Re photographing gate guardians, a couple of years ago I asked the guards if I could photograph the Harrier at Wittering, and was told yes, as long as there are no buildings in the picture. I wonder why.

Because it is illegal to take photographs of military property/buildings. Such buildings are listed as ‘prohibited places’. I think they are covered by the Military Lands Act (1892) and the Official Secrets Act. Obviously there is some degree of flexibility nowadays, with visitors to airshows in particular being given specific permission to take photographs (within limitations) usually detailed on the ticket.

Sorry, this is not actually directly beneficial to the subject of the thread.

Rather frustrating not to know what that aircraft was, but i can imagine that being detained at the guardroom and made to hand over his film and notes was probably a rather traumatic experience for a young boy at that time.