangely all went well up to arriving as we didn't know what to expect or exactly what was happen- ing, still we bumbled through and enjoyed the millions that have been spent to enhance the RAMM and bring it up to date.

Now I have visited the RAMM many times in the past and no doubt will in the future, But! As some of you already know, I love military history in all its forms, but the history of WWII in particular. Now maybe my view is tainted by my obsession for that period. The space which is devoted to what looked to me, to be one of the major features of the re-development of the museum, consists of a few sheets of an Anderson shel- ter made to look like a bomb shelter and a display cabinet Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter of feeble articles, none of which reflect that poignant time (except the babies gas mask!).

Allhallows museum in Honiton, in my opinion, has a much better war display, as well as home front memorabilia (PLUG).

A display cabinet of 1945 to the present day was a mish-mash of segmented articles without a time line or any obvious connection, quite an enigma! (not the famous machine).

However I would be lying if I said I did not enjoy my trip to the museum and I would recommend a visit for its many other inter- esting and varied exhibits.

From the comments made during the return bus trip, I think the outing was enjoyed by all and when I get the chance I will be taking my grandchildren there.

A wartime babies gasmask.

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