Dunkeswell

Dunkeswell opened in 1943 and was handed to the USAAF who flew Liberators on anti submarine duties and helped the war against the U - Boat menace. Post war the airfield was used briefly by the RAF before being closed in 1946 and sold in 1948. However, this was not the end of flying activities and today the field opearates as a civilian airstrip for light aircraft. Several old buildings survive and are in use on the nearby industrial estate, there is a memorial to wartime use and also a small heritage centre that is free to enter. We went for a look last week after doing the Upottery center whic is only a few miles away.

Upottery Heritage Centre

I visited Upottery Airfield 9 years ago and pictures from that visit can be found here but although I also found the Heritage Centre at that time it was out of season and closed. However this time around it was open so we called by. The airfield has strong links with supporting the D-Day landings and it was from here that Easy Compnany as immortalised in Band of Brothers departed for Normandy in 1944 and, in fact, the airfield was used for filming in the TV series. The heritage museum, which is free to enter, focuses on the D-Day period but there are other displays relating to the Home Front, Bomber Command etc and it is based in the refurbished Officer's Mess from WWII. The chap manning the museum when we went was friendly and helpful and happy to chat and I popped a donation in the box before leaving.

Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection

Whilst I was at Duxford my good mate Gaz was over in Oslo at this museum. If Facebook is your thing Check the Military Wings a look around hangar doors link on the right for his reviews of the exhibits. Also on his other FB page https://www.facebook.com/groups/493289857536250/?ref=share

Duxford update

I was at Duxford today for the Battle of Britain airshow - posts on that to follow - but also had a quick spin around some of the hangars. The CR42 is still in bits under a dust sheet, the Beaughfighter hasn't moved, naturally, The Blenheim is having some engine work, P51D Marinell was drawing the crowds in a hangar doorway, the airworthy DH9 at last has its engine back in place, slow progress on the Heinkel 162 restoration and I was able to grab a shot of the recently arrived Firefly.

Hornchurch

Hornchurch Airfield is probably a familiar name to anyone with an interest in the Battle of Briatin but it has its origins in WWI when it was known as Suttons Farm - from the land that it was built on. It was from Suttons Farm that that a Be2c took off and became the first aircraft to down a Zeppelin back in 1916. The airfield was closed after the war but the land was subsequently requisitioned by the RAF and the airfield opened again in 1928 initially as RAF Suttons Farm but this was soon changed to RAF Hornchurch. During WWII Hornchurch was part of 11 Group, defending London and South East England and played an important role in the Battle of Britain. After the war Hornchurch had a limited role including Aircrew Selection Center and Paraachute training before closing in July 1962. Part of the airfield, including hangars and the technical site are now under a housing estate but much of the rest has become a country park where there are still a few small signs of the past including pill boxes and gun emplacements although as the runways were grass it is hard to discern exactly where they were. Just up the road from the park is Hornchurch Heritage Centre which opened in 2019 in two houses used by RAF Hornchurch form 1939 to 1946. The centre recounts the history of Hornchurch through a number of different diplay rooms and includes stories from the time, such as a Home Front exhibition and other general RAF displays. All worth a look and I finished up by visiting the concrete barges at Rainhaim.