RAF Warmwell.org.uk

Just finished Harald Penrose’s “Airymouse” and I’m a little confused by his account of the Wyvern crash landing at Warmwell. I quote “When the rescue team found me a couple of hours later, one of the cars collided with a stump of concretre hidden by the tall grass. … Quickly it became apparent that the entire area was thickly patterened with hundreds of great concrete blocks which had been set up during the closure of the airfield to prevent German gliders landing if invasion was attempted” But if Warmwell was operational until 1946, why would they have done that? Did they build the stumps around the open spaces of the airfield when there was a threat of invasion but keep the runway/taxiways clear? Or did Penrose really put the Wyvern down outside the actual airfield?

Yes mention of those concrete blocks is in more than one of HP’s books (‘Adventure With Fate’ being another), but it has also been suggested to me by someone with a long standing association with Warmwell that it was not entirely a correct observation, as there is no recollection of any such blocks on the airfield. But seeing as i am in no position to dispell Harald’s claims either way, for now i’m happy to believe his written word, until someone can prove otherwise !

Mr Creosote

I have not, as far as I can think, heard of the Wyvern crash landing… I will post out on the site – I’ll also do a search to see if it HAS been posted and forgotten by me…:apologetic:

Mike, just to put the record straight it wasn’t a crash landing, but a forced landing as i believe the aircraft was undamaged apart from a u/s engine.

Rob

Hi Mike,
Thanks for leading me to this forum.
I will post my quest here also 😉

Mr Creosote

I have not, as far as I can think, heard of the Wyvern crash landing… I will post out on the site – I’ll also do a search to see if it HAS been posted and forgotten by me…:apologetic:

In the meantime I have a story on there that might interest any of you – a Warmwell Ghost Story………an interesting tale!

Thanks, Mike.

Thanks for bumping this one….

….I must’ve missed your last and the one with the photos :o… Thanks for that and I will add those into the site. As to an answer re the concrete I will ask the guy I know who may be able to help. I’ll also make sure he knows about this site. I’m just wondering if he does…. The last time I saw him I was just on my way out to play a gig and didn’t have time to talk. When he called in he had a story in a letter…..a bit of a ghostly tale from Warmwell. It will be posted soon and I’ll let you know.

Also a request from way back about a wooden cross that went missing…anyway more when I get the full details…

Many thanks once again.

(Bump)

Just finished Harald Penrose’s “Airymouse” and I’m a little confused by his account of the Wyvern crash landing at Warmwell. I quote “When the rescue team found me a couple of hours later, one of the cars collided with a stump of concretre hidden by the tall grass. … Quickly it became apparent that the entire area was thickly patterened with hundreds of great concrete blocks which had been set up during the closure of the airfield to prevent German gliders landing if invasion was attempted” But if Warmwell was operational until 1946, why would they have done that? Did they build the stumps around the open spaces of the airfield when there was a threat of invasion but keep the runway/taxiways clear? Or did Penrose really put the Wyvern down outside the actual airfield?

Hi Mike,

Here are 2 more for you to add to the website, the first is one of the old control tower taken in 1950, just after the Air Ministry had decided it would no longer require the airfield again, as you know it was later sold and turned into a house.
The second is one of my favourites, pilots of 184 sqdn taken in front of one of thier Typhoons whilst at the APC in Dec 1944.

I know there was another person who researched Warmwell back in the 1980’s as well as Anthony Cooke.

Regards

Jay

Here is one of the main hanger site as in 1937 when first known as RAF Woodsford and another aerial shot taken in 1943.

Thanks for the photos “oldgit” (Hmmm! That doesn’t seem right to reply like that!)

I think I saw these on another site a while ago – can’t remember where tho’….

Many thanks for the reply – is it ok to add the photos to my RAFW site??

Many thanks for the welcome Rob – that was quite a landing by the sound of it!! Could be a bit more tricky now with the tip that’s there now!! Mind you it was a while ago I was there – could be all covered in now…!

Here is one of the main hanger site as in 1937 when first known as RAF Woodsford and another aerial shot taken in 1943.

Hi Mike, welcome to the forum.
Personally all i can add is that early in 1947 Westland chief test pilot Harald Penrose had reason to force land the prototype W.34 Wyvern TF.1 TS371 onto the then disused Warmwell airfield, having suffered engine failure at 16,000 ft.

Having first blown down the flaps and undercarriage with the emergency compressed air systems, he skillfully managed to dead stick the aircraft down and come to a halt without any damage to the aircraft or himself. No mean feat considering the braking effect of eight stationary propeller blades gave it the gliding charateristics of a brick.

Rob