Attended a great show this weekend at Ex RAF Station Harrobeer on Dartmoor in Devon to mark its 70th aniversary. The organisers have restored the blast pens to their formal glory making a superb backdrop for the Spitfire. The Swordfish flew over on Saturday followed by a Hurricane and PRU Spitfire of the BBMF on Sunday. The building in the background of one of the shots is the old officers mess now a nursing home. Also attended by a Battle of Britain pilot. Well worth a visit the Knightstone cafe has a small museam dedicated to the former RAF base.
Entry to the show was free and it was very well suported with a large crowd on the Sunday with plenty to see and do.
By: Paul Rowse - 19th August 2011 at 01:32
Having attended the show on the Sunday I also thought it was a very good and well organised event. The RAF provided their usual excellent Sea King SAR demonstration and it was very stirring to see a Spitfire and Hurricane performing in the Devon skies again. The many ground attractions and stalls complemented the overall event. It must have been an emotional day for any veterans attending.
One slight criticism would be the apparent lack of ready information (data boards or flysheets) about some of the airfield’s interesting history such as the arrival there of President Harry Truman in Air Force I (then known as the ‘Sacred Cow’) and bandleader Glen Miller. I apologise if there were such things available but I certainly didn’t see any myself. I can say that many people around me watching the air display in late afternoon (after being there for several hours) were not aware of these sort of facts until I told them. I do appreciate that this information was contained in books on sale at the local historical group’s display stand but I would guess that only a small percentage of the thousands attending would have bought copies.
Anyway this is not meant to be a complaint and I should quickly reiterate that it was a very entertaining and enjoyable day. The organisers deserve all the thanks they will no doubt receive.
One small final point, the correct spelling of the airfield is HARROWBEER.
Regards……Paul
By: Graham Adlam - 17th August 2011 at 00:59
Is the tail up on bricks ?
Well spotted some a couple of hours welding required before its next outing, its a constant battle to keep it going. A starter motor also failed and had to be replaced on site, quite appropriate really working under a portable light in the dark in a wartime blast pen.
By: brewerjerry - 16th August 2011 at 23:43
Hi
BoB spit pilot, who was also..
an ex harrowbeer typhoon pilot, me thinks …..
A really nice/helpful guy.
Cheers
Jerry
By: Propstrike - 16th August 2011 at 22:37
Is the tail up on bricks ?
By: wingcomandrflap - 16th August 2011 at 22:20
Mr M Hayes does a great job here and I would recommend a visit if you’re in the Westcountry. Although the runways have gone the airfield layout is still evident not least the “E” pens around the old taxiway. I wish I could have been there at the weekend but work got in the way…again.
Nice Spitfire Graham 😉
By: Graham Adlam - 16th August 2011 at 15:21
For the Whirlwind fans the organisers at the cafe have some pictures of that aircraft operating from Harrobeer.
By: Graham Adlam - 16th August 2011 at 12:55
Sorry I cant have a job in Ipswich this weekend.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th August 2011 at 12:16
And this coming weekend is Upottery’s turn. Will you be going Graham ?
http://www.southwestairfields.co.uk/?page_id=296
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August 16, 2011 at 12:10 pm