The RAF's revenge - part II

[MMC]

RAF Broadwell was one of the major glider launch sites for the DDay and Arnhem landings. It’s a place that’s pivotal in the history of the country. 515 and 575 squadron were based here.

This is one of the many stories I’ve read about Broadwell:

Harry Lingard’s story, like many of his war time colleagues, has remained untold. He was in the 1st Airborne Air Landing Light Reg. R.A and was a Dispatch rider and Signaler. On 18th September 1944 along with four other men, a jeep, a motor bike and ammunition he was loaded into a Horsa glider at R.A.F. Broadwell and towed off behind a Dakota to Arnhem where they had a perfect landing in the dropping zone.

The bravery of the pilots flying out of Broadwell was quite incredible:

On about the third day at Arnhem Harry witnessed the Dakota that was being used to drop the provisions was on fire, nevertheless continued to carry out its mission until the damage was so great it crashed. Harry later learned that for this completed mission the pilot, Flt Lt Lord, was awarded a posthumous V.C. for his bravery.



Here’s a pic of the man himself:

So, as a major historical site, at Broadwell today there must be plaques, memorials, signs, that sort of stuff? So I thought I go and take a look.

No. Here’s the site of the old Broadwell barrack buildings:

That’s it. It’s a feckin housing estate. Now that’s fine, but wouldn’t some recognition for men like Harry Lingard and the thousands of other men who flew as pilots, aircrew and troops from there be appropriate?

Anyway... The irony of this sign at the north of the site won’t be lost on anyone:

It’s by one of the old guardhouses and barracks. This is where men left, in vast numbers, in ricketty wooden gliders to get shot at. Kind of hazardous. But nowadays it seems a few tipper trucks pose more of a threat to life and limb. Bit of perspective, anyone?

Trespassers will be, yeah, whatever.

This is one of the remaining barrack buildings on the north side of the site:

It’s now used as a dump for the haulage firm behind that wire gate and HSE notices, but it’s interesting inside and, like Windrush, phenomenally atmospheric:

Wonder if this is genuine or someone later faking:

I imagine this would have come in for a fair bit of use:

One of the old generator buildings - it’s right by the side of the road:

On the south side of the airfield (it’s a biiig site, even now) some of the runway areas are still intact. Looking south...

Looking north:

It’s a big old site, as you can see from this grab from Googlemaps:

The runway in the pics above is the one running north-south on the satellite pic. In fact, the road that runs east/west through the site runs along the edge of the old east-west runway, intersecting the N-S runway.

And that’s where I parked my bike - right at the heart of the site. Not a good idea as it turned out.

On the image you can clearly see the peri track and dispersals too.

The control tower is in quite a state though:

and

Hard to believe this is where we launched the most crucial attack of WWII.

Tension rose quickly at the end of May for the invasion of the continent was not far off. Orders were given to seal the station and impound all mail as of 14.00 on June 2, for Broadwell was hosting over 1,000 troops for the Normandy landing. Upon receipt of the executive order on July 5 a final briefing for those taking part was arranged for 20.00. Fifty-nine crews attended, including six spare crews, for Operation Tonga. Present al. the briefing was the AOC, 46 Group, who stressed the vital importance of the venture before the crews and troops boarded their aircraft.
*
Leading Broadwell's contingent was Wing Commander Coventry of 512 Squadron who took off at 23:14. His 32 aircraft were away in 15 minutes, then came Wing Commander Jefferson with the first of 575 squadron's crews. The whole force was airborne by 23:36, and the Para drop went well and without loss. On to the two dropping zones 952 troops had parachuted.

Now the control tower just stands in the middle of a field while it falls down. Bloody gets in the way of the ploughing - got to go round it, haven’t you?

This would have been the view over the principal runway - now a field:

Here’s the top storey of the control tower today:

The lime in the mortar is leeching out, creating stalactites:

...and calcifying the windowledges too:

But the RAF still have a few tricks up their gold-braided sleeves, and it’s a brave (stupid) man who willfully rides a German bike right onto the heart of one of their key airfields...

 

[DavidHale]

The lack of memorials to these heros is indeed a travesty. Sometimes we should be ashamed of our lack of respect.

As an aside, where are you lifting the quotes from, Mark? And some good photography as well.

 

[Wizard]

While I agree that not enough thought is given to those who fought, you have to remember that these are only buildings.

That field was a field before it was an airfield. It belonged to someone who needed it to make a living, and who provided food for themselves and others. It became an airfield because it had too. And when the war was over, it returned to being a field because it had to. The men and women who fought and died didn't do it so that others could keep on suffering after the war was over.

JMHO

 

[DavidHale]

While I agree that not enough thought is given to those who fought, you have to remember that these are only buildings.

That field was a field before it was an airfield. It belonged to someone who needed it to make a living, and who provided food for themselves and others. It became an airfield because it had too. And when the war was over, it returned to being a field because it had to. The men and women who fought and died didn't do it so that others could keep on suffering after the war was over.

JMHO

You've missed my point. All I'm pointing out is the lack of any suitable memorial to people who made it possible for me to be sitting here typing this. The buidings decay, and the land naturally returns to what it should be, but to let these people fade away without any sort of recognition is wrong. The countryside should be littered with memorials to theses people.

 

[Wizard]

You've missed my point.

No, I haven't..... my first line agrees with you

My point is that people get maudlin and upset (in this case) a once busy airfield has turned to wrack and ruin..... but it was probably only built for one specific purpose, and was of much more use in 1946 providing food than keeping up an unnecessarily large post war airforce.

Would it be too corny to suggest that the farmers (and everyone else as well) continued to fight the war long after the last battle was done?

 

[MikeP]

I've enjoyed the posts Mark. Great job. Well done.

I agree with both David and Marc, they're both correct in their own way.

This is an important part of our recent history. The locations themselves are less important than the events and the people. They should be allowed to lie fallow, anything else isn't practicable but some sort of information wouldn't be too difficult so that it doesn't need someone like Mark to remind us what is out there, sometimes on our doorstep.

(Glad you made the effort though. Good luck with the starter motor!)

 

[MMC]

The lack of memorials to these heros is indeed a travesty. Sometimes we should be ashamed of our lack of respect.

As an aside, where are you lifting the quotes from, Mark? And some good photography as well.

Like Mike, I'd agree with you both. There's little doubt that the land was needed and that survival comes before history. But at the same time, I do think we should mark the places that were so significant in the country's past. Churchill was right when he said that 'those who forget the past are condemned to relive it.' And it's a fascinating subject to learn more about.

We don't have to spend millions restoring old airfields (although it would be good to see what more we COULD do to re-use many of the buildings), but I think marking the places with a memorial would at least recognise the contribution of so many people.

I'll post the links to the sites with the quotes (although pegasus archive is one - excellent site) when I get back home (on the Oxford Tube heading to London - just passing RAF Northolt...) Thanks for the comment on the snaps - they're just from my pocket digi.

As to the starter motor - I'll be on the phone to Motobins when they're open!

 

[Twotter]

That control tower looks in a similar state to the one at Shipdham in Norfolk, though that one does have a memorial on it.

16 of us, lead by Noddy and chivvied along by RayS as tail-end charlie, enjoyed a rideout to some of the old stations in Norfolk on Rememberance Sunday last year.

We arrived just before 11:00 and observed a minutes silence stood on the windswept roof looking out over the former airfield.

 

[macey2kk]

much respect..