Grumman Duck

The only real example of this amphibious biplane that I recall seeing was part of the Erickson Collection that we visited in America in 2019. This is a 1/72 scale Airfix kit that cost all of 99p plus post but it was missing the starboard lower wing and port rear elevator but I managed to knock up replacements from scrap and it came out OK.

Autumn spotting

In the overhead of the garden today, largely on high, on a pleasant autumn afternoon

Ford Airfield

Ford is a former airfield in West Sussex. This is from the ABCT website: Ford, the world’s most famous intruder airfield, originally opened in March 1918 for use by RAF and American squadrons prior to closing in January 1920. The site reopened for civil flying ten years later, becoming involved in early air-to-air flight refuelling experiments, and resumed military aviation connections from the end of 1937. Fleet Air Arm training units primarily employed Ford into World War Two but their base suffered extremely heavy damage and loss of life following a ferocious attack by Junkers Ju 87s on August 18 1940. As a result the RAF quickly returned and Ford gained prominence in its best known role as various intruder squadrons – notably No 23 – roamed enemy-occupied territory to attack targets at will with considerable success. Operational duties gradually altered to also include fighter-bomber sorties as the airfield became heavily involved through the vital D-Day period and beyond. Ford kept busy during peacetime as the Fleet Air Arm returned in the summer of 1945 to enable first-line squadrons to form and work up to full readiness. Another major event occurred in August 1951 when No 800 Squadron formed at HMS Peregrine with Supermarine Attackers to become the first naval jet fighter unit. Eventually Ford was paid off or closed in November 1958 but this did not signal the end of flying by any means as civil aircraft continued to employ the airfield until all flying finally ceased in 1980. Today a wide variety of alternative uses which have become noticeable since the late 1950s are evident, ranging from industry and peripheral housing to leisure, an open prison and a popular Sunday market. In a brief visit last weekend I snapped the Hawker Hunter (see below) that now gaurds the entrance to the market area and also visited the little memorial garden.

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.