Ford airfield latest to be built on

If there must be street names why not commemorate these people who made the ultimate sacrifice?

One officer of the Royal Navy was killed (literally blown apart) while firing his Webley revolver at the attacking dive-bombers. I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember his name but I will look it up today.

His name was Lieutenant-Commander Michael de Courcy.

If anyone has ever walked around the new housing built on Tangmere during the ’80’s and early ’90’s, you will not see one street name or reference to the famous people who served and died operating from there.

It beggers belief that the local council did not make any attempt to contact the on site museum, and ask for a list of aircraft, pilots and other famous names involved in those ‘so secret’ missions flown across the channel in Lysanders ect.

We live in a nation that only thinks of those times on November 11th, and for the rest of time, shut their eyes to our past and get paid to think up names for new roads like Smith Rise, Jones Close, Alfreds Way……. Uugh, I could go on for ever.

Surely I’m not the only ‘Grumpy old Man’ when it comes to these matters.

Perhaps they are worried that commemorating those who gave their lives in time of conflict will eventually be seen as “glorifying war” and thus “politically incorrect”! Or, more likely, they don’t know, or even care, about the area’s past, nor understand that they owe their current (politically correct) freedom to those from (and on) the airfield who gave their lives.

Makes me sick to see history being lost without trace too – if they are afraid of using people’s names, then why not commemorate aircraft types that used the base…?

Paul F

I remember flying in there on the day it closed in Jodel G-ARUH, wonder where that is now. I was learning to fly at the time and it was a great day out.

Suspect that was the event on 16th August 1980, which was billed as the ‘Farewell to Ford’ fly-in and I was there too in Cub G-BFZB. However, the airfield lasted another 6 months as Toon Ghose Aviation had the final 6 months of the lease until its ultimate closure on 10th February 2001.

Happy days and had many flights from there as we treated it as our second home when Shoreham was waterlogged. Even had a couple of flights on Christmas Day in 1978 – well you have to get your priorities right. 😉

The writing was always on the wall after the farmer planted those trees as mentioned by Lee Howard.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

I’ve just been re-reading the excellent ‘The Hardest Day’ by Dr Alfred Price.

RNAS Ford was one of the airfields attacked by Stukas on the 18th August 1940 when more aircraft (British and German) were destroyed than on any other day during the Battle of Britain. Many people were killed during the bombing of the airfield that day.

If there must be street names why not commemorate these people who made the ultimate sacrifice?

One officer of the Royal Navy was killed (literally blown apart) while firing his Webley revolver at the attacking dive-bombers. I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember his name but I will look it up today.

Road names

If anyone has ever walked around the new housing built on Tangmere during the ’80’s and early ’90’s, you will not see one street name or reference to the famous people who served and died operating from there.

It beggers belief that the local council did not make any attempt to contact the on site museum, and ask for a list of aircraft, pilots and other famous names involved in those ‘so secret’ missions flown across the channel in Lysanders ect.

We live in a nation that only thinks of those times on November 11th, and for the rest of time, shut their eyes to our past and get paid to think up names for new roads like Smith Rise, Jones Close, Alfreds Way……. Uugh, I could go on for ever.

Surely I’m not the only ‘Grumpy old Man’ when it comes to these matters.

Agreed, Ford really is a magical place, though the huge conifers that line the main runway spoil it a great deal. When I visited there nearly ten years ago there were sections of the runway that were being broken up, so I helped myself to a chunk (with flat top – obviously) and it is still sat in my garage (used to be a bit of a garden feature at my last place). I “visited” the place when we flew over on the way to/from Shoreham in the RNHF Chipmunk. Clymping church is also one to visit. Right outside the airfield perimeter it is the last resting place of many an aviator, most notable being Lt Cdr Dennis Patrick Wolf Kelly who was killed from Ford whilst practicing his Sea Hawk display for Farnborough. The more observant will note that his headstone reads “HMY Britannia” as he was assigned to the Royal Yacht at the time of his death, having been recalled specifically to give his most impressive of aerobatic displays. Directly behind him is Cdr Desmond Russell who was killed whilst embarking 803 Sqn Scimitars in the newly-rebuilt HMS Victorious in September 1958.

Last time I saw RUH it was at the back of a hangar at Denham somewhere during the 90’s, the wing had been rebuilt and recovered, I was told the fuselage was going off to be done but never saw it again. So guess it could be lying in someones garage or barn waiting for resurrection one day!

I remember flying in there on the day it closed in Jodel G-ARUH, wonder where that is now. I was learning to fly at the time and it was a great day out.

Cancelled by the CAA in 2001.

I remember flying in there on the day it closed in Jodel G-ARUH, wonder where that is now. I was learning to fly at the time and it was a great day out.

RAF Andover

You can add RAF Andover to the list of threatened former airfields. Tesco want to build a Regional Distribution Centre on it, a so-called ‘Megashed’. There’s a fair amount of local opposition to it but the likelihood is it will go ahead, decision expected in January.
To be fair, there’s not much left that hasn’t been developed into the DLO. As far as I can see it’s just the field itself, which was only ever grass, still a shame though:(

John

Thats a real shame, Ford is a real time capsule, I had a friend who was a warder at Ford open prison and he said many of the old buildings in there still had HMS Peregrine on them.

I did a lot of research on a family relative who was killed in a T22 Vampire in 1955, on approach to Ford, and was amazed on my visits how much of it survived its worth a visit if you are ever down that way its a very evocative site,

Its inevitable though, at the end of the day its what is classed as a large brownfield site and that makes planning permission easier.

Newforest,
Je reste ma valise!
Willip & Newforest,
Begin the possible Street Names search now – it will save the Planners employing Consultants at some exhorbitant rates (your Council Tax and mine!) to come up with a load of rubbish names. Not just a/c names, or Captains/Admirals – what about that WREN who put that fire out in the Galley (and don’t tell me there’s never been one!). Research the names/places/events NOW and bombard the Planners. Else in 5/10 yrs somebody on this Forum will be griping about the same problem!
You’re the experts – go for it!
Rgds
Resmoroh

And the next one will be Lee on the Solent unless a miracle happens!:mad:

I agree entirely with your sentiments. But surely it is not beyond the imagination of the Planning Cttee to ensure that Conditions are placed on any development such that the history of the place is not completely lost. Associated street names are easy – but if there’s to be a pub then name it after the airfield (or whatever Stone Frigate it used to be called in RNAS-speak) and make sure the interior decor is appropriate. The history of RNAS Ford could be documented and displayed in any Community Centre. Similarly with any school – get the little brats to go out and collect the street names and find out who/what they were all about. One might even think that the street layout might replicate the run/taxi-ways of the original airfield. Any religious buildings could have associations with ditto on the RNAS (or will the PC Police forbid it?)
Time, however, marches on and we have, regretfully, to march with it – else we’d all still be using bows & arrows and running around in a coat of blue paint as our Sunday Best suit!
But seriously this is a problem that is, I feel sure, going to occur again and again. It is up to us – by browbeating The Planners – to ensure that the history of these places is not forgotten.
Rgds
Resmoroh