RAF Sawbridgeworth – Humble Beginnings.

September 2, 2024September 2, 2024 / Aviationtrails / 3 Comments

In Hertfordshire (Trail 25) is a small long, gone airfield that was once home to a number of squadrons including both 2 and 4 Squadrons RAF; two squadron that went on to operate, for many years, in Germany post war.

It is an airfield that its origins in the First World War. It struggled with poor weather, exceedingly bad drainage and was one that developed not through careful planning, but more the luck and perseverance of its station commander.

With remnants of its part still remaining, we take a look at the former RAF Sawbridgeworth.

RAF Sawbridgeworth

RAF Sawbridgeworth, also known as Mathams Wood and RFC Sawbridgeworth, was originally constructed as a second-class night landing ground during April 1916. After considering three sites in the area, Sawbridgeworth, a 31 acre site to the west of Shingle Hall was chosen, the reason being it had good approaches, was flat and had a main public road running alongside it.

Facilities at the ground were limited however; there were no hangars and only a small wooden hut with an occasional tent was provided in cases of bad weather. Any aircraft landing due to difficulties or damage, could have minor repairs carried out, but little more than that. As a result, staffing at the site was also minimal, manned by just one RFC officer and a handful of civilians who would carry out repairs and maintenance to any aircraft using the site. Whilst based here, the primary role of the RFC Officer was merely to provide signals to landing aircraft by using flares laid out in the form of an ‘L’ with the longer leg pointing downwind.*¹

Sawbridgeworth was small, only being intended to take aircraft from 39 Sqn, a home defence unit who were currently based at nearby North Weald, and who were activated to combat the Zeppelins flying in from Germany to bomb targets in southern and eastern England.

It was indeed Lt. Leefe Robinson of 39 Sqn who attacked and shot down the first Zeppelin over British Territory on 2nd September 1916. Called the ‘Cuffley Zeppelin’ after the village near to where it crashed, Robinson was immediately awarded the Victoria Cross for his action on that night, an honour not bestowed lightly.

Wreck of the German Zeppelin L 21 at Cuffley, Hertfordshire (IWM Q73672).

The squadron was initially formed with its headquarters at Hounslow, and had two Flights – one based at Hainhault Farm, and the other at Sutton’s Farm – both part of the Home Defence force, and were directed to protect London from Zeppelin attacks from the north-east coming across the Wash and down through East Anglia.

In August, the Headquarters were transferred to Woodford in Essex and a third Flight established at North Weald Bassett. The three Flights were then merged to form 39 Sqn RFC. The squadron would indeed primarily attack Zeppelins, but records show they also attacked a number of German Gothas also used to attack the capital..*²

Little use was made of Sawbridgeworth however, and in November 1918 it was closed as a landing ground, the site quickly reverting to its former agricultural use.

For almost 20 years the site remained in this form, until 1928, when a small gliding club was formed at nearby Shingle Hall Farm. It would turn out to be a short -lived venture however, ceasing to operate within a year or so. But despite this, all was not lost, and in 1933, a ‘Great Air Pagent’ took place in which fifteen aircraft paraded past a growing crowd who had come to experience the thrills and spills of flying. The Pagent itself, was part of a wider programme designed to tour the country raising money for local hospitals, and successfully visited 180 towns and cities across the country, being seen by over one million spectators. *³

Led by Mr. Charles W. A. Scott, AFC, the famous airman who held the world record for his flight from England to Australia, the event was to specifically raise money for a new wing at the Bishops Stortford Hospital, and would showcase a range of daring flying stunts to amaze the gathered crowd. The event was a great success, and a new wing was indeed opened at the hospital as a result. Also taking part was one of the more notable aviators, Pauline Gower, who would later go on set up the Women’s Section of the Air Transport Auxiliary in 1939.

However, there was no further flying activity at the site after the pageant, and no further aviation interest was shown in the area, until after 1934 when a beacon was located on the south side of the field.

Then, with tensions rising on the continent, it was decided to begin training troops in preparation for what may lie ahead, and in order to do this, a new landing ground was needed in the vicinity. However, due to developments in aircraft design, size and power, the site at Shingles Farm was determined too small and not able to accommodate the new types of aircraft coming through. To remedy the problem another area just a short distance away, was then chosen as the new site. *¹

The new site lay between Shingle Hall Farm and a wooded area known as Matham’s Wood, (seen on 1/4 inch map sheet 9, Ref:L 9137) located to the north-west of the farm, and was larger in area then the previous site used. The Ministry obtained it in 1937, and it was passed directly to the control of Army Co-Operation (AC) Squadrons, commanded by the 22nd Army Co-Operation Command. It would immediately become an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG).

Designated Matham’s Wood ALG, Army Co-Operation units, in particular, 2 (AC) Squadron, would operate with Army units, under operational conditions, simulating what it would be like for the troops to perform in times of war. These training operations would later become fundamental in the training of SOE agents who would be transported into occupied Europe to work with numerous groups including the French Resistance. Whilst the site was only used intermittently, it nevertheless set the seeds for the growth of the site into the what would become Sawbridgeworth airfield.

The former Grocery store.

2 (AC) would remain the primary user of Matham’s Wood arriving in June 1940 after their retreat from France earlier in May. Whilst on the continent, they were attacked on many occasions by the advancing Germany forces, receiving as many as 75 bombs in one attack alone. In support of the Allied retreat to Dunkirk, they carried out sorties both over the town itself and over the advancing German front lines; eventually being forced to pull back to England and Bekesbourne in Kent, where they initially made their new home.

On June 15th 1940, Matham’s Wood ALG officially opened with its first ‘resident’ units, and was referred to as Sawbridgeworth Advanced Landing Ground for the first time. Flt Lt. P. Edinger was the Officer in Charge, who would oversee two Flights on rotation in conjunction with a third Flight then based at Hatfield. With them, were the associate section 5 A.I.L and a photographic section with their trailer. In support of operations, a range of appropriate night flying equipment was also transported over to the airfield.

The move would also see the requisition of Blounts Farm on the southern side of the airfield – this would be used as the Flight Office. Crew accommodation however, would once again be rudimentary at best – initially tents being the main form of accommodation for anyone stationed here.

Over the next few months various tactical flights would take place in conjunction with numerous Army Units, many of these involving the Lysanders of 2 (AC) Sqn ‘dive bombing’ the ground troops or performing mock gas spraying attacks. This rather deadly weapon was kept stored at various airfields around the country including Macmerry in Scotland and were a back up to thwart any invasion attempt made by the Germans.

Later, at the end of July, the bulk of 2 (AC) Sqn was divided, one Flight moving from Hatfield to Cambridge, leaving the other two Flights at Sawbridgeworth. This meant that ‘C’ Flight, now at at Cambridge, would operate under HQ 2 Corps, whilst ‘A’ and ‘B’ Flights left at Sawbridgeworth, would operate under XI Corps. This move, whilst minor in itself, was the next step forward in establishing an airfield here at Sawbridgeworth. For the next few years 2 (AC) Sqn would operate out of Sawbridgeworth, spending in some cases days or even weeks at a time at other airfields as part of their operational role. This would be a regular occurrence until mid 1944 when they finally departed and moved onto the continent following D-day.

Following the defeat of the Allied forces in France and their retreat from Dunkirk, the fear of invasion was now high, and tactical reconnaissance sorties were flown daily over the coast and inland water ways looking for intruders. Lysanders of the two units based at Sawbridgeworth carried out many of these flights, photographing areas of coastline stretching from The Wash in Norfolk, to the Thames Estuary in the south.

Fearing that Lysanders were no match for enemy fighters, Wing Commander Geddes of 2 (AC) Sqn, put in a request for fighter aircraft for the Squadron to support any action that may be needed. The Boulton-Paul Defiant was identified as a possible model, and so flight trials began, trials which continued well into September.

The crews at Sawbridgeworth, still residing in temporary accommodation, were given a ray of hope on September 11th, 1940, when the Great Hyde Hall, a 15th Century Manor House, was requisitioned for the billeting of 2 (AC) Sqn personnel; because of its size and location though, it would be destined to become a temporary Station Headquarters and the Officer’s Mess.

With this increasing use, Sawbridgeworth ALG was gradually growing and developing into an airfield in its own right. This was largely through luck more than careful planning, and was mainly due to the efforts of the Commanding Officer of 2 (AC) Squadron, Wing Commander A. W. Geddes.

It was Geddes who made another step forward when he met with the Section Officer, No. 10 Works, on September 20th, 1940 to discuss further improvements to Sawbridgeworth. These talks were very fruitful and the future of the site began to look more promising.

During all this, operations continued with co-operation and reconnaissance flights occurring regularly. The use of gas in these training sessions was a high priority as there was a fear that the Germans would use such a weapon themselves, or that if the invasion came, the Lysanders would be ordered to use it as well. To meet the demand for training, supplies of “S3D” gas were constantly forthcoming, with 650 Gallons of the type arriving at Sawbridgeworth at this time*⁴

October 1940 began with a parade and the awarding of the DFC to Sgt. J. Clark by Air Vice Marshal C.H.B. Blount CB, OBE, MC; after the parade, the AOC went on to inspect the ‘airfield’ including the Great Hyde Hall, to see how it was being used following its requisitioning earlier on. On the same day, Brigadier Withington of XI Corps also visited Sawbridgeworth, examining the few huts now on site to check their suitability for a possible aerodrome guard, a cookhouse and possible accommodation blocks. These visits were all seen as positive steps for the airfield.

Remains of a building located in Mathams Wood.

By now, the airfield had gained the attention of the Luftwaffe, firstly when a Ju 88 crashed nearby at Bishops Stortford church, exploding on impact, and secondly, a few days later on 8th October 1940, when two parachute mines were dropped in the grounds of Hyde Hall causing damage to the windows, but thankfully without causing any casualties.

Another major move then came on October 9th, when the first permanent members of 2 (AC) Sqn moved in, a move that was followed five days later, when nearby Townsend House was taken over by the Equipment Section, and immediately turned it into a stores block.

On the 20th, nine more bombs fell, this time they hit the cricket field of Great Hyde Hall, but with little overall effect except perhaps, to disrupt the challenge of playing matches. In all these attacks, no one was hurt nor any major damage sustained, but each bomb brought the front line that little bit closer to home once more.

December came and Christmas approached adding a little merriment to the routines of airfield life. It was a worrying time for the cooks though, as the cook house located in the Assembly Hall in Sawbridgeworth itself, burnt down. A new cookhouse was quickly set up within the Great Hyde Hall, and was duly opened on December 24th just in time for a much welcomed Christmas dinner the following day.

Part 2 continues with the development of Sawbridgeworth. The full story can be read in Trail 25.

RAF Hunsdon – The end of the Turbinlite (Part 2)

March 9, 2024March 9, 2024 / Aviationtrails / Leave a comment

In part 1, we saw how Hunsdon was developed and how the new Turbinlite system was developed. However, things don’t quite go to pan the system falls doesn’t meet expectations.

After taking on Hurricanes IIB/C at Martlesham Heath in April, 3 Squadron arrived at Hunsdon from Stapleford Tawney, and like 85 Sqn, would remain here until mid May 1943, when it took its Mosquitoes to West Malling.

Pilots and aircraft of 3 Sqn would make their first appearance at Hunsdon on the 2nd August 1941 when twelve pilots arrived to practice formation flying with crews of the special Havoc Flight created earlier in May. These initial twelve would be followed by another twelve on the third, and then ten more crews on the sixth. The two squadrons would perform practice night flights together, formation flying and ‘dog fighting’ tactics with drogues. By the 10th, the bulk of the squadron had moved over leaving only a detachment both at Manston and Shoreham, where crews undertook both dawn and dusk patrols over southern England and over enemy airfields looking for bombers either landing or taking off.

Hurricane IIC, BD867 QO-Y, 3 Sqn, at Hunsdon. The exhausts have shields over them to help prevent them being seen whilst on night fighter operations. (@IWM CH 3509)

The combined practice flights would take Hunsdon’s 3 Sqn and the Turbinlite Flights aircrew well into the summer and autumn of the following year, progress being marred by continuing poor weather. GCI (Ground Control Intercept) training and formation flying between the two units took up the majority of the time whilst they were here, however, both dusk and dawn patrols in their Hurricanes gave the pilots of 3 Sqn a little respite from the routine of formation flying with the two Special Flights.

September 1941 then brought the second of the two Special Flights to Hunsdon. On the 20th, 1459 (Fighter) Flight, the penultimate of the ten, was formed here also operating both Havoc Is and Boston IIs, Fs and IIIs. The last of the Flights to make up the ten units would follow just after, being based in northern England at RAF Acklington.

It was quickly found that the Turbinlites not only had a lack of firepower, but poor speed as well, so they were soon demoted to being used solely as a searchlight platform with 3 Squadron’s Hurricanes taking over the main role of interceptor.

With the formation of a new squadron at Croydon, 287 Sqn would have detachments spread far and wide including one here at Hunsdon. Staying here for virtually the entire war, they would fly a range of aircraft including: Blenheims, Hudsons; Lysanders; Hurricanes; Masters; Defiants; Martinets and Spitfires. Even as a detachment flying support flights, they were the longest resident at Hunsdon but never achieved the same status as many of those that were to be based here.

After the turbulence of 1941, 1942 would initially bring a much calmer time at Hunsdon, with less movements in or out of the airfield, although staff changes did cause problems for some units. Changes were initially relatively small, the first of which wouldn’t come until the July of 1942, when a small detachment of 605 Sqn Bostons arrived. After being reformed the month before, at RAF Ford, the small group remained here until mid March 1943, when after taking on the Mosquito, they transferred to Castle Camps in Essex.

605 had previously been posted to Batavia where the majority of ground personnel had been captured by enemy forces. Those that were left were posted to various units and the squadron disbanded. Its reformation at Ford would be a slow process, but gradually it would receive both men and aircraft, accepting machines from 23 Squadron as it also eventually took on the Mosquito.

Whilst based here at Hunsdon, they would primarily carry out training, performing cross country flights, searchlight co-operation flights and gunnery practice. Navigation also came under scrutiny with logs being examined by the squadron’s navigation officer. By the end of August though, all was well and the personnel returned to Ford thus reuniting the entire squadron once more.

As was the case with many other airfields, training and support flights also used the same airfields, training pilots in new and more modern ways to fly. Hunsdon was no different, and in August a new Flight fulfilling this role was created here at Hunsdon. 1530 Beam Approach Training (BAT) Flight, who were formed specifically to train pilots to land in the dark, or poor weather, using a ‘beam’ (formally blind approach) or radio system. They remained here for some time eventually moving to Wittering where they were disbanded later in 1944.

It would also be in August 1942, that Hunsdon’s resident 85 Sqn would take on the Mosquito, the MK.IIs being a major change from the Havocs previously used. It would only be a trickle of aircraft at first, with just a small number of the ‘Wooden Wonders’ being received by the month’s end.

The trickle continued into September as did the nightly Havoc patrols. On the 7th, Sgt. McCormick sighted what he believed to be a Ju. 88, and closed in for the attack. After following the aircraft he managed to close to 150 feet at which point he opened fire on the starboard engine which quickly caught fire. The aircraft fell from the sky and was later seen burning on the sea below. It was confirmed not as a Ju. 88 but as an He.111 distinguished by its fixed rear-firing machine gun in the extreme end of the fuselage.

September 1942 then brought yet more change. At this point it was decided to raise all ten Turbinlite squadrons to squadron status. The date decided upon was September 2nd 1942. However, due to administration problems, only five could be raised on that date, the remaining five being raised six days later on the 8th of the month. By then, all ten Turbinlite training Flights had been disbanded and reformed as operational squadrons.

With that, 1451 became 530 Sqn on September 8th and continued to operate from Hunsdon, whilst 1459 became 538 Sqn and was relocated to Hibaldstow.

The reformation meant that flights were initially curtailed for 530 Sqn. The poor September weather then added to the issue meaning that flying was at best sporadic. Two further support Hurricanes soon arrived for the squadron taking the total available to four. But their arrival did not ease the situation, the poor weather and other factors continuing to dominate operations to the point that little operational flying took place at all.

October fared little better. More poor weather combined with the fact that three of their four Hurricane pilots (all American), were transferred to the US Army Air Corps, meant that 530 Sqn was unable to progress the way it had hoped. It had been a very poor start for the operational Turbinlites.

By November there were a total of eight Hurricane pilots, some of which had transferred in from O.T.Us, but all were lacking night flying experience. As a result, they were rushed through a night flying course at Hunsdon and were passed as ‘operational’ by the month’s end. However, the problems did not end there. Formation flying in good weather was considered difficult and in visibility of 2,000 ft or less, impossible. This meant that the required number of night flights were not being made which held back all operational flights. Compounding this, continuing bad weather had by now turned the ground very soft and a number of aircraft were getting bogged down in the mud. In addition, whilst aircraft serviceability was generally good, a few had experienced wrinkling of the skin over the air frame and were now awaiting an inspection before being allowed to fly. By now, the crews must have been wanting 1942 to draw to a very quick close.

And to a close it came. December brought rumours of the demise of the Turbinlite squadrons causing uncertainty amongst the personnel. Continuing bad weather had curtailed all but the most urgent of flights. Lectures prevailed bringing escape tactics and Luftwaffe organisation information up to date. A new Havoc was brought in for testing with a new windscreen deicing system, unfortunately this was found unsatisfactory, so a new hot air method was suggested by the squadron and tested under the same conditions. This proved much more successful.

Christmas celebrations then kept the personnel occupied and were ‘livelier than expected’ primarily due to the inclement weather. Crews in the meantime being kept on standby in case the weather turned and operations became necessary again.

The battle headquarters.

With New Year 1943, came the news that the Turbinlites were indeed being disbanded. Of the ten squadrons formed, only five made successful enemy intercepts – Turbinlite was not a great success and as a result, on the 25th January, 530 Squadron along with all other units, ceased to exist and all personnel were scattered amongst other squadrons.

The end of the Turbinlites meant that Hunsdon only had two operational units at this point, both 85 and 3 Sqn continuing to fly from the airfield when they could. The early part of the year, brought considerable fog and cold weather, the fog preventing flying on many occasions, which hampered test flights for 3 Sqn on their new Typhoons when they arrived in February.

By mid May though, both these units were to depart also, 3 Squadron transferring to West Malling, with the Mosquitoes of 85 Sqn joining them soon after, but not until after a very important ceremony.

The full story of RAF Hunsdon can be read in Trail 25.

RAF Hunsdon – The beginnings of Turbinlite (Part 1)

March 2, 2024January 27, 2024 / Aviationtrails / 4 Comments

In Trail 25 we head to the south once more, to the west of Harlow, and to two wartime airfields; one of which played a major part in striking a blow at the very heart of the Nazi regime.

The county of Hertfordshire is an area popular with commuters to both London and the technological towns of Harlow and Bishops Stortford. Being north of London, it is also close to Stansted airport, itself an ex World War II airfield. Hertfordshire has some beautiful countryside, delightful little villages and quaint country pubs. It is also an area with a wealth of history.

Our first stop is a small airfield nestled in the heart of this beautiful countryside. It is situated north-east of the village that gives it its name, RAF Hunsdon.

RAF Hunsdon

The Hunsdon Village sign reflects its history and links to the RAF.

Even before Hunsdon was built, it is referenced in some areas that the site was being used for a detachment of 107 Squadron Blenheims, then based at RAF Wattisham and later Leuchars. This may have been part of the ‘Scatter’ directive given to squadrons in the immediate period before war was officially declared, and was thought to occur between May 1939 and March 1941. However, there are no references to this in the official squadron files and so this action is doubted. However, if this were the case, then it would certainly suggest an early use of the site before it was developed into a fully operational airfield, and it may have been an indication that an airfield was on its way in the near future.

The site was earmarked for development in 1940, with construction occurring over the period October 1940 to March 1941, after which the first squadron moved in. It was built by various construction companies and incorporated two asphalt runways; the main running east-west reaching 1,750 yards in length after its later extension, with a second running north-east to south-west extended to 1,450 yards; both were built to the standard 50 yard width. Aircraft dispersals, maintenance and storage buildings consisted of eighteen ‘twin-engined’ hardstands; sixteen blister hangars (a mix of ‘Over’ (4) and ‘Extra Over’ (12)) and a Bellman hangar. There was also a fuel dump and accommodation buildings for up to 2,240 airmen and some 276 WAAFs, all located across eight dispersed sites.

A large number of operational units, (in excess of twenty-five) would pass through its doors throughout its relatively short life, providing Hunsdon with a multinational mixture of crews and a number of aircraft types.

The airfield itself lies within a stone’s throw of London and so its initial role was that of night fighter operations covering London and the south / east area.

The first recognised squadron to make its mark at Hunsdon was 85 Squadron on May 3rd 1941, transferring across from RAF Debden flying Defiants and Havoc MK.Is. The move across on the 3rd went smoothly with personnel and equipment being transferred across in lorries and 32 seat busses, the majority of personnel arriving later that day.

The Parachute store now holds farm machinery.

On arrival at Hunsdon, personnel of ‘A’ Flight were immediately billeted on the aerodrome close to their dispersals, whilst those of ‘B’ Flight were housed on Number 2 Site, located about a mile or so from the main airfield area. Personnel of both the Headquarters Flight and the servicing Echelon were billeted even further away, about four miles in fact, at Gilstone Park. The officers meanwhile, had the better accommodation, being billeted in a house called ‘Boningtons’ believed to be the former home of “Mr. Brooke Bond” the family of the P.G. Tea empire. It is thought that the family purchased the house in 1940, moving out of their London residency to avoid the blitz. Unfortunately, it was rather a short lived purchase as the property was requisitioned by the RAF not long after!

By the end of the 4th, all 85 Sqn personnel were in and unpacked at Hunsdon, and so night flying duties could commence straight away with patrols taking place over the Felixstowe area. Immediately, a Heinkel He.111 was vectored onto, and a skirmish took place in which both aircraft both gave and received machine gun fire. The Luftwaffe bomber came off worst though, and was last seen diving into cloud firing a white verey pistol, either as a resignation of the fight or possibly as a distress signal to any would be rescuers.

Over the next few nights further contacts were made and several Ju. 88s were either confirmed or claimed as shot down. The squadron was performing well, morale was high and all was looking good.

The night of the 13th could have been different for some though. On his return from a patrol, Fly. Off. Hemingway’s instruments failed and with little choice, he gave the order to bale out. After his operator, Sgt. Bailey, had departed the Havoc, Hemingway followed, both men landing in close proximity to each other in the grounds of Much Hadam Hall (a grade 1 listed building built in the early 1700s). Whilst both airmen were safe, Hemingway’s was not the model jump, as he came to rest in a tree in the grounds of the hall. Bailey fared little better, landing rather ungainly on a bucket not too far away. This was Hemingway’s third successful bale out of a stricken aircraft, his previous two both occurring during the Battle of Britain.

On May 17th, Wg. Cdr. Peter Townsend, now with a DSO, flew to Great Massingham, Flt. Lt. Marshall flew to Odiham to test the runway and Flt. Lt. Rabone flew to Heston from where he collected a special and secret Havoc which was to be tested by the squadron. The first flight of this new variant occurred on May 23rd, and was quickly followed by a second aircraft on the 28th, After this, they would then begin testing both aircraft as a new night flying platform.

This particular type of aircraft was the forerunner of what became known as the Turbinlite Havoc, a new design that was the brainchild of one Sidney Cotton.*³

The main runway has been reduced to a track.

With the help of William Helmore, Cotton took out two patents; GB 574970 and GB 574118, each one relating to this new idea. It would be Helmore (an Air Commodore) who would then develop the idea further turning it into what would become commonly known as the Turbinlite system.

Originally designated Air Target Illumination, Cotton’s idea was passed to the Alan Muntz Company, who in conjunction with G.E.C., developed it into what was at the time, the most powerful searchlight in the world, and one that would fit neatly into the nose of a Douglas Havoc, or Boston as it was known in the RAF.

The light was so powerful that it would require a staggering forty-eight batteries each stored in the bomb bay of the aircraft, adding an additional weight to the aircraft just short of 2,000lbs. The light was so strong (1,400 amps) that it would discharge in less than 12 seconds meaning its use was limited to short searches only.

Havoc Mark I (Turbinlite), AW400, on the ground at Burtonwood, Lancashire. This aircraft served with Nos. 1422 and 1454 (Turbinlite) Flights, and with 1459 (Turbinlite) Flight/538 Squadron RAF, before transfer to the USAAF in April 1943. (© IWM ATP 10654C)

The first full prototype Turbinlite aircraft fitted with the unit was Boston W8254 and was flown by Acting Squadron Leader A. Clouston of 1422 (Night Fighter) Flight formed at Heston on May 12th 1941. The Flight would then operate a number of these aircraft, along with several other types which included the only Turbinlite Mosquito; along with a Defiant, Wellington and Hurricane.

Heston was the home of Airwork, an aviation company set up by two ex-Cambridge students and soldiers of the great war, Sir Henry Nigel Norman and Alan Muntz. Their vision, was to create the best aerodrome near London, a dream that would cost Norman his life and Muntz to lose his son. Airwork would go through many changes during its life, taking on several Government contracts including a range of flying schools to train RAF pilots throughout the Second World War. These included RAF Digby, RAF Grangemouth, RAF Scone (Perth) and RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Airwork would themselves modify a further four Bostons, with a further sixteen being modified by the Heston Aircraft Company. A third batch was then developed at RAF Burtonwood, giving a total of nine flights for training and ten operational squadrons comprising just short of 100 aircraft in all.

It was soon realised however, that the Bostons lacked firepower and so the company began to look at the Mosquito as a possible replacement aircraft. Only one Mosquito was modified (W4087, a Hatfield built F.II) at Heston, but this idea, unlike the Boston, failed to progress any further than the prototype stage, and no other aircraft were converted.

The Only Mosquito converted to carry the Turbinlite.*⁵

The Turbinlite project quickly gained pace, but the units wouldn’t be raised to squadron status until September of the following year. In preparation, ten special Havoc flights were created to train crews to operate the aircraft. The first of two, formed at Hunsdon (and the first of the ten) was 1451 (Fighter) Flight on May 22nd 1941. The Flight used several examples that included both Boston IIIs (AL469 and Z2280) and Havoc Is (AE470 and AW405). It also utilised a Cygnet and Tiger Moth for pilot training. By the end of the month, 85 Sqn had flown a total of 505 hours, 482 of them undertaken in Havocs, with 213 of these being on night flights.

On August 9th 1941, 85 Sqn were joined here at Hunsdon by 3 Sqn, one of the original three squadrons to have been formed by the Royal Flying Corp. Created on May 13th 1912, when the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers was absorbed in to the month old Royal Flying Corps, 3 Sqn joined both 1 and 2 Squadrons as the oldest units to have operated in the RFC. As such, its history is long and very distinguished.

In Part 2 we see how the Turbinlite develops, and how, as the war goes on, the first of Mosquitoes arrive.

The full story of RAF Hunsdon can be read in Trail 25.

Trail 64 – Central Scotland (Part 3)

September 2, 2023July 9, 2023 / Aviationtrails / 4 Comments

Part 2 of this trail saw a range of units arrive at Grangemouth, each one bringing new aircraft and new personnel to this small Scottish site. Some, playing a rather sinister role, eventually move on to leave Grangemouth’s longest standing unit here to see the war out.

58 OTU was initially set up to train night fighters, but was quickly turned into a Spitfire training unit, the purpose to train pilots to fly the Spitfire, many of these trainees would be Polish. In fact, so many were training here that by February 1941, the unit had grown from a small half sized unit to a full unit with in excess of 50 Spitfires and 20 Masters available to the trainees. To help accommodate the aircraft, Grangemouth was paired with a satellite airfield located at Balado Bridge*⁸ between Edinburgh and Perth.

The training unit would become the longest standing resident unit at Grangemouth and this would set the scene for its future.

The turn of the year though, really saw little change, except the weather got even colder. More rain and fog was joined by frost, and on several days the airfield was closed, its ground simply unsuitable for any flying activity.

Even though the weather was playing havoc, the work that both 58 OTU and the resident 614 Sqn would do in conjunction with the Polish airmen, led an affiliation between 614 and the Polish forces on January 10th 1941; an acknowledgement of the good work that was being done jointly between the two.

March 1941 then brought the news that 614 Squadron would be moving on, to Tranent (Macmerry), perhaps a welcome move as the last few months had seen flying hours drop to around 200 in the day and less than 20 at night. Several accidents had left aircraft badly damaged, crewmen injured and the squadron short of aircraft, it had not been a good year. But by early in the month, the move had taken place and 614 had departed to its new home where it could continue to carry out its sinister role.

With that, the OTU remained the main sole user of Grangemouth until on 10th March 1941, when the Aircraft Delivery Flight Grangemouth was set up. (A month later it would be re-designated 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight). During its lifetime it would operate a number of aircraft: Oxfords, Dominies, Lysanders, Beaufighters, Mustangs and Typhoons. The role of the flight was to ferry aircraft from one location to another, taking new aircraft to new squadrons in support of 13 and 14 Groups.

Delivering aircraft was not without its problems either. On October 2nd, a Hurricane IIA was being transferred by Sgt. Arthur Carl Young of the Flight from Martlesham Heath to Grangemouth. The pilot became disorientated in cloud, and so bailed out leaving the Hurricane to its fate crashing in an area near Goole.

The numbers of trainees at Grangemouth had grown significantly by 1942, so much so, that within 58 OTU a dedicated squadron was formed. Designated as ‘A’ squadron, it was manned by both British and Polish instructors, many of these were hardened veterans including Sqn. Ldr. Henryk Drobinski who had multiple kills and awards to his name.

But Grangemouth would be a multinational training centre, taking pilots from all around the world. The diversity of languages must have been a headache for some, the non- English speaking airmen having to learn very quickly indeed.

Collisions played a large part in the accident roll at Grangemouth, such was the nature of the training programme and those learning to fly the Spitfire, close formation flying being a large part of the syllabus here at the airfield.

In his biography “Challenge in the Air” (William Kimber, 1988), Miroslav Liskutin describes how on a six week course, six of the thirty pilots on his course were killed, a fact they simply lived with.

On April 17th, two pilots were killed when Spitfires R7073 and X4905 collided over Falkirk. One was killed outright, whilst the other died during an attempted crash landing following the incident. Sgt. Siemienczuk (26) along with P/O. Malkiewicz (24), both from Poland, were subsequently buried in Grangemouth Grandsable Cemetery located to the south of the airfield site.

In fact, 1942 saw no less than six collisions or near collisions, all of which resulted in either one or both pilots being killed. All these young men were in their 20s and from countries far beyond Britain’s own borders.

As the demand for training increased and subsequently the numbers of trainees increased, it was decided to increase the length of the main east–west runway by some 300 yards. This would allow for a greater amount of time to land and come to a stop and would allow for faster or larger aircraft to utilise the airfield should the requirement demand. Whilst the necessary work was carried out, operations and training flights continuing unhindered.

The extension of the runway however, didn’t prevent further accidents from happening whether in the air or on the ground. Collisions with parked aircraft appear on several occasions, although and perhaps the worst incident, would occur some distance away from the airfield site.

On January 16th 1943, three Spitfires from the OTU were out on a formation flying exercise when they collided with a hillside killing two of the three airmen. It is what happened subsequent to the crash that is perhaps more incredible.

The accident occurred on Saturday 16th January 1943, when bad weather intervened in their flight plans. Initially they were ordered to land at the satellite airfield at Balado Bridge, but an accident there prevented this and so they were diverted to Perth.

In dense mist the three Spitfires X4614 (Ia), AR254 (Ia) and P8276 (IIa) remained in formation resulting in all three colliding with a 648ft high hill known as King’s Seat in the Ochils, 3km north of Dollar, Clackmannanshire. In the collision, two of the three pilots F.O. Hugh Gordon ’Bud’ Reynolds and Sgt. Gordon Murray Duda were both killed instantly. The third pilot, an RAAF airman, Sgt. Vincent P Daly, managed to see the hillside in time and pulled his Spitfire’s nose up at the last minute to reduce the impact on the hillside. As a result, he survived sustaining only a broken leg and other minor injuries.

The crash site being high up in the hills and covered in snow, would not be reached for some time though, and so Daly, even though suffering from a range of injuries (a compound fracture, bruising and cuts to head and body), managed to drag himself down the hillside where he was found two days later by a local farmer.

Daly had managed to use his scarf at the time of the crash, to tie his legs together making a make shift splint to support his broken tibia. He then set off, in freezing conditions, down the hill side toward safety and help. During the decent, he began to contract double pneumonia and suffered severe frostbite to both his toes and his nose – the tip of which he lost.

Once he had been located, Daly was transferred to Larbert Military Hospital, where he made a partial recovery, having to use special shoes and a walking stick to walk. Once out of hospital, he was sent back to RAF Grangemouth, but he never recovered sufficiently to fly again in the RAF. He died in 1969 in his home country, Australia, at the age of just 48 from a heart condition.

Reynolds and Duda were both flying with the RCAF (Duda being an American) and their bodies were eventually found and brought back to be buried at Grangemouth Grandsable Cemetery.

In memory of the airmen and as a lasting tribute a Cairn has been erected at the site (as is common in Scottish mountain crashes) in 2009, and was marked with a flypast by the BBMF Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.

Between 1944 and 1945 Grangemouth was used by several maintenance units, including both No. 14 MU and No. 243 MU, who used the site after the departure of the OTU to store materials and ammunition. This took the airfield into the late 1940s, at which point there followed a period of limited flying, primarily through a number of RAF gliding schools.

The first of these was No. 6 Gliding school , who were formed here in January 1945 using Cadets, Grunau Baby IIBs and Sedburgh TX.1s. In 1947 a second school, No. 2 Gliding School was also reformed here after being disbanded at Dumfries earlier in the war.

Then on April 1st, 1948, No. 13 Reserve Flying School was formed here at Grangemouth, under the control of Airwork Ltd,. This organisation ran a number of flying training units around the country including two at Scone outside of Perth. 13 RFS used six Tiger Moths and were led by Wing Commander F. Nugent. The School was disbanded a year later in 1949, with almost 200 trainees on their books at various stages.

In 1949, the two Gliding Schools were also amalgamated, the Scone operations continuing at the demise of Grangemouth and absorbing all their equipment.

A third school No. 4 Gliding School then joined Grangemouth in 1951, and eventually all three were absorbed into one under the control of No. 2 Gliding School. A year later the grand terminal building, which had now stood throughout the war, would be destroyed by a major fire, which further helped the demise of the airfield categorically killing any future it may have had.

By 1955, neither Glasgow nor Edinburgh councils had shown any interest in the site as an aviation project, despite the money that had been spent on it previously. Scottish Aviation had also pulled out its resources and so, with all glider schools gone, the terminal building destroyed and no prospect of further flying, the land was put up for sale with an £11m price tag.*⁹

With that, the airfield was closed. The great dream of civilian aviation at Grangemouth would never materialise again after that. The runways became a proving ground for the young, and new car drivers honed their skills on the concrete paths. By the 1960s, the site was being ripped up and built upon, houses very quickly filled the gaps and the oil refinery took over most of the site. The runway extension, built to allow for longer landings, now holds the Charlotte Dundas Shopping centre along with further housing.

Grangemouth’s humble existence started off as an amazing dream, one that was shattered by the calling of war. A future that was so promising for Scotland’s Aviation industry sadly failed to materialise. Instead, Grangemouth became a training ground for many young men who were far away from their homes in Europe and across the commonwealth. In all, 80 air and ground crew lost their lives while serving at Grangemouth, 60 of those being aircrew. The majority of these lay buried in the local cemetery close to the airfield where they served all those years ago. There are many famous names synonymous with Grangemouth too, many of these were ‘Aces’, highly decorated pilots who achieved many ‘kills’ in their attempt to turn the tide of war. Becoming trainers they also set many trainees off on their long journeys to the war’s end. One such pilot was Neville Duke the test pilot, who went on to achieve great things in the aviation industry.

Whilst elements of the site are still visible, (the two original hangars and traces of one of the runways as part of a Inchyra play park) the airfield leaves few distinguishing features and you would be forgiven for not knowing such a site ever existed close to this growing Scottish town.

In 2013, the cadets of 1333 (Spitfire) Squadron led by Squadron Leader Tom McMorrow, finally saw their plans come to fruition when they were present at the unveiling of their Spitfire memorial outside the original hangar that remains standing today.

Their work and dedication ensures that the memories of those who not only who died here, but served at Grangemouth will go to survive so that we can enjoy the peace we have today.

The full story appears in Trail 64.

Sources and Further Reading (Grangemouth)

National Archives: AIR-27-969-1; AIR-27-1547-1; AIR-27-1550; AIR-27-2073; AIR-27-2079-1; AIR-27-2120-1

*¹ Falkirk Herald newspaper website accessed 24/6/23

*² Delve. K., “The Military Airfields of Britain – Scotland and Northern Ireland“, Crowood Press Ltd. 2010.

*³ During this early part of the Grangemouth’s operation, the unit names became interchangeable, the use of ‘civil’ in 10 CANS being dropped in many situations, and 10 AONS being referred to in the ORBs as early as September.

*⁴ Secret Scotland website (unsubstantiated)

*⁵ Aviation Safety Network Website.

*⁶ Photo from Daily Record newspaper website. Accessed 1/7/23

*⁷ Photo © Copyright Gordon Brown via Geograph Website Accessed 1/7/23

*⁸ The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust placed a marker on the site of Balado Bridge on 8/7/23.

*⁹ McCloskey, K., “Airwork A History“, The History Press, 2012 (via Google books)

Trail 64 – Central Scotland (Part 2)

August 27, 2023July 9, 2023 / Aviationtrails / 4 Comments

In Part 1, we saw how Grangemouth was created through incredible vision, but how the impending war shattered that dream. Also how it then went on to become a training airfield, training young pilots to fly Spitfires. This was not an easy task, the weather playing havoc with training schedules and an ill prepared airfield adding to the cauldron of problems that would culminate in the inevitable accidents and resultant deaths.

On October 1st 1939, F.O. James A. B. Somerville (known as Young Hamish, to his family) was taxiing his Spitfire I. (L1047), when P.O. J.S. Morton flying Spitfire I (L1059) landed on top of him. In the resulting accident Somerville was killed outright and his aircraft totally written off. P.O. Morton was uninjured and his aircraft received only minor damage, however, the accident would no doubt have a lasting impact the injuries to F.O. Somerville being so severe. *⁵

On October 6th, the order to move the entire 602 Squadron finally came though and the next day the main portion of the unit transported its belongings to Grangemouth. More poor weather prevented another early departure by the aircraft, but by lunchtime, all ground and air crew along with their Spitfires, were over at Grangemouth. Lacking in accommodation, airmen had to be billeted off site in the town itself, whilst Officers took up residency in one of the vacant houses just north of the airfield. The war had finally started for this small airfield in Central Scotland.

602’s stay at Grangemouth was to be short lived though. With threats of German attacks coming from the east, it was decided to move 602 elsewhere, and within a week new orders had come through to move lock, stock and barrel to RAF Drem, in North Berwickshire. By the 13th October, the Spitfires and all their personnel, were gone and Grangemouth was vacant once more.

602 Sqn would go on to make further ‘firsts’ whilst at Drem, when on the 16th of October, pilot George Pinkerton would intercept and shoot down, a Heinkel 111. In doing so, he would be the first pilot to to fire in anger in the skies over Great Britain. It would also be 602 who would down the first ‘intact’ enemy aircraft onto British soil. Known as the Humbie Heinkel, it would become famous for this reason.

It would then be all change again, and on the 19th October 1939, Grangemouth would see the arrival of a new squadron and a new aircraft. 141 Squadron Led by Pilot Officer H. Anderson, another former Turnhouse unit, brought with them Gloster’s Galdiator, an outdated but much loved biplane that began being supplemented during November by the more updated Blenheims.

Like their predecessors, airmen were billeted in three halls in the town whilst officers occupied two vacant houses -110 Boness Road and its neighbour. Whilst accommodation was far from ideal, it would do for now and all those assigned here were soon in and settled.

On the next day, a funeral guard of honour was provided back at Turnhouse for the burial of several German airmen. Those who were to stay behind had the unenviable task of filling sandbags, which were to be used around the dispersal points to protect aircraft from attacking bombers; a task that was eventually postponed due to yet more heavy Scottish rain.

In the following weeks little happened at Grangemouth. Six Gladiators were eventually brought in and used for local flying practise. The squadron tried to use the Air Observer School Ansons and although permission was eventually granted by Fighter Command, no instructors were available due to the School’s own backlog of hours. Further sand was delivered and yet more bags were filled, the monotony of such duties being broken only by the trickle of a small number of Blenheims from Hullavington.

Training flights were fraught with danger, and there were several accidents including on November 12th 1939, a crash on a night approach by Sgt. P. Green in his Gladiator. Sgt. Green was unfortunately injured in the accident, but after being taken to nearby Falkirk hospital for treatment, he made a good recovery. Also in November five Gladiators were sent to Acklington for firing practice. Due to bad weather though, all five had to make emergency landings en route, P.O. Louden hit a wall and P.O. Smith landed badly. In both incidences the aircraft received substantial damage but thankfully neither pilot was injured. The other three aircraft reported no damage after their various forced landings.

P.O. Louden would have a second lucky escape in the following January when the Blenheim he was flying, overshot the runway and crashed beyond the airfield boundary. Again the aircraft was badly damaged but P.O. Louden was once more unhurt.

The weather in southern Scotland can be terrible, and persistent heavy rain not only caused cancelled flights, but also made the ground boggy and difficult to traverse. Even the floodlight tractor became bogged down and stuck in the mud causing further problems for night flying activities.

The routine of local flying, link training and lectures then became the norm for the days leading into the new year. January 1940 saw snow, rain and fog play a large part in the daily lives of those stationed here, causing as many issues on the ground as it did in the air. In the following month, the squadron was given new orders to transfer to Prestwick, a move it made on the 13th. But before they had time to unpack and settle in, further orders came in to return back to Grangemouth, their stay at Prestwick lasting no more than a week!

The early part of the year saw yet more night flying practice and yet more landing accidents. The Blenheims taking a bit of beating as heavy landings caused considerable damage to landing gear and aircraft structures.

By April 1940 another new aircraft was being delivered to the Grangemouth squadron, the Boulton Paul Defiant I. A ‘fighter’ that had failed miserably in its initial role – falling foul of the enemy’s superior aircraft – but would later become more effective as a night fighter. The first of these aircraft was delivered on April 4th 1940, by from 24 Maintenance Unit (MU) based at Ternhill.

141 Squadron continued to re-equip with the Defiants, and by the end of June 1940 they were carrying out target practice at various sites around the UK. Excitement then came to the airfield when on 26th June 1940, crews were called to standby – the first air raid warning of the year sounded over Grangemouth. No bombs were dropped but an enemy aircraft was seen to be shot down. Those pilots from 141 Sqn who were put on stand by at the airfield were not needed and probably disappointed for not having the opportunity to put into practice their new found flying skills.

A second warning sounded again on the 28th June, but once more those 141 Sqn pilots put on standby were not required, another disappointment for those waiting for the signal to scramble and a chance to get their revenge.

On that very same morning (June 28th 1940), new orders came through to 141, their posting to Grangemouth had come to an end. It was all move once more. Busses began to ferry the staff and their equipment from Grangemouth back to Turnhouse, a move that lasted for most of the day. By the late afternoon all aircraft and personnel had made the transfer across and the settling in process would begin once more. This wouldn’t be the end of the link however, for a small detachment would return in July before the ties between Grangemouth and 141 Sqn were finally severed for good.

The month of June would see many changes at Grangemouth, not only did 141 Squadron depart, but there would be three other units all arrive within days of each other before the month was out.

On the 8th, 614 Squadron arrived, followed the next day on the 9th by No 52 (Army Co-operation) Wing and then on the 28th, 263 Squadron. It would be a hectic time for this small and ill prepared airfield.

Two of these units, 52 ACW and 263 squadron would both be short lived stays, neither remaining beyond the end of September 1940.

The role of No. 52 (Army Co-operation) Wing, was a tactical move to help defend the northern regions from enemy attack. These Lysanders and Defiants were brought in to free up valuable Spitfires and Hurricanes who could subsequently be moved south to protect London and the South East. Here in Scotland, they could protect not only the industrial regions of the north from attack, but assist in army training operations ready for their return to the continent – whenever that would be. Being located at Grangemouth, they were in easy reach of both the west and east coast, an area they began patrolling almost immediately. This stay would be yet another short lived one though and they soon would move on elsewhere just a month after their arrival.

The second of these short stay units were the Hurricanes from 263 Squadron. 263 had been re-established at RAF Drem earlier in the month, after flying on board naval carriers, including HMS Glorious until she was sunk on June 8th 1940. They were now firmly a land based unit, and gradually getting back to full strength.

The other change came with the introduction of Westland’s Whirlwind for 263 Squadron. The underrated and rather obscure fighter being brought in to replace the Hurricanes they had been using since their reformation the month before.

In early September 1940, the time for change came once more, this time it was 263 who were to transfer from Grangemouth back to Drem, taking their newly acquired Whirlwinds with them. This would be the squadron’s only spell at Grangemouth before their final disbandment in 1963.

Over the next two days, twenty-two Lysanders would arrive, the crews being billeted in tents around the airfield site; hardly an ideal situation considering the location of the airfield and the weather they were experiencing at the time.

614 Sqn was another of the twenty-one Auxiliary Air Force units, and the only one formed in Wales. It had been operating in France assisting the Army as artillery spotters, providing coordinates for the French and British gunners desperately trying to stem the tide that was the blitzkrieg.

Once settled, 614 Squadron began practise flights dropping messages and performing tactical reconnaissance sorties. By the 17th June 1940, day long patrols were being carried out along the east coast of Scotland, covering an area from Inverness to Berwick, flying over the coastline and up to 5 miles inland. None of these patrols provided any signs of enemy action though.

Over the next few weeks further patrols and practise flights took place, one aircraft was damaged when struck by a second trying to land, and others had to land in fields due to bad weather or engine failures. There were no causalities but some of the aircraft were badly damaged in these incidents.

614 were also used to test gas spraying techniques in a chemical warfare role. Parts of Grangemouth were off limits and heavily guarded, and permits had to be issued to those personnel needing access to such areas. The idea behind this was that of the enemy launched an invasion force along the Scottish coast, then mustard gas (stockpiled at Grangemouth) would be used against them. This secret and somewhat underhand method of warfare was carried on by 614 once it moved to Macmerry in the following year.*⁴

In July 1940, internal changes saw the headquarters, motor transport unit and armaments sections move from one part of the airfield to a farm located at the northern side of the site. Simultaneously 180 airmen moved into the recently requisitioned annex at the local Grange School, whilst a further 100 moved into the school itself. A temporary measure that would only last until the next school term started. Other duty personnel were moved to tents around the airfield, perhaps somewhat reluctantly, especially as within days, heavy rain would flood them out resulting in them being billeted off site as well.

Over the next few weeks little flying took place as bad weather continued to cause problems. Airfield defences continued to be erected and a visit by the Inspector General Sir E. Ludlow-Hewitt, broke the monotony of the pouring rain.

On August 10th 1940 an accident occurred when Lysander P9186 piloted by F.O. N. Merrett and F.O. J. Harper collided with Lysander N1251 flown by P.O. Cheminant. During the evasive tactics exercise the aircraft struck Merrets Lysander losing virtually all its main-plane. The aircraft then crashed to the ground killing both occupants. The second aircraft, whilst damaged, managed to land safely.

Bad landings caused extensive damage to several aircraft in the month that followed, whilst three others were grounded awaiting spares. Luckily none of the occupants in the poor landings were injured, but it did mean the squadron was now six aircraft down causing issues with both cover and patrols.

The last few days of September 1940 brought other incidents and fatalities. Outside the airfield, a dispatch rider was killed in a head on collision with a car, and an enemy bomber dropped a bomb in the vicinity of the airfield. No damage was done to the site but it brought home the fact that war was never very far away. At this time work also began on building the asphalt runways, which up until now had remained as grass. With luck, the heavy rain that had continued throughout the summer would soon not hinder flying activities.

At the close of September 1940, 754 hours had been flown by crews in daylight but only 17 had been flown at night; it had not been a great summer all round.

On the 4th November (1940) news came though that Grangemouth was transferring from 22 Group back to Fighter Command, the news brought little more than hope, those units already here remaining where they were and with what they had.

The miserable weather of 1940/41 brought little to cheer about at Grangemouth. Perhaps the greatest interest, apart from a hopeful christmas break, was the formation of a training unit in December. On the 2nd, 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) was set up and provided with Spitfires along with a selection of Fairy Battles, Hurricanes and a Whitley amongst others. The OTU was supposed to have been formed earlier in November, but when Sqn. Ldr, (later Air Vice Marshal) Henry Hogan arrived, it was not ready for the OTU and so he left disappointed having to return the following month.

The last part of the trail shows how Grangemouth met it demise. Once the dream of a visionary it slowly begins to decay as the war comes to an end and units are gradually pulled out, surplus to requirements. The end comes slowly, but not before its last and longest standing unit arrives.

The full story appears in Trail 64.

Trail 64 – Central Scotland (Part 1)

August 20, 2023July 9, 2023 / Aviationtrails / 6 Comments

In this latest trail around Britain’s wartime airfields, we travel to central Scotland, and the foothills of the Highlands. Travelling west from Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, we head toward an area of outstanding beauty where the flat lands begin to meet the lower highlands. Here during the Second World War, lay an airfield that never reached its full potential, but it did play a major part in the training of the RAF’s fighter pilots.

In Trail 64, we visit the former RAF Grangemouth.

RAF Grangemouth.

Grangemouth lies 1 mile from the town that gave it its name and 3 miles from Falkirk. The Firth of Fourth, Edinburgh’s major sea outlet, crosses west to east north of the airfield providing not only major docks and shipping services, but dry docks for submarines and other naval vessels as well. It is the natural sea outlet that led to Grangemouth’s very existence when founded in 1768 by Sir Lawrence Dundas, following the creation of the Forth and Clyde Canal that linked Glasgow to Edinburgh.

The Shipping that this development brought led to a huge expansion of the docks at Grangemouth. Exports increased along with the number and size of the docks available. Then during the First World War, these were taken over and renamed HMS Rameses, by the military, who set up a mine manufacturing and training school here. Once usefulness of mines was realised, old merchant vessels were quickly adapted to drop mines and these were both stored and loaded here at Grangemouth.

The airfield itself was located to the south of these docks, and would play a large part in their defence, especially as a major oil refinery has been located here for many years. The expansion of this refinery, albeit a turbulent one, has since taken over the airfield site leaving little trace of its history behind.

Accommodation for those personnel stationed here was often rudimentary to say the least, tents providing cover for many whilst the local town hotels were used for the luckier ones. A substantial number of houses along Boness road, just beyond the airfield perimeter, were also known to have been requisitioned over a period of time, some used for sick quarters whilst others became aircrew billets.

Life for Grangemouth airfield began long before the current industrial modernisation of the area though, initially being earmarked as a civilian site for commercial operations before war broke out. It was opened on May 1st, 1939 and was intended to have as many as four grass runways, the longest being 1,360 yards long. It would be operated and run by Scottish Aviation Ltd., who were based at Prestwick. Built by a number of companies including the construction company Wimpey, it would have at least twenty dispersals, two of which had blister hangars on them by the war’s end.

The main Edinburgh road originally passed between the airfield and the Firth, thus restricting any wartime expansion northwards. Now replaced by the M9 to the south, this road is now a minor road through housing serving a thriving residential community.

When it was handed over to the military, the site was then developed further, some of the rudimentary accommodation was replaced by more substantial blocks, and the grass runways were replaced with tarmac. The airfield was by then, able to cater for upwards of 600 personnel of mixed rank and gender.

With a total of eight Blister hangars added, its maintenance facilities were then extended far beyond those of its civil requirements.

It ambitious origins began in early 1939, with the purchase of 500 acres of farmland to develop into what was intended to be Scotland’s largest airport, initially serving routes to London, Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Shetland Isles. During its construction, two large civil airport hangars were built along with a large and luxurious terminal at a cost of some £160,000 (£14,000,000 today).

North It was intended that more routes would soon open up encouraging new operators and prosperity to the area, unfortunately this was only a pipe dream and with increasing costs and cheaper rail tickets challenging the operator, these routes were soon closed proving uneconomical to run in light of strong competition. The onslaught of war then hammered the final nail in to the coffin of commercial operations, By September 1939, all flights had ceased, and the future of Grangemouth was no longer in the hands of civilian operators.

Whilst these commercial operations were the prime reason for the purchase and development of Grangemouth, Scottish Aviation’s interest, and that of Air Marshall Trenchard was more than a passing coincidence. The company had early on in the proceedings, secured a government contract to train pilots for what seemed to be an inevitable war with Germany.

Scottish Aviation set up their own civilian run training group 35 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School (ERFTS) to fulfil this contract. They operated some fifty-one aircraft including: the Audax, Hawker Hinds, Tiger Moths and soon after Avro Ansons, with an intended capacity of 200 trainee pilots at any one time*²

Soon after the declaration of war, a reformation of military training operations took place, and a new unit was established here with 35 ERFTS being disbanded and reformed as 10 Civil Air Navigation School (CANS). The use of the Ansons continued. This name however, would only last until November, when a further re-naming took place, forcing the disbanding and renumbering of the unit to 10 Air Observers Navigation School (AONS)*³

10 AONS, continued to soldier on with the Ansons. Then on 2nd December 1939 it was all change again when the unit was absorbed into the Prestwick school, 1 Air Observers Navigation School. Grangemouth, now closed to all civilian operations, was passed to full control of the RAF’s Fighter Command and 13 Group. It would seem there were to be big changes ahead.

Meanwhile, back on August 25th 1939, the RAF began mobilisation, orders were sent round military airfields to begin preparing for war. One such order came through to the Abbotsinch based 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, instructing them to inspect the buildings at Grangemouth with a view to moving there shortly afterwards. Sqn Ldr. Farquhar and two other members of his staff then travelled by car to Grangemouth, inspected the site and made their findings known later that evening.

On September 1st 1939, at 23:45 hrs, a notice came through to 602 Squadron to mobilise all units and prepare for war. With a considerable amount of preparation already having been done, the squadron were able to pronounce themselves ‘mobilised’ by 10:30 hrs the following morning. Commanding Officer Sqn Ldr A.D. Farquhar with Flight Lieutenants W. Robinson “A” Flight, and G.D. Pinkerton “B” Flight, led the way, taking the Scottish unit to war.

602 Sqn had the grand distinction of being the first of the Auxiliary Air Force squadrons to be formed, an honour that occurred in 1925. Although the first staff member, adjutant Flt. Lt. Martyn arrived at Renfrew to begin proceedings on September 12th 1925, the squadron’s official birthday wasn’t recorded until September 15th.

The two hangars and terminal building. These hangars are the sole remaining structures left on the site. See photo below. (Falkirk Herald Website)

Between its formation and its impending move to Grangemouth, 602 Sqn had operated a wide range of aircraft: Hawker Harts, Hinds, Hectors Gauntlet IIs and from May 1939, Spitfire MK.Is. The Spitfire being a major leap forward in terms of flying technology, speed and power. This change gave 602 yet another ‘first’, being the first Auxiliary unit to receive the new aircraft type.

Two days later on September 3rd, official notice Movement Order 3 of 1939, gave notice of the imminent move, and preparations immediately began at Abbotsinch. The aim of the squadron’s move to Grangemouth was to protect the valuable iron foundries, dockyards and numerous chemical factories that were now abundant along the banks of the Fourth.

Apart form organising the move, the first few days of war were unsurprisingly uneventful, with orders to “Stand by” being given to both A and B Flights coming to nothing more. The routine quickly changed to night flying practise, and as a result, the first ‘casualty’. In the dark, with little lighting to guide them in, a Spitfire crashed on the airfield whilst trying to land but luckily no one was injured and the aircraft only suffered ‘minor’ damage.

The quietness of the Phoney War, enabled the C.O. to test a new device that would stop the obscuring of the windshield from oil thrown out by the propeller. The unit was made, fitted and tested in the air, and photographs along with a detailed report was submitted to Fighter Command on September 6th. On the 8th, Sqn Ldr. Tidd of 13 Group came to see the item in action for himself, and finding it most suitable, had it used on all aircraft. As a result, the idea played a major part in future Spitfire development.

Left: One of the two original hangars still used at Grangemouth.

On the 30th September, a further visit to Grangemouth led to the decision that only a small detachment, and not the entire squadron, of 602’s Spitfires could be moved to Grangemouth, not at least until the accommodation, currently held by the Navigation School, had become vacant. These few aircraft and their ground crews would operate from Grangemouth between 09:00 and 18:00 hrs each day with ground staff and pilots being billeted on site during their tour there.

The next day, October 1st, a small detachment comprising of six aircraft, along with ammunition and all the necessary flight equipment, departed Abbotsinch for Grangemouth. The desired early departure was unfortunately delayed by poor weather, something that was going to dominate the next few years at Grangemouth, and so the group, led by Flt. Lt M. Robinson, didn’t arrive until later than planned that day.

It was also at this time that 602’s sister squadron and rival, 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, another Turnhouse unit, would begin to receive their Spitfires. As these were new aircraft to the squadron, each Flight, ‘A’ and ‘B’, would travel to Grangemouth to train. ‘B’ arrived first, flying between 17th and 24th, followed by ‘A’ Flight between the 25th and the 30th. These daily flights meant a considerable amount of movement in and out of the airfield, and with so many trainees in unfamiliar aircraft, accidents were almost inevitable.

In Part 2, we see how Grangemouth goes on to develop further, how the weather played a role in its operation and how with so many young men eager to learn, mistakes were made with dire consequences.

The full story appears in Trail 64.

RAF West Raynham Trail 21 – Part 5.

February 5, 2022May 12, 2023 / Aviationtrails / 7 Comments

We have now seen how West Raynham developed from an expansion period airfield, through the Second World War and on into the Cold War. With tensions now easing and Government cuts biting hard, the future of West Raynham and the Service, hangs in the balance. But with new jets in the pipeline, changes to the Nuclear deterrent coming, a new direction may save the airfield from immediate closure. We also see how one man takes matters into his own hands and protests as these events which are to shape the future Air Force.

Later in August that same year, Nos. 1 and 54 Squadrons arrived at West Raynham boosting the numbers of personnel present here once more. Both units transferred over from Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire, in a move that saw the return of the Hawker Hunter F.G.A. 9.

No.1 Squadron, one of the RAF’s longest serving squadrons had provided almost continuous service since 1912, and had flown a wide variety of aircraft across Britain, France and the Far East. They brought with them a long and distinguished history.

It was perhaps a No. 1 Sqn pilot who defined West Raynham’s lasting legacy, that of the Flight Commander – Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock, who around midday on 5th April 1968, flew a Hawker Hunter FGA.9 (XF442) between the two spans of Tower Bridge in London. The stunt, a protest by Pollock already annoyed at the Government’s defence cuts, was to raise the concerns of personnel at the lack of celebration of the RAF’s fiftieth anniversary. After leaving Tangmere (following a celebration dinner) he and his colleagues headed back toward their home base at RAF West Raynham. Pollock then turned away from the group and flew at tree top level along the Thames circling the Houses of Parliament no less than three times, before dipping his wings at the RAF Memorial and heading along the river and home. However, before long he was faced with Tower Bridge and a split second decision had to made. He decided to fly through the arches rather than over the bridge.

His fate was well and truly sealed, he was going to be disciplined and severely. On the way home, his single handed salute to the service he adored included ‘beating up’ Wattisham, Lakenheath and Marham airfields, before carrying out an inverted flypast at West Raynham. On landing, Pollock was arrested by the Military Police, after which a long, drawn out legal process was put into place. Rather than face a public outcry, the authorities gave him the ‘option’ to leave on medical grounds or through the more severe removal under Queens Regulations with the loss of all financial backing.

There was no option, and Flt. Lt. Pollock was sent packing. The political fallout from the event went on for months afterwards, leading to a stronger rebellion from the press who were already gunning for the Wilson Government. No one in authority wanted their ‘dirty washing’ aired in a public hearing.

54 Sqn meanwhile operated out of West Raynham as part of 38 Group Air Support Command. A role that required them to fly as a ground support unit, operating in conjunction with army ground forces. They flew from West Raynham for seven years, departing at the end of the decade. During this time, they would reinforce the Mediterranean and Germany even locating to Gibraltar after political ‘pressure’ from General Franco.

The 1960s also saw a change in direction for Britain’s defence network, which was brought about by the same 1957 Defence White Paper that saw the demise of 85 Sqn. The basis of this saw manned fighters be replaced by guided missiles along with investment in the V bombers, a retaliatory force that could deliver Britain’s nuclear weapons arsenal.

On September 1st, 1965, the first of West Raynham’s guided surface-to-air missiles arrived. The reformation of No. 41 Sqn with two units (sixteen missiles in each) saw the construction of a secure Bloodhound missile site on the eastern side of the airfield. These MK.II guided weapons would become the main airfield protection system of that time, although their presence only lasted five years before the unit was again disbanded and the missiles put onto storage.

With the birth of vertical take off and landings in the form of the Kestrel (later the Harrier) an evaluation unit was set up here at West Raynham. Designed to test the flying abilities of the Kestrel, up to and including near service conditions, it was made up of pilots from the UK, USA and West Germany. The unit, designated the Tri-Partite Evaluation Squadron Royal Air Force (TES), was designed to see how the aircraft would perform from both airfields and unprepared sites, using its VTOL and STOL capabilities. To this end the unit also used Buckenham Tofts located in the Stanford Training Area, the Army’s huge training area near to Thetford.

Testing any new aircraft is a risky business, the Kestrel being no different, and on April 1st 1965, Kestrel XS696, caught fire and crashed following a take off from West Raynham. Only a month old, the aircraft was struck off charge the same day as a Cat.5(c) and the remains scrapped after all recoverable components had been removed. The pilot was thankfully unhurt in the incident.

The accident didn’t completely deter the US Government though, and at the end of the year, six aircraft were sold to the US for further tests. Initially they were not convinced of its use, but the US Marine Corps were interested, and subsequently a long service began for the Harrier in both the US and here in the UK.

In 1967, Napalm saw a return to West Raynham when famously the Torrey Canyon struck rocks off the Cornish coast. The ship soon grounded and began to break up, spilling its cargo of oil onto rocks and into the waters around Cornwall. The Government decided to bomb the stricken vessel to reduce the impact of the oil spill, and so aircraft from the Fleet Air Arm and RAF were called in to bomb it. No. 1 Squadron were assigned the challenge and four Hunters were tasked with the role. Eventually after several attempts the wreck finally sank and much of the oil was burnt off.

Two years later in 1969, both No. 1 and No. 54 Sqns departed West Raynham. Their gap quickly being filled by No. 4 Sqn who arrived in September that year staying until the following March. Both 1 and 54 Sqns would become new Harrier units, forming squadrons in both Germany and here in the UK.

The dawning of 1972 saw the return of 85 Sqn, who after a spell of some nine years at Binbrook, returned with a new model Canberra the PR.3, a long range photo-reconnaissance aircraft, it was unarmed and relied on its high speed to escape any enemy aircraft.

A month later in February, it was decided to also reform 100 Sqn here at West Raynham, initially using staff from 85 Sqn. Starting off with the Canberra B.2, they quickly began changing these for the T.19, essentially a T.II with its Airborne Intercept radar (A.I.) removed – West Raynham was now awash with Canberras. One of the roles of 85 Sqn was to act as enemy intruders so QRA crews could perform practice intercepts. Although the QRA crews were aware of the nature of the intercepts, Canberras would fly in low and then climb over the UK coast imitating a Soviet bomber – often to great success.

On June 26th 1972 tragedy would strike at West Raynham once more, when a 100 Sqn Canberra T.19 ‘WJ610’ crashed shortly after take off. The Aircraft, crewed by Flight Lieutenant Nicholas Whitlock (pilot) with navigator Flight Lieutenant John Sheran, struck trees 2 miles south, south west of Rougham whereupon it burst into flames killing both airmen.

In the months before the accident, the aircraft had been on loan to 85 Sqn, although this had no bearing on the cause of the crash itself, but it has led to some confusion as to which squadron it was actually with at that time,

Investigations recorded that the aircraft was one of a pair that took off in bad weather flying on instruments. Then as it entered low cloud, Flt. Lt. Whitlock reported that the aircraft had suffered an undercarriage problem, at which point it peeled away from its leader, the assumption being that Flt. Lt. Whitlock was aiming to deal with the issue in hand. The investigation surmised that he may have been concentrating on the gear issue and became disorientated as a result. It is thought this then led to the accident and the aircraft’s inverted crash.

As a result of the tragic loss, formation take offs by Canberras were subsequently prohibited, any future take offs having a minimum of 30 seconds between each departing aircraft, it was a tragic loss that served to help others*².

A brief interlude in the autumn of 1972 saw the reformation of 45 Sqn with Hunter F.G.A.9s, once established and organised the unit quickly transferred out, leaving West Raynham behind.

The 1970s saw further big changes within the RAF. The handing over of the nuclear deterrent to the Royal Navy for one along with Britain’s air defence missiles (Bloodhound) being withdrawn and transferred to Germany. However, later concerns over potential attacks forced a review, and as a result, in December 1975, 85 Sqn were disbanded, the aircraft were transferred out, and they were immediately reformed as a new Bloodhound unit. The missiles were brought out of storage and placed here in Norfolk. Some of the 85 Sqn personnel were absorbed into West Raynham’s 100 Sqn but they would only remain here at West Raynham for a further month before they too moved out.

Bloodhound Missile at the Norfolk and Suffolk Air Museum (2014)

85 Sqn operated across a number of sites. Primarily based at West Raynham, they had Flights at both Bawdsey on the south Essex coast and North Coates in Lincolnshire. In October 1989 the squadron grew further, absorbing No. 25 Sqn, which gave the unit three more Flights at Wattisham, Barkston Heath and Wyton. By the start of the 1990s though, Bloodhound had become obsolete ‘Rapiers’ being the new low level airfield defence missile, and so Flights ‘B’, ‘C’ , ‘D’, and ‘F’ were all disbanded. This left the HQ (West Raynham), ‘A’ Flight (North Coates) and ‘E’ Flight (Wattisham), until these too were disbanded the following summer.

West Raynham’s Rapier training dome is now of ‘Historic Interest’. (2015)

By the time the 1980s had dawned, front line flying at West Raynham had been scaled back and no operational fighter units were based here. The airfield had entered the long and slow wind down to eventual closure.

By July 1991, with the last of the Bloodhound units being disbanded, the missiles they had been using scrapped or sold to the Swiss military, and the personnel pulled out, the site was left all but empty.

Any residue support units were also removed and in 1994 West Raynham finally closed its hangar doors. The airfield itself remained in MOD hands, but sadly the housing lay empty and it quickly became derelict, targeted by vandals. The accommodation blocks were damaged and windows were smashed. Long debates and scornful banter over the housing shortage boiled over in parliament and sites such as West Raynham were seen as prime land, with a huge infrastructure already in place, they were half way to meeting the needs of a growing community. The MOD eventually gave in, agreed to the sale and the site was handed over.

The two gate guardians, a Bloodhound missile ended up at Cosford Museum whilst the Javelin XH980 , was scrapped on site and disposed of. Since then the site remained closed and quiet.

This closure left what is a rare example of a complete wartime and post-war airfield. As a result, many of its buildings are now of ‘historical interest’ and attempts at obtaining a Grade II listing to a large number of the airfield’s buildings was made by the English Heritage. Sadly, this was later withdrawn and no follow-up made although the post war Watch Office is now Grade II listed and more recently a private dwelling.

For many years the site stood empty gradually decaying. A number of planning applications were submitted and some of the accommodation blocks were transformed into private homes. This has thankfully meant that the original style and layout has been maintained. However, the runway and Bloodhound sites have now gone, having been replaced by what is reputed to be, one of Britain’s largest Solar Parks.

In 2016 a proposal was put forward to develop the site into a mix of housing, leisure facilities and industrial units, all utilising the existing buildings where possible. A design brief was put forward by FW Properties who estimated the 158 acre site to be worth £7.3m with a refurbishment value of some £5.2m. The proposal was for a four phase plan to include refurbishment of the original properties for housing, redevelopment of the landscape and infrastructure and new builds to create an integrated community on the site. A grand proposal that would keep the integrity of the site and utilise as many of the buildings as possible.

When I initially visited, the site had been sealed off, but the control tower along with a wide range of smaller ancillary buildings, were all shrouded in scaffolding. The Officers Mess had seen better days and the adjacent tennis courts had been reclaimed by trees.

The Rapier training dome, original Battle headquarters and wartime pill boxes were also evident. A memorial to the crews of West Raynham had been erected in what is now the centre of a housing area that utilises the old accommodation blocks.

Today, much of it hasn’t changed, many of the smaller buildings continue to decay, but the post war watch office is a private dwelling, open for visitors and tours on heritage days, the guard house is a shop for fire places and the hangars are used by small, light industrial companies.

A Hunter F.1 ‘WT660’ has been acquired and sits near to the modern watch office, previously on display/stored in Scotland, it has been brought back to be refurbished and displayed in the colours it would have worn whilst in the Day Fighter Leader School between 1955 and 1957 here at West Raynham.

The West Raynham memorial sits next in the former accommodation area.

West Raynham is one of only a few complete sites that reflect the development and commitment of Britain’s air defences. Its origins and initial construction in the 1930s has seen continued improvements leading to its gaining a remarkable status that few other sites have gained.

Throughout its history it has seen a wide range of units, personnel and aircraft, it has been a training airfield, a front line fighter defence, a bomber airfield and even a missile base. Its future is now in the hands of a developer, who are implementing a gradual change from airfield to community utilising the main buildings on site to support light industry and housing. What the eventual model will look like only time will tell, lets hope the promises hold and West Raynham becomes a model for other disused airfields before they are bulldozed and all their history cleared for evermore.

I hope to make a further visit shortly and capture some more up to date photos.

The full story can be read in Trail 21 – North Norfolk Part 2.

Sources and further Reading (West Raynham).

*¹ National Archives Operational Record Book 114 Sqn August 1941 – AIR 27/882/36

*² Aviation Safety Network database

*³ National Archives AIR 27/882/36

*⁴ National Archives AIR 27/1456/75

*⁵ “Hansard 1803–2005” digitised editions of Commons and Lords Hansard, the Official Report of debates in Parliament. Hunter Aircraft (report of Enquiry)

National Archives AIR 27/731/1

AIR 27/801/1
AIR 27/882/33
AIR 27/2870/21
AIR 27/971/33

For personal stories and more photos see the West Raynham Association website.

The West Raynham Development Brief published by FW Properties.

My thanks to Jon Booty at the West Raynham Control Tower for corrections.

RAF West Raynham Trail 21 – Part 4.

January 29, 2022December 28, 2021 / Aviationtrails / 2 Comments

At the end of Part 3, West Raynham had seen the war out and entered a new stage of life. With more upgrades and new aircraft arriving, its future looked secure. But not all would be well for those stationed here. The mid 50s, would see a tragedy that could have been so much worse.

The immediate post war period then saw fighter trials become the order of the day. The Royal Navy basing many of their types here for various trials and research projects. With two second line squadrons bringing their aircraft here No 746 Sqn and No 787 Sqn, the last piston engined examples to fly from West Raynham were the Fireflys and Hellcats of 746 Sqn RN, operating as part of the Naval Fighter Development Unit.

With the departure of the last aircraft, West Raynham was once again earmarked for upgrading which included amongst other things, another new watch office, designed to replace the mid-war example that had served so well. An additional extension to the perimeter track was also planned in, as was the creation of further, larger hardstands. In addition to all this, an increase in personnel was also envisaged and so extensions to the accommodation areas were also planned in once more. These upgrades were not subject to the same planning constraints as those originally built, and as such these buildings were not as ‘impressive’ as the older, original examples that remained on the site.

This particular watch office example (294/45), was a new and modern approach to airfield control buildings, incorporating for the first time an airfield control room (ACR later called Visual Control Room) the first of its kind. What made this building more significant than its predecessors was that it was designed with three floors as opposed to two, a style more commonly seen at wartime Naval stations.

The ground floor was primarily used as crew rest rooms (air and fire) with a kitchen, GPO equipment and a meteorological room. The first floor contained a planning room with a large plotting table and map wall, a feature reminiscent of World War II watch offices. A number of smaller rooms were also located off this room, providing accommodation for the Wing Commander and a Navigation Officer. The top floor was primarily the airfield control room (ACR) again a plotting table and additional staff rooms were located here. Also found here was the airfield lighting panel, R/T equipment and access to the ‘glasshouse’ above, with its distinguishable slanted windows. This floor gave a complete 360⁰ view around the entire airfield, a much improved view over pre and mid-war designs. The very design of this building has since been its saviour, as the best example of only one of five examples, its architectural interest, rarity, ‘completeness’ and interior systems, have enabled Historic England to list it as a Grade II building; this should at least offer it some protection from future development or demolition.

On completion of the work the airfield was passed to The Central Fighter Establishment (CFE) under the control of the RAF, where it began a new role as Britain’s top fighter training establishment, taking the airfield through the 1960s and on into the 1970s.

The CFE was a huge organisation formed in late 1944 through the amalgamation of a number of other training units: The Fighter Interception Unit, Air Fighting Development Unit, Fighter Combat School and the Fighter Leader School to name but a few. It would use personnel from across the military spectrum including: the RAF, Fleet Air Arm, Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force.

Aircraft of the Central Fighter Establishment (CFE) October 1962, before moving to RAF Binbrook. Aircraft represented: (L to R): Spitfire (P5853), EE Lightning F.1 (XM136), Gloster Javelin, Hawker Hunter F.6 (XF515) & Hawker Hunter T.7 (XL595). In the foreground are personnel representing the CFE including RAF, Fleet Air Arm, Army Air Corps and United States Air Force. (@IWM RAF-T 3476)

During this time, West Raynham operated as both a front line fighter base and as an aircrew training airfield. This would mean a huge influx of personnel and so a return to the high numbers of staff and aircraft that had been seen here during the war-time period.

In 1956, tragedy struck The Central Fighter Establishment here at West Raynham, when on 8th February, eight Hunter F1s took off from the airfield to carry out an exercise only to have six of them crash.

The exercise, a 4 against 4 dogfight involved two instructors and six students, and took place around 45,000ft in airspace above the airfield. By the time it had been completed, the weather over West Raynham had deteriorated so much that the eight aircraft had to be diverted to an alternative airfield, and RAF Marham was assigned. The cloud base was by now very low over West Raynham, as little as 250ft in places, and so a visual landing was almost impossible without GCA talk down (Ground Controlled Approach). Unfortunately, there was substantial R/T congestion that day and Marham GCA had great difficulty in picking up the Hunters. By now, the group had paired off and each pair had descended, flying low over West Raynham to pick up a heading for Marham’s runway (both runways were almost in direct line of each other), most of the aircraft were by now down to just minutes of fuel in their tanks.

By the time the aircraft were approaching Marham, the weather there had also deteriorated, and as such, the aircraft were unable to make a GCA landing. Of the eight, two managed to land one running out of fuel as it departed the runway, but the remaining six aircraft struggled, low on fuel and unable to see the ground, it became a near catastrophe.

Of those six, Hunter ‘WW639’ ‘N’ descended to 250 ft, after which the pilot lost visual contact with his leader. Now lacking sufficient fuel to land safely or divert elsewhere, the pilot elected to climb to 2,000 ft and eject. The Hunter, now pilot-less and without power, then crashed 3 miles south of Swaffham.

The second Hunter, ‘WW635’ ‘L’ was the only aircraft to have a fatality. The aircraft crashing four-and-a-half miles north-west of Swaffham killing the pilot Sqn. Ldr. R.J. Tumilty, (31).

The pilot of the next aircraft, Hunter ‘WW633’ ‘H’, descended to 500 ft, but with limited ground visibility also decided to climb away. Unfortunately he suffered an engine flame out and so ejected from the aircraft leaving it to crash in a field three-and-a-half miles north-west of Swaffham.

The fourth Hunter, ‘WW603’ ‘G’ attempted to land, but only managed a wheels up landing after also suffering a flame out. The aircraft came down not far from the eastern side of the airfield, the pilot escaping unhurt.

The fifth pilot, that of ‘WT639’ ‘N’, descended to 600 ft after being unable to contact Marham GCA. The cloud at this level was very dense, and also after losing his leader he too elected to climb away. As with other Hunters that day, he also suffered a flame out and so ejected at 2,500 ft leaving the aircraft to fall to Earth in a forest 2.5 miles south-west of Swaffham.

The final aircraft, ‘WT629’ ‘T’ suffered the same fate as many of the others. After running out of fuel, and unable to see the ground at 600 ft, the pilot elected to climb to 4,000 ft and eject. Now without either power or a pilot, the aircraft crashed in fields 2 miles northwest of Swaffham.

In a ministerial briefing after the Court of Enquiry had published their report, it was noted that the aircraft were not defective nor was there any question of inadequate fuel being supplied. The short range of early jets and these Hunters in particular being acknowledged by those present. The board highlighting that “the accidents were primarily caused by the sudden and unexpected deterioration in the weather“.

The board then questioned the basis of the divert to Marham, as it was based on the assumption that the weather was good at Marham.

“The question then arises whether, notwithstanding the deterioration that had taken place at West Raynham, the decision taken to divert the aircraft to Marham, spaced for visual landings, was correct. This diversion was ordered on the assumption that visual landings would be possible”.

The conclusion was that mistakes had been made and the report then went on to firmly lay the blame at the controller’s feet:

The findings of the enquiry concluded that this was an error on the part of the controllers at West Raynham, “who failed to appreciate that, because of the relative positions of the two airfields, it was probable that any deterioration in the weather at West Raynham would affect Marham shortly afterwards, thus necessitating Ground Control Approach landings there”.*⁵

As a result, controllers at West Raynham were subjected to disciplinary action over the incident, one of whom was removed from his post. It was a sad day indeed for the squadron and for all those who were involved at West Raynham. However, what turned out to be a loss of one life could have been so tragically worse.

The 1960s then saw even more changes at the airfield. As tensions across the world began to rise once more, so the country was put on alert. At West Raynham more new squadrons would arrive, the first, 85 Sqn, arrived at the airfield in September 1960, bringing more front line fighters to the site, this time it was Gloster’s distinguishable delta, the Javelin FAW 8.

Whilst at their previous base RAF West Malling, the squadron had been dogged with both starter problems and the serviceability of the A.I. radars on the Javelins; both of which continued after they arrived at West Raynham. At the end of the month senior officials from both the RAF and G.E.C. visited the base with a view to resolving the ongoing A.I. situation. However, the problems persisted even after they had gone, problems which merely compounded other issues the squadron were having around poorly fitted equipment, bad weather and surprisingly a lack of married quarters.

The Javelin was brought in to complement the Lightning, operating in the Night Fighter and all weather role, it was designed to intercept bombers that threatened the cities or airfields of Britain. In order to train aircrew in this role, a number of ‘support’ units were also established during this time. These included the Javelin Operational Conversion Squadron, a unit set up to convert pilots to the Javelin from other aircraft; the Fighter Support Development Squadron; the Fighter Command Instrument Training Squadron; the Radar Interception Development Squadron; the Night All Weather Wing and the Night Fighter Development Wing, along with numerous other units that supported the training of fighter pilots at this very busy airfield.

In July / August 1962, there were a spate of engine fires in Javelins at West Raynham, something that seemed to be a problem with these aircraft. Three such events affected XJ128, XA646 and XA701 during a three week period. There are no reports of injuries as a result of the incidents, and records simply show ‘engine fires at start up’. But it would appear to have been a rather regular occurrence at this time.

85 Squadron was then disbanded on March 31st 1963, a move that was forced by Duncan Sandy’s White Paper cutting back military expenditure on front line fighter units. They immediately reformed the next day taking over from the Target Facilities Squadron. They obtained new aircraft to fulfil the role, the Canberra T.11 – a B.2 converted to facilitate target towing, fighter interception and navigator training; all achieved through the fitting of a nose radome and A.I. radar. Their stay at West Raynham only lasted one more month though, when they finally left, transferring out to RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire.

As Duncan Sandy’s White paper cut deep into the heart of the RAF, many of those connected with the Force were angered. In the last part of West Raynham, we see how one man took matters into his own hands only to suffer the severe consequences.

The full story can be read in Trail 21 – North Norfolk Part 2.

RAF West Raynham Trail 21 – Part 3.

January 22, 2022December 28, 2021 / Aviationtrails / 2 Comments

In Part 2 we saw how Basil Embry was assigned to West Raynham but never made it, attacks by Blenheims on the German fleet and how the B-17 was used for trails as an RAF bomber. In part 3 we see more daring attacks by West Raynham aircraft, one of which saw the awarding of fifteen medals to airmen, many of which were West Raynham crews.

The summer of 1941 saw a great deal of activity at West Raynham. The changes, led by the departure of 90 Sqn in June, was quickly followed by the departure of West Raynham’s long standing 101 Sqn to Oakington in July. This meant that space was freed up for two new squadrons 114 Sqn and 268 Sqn along with a detachment of 614 Sqn.

One of the many ‘H’ accommodation blocks on site (2015).

The first of these units, 268 Sqn, was not based here but stayed on a short temporary basis whilst on a ‘Bulldog‘ exercise; ‘A’ and ‘B’ echelons transferring in on the 20th June from RAF Snailwell near Newmarket. At the time, the exercise was said to be the biggest such operation to be held in the UK, an event that saw co-operation between air and ground forces. A section from this party travelled from West Raynham to open an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Barton Bendish, not far from Downham Market, in Norfolk. The next day was then spent opening communication lines between West Raynham, the Corps Headquarters and Barton Bendish.

Over the next couple of days aircraft flew out of both Barton Bendish and West Raynham, amassing some twenty-five sorties in all, mainly low-level reconnaissance flights, collecting a mass of information about the ‘ground forces’ taking part in the exercise. On the 24th, the exercise was completed, and both air and ground staff departed West Raynham heading back to their base at Snailwell.

The second squadron, a detachment of Lysander IIIs, arrived here from the Macmerry based 614 Sqn. The small unit exchanged these aircraft for Blenheim IVs shortly after their arrival, performing in the Air Sea Rescue role for almost a year before they too departed this Norfolk site.

The last of the three units, 114 Sqn, arrived overnight of the 19th / 20th July, crews and ground personnel ferrying aircraft and equipment to West Raynham in three separate parties. With little time to settle in, operations began almost immediately.

On the 22nd, with ten aircraft heading to targets along the French coast, attacks were made by six Blenheims from between 10,000 and 15,000 ft on sheds and slipways, a number of hits were seen and the sheds appeared to be badly damaged in the attack. On leaving the target, clouds of smoke were seen to be rising from the ground, a welcome sight for the unwelcome intruders. A further three aircraft however, failed to find their primary target in a separate attack, and a single aircraft on a beat patrol also failed to locate a target, and so no bombs were dropped by either of these two sections. Flak was generally light on all occasions and still the Luftwaffe failed to make a dedicated appearance.

These intruder operations continued on, and on July 23rd another small raiding party attacked similar targets in similar locations, these however, were met with considerably more anti-aircraft fire. Regardless of the intense ground fire though, all aircraft returned without any major problems although some had received extensive damage to their air frames.

During August, a major attack was arranged with massed fighter escort on target GO.1237 – the Knapsack Power Station in northern Germany. The attack was to involve fifty-four Blenheims along with their fighter escorts. The operation, led by Wing Commander Nicol, was a daylight raid which took place in the late morning between 400 and 500 feet. Considerable damage was seen to be done to the plant; chimneys were hit, pipes were fractured, sheds were hit by bombs and a considerable amount of debris was thrown up into the air. The attack, the first of several, had proved to be a big success. The return journey then proved to be as eventful as the attack itself; flying at low-level, Dutch citizens were seen to wave to the bombers, a cheering site no doubt, and certainly one more pleasurable than the unfortunate flight of ducks that were struck by some of the aircraft. One of the observers on return commented “the impact was as terrifying as flak“.*¹

The attack was considered so successful and so daring that an entry was made in the London Gazette 357237 on 12th September 1941, in which the crews’ bravery was highlighted and the many awards that had subsequently been granted were listed. It read:

Air Ministry, 12th September, 1941.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.

“The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy: —

On the morning of I2th August, 1941, Blenheim bombers carried out simultaneous attacks on the great power stations near Cologne. A strong force attacked the station at Knapsack, whilst a smaller force attacked two stations at Quadrath. These missions involved a flight of some 250 miles over enemy territory which was carried out at an altitude of 100 feet. At Knapsack the target was accurately bombed and machine gunned from between 200 and 800 feet and at Quadrath both power stations were hit from the height of the chimneys; the turbine House at one of the two stations was left a mass of flames and smoke. The success of this combined daylight attack and the co-ordination of the many formations of aircraft depended largely on accurate timing throughout the flight. That complete success was achieved, despite powerful opposition from enemy ground and air forces, is a high tribute to the calm-courage and resolute determination displayed by .the following officers and airmen, who participated, in various capacities as leaders and members of the aircraft crews”.

The medals included two DSOs, ten DFCs and three DFMs. Among them was Wing Commander James Nicol (DSO); Acting Squadron Leader Alan Judson (DFC); Flying Officer Herbert Madden (DFC) and Acting Flying Officer Thomas Baker (DFC) all of 114 Sqn. The remaining awards being given to crews in other squadrons who also took part in the daring attack.

Two days after the operation, on the 14th August, Wing Commander James Nicol along with Sqn. Ldr. Judson and Sgt. Davidson, with their respective crews, travelled to RAF Polebrook to meet the A.O.C about the operation. The A.O.C. chatted to the men before congratulating them on their great success. The next day, Sgt. Griffiths (W.Op/G) travelled to London to make a recording for the BBC about the raid, talking about it from an eye-witness’s point of view. The recording was then broadcast over the next two days giving both the squadron and the nation a much needed boost in morale.

The joy for Wing Commander Nicol was to be short lived though. On the 19th August 1941, his plane failed to return from operations, Nicol along with Sgt. E. Jones and F.O. H. Madden were classed as “Presumed Missing”, they were later found to have been killed. A second Blenheim from the squadron also went missing that night, a reconnaissance flight with the loss of three more crewmen.*³ Nicol and his crew remain with no known grave and so are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

The October saw more changes to the gunnery training unit being performed here at West Raynham. 2 TTF was disbanded and renamed as 1482 (Target Towing and Gunnery) Flight. Some additional aircraft were brought in including the Defiant and Tomahawk, but their work, towing targets for gunners to aim at, continued on. In late 1942, it would change name again this time becoming 1482 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight. The unit would eventually disband in 1944 at Swanton Morley, the use of such units now being seen as obsolete.

The opening of January 1942, saw 114 Sqn off operational flying as a new training flight was created from within the unit. The number of new recruits, many of whom had directly transferred across from army co-operation units, was so high that this flight had became urgent. For the time being, gunnery training, formation flying and other training flights took precedence over all operational flying.

The training was interrupted on February 12th 1942 though, when orders came through to 114 Sqn to immediately dispatch six aircraft to attack the German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau which were making their way up the English Channel from Brest to their home docks in Germany. Joined by Prinz Eugen and a host of other vessels, this became known as the “Channel Dash” in which Bomber Command, the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Navy all had a hand in. The first West Raynham group took off early afternoon and attacked from a height of 15,000 ft, diving through cloud cover they experienced “intense flak”. A second order came through some three hours later for a further three aircraft from 114 Sqn, and they too departed, bombed up, to attack the fleet.

As with the first wave, they dived through cloud from 15,000 ft. Not only did they experience intense flak, but the weather was appalling, heavy rain and poor visibility made sighting very difficult. Some bombs were dropped and photographs were taken, but the attack was not a success and the Blenheims returned to West Raynham, some still with their bombs on board after having been unable to sufficiently see their targets.

In September, there was another change at West Raynham with the forming of yet another new squadron, 180 Sqn along with the reforming of a former World War I unit, 98 Sqn, both within a day of each other. Given North American B-25 ‘Mitchell’ IIs, both units very quickly moved out of West Raynham, each one transferring to RAF Foulsham where they would begin performing new duties within the month.

The departure of 114 Sqn in November signalled another major change for this Norfolk airfield. Now effectively left without any operational squadrons, a major refurbishment was on the cards, and it wouldn’t be too long before the contractors would move in.

For the whole of 1943, little flying activity took place here at West Raynham. A short interruption by the arrival and subsequent departure of 342 (Lorraine) Sqn (a Free French unit) on April 1st and May 15th respectively, did little to delay the upgrading.

The entire site was then expanded. The first move was to replace the two grass runways with concrete and tarmac examples (one 2,000 yards and the other 1,400 yards). In addition, more hardstands were added around the perimeter track, and on the technical site, a new watch office was constructed.

One of the many buildings left on site.

A new two storey design (4698/43) the Watch Office allowed new airfield lighting equipment to be installed at the site. This would assist aircraft when landing or taking off, making the airfield more visible when needed.

In addition to these improvements, the accommodation area was also expanded, this is was thought, would allow for the perceived influx of new personnel. By the end of the upgrading, West Raynham would be able to accommodate up to 2,500 men and 660 WAAFs.

In December 1943, the airfield passed over to 100 (Bomber Support) Group, where upon two more squadrons arrived at the newly refurbished base – 141 Sqn and 239 Sqn. Both these units would operate the D.H Mosquito the ‘Wooden Wonder‘ in a variety of marks: II, FB, VI and NF 30, all performing as night intruders. Both units would retain these aircraft to the war’s end and their eventual disbandment in the summer of 1945.

That month was not only filled with intruder flights, but football matches. A series of games culminated on December 23rd when a West Raynham team beat Norwich City 5-1 – a marvellous result for the RAF.

Outside of football, sorties continued, and for 141 Squadron, their last operational flight was to bomb the airfields at Hohn and Flensburg in Germany using Napalm gel. Buildings were set alight and a dog-fight ensued but one Mosquito was unable to jettison one of its Napalm tanks, and brought it home to West Raynham dropping it on the runway. The damage this caused meant that those crews from 239 Sqn who had also been out, supporting bombing raids at Keil, had to divert to alternative airfields. The subsequent problems led to the 239 Sqn Wing Commander being somewhat annoyed, blaming the “untidiness of a pilot of No. 141 Squadron who brought home one of his nasty oil bombs and dropped it on the runway“.*⁴ More associated with Vietnam, the squadron had dropped in excess of 11,000 gallons of the gel causing extensive damage by the war’s end.

With the announcement of VE day just days later, the celebrations began. The airfield beacon was changed to flash ‘V’ instead of ‘WR’, and the ‘Sandra Lights’ (three search lights positioned around the airfield which could be directed upwards to form a homing cone) were switched on. A large bonfire was enjoyed by all and even with 22 barrels of beer, there was a lot of “quiet fun and no excesses at all“.

The month closed with a great deal of uncertainty, a comment in the Operational Record Books summing up the general feelings: “The cessation of operational flying and the transition to a semi peace-time basis, is a little disturbing after the day to day activities of the months gone by.”

Understandably as talk of the Far East or disbandment became rife, many questions were asked about their future . The Wing Commander of 239 Sqn adding his personal concerns to the ORB*⁴ “Who is going where? Am I for the Far East? If so, on what type? Am I going to Transport Command? Am I going to be a flying instructor again?” These thoughts no doubt reflecting those of many based around Britain’s wartime airfields at this time.

With the arrival of VE day thoughts of those at West Raynham quickly turned elsewhere. In Part 4 of this visit, we see how West Raynham undergoes another upgrade, the airfield takes on a new role and West Raynham enters the jet age.

The full story can be read in Trail 21 – North Norfolk Part 2.

RAF West Raynham Trail 21 – Part 2.

January 15, 2022May 12, 2023 / Aviationtrails / 2 Comments

Carrying on from Part 1, we see a new Station Commander appointed. His determination to lead by example though, led to an ‘unfortunate incident’ which prevented his arrival here at this Norfolk site. We also see how West Raynham aircraft took part in attacks on the German fleet and a new heavy bomber arrives for trails.

It was also at this time that a new station commander was appointed, Acting Group Captain Basil Embry, whose career to date had been varied and long. He had served in the RAF for 20 years already, in locations that included Turkey, the Middle East, the Far East and the UK. Embry led by example, taking his squadron into daring battles over Norway much against the ideals and wishes of those who were higher up in the chain of command. The move to put him in charge at West Raynham was considered an attempt to restrict his flying ambitions forcing him to keep his feet firmly on the ground. A move that Embry didn’t appreciate.

Sir Basil Embry and his staff (right). Wikipedia

On the day of his appointment, he had one last flight, and took both his crews and a new Commanding Officer, Wing Commander L.R. Stokes into battle. However, his luck was to run out, and on leaving the target near St. Omer, his aircraft was shot down. The air gunner was killed in the attack, but Embry, along with his navigator, managed to bale out. What happened next was a dramatic series of events that led to Embry attempting to escape three times finally being successful on the last attempt. After making his way across France to Spain, he then made his way back to England where he took up active service once more.

Embry was highlighted as a possible leader for the new Pathfinder Group, but he was overlooked by Arthur Harris in favour of Donald Bennett. However, this did not inhibit Embry’s career, for he reached the heights of Air Chief Marshal and a service record with the RAF that extended long after the war had ended.

However, the incident meant that Embry never made it to West Raynham, his absence being briefly filled by the arrival of 139 Sqn. As the personnel were settling in, they were greeted with the news that their own Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Louis W. Dickens, was to be awarded the DFC for his action in leading nine Blenheims in an attack in which they faced heavy Luftwaffe opposition. The entire Squadron, apart from a ‘skeleton staff’, were all given eight days leave following the announcement.

Shortly after, and as was with many other units who found themselves here, 139 Sqn were soon ordered out of West Raynham once more, and by early June all squadron personnel had departed, neither Embry nor 139 Sqn had experienced much of this expanding Norfolk airfield.

The pattern of sort stay squadrons would continue on, and June would see yet another one, that of 18 Sqn, who on arrival, made their headquarters in No. 2 Hangar at the airfield. Classed as a medium bomber squadron it would have the ‘standard complement of personnel’ split into two flights. Another Blenheim unit, they quickly took up operations flying over Germany and the low countries, attacking targets in northern Germany, France and Belgium. These initial operations were regularly hampered by poor weather though, and many of the aircraft had to regularly return early due to fog, heavy cloud or rain. On the better days, when attacks were successful, sorties took them over Holland and Northern France attacking airfields and barges moored along the coast.

The squadron was soon transferred out of West Raynham though, and by early September, 101 Sqn was once again the only operational flying unit at the airfield.

At this point, it was decided to redevelop the airfield with new hardstands being constructed around the perimeter track. The process would last well into 1941 before it was completed, but it would allow aircraft to be parked and maintained on hard surfaces rather than grass where manoeuvring must have proven difficult over the previous poor winter months.

The new year brought a new tactic to 2 Group. With fighter flights failing to bring the Luftwaffe up to engage, it was decided to send the light bombers of 2 Group to entice them up. These ‘Circus‘ operations were designed to bring enemy fighters up so the escorting Spitfires and Hurricanes could engage with them. Primarily as bait, this new tactic would be the main focus for the Group for the remainder of the year.

Then in April 1941, another new major operation was mounted and it would be 101 Sqn who would be the first to take part.

Officially known as ‘Channel Stop’, the idea was to prevent enemy shipping from using the English Channel, the vital link between the North Sea and Baltic bases and the wide open expanses of the Atlantic Ocean. Aircraft transferred across to RAF Manston in Kent, where they would be kept on alert to attack at a moments notice. Their targets being any enemy shipping seen attempting to traverse the narrow stretch of water between England and France. These attacks would be carried out during daylight hours, and backed up at night by Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB) from the Royal Navy. The first of the 101 Sqn Blenheims assigned to the role, flew from West Raynham to Manston during April, and on the 28th, their first targets were spotted. Over the next few days, a number of ships were attacked with mixed results, a 2,000 tonne vessel being one of the more prized examples that fell to the Blenheims.

But by the 9th May, aircraft losses had mounted significantly, and so the remaining six aircraft of the flight were sent back home and a temporary stop was put to the operation. It was at this point, that the now outdated Blenheim would finally be replaced with the Wellington, a new aircraft with its unique geodesic design was now appearing at the Norfolk site.

The month of May also saw the return of 90 Sqn, a unit that had been resident here at the outbreak of war with their Blenheims. This time they were not bringing twin engined models with them though, this time it was the Fortress I the mighty US four engined heavy, the B-17.

AMERICAN AIRCRAFT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SERVICE 1939-1945: BOEING MODEL 299 FORTRESS.

A B-17 Fortress I, AN521 WP-K, of No. 90 Squadron taken at Hatfield, during an inspection of newly-arrived American aircraft by the Chief of the Air Staff and the US Air Attache. (© IWM CH 2873)

90 Squadron were trialling the use of the bomber, and whilst based at West Raynham, they also operated from RAF Great Massingham and RAF Bodney in an attempt to see if these grass airfields were suitable for the Fortress. However, it was quickly realised that such an operation with these models was not feasible and so they departed a month later, transferring out to RAF Polebrook, in Northamptonshire. Further tests revealed problems with the B-17’s guns at high altitude, the cold causing many to freeze and become inoperable. Within four months of arriving, the B-17s were sent packing, their use as an RAF bomber having been rejected.

In Part 3 we see more activity at West Raynham, and a daring raid by Blenheims in which no less than fifteen medals were awarded for action. We also see a return to attacks on the German fleet, an attack that would be met with very heavy resistance.

The full story can be read in Trail 21 – North Norfolk Part 2.