Stop Press RAF Westonzoyland

Yes, it is a shame, but yeah, don’t feel daft as these things often do stall – I should know! The thing is, if it wasn’t for people with bags of enthusiasm when there’s a chance of something happening, nothing would ever actually happen. And who knows, it might just go ahead when things are sorted. I’ll certainly be happy to help!

Sorry to hear that nothing came of your plans as you were obviously very enthusiastic about the idea.
If it is any consolation I have had various projects over the years which stalled or drastically slowed down due to unforseen problems – including a classic car restoration that was expected to take about a year and 12 years down the line is still sitting in the garage when work stalled due to unforseen and expensive problems which are beyond my skills without professional help (no – I don’t mean the men in long white coats) – or due to circumstances beyond my control. The only thing to do is take the problems on the chin and learn from the experience for the next time and don’t forget (as Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy said) ” there will be a next time.”

Real shame, would have loved to see and old Whirlwind or something back home, I remember many years ago sitting on my dad’s knee and hearing of the planes that flew out of Merryfield and other parts of Somerset

Just fallen over this old thread. What’s the latest on this? I’m an old Zummerzet boy meself, and spent many a formative hour poking around WZ. I would be an avid supporter!

Sadly,
not a lot beermat 🙁 .. just after posting this thread, there was a land dispute, of some kind, not my business, and i was just relying what i had been told, and to be fair it was possible,but, with a land issue, between certain individuals, i think it was shot down ,before it started,

maybe in the future when all those private matters are sorted something may happen, until then, we will have to just wait.. :(…. sorry to say, my over enthusiasm, made me look a bit of a fool when it stalled .. 😮

Bump!

Just fallen over this old thread. What’s the latest on this? I’m an old Zummerzet boy meself, and spent many a formative hour poking around WZ. I would be an avid supporter!

Sounds an exciting idea. I wish you all the best!

hold ya Horses there men,

as i said Hold your horses there men, last thing we wanna do is go bull at a gate and scare the farmer half to death, not to mention the council and planning office ,this needs to be doe with tact, slowly slowly catch the monkey as the saying goes, I am thrilled at you enthusiasm ,but this really needs to be a gentle transition from complete dump to live small airfield,
to Museum, and with the enthusiasm i have had to date i Know it will be a success, But i gotta be careful here, farmer is up for it, but can you imagine if overnight buildings went up plane arrived ,loads of people,it could terrify him, and the local authorities, but i am sure if he sees it being done properly
and it is working he will be more than pleased to let it grow, I am only dealing with the Museum as and when it arives,i am the lesser of the reasons for this airfield, main reason is as a runway and hanger, to fly the Provost from,and this comes with it, my mate deals with the farmer, and the live flying side, and i get a CORE band of men together for the planning of the initailly small
museum,at the same site, Static aircraft and the like arrive later when things are set up,anyone who GENUINLY wants to help set this up AS A EQUAL
please step forward, this will happen, but will take a little time,and sensibility,
when we have the main building blocks in set in stone, so to speak, ten we go hell for leather, but please Gentlemen, play it softly ,
gathering info ,finding a suitable building,even if it be a portacabin for startersand the main thing, clearing out the land making it nice and tidy for this dream to happen, anyone who knows me knows i am genuine, and try to say it how it is,and fair,
its hard work but its got to be worth it ,for everybody to enjoy,
KInd regards
Chris Collins:D 😀

Congrats on the accomplishment! Of course you realize that this is just the start and there is MUCH more work ahead. Looks like there is a good start in adding people to your project. Now the fun of gathering funds, building facilities, organizing volunteers, getting the word out. Building a good web site for past history, current affairs and long range plans should be high on the list of things to get done.

An appeal to “old” vets and their families to gain objects, photos, and stories should be a priority. They are getting old quickly and bits must be collected before lost. Get press, get some more press and then get some MORE press.

A “nice” museum is far away unless you win a lottery.
I do architectural Illustration. If I can be of any help, PM me and I will see if there is anything that I can do to help.

Chris

I live in Yeovil & frequenly go to Bridgwater. I have a aviation history background/interest & would like to help out sometime. I’m a keen model maker so maybe a display of based a/c for a display? If you need a e-mail to contact me, pm me. Look forward to this ALOT!
Dave

I was with 542 sqdn at Weston Zoyland from 1955 until 1957….
I do remember the final operational days at WZ and will gladly supply any information I can.
Paddy R

I’m sure that would interest us all here Paddy

Weston Zoyland

Hi Paddy,

thanks for your offer of information, and help in this respect,
I might take you up on it, when we get started, ie-any photos,stories regarding,RAF Westonzoyland,
please Personal message me and i will keep in touch,and send you my contact details,
I would hope one day we could get a Canberra back to Westonzoyland,
as a tribute to the last aircraft type stationed there and the Sqaudrons,and men who served there,:)

Weston Zoyland

Hi Merkle
Very glad to hear about the proposed museum. I was with 542 sqdn at Weston Zoyland from 1955 until 1957, the last sqdn to be stationed there.
Our Canberras carried out upper air sampling following atom bomb tests so perhaps thats were the reference to “atomic strike force” in ealier correspondence comes from.
I live in Northants, too far away to be of any real help but I do remember the final operational days at WZ and will gladly supply any information I can.

Paddy R

meet

Yep there will be a meet, but just getting all the names contacts etc,
then arrange a meet,
PM me your details and i will get back to you when we have a date,Very soon
maybe even this weekend:D

Merkle, will you have an initial site meeting where we can turn up and add support by numbers?

Swagging

Thanks Gareth,
yep its Swag city out there, “There all after me lucky charms “
its definately a bloody tall order:eek: , but the chance is there and Paul will get something done , Its got to be secure ,thats the main proirty, after the clean up, but farmers got a JCB it should’nt take long to clear that mess up,
“And i am not doing it alone”, allready got some good help, really chuffed with the overwhelming offers for help by good people on this Forum, and thanks to yourself for the offer of nice trinkets for display as a when we get a secure unit ,might start with a portacabin type thing for small trinkets on display and history,all the little swag parts/photos etc etc, Its great that now there is somewhere for some of the meteor T.7 wh194 swag to go,especailly as it as where she was based,i reckon parts from a nice supermarine Attacker would look nice in there,if you know what i mean:D ,you know the one,just hope you havent binned all of the andersea farm Gash that was found,thats on there doorstep,
I will certainly for my part be looking for more jet fighters, oh and i have located the sabre at yoevilton, thanks original news paper reports, we got to investigate that one, and if lucky contact MOD for a licence, also MOD has put me on the shortlist for the Meteor at sennybridge, if it ever gets disposed of , so theres a start, Just all that hard work setting it all up 🙁 Groan,still its worth it in the end 😀

Bob the builder

Well seems a bit of a tall order but you must set yourself a chalenge!!:diablo:
Having driven past the place a few times its hardly in the best location for passing trade off the public to enable it to pay its way once its been established. Perhaps the use of cameras will help!!:D

Maybe you could get some lottery funding for the buildings or ask the local council, they seem to waste plenty. Would be nice to see you get the project off its feet and open to viewing, if you suceed i will loan you a few mice exhibits & aero engines to display off local crash sites in the area for a start, it will need to be secure as reading other topics there seems to be a lot of swagging going on about musiums by the public.

Merkle, I’ve sent you an e-mail in reply to yours. 😀

Merkle,
Tks for that – much appreciated.
Rgds
Resmoroh

1950s WZland

just found this on wikepedia,

hope it is of help,

“There was virtually no further flying at Weston Zoyland until the summer of 1952 when, to meet the Soviet threat. an increase in the RAF’s strength and a demand for more aircrews found Meteors and Vampires operating in a training role.

Canberra squadrons were present during the mid 1950s when Weston Zoyland was used as a work-up station prior to overseas assignments.

By 1958 the station was once more deserted of aircraft and, although retained by the Air Ministry for another ten years, it never reopened for military flying”

I note in one of the Som Co Council posts that Weston Zoyland was:
“After the war the site was briefly reactivated during the Korean War and again in connection with the Atomic Strike Force in 1955“
Does anyone know just what was going on at W Z at that time? I was in 3 Gp at the time (almost all in E England) when, suddenly, we got this 3 Gp Station in Somerset!! Trying to sort the weather out for E England AND Somerset at the same time was a pain!
Rgds
Resmoroh