Mark,

I hear what you say, but is there any chance you could email me a copy at monbrythATaolDOTcom? I love a challange (even though I’ll probably end up with egg on my face).

Brian

The THUM Flight aircraft landed at Speke only to hand the met information gathered during a sortie to the met office. The only other airfield at which the THUM Flight was based was Hooton Park between 1 May and 12 July 1951.

Brian.

Nick,

I’ve spoken to John Barthram (he was the Senior Forecaster in those days) and he tells me the forecaster who was the Spitfire pilot was Harry Wilkinson. He rarely spoke of his time in the RAF, which explains my lack of knowledge, but he was discussing downdraughts with John one day and during the conversation told him about the day he was returning at low level towards Dover from a sortie with two other Spitfires. They were ahead of him and as they approached the cliffs he saw them just disappear into the sea. He was far enough behind to take avoiding action, but it turned out they had flown into a downdraught from the cliffs.

I repeat the anecdote as told and have no reason to disbelieve it.

(This all seems a long way from the original thread.)

Brian

Not that I recall Nick, but two of them, ‘Tiny’ Mentz and John Barthram (both still with us) were Met Air Observers with the Met Squadrons (517 518, etc). John lives near me in Devizes.

The lean-to that housed the met office is clearly visible on the airfield side of the middle hanger of Philip’s photos.

The stand of trees on the other side of the road was there in 1912.

Brian

Interesting thread. As Aeronut notes, the present Upavon airfield is the site of the old South Airfield. The North Airfield stretched northeast from the extreme top right of the photo sent by Chris. The original hangers for South Airfield were in exactly the same orientation as the ones in the photo. The sheds of the North Airfield were aligned parallel to the white track extending north from the A342 and through the two brick buildings just to the west of that. I have two photos of Upavon, one dated 1912 and the other 1913 that show the two sites and hangers if you are interested.

“Wings over Wiltshire” by Rod Priddle (ALD Design and Print, ISBN 1901587347) has a (relatively) recent photo of the Larkhill sheds on page 169.

Peter has rather promoted me, I was certainly a forecaster at Upavon (1966-75) but not a Senior Forecaster at that time. It shames me to say it but I knew little of the camp’s history whilst working there, but my knowledge has increased considerably in recent years.

Brian

If ‘alantissi’ still contributes to the forum I’d be grateful if he could contact me privately. I’ve only just found this thread about Phillip Pinkham but I have an interest in him in respect of his time with the Mildenhall Meteorological Flight. Between November 1936 and February 1939 this 2-pilot unit maintained an unbroken record of met ascents (twice daily, one Wed and Sat, none Sun) even when other units were unable to fly due to the weather conditions (thick fog, heavy snow etc). During this time three pilots were awarded the AFC for their contributions to the unit’s work; two were F/O Stoddart and F/O Hall, and the other P/O Pinkham.

My interest is in the history of the Meteorological Flights and I would very much appreciate a sight of Pinkham’s citation for his award.

TIA
Brian

Researching the history of the RAF Meteorological Flights 1913-1959. OK, I know it was the RFC pre-April 1918.

bRIAN