20:45 – A tragic time for Mosquito KB 364

November 6, 2014October 26, 2014 / Aviationtrails / 4 Comments

On this night 70 years ago (November 6th 1944), twelve RAF Mosquitoes from 608 Squadron, RAF Downham Market (Bexwell), took off on a raid to attack Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Whilst the raid itself was a success, that night was to be the last for the two crew members of Mosquito KB 364. Pilot Officer James McLean (26) and Sergeant Mervyn Lambert Tansley (21) of the RAF(VR) were to die tragically on approach to Downham Market.

On the return journey, cold air and icy conditions are thought to have caused icing on the controls and wings of KB 364 making it difficult to control and lose height. What happened next was to be tragic, both for the crew members and the village of Bawdeswell.

To see the full story of that night and what happened at 20:45, November 6th 1944, click here

DH Mosquito at the DH Heritage Centre

The Command Structure of the USAAF

November 4, 2014October 26, 2014 / Aviationtrails / Leave a comment

During the Second World War, the USAAF grew beyond recognition. The 16 air forces that made up the overall USAAF covered the globe, every theatre of war saw some action. This ranged from the home regions, protecting the west coast from Japanese submarines and naval attacks, the east coast, searching for marauding German submarines, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific and Japan.

Organising these air forces fell to Commands, the ‘middle management’ of the Air Force. Commands, or sometimes referred to as ‘Divisions’, combined the groups that made up the fighting forces of each of the 16 air forces.

I have broken each one down, listing the groups and main squadrons that fell within each one. Click the link here to see how these Divisions were organised.

17 Trails Around Britain’s Lost Airfields

October 25, 2014October 26, 2014 / Aviationtrails / Leave a comment

As a youngster, I was fascinated by aircraft, the Second World War and the airfields that the brave young men of the RAF and USAAF flew from. A mixture of nationalities, they gave their lives without hesitation or question.

My interest and love of this period extended to the Cold War, to fast jets and amazing feats of aerobatics that defy logic and gravity. I would badger my parents into visiting a nearby airfield when on holiday, I would stand eyes skyward watching as the roar of a jet came and went. Books were collected, photos gathered and dreams made.

As an adult, I started visiting these old sites, and more recently began the blog chronicling my experiences for those who wish to share them with me.

So far, I have covered 17 trails, which include over 40 airfields ranging from Lincolnshire to Kent, Norfolk to Northamptonshire. As I travel further afield, my experiences, the people I meet and the stories I find, never fail to amaze me.

Why not come on a voyage of discovery and nostalgia; choose a trail; see what part they played and see what remains of those places today.

Click on the links below to see some of the pages in the site.

Choose your Aviation Trail.

See the memorials to these people.

Read about heroic tales and acts of bravery.

Find out about the inspiration behind my love of aviation, my father.

View the interactive map.

16 Air forces Covered the Globe

October 14, 2014October 11, 2014 / Aviationtrails / Leave a comment

The USAAF was an enormous organisation, employing some 2.5 million people during the Second World War. Its influence ranged form the United States West Coast, through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, the Pacific and back. Organising something as big as this, especially during war-time, was a logistical nightmare.

I have made it a personal challenge to figure out how it all slotted together and have managed, in a small part, to assemble a guide to the various complicated air forces and its overall hierarchical structure.

The challenge continues, but so far it’s not bad. Maybe you could shed some light on this huge organisation and unravel its hidden mysteries. See it here.

P-51 ‘Princess Elizabeth‘ at Duxford

Princess Elizabeth was originally the P-51B ’42-106449′ of Lt William T Whisner, and latterly Lt Robert Butler, 487nd FS, 352nd FG, Eighth Airforce, and was lost to Flak on June 6th 1944. The ‘Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney‘ gained a remarkable reputation, and were to become one of the most successful Fighter Groups of the Eighth Air force. Bodney today.

A Fire so Fierce it Took Four Hours to Extinguish

August 24, 2014January 11, 2015 / Aviationtrails / 1 Comment

In November 1944, a Mosquito of 608 Squadron, RAF Downham Market, returned from a mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. A successful mission overall, but this was to be the last time Mosquito KB364 and its crew would fly.

The night was cold and possible icing may have prevented Pilot Officer James McLean and Sergeant Mervyn Tansley, from maintaining altitude. Their flight was about to end abruptly.

Bawdeswell, a small, quiet village in Norfolk, believed to be home to Geoffrey Chaucer’s uncle, was about to make history once more. Find out what happened that night over Norfolk.