Hi Doug – unless I am mixing your relative up with another well known fighter pilot, I understand that his former home in Hersham, Surrey, still exists and neighbouring residents are seeking to have a ‘Blue Plaque’ displayed on the building to commemorate this association (though it may take a while before it gains approval from English Heritage(?). I believe his mother was the chief resident there during WW2 but it would be interesting to know how long your Great Uncle actually lived there.

Good luck with this – the type has intrigued me for years and I have never found much information about them anywhere. As far as I know, they were relatively scarce on UK airfields – North Witham and possibly Grove were two that I believe had them but I don’t think any decent photos of these have ever been published. I know of none surviving in the UK but surely there must be some elsewhere in the world?

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this airfield – perhaps it has a better known war-time name (or its name has changed since the war)? Otherwise I guess its one of the more obscure and shortlived sites from 1944/45?

Listing is not necessarily the answer to the problem – tho’ if there is a sound, well-researched and documented case for this, then a serious proposal should still be submitted to the DCMS (although this should not be undertaken lightly). Does anyone actually know how many BofB period buildings survive at Coltishall and how far they may have been modernised? It almost goes without saying that tthe more unaltered they are, the better their prospects for Listing – even if only to be ‘locally Listed’.

Perhaps before this were to be seriously considered by anyone, the views of the local planning authority should be established – especially if there is a Conservation Officer (or similar) with responsibility for this area.

Impressive photos Eric – I did not know Aldergrove once had such an impressive hangar…..any idea what happened to it (I assume it no longer survives)?

I can confirm that there are no M.20 drawings at Hendon – theirs relate to the first Hawks & Hawk Majors and are largely of component details.

Try asking members of the Airfield Research Group – they have a website too. If you’re seriously interested in airfield histories, ARG is well worth joining too.

Don’t forget the Wellington had Pegasuses(?) too – N2980 at Brooklands Museum has two (both conserved by British Airways Engineering and Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust volunteers in the 1980s/early 1990s) and another Pegasus (ex L7775) is displayed in a nearby aero engine exhibition.