Pathfinder flying club hangar 2, raf wyton, huntingdon, pe28 2ea as a member of the royal air force flying clubs association raffca, the primary aim of the pathfinder flying club pfc is to offer low cost general aviation ga and flying training to service personnel regardless of rank and trade, and mod employed civil servants. Christian gifts, supplies, clothing, books, posters for raf wyton and the wyton area. In an emergency partners and spouses of serving personnel should phone the joint casualty and compassionate centre jccc on 01452 519951 ext 3686 or 7101 24 hours for more help, visit the what to do in a family emergency guide. Pathfinder flying club hangar 2 raf wyton pe28 2ea 01480 452451 ext 8733 general aviation membership secretary and personal data enquiries. Raf wyton photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. Raf wyton one of the 2 raf bases that both my grandfather and i served at, although some 60 yrs apart him flying lancs, me not flying lancs. John clifford gcgi rcm team lead marshall aerospace linkedin.
The deverill collection at raf wyton raf pathfinders archive. The airfield is now decommissioned but was used for flight training by 57 squadron eft, the university air squadrons of london and cambridge and no. The initial pathfinder force was five squadrons, while no. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of raf wyton. During world war ii they flew from the cambridgeshire airfield, dropping flares to. Largely created from the staff of the national imagery exploitation centre formally known as the joint air reconnaissance intelligence centre jaric and then known for several years as the defence geospatial intelligence fusion centre, it can trace its history back to clandestine reconnaissance operations. The first sortie of ww2 took off from raf wyton as well as the first aircraft of the bomber raids on germany. The vickers valiant is a british highaltitude jet bomber, and was part of the royal air forces v bomber nuclear weapon equipped strategic deterrent in the 1950s and 1960s. A fragment of bone belonging to raf pilot officer harold penketh was found when the aircraft was excavated in cambridgeshire in october 2015. During world war ii they flew from the cambridgeshire airfield, dropping flares to guide raf bombers to their targets. Commissioned by the raf wyton pathfinder museum to produce a drawing and. Group badge heraldry, a flaming arrow in front of an eight pointed star.
Alconbury and wyton cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail. First world war interwar second world war 19451989 1990 to the present day. Assuming, of course, you book the right dates to stay or visit. The first sortie of the world war two took off from raf wyton on 03 september 1939 and wyton aircraft took part in the last bomber command raid on germany in april 1945. Aug 17, 20 the honour was conferred upon raf wyton and its pathfinder force veterans. Shops cars health fitness eco money business faith. Project managing on the pathfinder building inside dio. What sort of men were the pathfinders, the corps delite of bomber command.
Operators flying drones near any military airfield must ensure they are aware of the uk policy for their safe operation. The rest of his body was recovered shortly after the spitfire crashed during a training exercise in 1940. The idea for a pathfinder museum at raf wyton took root in the summer of 1995. The journal of the royal air force photographers association formerly rafbepa edition 47 summer 2012. Pathfinder funerals at cambridge city cemetery, december 1943. Raf warboys became one of the original pathfinder force stations.
Ldwa long distance paths pathfinder long distance walk cambridgeshire. We were all impressed with the large amount of memorabilia on display, ranging from flying log books, navigation and radio equipment of the day, many. Recovered and restored remains of the plane are now at raf wyton pathfinder museum. Raf pathfinders archive pathfinder aircrew, their friends. Hive raf wyton hive hive information officer community centre building 620 pathfinder way raf wyton pe28 2ea. Throughout 1951 and 1952 raf wyton was used as a transit base for american b50 bombers. Apr 27, 2016 originally established as a royal flying corps station in 1916, the station was renamed raf wyton in 1918 following the formation of the royal air force. Raf pathfinders all saints offord cluny with offord darcy. The squadron reformed in february 1942 from the home echelon of 40 squadron at raf alconbury, in the huntingdonshire area of cambridgeshire, as part of no. The airfield was built to relieve the congestion at raf upwood for the use of no.
Contact forces raf wyton community information portal. Pathfinder long distance walk ldwa long distance paths. Raf wyton is undergoing transformation through the programme to rationalise and integrate the defence intelligence estate pride. Raf wyton and pathfinder force veterans are honoured bbc news. A temporary display for pathfinder sunday an annual event each august for the benefit of the pathfinders and their families generated overwhelming interest, which led to the creation of the museum. Raf wyton hosts the annual pathfinder march, a 46mile 74 km walk which starts and finishes at raf wyton.
These experiences led sharon and martin to decide to record percys journey to discover what happened to his fellow crew members. Several aviation milestones have been recorded from raf wyton. Pathfinder companion ebook by sean feast rakuten kobo. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. This morning we drive in convoy to the pathfinder museum at raf wyton home of number 8 group, path finder force. Mar, 2016 raf wyton heritage centre provides a focus for the rich military heritage of the wyton site and the elements that have combined to create the joint forces intelligence group jfig of today. Raf wyton in the second world war, the wartime memories project. In terms of organisation raf wyton was part of the combined station raf brampton wyton henlow, a merger of wyton with two previously separate bases, raf brampton and raf henlow. The definitive weather guide including regional bbc weather for forces raf wyton community information portal, around wyton and cambridgeshire plus met office sataltite and radar rainfall maps. The pathfinders were targetmarking squadrons in raf bomber command during world war ii.
Raf wyton and pathfinder force veterans are honoured bbc. Raf hornchurch archives page 2 of 3 hornchurch aerodrome. I checked dads log book as i do every time a date is mentioned for a bombing mission and found that dad was indeed on that very same mission when he. The finance team provides support to service accommodation in the uk and also to overseas. The pathfinder march is an annual 46mile 74 kilometre longdistance walk around the county of cambridgeshire, england. Raf wytons history dates back to april 1916 and it is still in use by the armed services today. The raf wyton hosted pathfinder march will be held this year on sat 23 rd june 2018. Raf wyton news newspapers books scholar jstor april 2012 learn how and when to. Exmembers of pathfinder force meeting at raf wyton for. Any flying complaints should be directed initially to main guardroom at raf wyton.
Pathfinder aircrew, their friends, their families, and the world they knew. It is home to equipment support and corporate technical services. Royal air force wyton wyton airfield has been associated with aircraft and flying for close on 100 years. Raf brampton was renamed brampton camp and became a satellite unit of raf wyton. The research carried out for the book became the genesis of the archive. By drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with surviving veterans many speaking for the first time and combining these with official records and exclusive access to contemporary documents and exhibits at the pathfinder museum at raf wyton, sean feast looks to answer these questions and more, seeking to put these men\s achievements in. Please provide your rank, name and unit along with a brief statement of your training requirements and previous flying experience. A new group, the friends of the pathfinders, has recently been established, not only with the aim of raising funds for both all saints church, offord cluny and the pathfinder museum at raf wyton, but also to raise awareness of the pathfinder history. Raf wyton is still very much a working station, and the pathfinder collection has grown with the support of successive station commanders.
Originally just being a grass airstrip, but in the 1930s a dramatic change took place at wyton with four new hangars, taxiways and runways being built. St ives air cadets presented a piece of history to the pathfinder heritage museum at raf wyton recenty. The site was used by the rfc during the first world war. These photographs of the deverill collection at the heritage centre, raf wyton, were recently taken october 2019 by john clifford, one of our trustees and senior curator of the pathfinder collection. The raf wyton heritage centre houses three main collections. A short history of the raf pathfinder force let let let warplanes. Wyton was chosen for the pathfinder forces headquarters. The pathfinders were normally the first to receive new blind bombing aids like gee, oboe and the h2s radar the early pathfinder force pff squadrons was expanded to become a. Raf wyton hive, community centre, raf wyton, wyton 2020. Raf wyton heritage centre provides a focus for the rich military heritage of the wyton site and the elements that have combined to create the joint forces intelligence group jfig of today. The raf are currently completely revamping their whole website and, as part of this, the old pathfinder collection page is no longer accessible. The honour was conferred upon raf wyton and its pathfinder force veterans. In the next two years raf wyton will be home to the rafs geospatial intelligence community, the intelligence. The wartime housewife will bring old fashioned values and skills to our very modern world.
Ives, cambridgeshire, england in terms of organisation raf wyton was part of the combined station raf brampton wyton henlow, a merger of wyton with two previously separate bases, raf brampton and raf henlow. It was developed by vickersarmstrongs in response to specification b. All raf flying at raf wyton ceased on the 25 march 20. Raf wyton has continued to operate a small private flying club pathfinder flying club, from a small grass strip runway within the raf wyton land boundary. The pathfinder force was formed here and wyton aircraft took part in the last bomber command raid on germany. And what contribution did they make to the air war and the ultimate defeat of germany. Raf wyton in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Because the collection is on a military base, admission to visit it is by appointment only. Aug 01, 2012 by drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with surviving veterans many speaking for the first time and combining these with official records and exclusive access to contemporary documents and exhibits at the pathfinder museum at raf wyton, sean feast looks to answer these questions and more, seeking to put these mens achievements in. Pathfinder sunday 2017 the project was started in 2014 by the wyton heritage centre with the aim of providing a permanent memorial to no. Just outside the picturesque kent village of headcorn stands a historic aerodrome. The event is a long distance endurance event in which walkers, runners and relay teams have to complete 46 miles inside 20 hours. By drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with surviving veterans many speaking for the first time and combining these with official records and exclusive access to contemporary documents and exhibits at the pathfinder museum at raf wyton, sean feast looks to answer these questions and more, seeking to put these mens achievements.
While the majority of pathfinder squadrons and personnel were from the royal air force, the group also included many from the air forces of other commonwealth countries. The pathfinder collection, raf wyton raf pathfinders. Apr 07, 2014 hi, im rob dawson and i was principal project manager for the. A short history of the raf pathfinder force let let let. The legendary pathfinder force was formed here and wyton aircraft took part in the last bomber command raid on germany. Devised to perpetuate the name of the royal air force pathfinder force, the route links the historic raf pathfinder stations at wyton, graveley, oakington and warboys, using rights of way through gentle countryside and passing many wartime memorials. Recent years have seen it become an international event with members of the. The pathfinder museum is housed in the heritage centre at raf wyton,cambridgeshire. We were then invited by the raf wyton heritage centre to go and discuss the display of the nimrod r. Alternatively, share the mans name with us and somebody may be able to put together a brief resume. Pathfinder flying club a member of the royal air force. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing. Raf wyton weather in and around wyton and cambridgeshire.
Although nonoperational, the base is still owned by the raf so getting in is subject to strict security. A temporary display for pathfinder sunday an annual event each august for. Here are a few of the photographs that we took when some of our societys members made the. The path finder force collection a tribute to the work of no.
The raf took control of brampton after the american air force withdrew following the end of world war two but it is now surplus to requirements as the intelligence hub will be formed entirely at raf wyton. Johnny bakers niece hilary green and nigel bicknells son marcus meet at raf wyton to see the pathfinder collection, their museum which includes displays about 1409 pampa met flight. Pathfinder companion by sean feast overdrive rakuten. The cabinet is devoted to black thursday, 1617 december 1943. We are delighted to be partnered with the pathfinder collection at raf wyton, near huntingdon, cambridgeshire, who have on display some of our best material, in particular the deverill collection whilst we share digital material, the physical collections are completely separate entities, and to visit raf wyton you will need to contact the pathfinder collection directly. Visit requests should be directed to the visit coordinator and research requests should be directed to the research manager. Raf wyton in september 1939, and the arrival in august 1942 of the pathfinder force. A comprehensive account of the history of raf wyton is then given. Working in dio is a world away from my previous job working with corporate clients. Raf wyton in cambridgeshire is a joint force command station and home to the joint force intelligence group and the national centre for geospatial intelligence, which provide intelligence support to the armed forces deployed on operations around the globe. Pilot officer penketh hornchurch aerodrome historical trust. A look back at proud history as raf wyton marks 100 years. Contact pathfinder flying club a member of the royal air. Visiting the pathfinder flying club raf wyton youtube.
Publications to meet asdsd, asdste100, def stan 0060, avp70. The completion of barbed wire around strategic areas, and three aa gun positions with one. The march, which currently draws about two hundred and fifty to three hundred participants, is held to perpetuate the memory of the famous royal air force pathfinder force from the second world war. People sometimes confuse the pathfinder collection at raf wyton, heritage centre, and ourselves, the raf pathfinders archive, which is understandable given the similarity of the names.
They were thrilled that percy and bet could attend the launch. Visiting the pathfinder collection at raf wyton raf. Pathfinder museum, wyton i have just returned from a nostalgic visit to raf wyton i. Whilst this process may seem somewhat daunting to the uninitiated. Contact wyton media and communications officer mco. The legendary pathfinder force was created on 15 august 1942 and raf wyton was chosen to be. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bomber commands elite squadrons aviation first edition by martyn chorlton isbn. Im a finance manager based at raf wyton in cambridgeshire. Dec 29, 20 69 years and 2 weeks later, johnny bakers niece hilary green and nigel bicknells son marcus meet at raf wyton to see the pathfinder collection, their museum which includes displays about 1409 pampa met flight.
The book contained technical notes written by ac1 jones, a ground crew member of the pathfinder force. Fire by night, the story of one pathfinder crew and black thursday, written by jennie mack gray, the daughter of joe mack, was first published in 2000, with a second edition in 2011, and a third one now in preparation. St ives air cadets present a piece of history raf air cadets. Thank you so much for our book reading force, we have been having a great time reading and doing. As arranged by forum member 156squadron, and hosted by shack aka chief technician johnny clifford a small group of enthusiasts were given a private viewing earlier today of the the pathfinder museum at raf wyton. The cold war cafe in the national cold war exhibition is ideal for morning coffee and a cake. Qas work alongside the army, navy and royal air force raf in field hospitals alongside the royal army medical corps ramc and with units and battalions with a variety of regiments and corps in the field and in medical units at camps throughout the uk and the world. Part of the heritage centre contains the pathfinders museum and the pathfinders. It continued in the pathfinder role until the end of the. Enjoy lunch in refuel with views overlooking the airfield. A notebook from one of the prestigious pathfinder force, written in 1941, was presented to the museum. Under jfc, raf wyton will become home to the headquarters of the joint forces intelligence group jfig. The surviving buildings are used by the rafs logistic supply section and by the raf museum at hendon who use wyton for storage.
The first sortie of ww2 took off from here, as well as the first aircraft of the bomber raids on germany. The royal air force museum shop has a gift for everyone from pocket money toys to specialist aviation gifts. Exmembers of pathfinder force meeting at raf wyton for pathfinder weekend in august 2014, average age 96. Raf wyton heritage centre cambridgeshire england 2018. Jun 08, 2016 flying into the grass strip at raf wyton in a eurofox 912is. The valiant was the first of the v bombers to become operational, and was. Does anyone have a contact for the pathfinder museum. The station has a proud aeronautical history and, though military flying has now stopped, the pathfinder flying club continues the flying tradition at raf wyton. Local news, events and services at your fingertips. It generated an overwhelming interest and a request from those present for a more permanent museum. The box of aircraft pieces in the cabinet is from deverills fatal crash, and.