SUMMER 2016 No.6 K E N T MUSEUM YEARS OF HISTORY

W/CMDR./CMDRRR.. TOMOM NEILL DFC*DFFCFC AFC AAE at RAF Hawkingee - EXCLUSIVE!E!

THE LEGENDARYRY RENEENENE MOUCHOTTEOUCHOTTETE SPECIALPECIAE AALL REPORTEPPORTT By JAN LEEMINGG By SIR DAVID JASONONN AT THE MUSEUMM

THE OFFICIAL BATTLE OF

BRITAIN MUSEUM ANNIVERSARY1 EDITION £7 MAGAZINE K E N T B A T T L E O F B R I T A I N M U S E U M M A G A Z I N E

Edion No. 6 Spring/Summer 2016

OR this special edition to mark the 50th Leeming agreed to take time out of her busy whose stunning colour plates of RAF and F anniversary of the Museum we’ve been schedule to send in her feature article about Luftwaffe aircraft appear in the book. If you overwhelmed by the kindness of many con- the Free French pilot Rene Mouchotte. I had visit The Armoury at the Museum the original tributors who sent us unique articles in honour visited ‘The Wing’ Building at Capel -le -Ferne artwork by the talented Mr Roffe is on display of not only ‘The Few’ of the Battle of Britain earlier this year when Jan gave an illuminat- and well worth admiring for its detail. but our own ‘Many’ who over the decades ing talk about her connection with Rene and On the Home Front there’s been great sup- dedicated their time and efforts to ensure the the story of how she felt inspired to make a port from author Ann Kramer who writes and Museum’s vast collection of artefacts from film about him must be read. lectures on the Land Army. I just had to in- 1940 became the best in the world. On the subject of great films I hope to be able clude in this special supplement an article We also thank the advertisers who continue to report back soon on Gerry Johnston’s new about ‘Spitfire Mary’ - the wonderful Air to support this magazine as they too always documentary about the life and times of the Transport Auxiliary First Mary Ellis acknowledge the years of hard work and dedi- Irish fighter pilot ace ‘Paddy’ Finucane. who along with her colleagues helped deliver cation which has gone into the making of Thanks to Gerry this magazine contains a 309,000 aircraft from factory to RAF airfields today’s exhibition at Hawkinge, Kent. great article about ‘Paddy’ and some rare throughout the war. Mary herself flew 400 I only had to ask Battle of Britain ace and photographs. Spitfires and 76 different types of aircraft. author Tom Neil DFC* As many readers know we have been running Indeed it was Mary’s friend Carolyn Grace AFC AE once about helping me to launch this a series of articles about the pioneering Terry who owns the famous two -seater ‘Grace Spit- special supplement and ever the gentleman he Parsons who has excavated more than 900 fire’ who flew Sir David Jason over the White jumped in like a flash and sent in his exclu- aircraft from the Battle of Britain and World Cliffs of Dover when he was filming a special sive article about his memories of RAF War Two. Many of the artefacts he has found tribute to ‘The Few’. Hawkinge during the war. Thanks too to his since the 1960s are on show in the Museum. Sir David kindly gave his permission to use lovely assistant Dr Margaret Clotworthy who During our interviews Terry has told me how an article he wrote about the Battle of Britain helped to arrange this. I hope as many of you many of the early ‘diggers’ at the forefront of and there’s some cracking photographs and as possible will make a note in your diary to aviation archaeology relied on a book called interviews too which accompany his feature visit Wing Commander Neil at the Museum ‘Battle over Britain’ written by former RAF including comments from Battle of Britain on August 14, 2016. He is due to be there that pilot Frank Mason. This book was known as legend - Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM. day signing his wonderful book ‘Scramble’ the ‘Bible’ and contains a wealth of detailed Indeed so many people are owed a huge debt and copies of the Kent Battle of Britain Muse- information about RAF and Luftwaffe crashes of thanks, and with the help of Museum Trus- um magazine. of 1940. tee Tony Parslow and several other early pio- Also happy to write for us in this important It is at this point I extend great thanks to neers including Terry Parsons and Tony anniversary year for the Museum is the amaz- historian and author Martin Windrow Webb I have within the pages of this supple- ing Dr Helen Doe whose father Wing Com- who as a young man in the 1960s had the ment been supported in the recording of the mander ’Bob’ Doe DSO DFC* along with his privilege to work with Frank and edit ‘Battle history of the Museum and we have published friends the late great Wing Commander ‘Bob’ Over Britain’. On pages 60 - 63 he pays trib- many names of those past and present who Foster DFC and Squadron Leader Kenneth ute to Frank and thanks to Museum Trustee built a Museum collection to be proud of. ‘Lucky’ Lusty AE, had visited us in the past. Richard Windrow (Martin’s brother) we pay Thank you to one and all. It was wonderful when BBC broadcaster Jan our respects to aviation artist Michael Roffe Editor

KENT BATTLE OF BRITAIN MUSEUM TRUST C O N T E N T S Aerodrome Road, Hawkinge, Kent CT18 7AG W/Cmdr. Tom Neil DFC AFC AE Telephone: 01303 893140 ‘RAF Hawkinge’………………………..8 - 9 www.kbobm.org ‘Bandits Approaching’…………..10 - 11

Sir David Jason reports………….12 - 17 EDITOR The Museum Then and Now…18 - 36 MELODY FOREMAN MCIJ Ulrich Steinhilper of the Luwaffe 37 - 40 Find us on FACEBOOK An early excavaon………………41 - 43 ‘Kent Battle of Britain Museum Magazine’. Hell’s Corner 1940 by HRP Boorman

44 - 45 Contact: Discovering Heinkels and The Yanks [email protected] are coming……………………………46 - 49 Telephone: 07876 018243 The Museum……………………….. 50 - 57 Remarkable …………………58 - 59 Copyright: Melody Foreman MCIJ. Kent Bale of Bale of Britain 75th Anniversary Sgt. ‘Bill’ Green of No. 501 Squadron. Bale Over Britain………………..60 63 Britain Museum Trust. - picture spread………………………78 - 79 All rights reserved. Reproducon in any manner, in W/Cmdr. ‘Bob’ Doe….…………..61 - 65 Spiire Mary………………………..80 - 83 Spiire 80th Anniversary whole or part is forbidden without the consent of Museum Notebook……………….66 - 67 News Digest………………………...84 - 85 Book Reviews………………………… 96 the Editor. French pilot ace Rene Mouchoe The Observer ……………..86 - 87 In the Kitchen with Dolly Dilnot 97 We would like to point out every effort is made to 68 - 73 The Women’s Land Army……..88 - 93 Bale of Britain Crossword……..98 ascertain the copyright details of all photographs. ‘Paddy’ Finucane…..………………74 - 77 Scramble’s Logbook……………..94 - 95 Reader Offer………………………….100 5 ‘Fifty-plus bandits approaching from the south-east. Angels 17’

By

Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC AE

HAD been with 249 Squadron I at North just a day or so before I was scrambled towards Hawkinge in my Hurricane in the afternoon of September 3, 1940. An excerpt from my memoir ‘Scramble’ ( Gun Button to Fire ) reads: ‘I was on the 'state' when we all came to Readiness in the early morning of 3 September. The weather was brilliant with little more than an early morning mist and I had a new aircraft, V7313. I thanked God that it was- n't an 'L’ or ’N’ series - I was fed up with them. 56 Squadron's air- craft were newer than ours proba- Copyright: Tom Neil bly because they lost them a good deal more quickly! I had no par- ticular feelings of excitement or HURRICANE PILOT: W/Cmdr. Tom Neil on a sortie during the Battle of Britain. concern, just the proper degree of eagerness. right with Percy Burton on his The plots were still building up, it Patrol base this time. Crikey! That We stood or sat around a large left. We took off in a wild rush seemed. An unspoken thought: didn't sound so good. unlit stove in the crew -room. towards the east and I found the were we too early? And in the I raced across the grass to my Waiting. An airman occupied the masts floating past my left shoul- right place? Time would tell. position on John Grandy's right. tiny office by the entrance and der while climbing up. Not so bad We wandered about, lances lev- Then, full throttle, 3,000 revs, and manned the telephone. From time after all. elled. Ready. Waiting. off again. Wheels up - I didn't to time, a bell would ring and we Patrol Chelmsford, we were in- spread out beneath us - the Black- even look. The masts drifting past. would all hold our breath as it was structed. Enemy plots were build- water, the east coast, and to the Climbing like hell. The squadron answered. As the weeks passed ing up - twenty, then forty, then south, the line of the Thames. strung out. Cutting corners and we grew to hate that telephone. fifty plus! We were being posi- Visibility at height, a million catching up. Climb! Climb! Hell's But other less urgent messages tioned as a precaution. miles. The Huns seemed to be bells! We couldn't climb any fast- were passed as well, particularly As we laboured up, I switched on taking a long time, though. Round er. My throttle lever at full stretch. before a major raid when Sector my gunsight, adjusted the intensi- once more. And again. Being up -front, I was all right, but Ops would inform us that plots ty of the red graticules, set the We had been airborne almost an think of the poor blighters behind! were building up over France, wingspan adjuster to sixty feet hour when the order to pancake From Sector: 'Fifty plus bandits providing us with a picture of the and turned my gun button to 'Fire'. was given. What a sell. We approaching from the south -east. general situation. The difference I then leaned forward and 'pulled dropped down quickly towards Angels 17.' between operating in the Middle the plug' - the device which over - base. Well, at least we would have We clawed our way up, my en- Wallop and North Weald Sectors rode the boost governor mecha- been in position if they had decid- gine raging. Through 7,000 feet; was most noticeable; at North nism. Nothing much happened to ed to come. Better that than being 10,000. Up to 12,000. Flying Weald, we were invariably kept the boost but at least I knew I was too late. roughly east. informed before the event and having all there was. My engine at We landed, taxied in quickly and Then, above and at eleven o'clock, controlled with understanding and 2,600 revs was quite smooth. I the bowsers lumbered forward to ack -ack fire. Faint brown smudg- helpful information throughout always flew at 2,600 revs except hook up and begin refuelling. My es. Pecking. More ack -ack. Blos- the interception. At Middle Wal- in combat when conventional airscrew tottered to a standstill. soming. A growing cluster of it. lop, we were frequently given just wisdom had it that 2,850 pro- Crew members in the wing -roots. Everything in slow motion. Then, the scramble instruction, after duced a better performance. 'Everything all right, sir?' New aircraft ! In the middle of all the which - silence! There were prob- We climbed hard, turning slowly, faces, but eager and smiling. puffs, Huns! Oh, God! Masses of ably perfectly good reasons for the whole squadron lifting, falling 'Fine!' Turn round quickly, was them! ' Tallyho !' My eyes glued to this, but they cut no ice with us; and leaning in slow motion. Eve- the urgent instruction. We needed them. Fascinated. Growing closer. we were concerned only with the ryone together. In position. There no persuading. My own aircraft Clearer now. Large ones in the quality of service. was no cloud worth mentioning was full but some of the others front and in the middle. Others At 9 a.m., the squadron was but I was too busy keeping station weren't when the air -raid siren like flies, stepped up and behind. scrambled. I was in the leading to be scanning the horizon or be began its banshee wail and our Thousands, it seemed. And there section of three on John Grandy’s much concerned about the enemy. second scramble order came. were only twelve of us! 10 We were below them and to the south. The Blackwater was in the background and they were head- ing due west. We turned slowly to the left, climbing hard still. I could see them properly now; the were Dornier 17s, the fighters Me 110s. Forging steadi- ly ahead. Through the flowering puffs of ack -ack. Taking no no- tice. Oblivious. The CO said in a tense voice: 'Steady GANER squadron', and I was aware that I was the outside aircraft on the right of the for- mation looking up and to my left towards the bombers and above and to my right for the 110s. The 110s close now. Very close. PILOTS OF 249 SQUADRON IN 1940: From left to right - Percy Burton, ‘Butch’ I could see them clearly. Some sort of coloured markings on the Barton, Gerald Lewis, ‘Ozzie’ Crossey, Tom Neil, John Beazley, John Grandy, nearest aircraft. I was going to George Barclay and Keith Lofts. This picture was widely distributed among the pass right underneath! If they Luftwaffe as representing the type of RAF pilot they were up against’. chose to come down now we were finished. Close. Turning to position. Urgently. Rocking, bou - Things quietened down. Gradual- constantly, the sky vast, and blue, the left still and going hard. But I ncing, and with tilting wings. We ly. Nothing much happened until and empty, the sun a golden ball. couldn't hit any of the bombers flew around. The sky suddenly the afternoon. News began filter- Down towards the south coast. from here! They were the im- clear. Magically. Then the 'pan - ing through. We were warned of bogeys high portant ones, to heck with the cake' instruction. We began to let The Ops room on the airfield and up but did not see them. Then we fighters! Right underneath now; I down. But I hadn't fired! Not a other buildings had been badly did. A few. Me 109s, probably. could reach up and touch them. single bullet. I turned my gun damaged, one of the hangars, They were very small and fast so Why on earth weren't they com- button to 'Safe'. massively. Someone said that couldn't be anything else. I had ing down? My head bent right By the time we were back in the some of 25 Squadron's Blenheims never seen a 109 before. I was not back. One 110 suspended above circuit, much of the smoke and had been burned out but we were in the least apprehensive, just me - I could see its airscrews dust had disappeared. All that too far away to see. We all felt enormously interested. rotating. remained were scores of large fine and not the least bit upset, Very far south now. Over Dover. Then, wings flashing. My leader molehills on the grass. There had although some of the chaps who Away below, the ring of the har- turning on his back. Other air- been other damage, too, and lives had not been flying and who had bour mole and balloons. News of craft diving. A moment of utter lost, but I was aware only of the been forced to take shelter when more aircraft and ack -ack smudg- surprise and panic. Mustn't be need to get down and the business the bombs had come down, hadn't es. Pretty close, too. Were they left! I tumbled after them in pur- of finding space on which to land. liked it very much. The noise and shooting at us, I wondered? Silly suit. What was happening? Were We flew in from the direction of blast, more than anything. A terri- blighters! I didn't see any more we being attacked? I kept screw- the masts, in rough sections of ble din. aircraft, probably because I was ing my head around but could see three, and touched down across I found it all vastly interesting, as too busy keeping station. Fairly nothing. My Hurricane dropping the concrete and on the grass, though witnessing some epic film buzzing about, rocking this way like a stone, dust rising from weaving gently between the bomb performance. But, I hadn't been and that and on tenterhooks for around my feet, my head pressed -holes. As they raced past, mostly killed, had I? Or injured? fear of being jumped. This Hurri- against the roof of the cockpit. to my left, I watched them quite Later, the sun still shining, dis- cane of mine wasn't too bad. Other aircraft to my left. Diving dispassionately. There was no persal was a hive of industry and Quite good, in fact. I would see if like hell, then pulling out. Hurri- problem, no one was the least bit some of the holes were being I could hang on to it. canes! I joined them. John concerned and we all landed safe- filled in. Some bombs had not We turned and retraced our path. Grandy's aircraft. But I hadn't ly and without incident. gone off. We had lunch. Talking Back over Kent. Round again in fired! I hadn't had time to fire! Within twenty minutes, all twelve like mad but not finding it diffi- wide circles then up and down The RT and a voice from below. Hurricanes had been refuelled and cult to eat. There was another before finally heading north to- High pitched with excitement but were ready for off. On the airfield scramble in the early afternoon - wards the river and losing height controlled. 'We've been hit GAN- itself, there was activity. The Maidstone -Canterbury patrol line, over Essex. Home! We'd been up ER squadron, but we're all right.' shock passing, life was returning was the shouted instruction. I had a long time - one hour and forty I looked over the side. To my to normal. Jolly good job the only a rough idea where Maid- minutes. Bit of an anti -climax, surprise, we were directly over bombing had not occurred the day stone and Canterbury were so I though. Still. Back in dispersal, North Weald and far below, the before; my poor parents could just followed my leader. my crew told me that one of our whole aerodrome was hidden well have been killed! The bombs We climbed up steeply over the chaps had just crashed on touch - beneath a huge, spreading grey - seemed all on that side of the Thames and to the left of the huge down and that his aircraft had brown pall of smoke and dust. aerodrome. Two hangars had been pall of smoke -haze that was Lon- caught fire. What, one of ours? They'd bombed us! The airfield! hit, we were told. We could see don. It was my first time over Now? I hadn't seen it. Sergeant The blighters had bombed our smoke from a distance but had not London and Kent. The river had Rowell, a voice said. Damaged airfield! It never occurred to me the time to go over to the far side more kinks in it than I expected by ack -ack, it appeared. By ack - for a moment that we might not of the airfield for a closer inspec- and was silver in colour, the estu- ack? Probably those clowns at be able to land on it. tion. Nor, indeed, did I particular- ary stretching away to the east Dover! I looked up. Far above, aircraft ly want to. into mist and oblivion. Below to For the first time I noticed that were turning away northwards. We collected. Excited. Discuss- our right, were masses of bal- one of the hangars was in a terri- Were they the bombers? I could- ing. The Tannoy system was out loons. More than I had ever seen ble with the remains of a n't see. Join up! I looked about. I of action, apparently. The water in my life. Blenheim looking like a fish's was in a formation of sorts. More mains, too. No washing! Someone We went south, the air electric skeleton the cat had left… Hurricanes were surging into laughed. The small boy’s dream. with tension, my head turning TOM NEIL 11 ALL EYES ON THE SKY

The Lord Dowding Hangar in the Museum houses a splendid display honouring the gallant efforts of the ever -watchful Observer Corps in 1940. In this report compiled by former Chief Observer 25 Post, Linton, Kent LES BURT and his Royal Observer Corps colleague Museum Trustee TONY PARSLOW we learn the history of an organisation that proved an essential aid to the RAF towards the end of World War One, throughout World War Two and the .

Y the start of World War One it was After the Armistice was declared in1918 B recognised that there would be air considerable reductions were made in all attacks on the south east and in 1914 Spe- forces and Air Defence particularly suffered. cial Constables were appointed in order However in 1922, after pressure on the gov- that they would contact London if they had ernment, it was agreed to increase the money spotted any aircraft overhead. But sadly available and in 1924 Ashmore was com- there was no co -ordination between this manded to re -form the ‘Air Observation’ auxiliary operation and it did not help the system. anti aircraft gun efforts and not a single In August -September that year with Ashmore had been shot down. in charge, Special Constables were manning In May 1915 a single Zeppelin penetrated ten posts set up in central Kent from Cran- at night to the east end of London and brook to Tenterden with a control centre at caused casualties. Cranbrook Post Office. To test the efficiency In June 1917 twenty Gotha bombers, in of this of men an aircraft flew on a daylight, bombed London and suffered no special course covering all Posts and was casualties. Later the Staaken Giant aircraft plotted with speed and accuracy. Ashmore’s appeared as well. scheme proved a great success. As a result of public outcry an In 1925 two Observer Groups were formed. officer named Major General Edward One centred at Maidstone with 27 Posts and Bailey Ashmore CB, CMG, MVO (1872 - the other at with 16 Posts. Subse- 1953 who also had RAF Wings and once quently, after the system was proved other commanded a ’ wing, groups were formed and by the beginning of was appointed to be the one Commander 1939 the whole of the country was covered for the defence of London until he retired with the exception of Wales and parts of in 1940 but then became an officer in the Scotland. Group Headquarters were mainly in Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) which large requisitioned buildings. During the peri- MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD ASHMORE: later became the Home Guard. During his od from 1925 until 1939 and then during the Head of the ROC during WWII. service he formed the Observer Corps into ‘’ advantage was taken to perfect an efficient organisation and also helped in the Observer Corps as a serious defence or- the formation of the ROC/RAF plotting ganisation. acked in great strength and thus the Battle of tables and manoeuvres. On the declaration of war in September 1939 Britain began. The Metropolitan Observation Service, an the Observer Corps was immediately mobi- During the Battle of Britain the Maidstone early information service, was extended by lised to a full time twenty -four hour service Headquarters of the OC was reporting direct- Ashmore and a similar method of opera- and put on a war footing, but still a volunteer ly to RAF Biggin Hill Fighter Sector; each tion evolved that was incorporated when unpaid service. observation post making its reports to a plot- the Observer Corps was formed. (The They saw immediate action in the English ter seated around a large table where they Observer Corps was awarded the title The Channel from Suffolk to as aircraft were plotted by the uses of magnetic plaques Royal Observer Corps by His Majesty attacked coastal shipping and this continued across the map table. The tracks were then King George VI in April 1941) for a long period. reported to the RAF SectorOperations Room By July 1917 London Air Defence Area At that time Radar was operational but was from where the necessary operational orders (LADA) had been formed with Ashmore still developing, and was responsible for plots were issued to fighter stations. A display in command. Proper co -ordination was over the nearer parts of Europe. The Observer illustrating the system is on show today in the arranged between the Observation Service Corps was responsible for the continuation of Kent Battle of Britain Museum and can be and the gun and aircraft services. the Radar tracks from over the sea and all seen in the Lord Dowding Hangar. It was During a Gotha raid in daylight all aircraft tracks originating over this country. created by Trustee Tony Parslow. were turned back. After this setback they From the Observer Corps’ Operations Rooms During 1940 it was London that eventually only flew at above 10,000 feet under cover this information was given to RAF Fighter became the Luftwaffe’s main target and the of darkness. Centres, Fighter Stations and adjacent OC capital was heavily bombed. This phase con- All aircraft and gun belts were extended operation rooms with two way communica- tinued until the middle of September when and by 1918 they covered large areas tion. Information was also given to the Home the Germans gave up daylight bombing and round outer London, small areas stretching Office, AFS, ARP. As the air war developed started night bombing; London at first and up the east coast to Colchester, and two this list was increased by local arrangements. then their deadly raids were inflicted upon areas across Kent from to In July 1940 the hostile air activity increased other cities throughout Britain. Herne Bay and Margate to Folkestone. with coastal ports and some inland targets Thus the Battle of Britain ended and Hitler The last German air raid took place in attacked in the south and east. At night targets gave up any idea of invading England as he May 1918. were widely dispersed and plotting by sound had not totally destroyed the RAF. As you see the bombing of London began was introduced and proved successful in giv- Subsequently in April 1941 the Observer in 1917 after an early period of peace, in a ing the track, height and number of aircraft. Corps was officially praised for its services similar manner to the 1939 -1945 war. In August airfields in the south -east were att - and the King approved the Corps should be 86 BADGE AND FLAG: The Royal Observer Corps emblems representing an organisation which took part in the defence of Britain until the end of the Cold War in 1991. officially known as the Royal Observer Corps. The next phase of the air battle began on Sep- tember 17 when fighter and fighter bombers swept inland at a height of 20,000 ft. over Kent and towards London. At the time radar at this height was not reliable and the ROC provided tracking information. The RAF found difficulty in interception due to the height and speed of the raiders but eventual- ly improved their methods and the intensity of these attacks passed. German night bombing increased, and spread, and was only stopped when the invasion took place in 1944. As the training of pilots increased ROC posts near high ground were supplied with "Granite" which were ground flares. These were lit when an aircraft was approaching high ground as a warning. Other Posts nearer the airfields "Darkie" were fitted with radio sets by which observers could communicate with damaged bombers returning from a raid and gave them directions to the nearest airfield. When the invasion was planned it was recog- nised that aircraft recognition was not good in the Navy or Merchant Navy and the ROC were requested to supply 796 volunteers as "aircraft identifiers" to serve on various ships. No air- craft were to be fired on unless agreed by the identifier. All volunteers wore a shoulder flash Copyright: Melody Foreman "SEABORNE" which they retained when they returned to their Post. The arrival of "Doodle Bugs" (V1) on April PROUD: 18, 1944 led the ROC Headquarters to give HRH Prince Michael of Kent studies the Museum’s Royal Observer instructions about the enemy using Pilotless Corps display with Trustee Tony Parslow during a royal visit in 2015. Aircraft. When the first attack was recognised the code word "Diver" was to be used. On June reduced and on May 12 came "Stand Down" 13, the first V1 was reported by the Dymchurch after nearly six years of voluntary continuous Observer Post. From there on the ROC was wartime service from a total of some 1400 deeply involved in the tracking and destruction posts and control rooms. of the V1. The V1 was also released by aircraft. On June 24, 1945, ‘Battle of Britain Sunday, By September 1944 the V1 activity slowly at a Royal Observer Corps march past at RAF ceased as the invasion proceeded. The part North Weald the ROC received their official played by the Royal Observer Corps was colours. In fact by the end of hostilities the praised. Corps was stood down until 1947 when it was When the Rocket (V2) attacks began it was not reformed to deal mainly with the threat of the possible to do anything but attack their launch- low level raider that could reach under the ing sites. radar screen; the Corps continued to exercise In the VI building at the Museum today it is in this peacetime role of aircraft reporting possible to see an original German flying bomb until 1955 when training began in an addition- and there is also model on show of a VI launch al nuclear role. The ROC was in action site built by top military modeller and Museum throughout the Cold War and was stood down Trustee Richard Windrow. in 1991 . Les Burt As the invasion regressed ROC activity was Tony Parslow 87