RAF HARROWBEER
YELVERTON
LATEST NEWS!
14th February 2010
We will shortly be making an announcement about the reprint of Dennis Teague's book on the history of RAF Harrowbeer.
16th October 2009
On the 16th October 1943, the Brazilian Ambassador visited a wind-swept RAF Harrowbeer to present No. 193 Squadron RAF with nine Hawker Typhoon aircraft which had been paid for by the Fellowship of the Bellows of Brazil.
Fast forward to the 16th October 2009, and the Brazilian Air Attaché, Colonel Cesar Estevam Barbosa came to Harrowbeer to unveil a plaque to commemorate the event. The weather was once again to pay a hand in proceedings, when strong winds at Coningsby meant the flypast by a Spitfire Mk IIa from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight had to be cancelled because it was unable to take off.
It didn't spoil the day though and the unveiling, whilst suffering a minor mishap, was completed with due ceremony.
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Left: Brazilian
Air Attaché, Colonel Cesar Estevam Barbosa unveils the plaque,
watched by Percy Beake and David Ince. |
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24th September (and updated 15th October)
At last! Carlos
Motta's idea of a plaque to commemorate No. 193 Squadron and the Fellowship
of the Bellows of Brazil has come to fruition! Carlos Motta is the co-ordinator
of the "Britons from Brazil" project . The plaque is part of
this project to recognize and remember those Anglo Brazilians who served
the British forces and gave their lives during WWII. A similar plaque
will rest at the Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro
The unveiling of the plaque will take place on 16th October 2009 at Knightstone Tea Rooms, the plaque being affixed near to the present airfield interpretation board on the wall of the building.
Just before the ceremony, at approximately 1pm, there will be a flypast by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Following this, the Brazilian Air Attache, Colonel Estevam, will perform the unveiling. He will be accompanied by his personal assistant and by a Colonel from the Brazilian Aeronautical Commission.
The itinerary for the day is as follows:
1230 - arrive; meet people; view Harrowbeer photo display.
1300 - Flypast by a Spitfire
Mk IIa from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight, piloted by S/Ldr Al
Pinner MBE.
On completion of the flypast, the unveiling of the plaque will take place
1330 - buffet lunch for invited guests.
After lunch, walk to 193 Squadron site and view Knightstone museum.
1500-ish - depart.
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This is a picture of the plaque to be affixed to the wall of Knightstone Tea Rooms. |
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193 Squadron were presented with nine Hawker Typhoon aircraft by the Brazilian Ambassador of the 16th October 1943. |
The public are invited to attend
the event, and watch the Spitfire flypast. We understand that Knightstone
Tea Rooms will be closed to the public during the day, but that some refreshments
may be available to take away.
14th September
Although a while ago now, the August Bank Holiday weather was typical of our 'summer'. Saturday was quite pleasant, whilst the Sunday was horrible, with fog, rain and wind. Monday wasn't too bad and we took two groups out on walks. We then went up to the Hoe (on the 3rd Sept) for the Plymouth Air Show, which too, was affected by weather, with several booked aircraft unable to take-off from their respective airfields. However the sun came out just in time for the Red Arrows who put on a stunning display of flying. It's easy to take what they do for granted but they really do take your breath away with their skill.
Finally, we took the displays to Okehamptom Army Camp for their Heritage Weekend (12th & 13th Sept). Glory be! The sun shone and shone! The crowds came too and a steady stream of visitors visited us and the displays next door. (I spent ages talking to a chap who had been a mid-upper gunner on a Halifax bomber. He had been shot down over Germany and taken prisoner. Fascinating stuff!)
Coming up we have a talk at Buckland Monachorum Village Hall on the 10th Oct (as described on the home page) and plans are still going ahead for the presentation on the 16th October, to commemorate the visit by the Brazilian Ambassador to 193 Squadron on the 16th October 1943. Full details will appear here in due course.
28th July 2009
There are plans to commemorate the link between the Fellowship of the Bellows of Brazil and No.193 Squadron at Harrowbeer on the 16th October 2009. You can read about the history behind this on the 193 Squadron pages. The intention is for a plaque to placed on the wall at Knightstone Tea Rooms (alongside the RAF Harrowbeer one). More details in due course.
Bank Hoilday Weekend: Don't forget that we will have our displays at Knightstone Tea Rooms "RAF Harrowbeer" weekend at the end of August. And of course our ever popular three-hour guided walk around the airfield will be on offer. If you haven't been on this and don't know anybody who has: The walk is a leisurely stroll around the airfield's remains, during which we tell the story of how RAF Harrowbeer came into being and recounting some of the exploits of the Squadrons stationed here. We explain what all the building bases were used for using archive pictures whenever possible. Anecdotes about the lives and deeds of the Station's personnel are recalled to make this an entertaining and informative afternoon's walk.
18th June 2009
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June @ 2pm (during the RAF Harrowbeer Weekend organised by Knightstone Tea Rooms) Guided Walk around the airfield. No need to book - just turn up. No charge, but a donation to HIG funds is always welcome.
16th May 2009
The cold weather on the Bank Holiday Sat & Mon no doubt put off a lot of people from visiting the Moors because the Harrowbeer Weekend was fairly quiet. Sunday, however was different! We went to Bolt Head for the Devon Strutt Fly-in. And it's fair to say that THOUSANDS turned up to see the planes. Well I guess MOST had come to see the Hurricane and the Spitfire and they were not disappointed. Both pilots gave a superb display, which were flown in near perfect weather. So guys, if you read this...well done! The HIG displays in the 'Bunker' had a constant stream of visitors all day, sometimes three deep around the boards! I took the flight simulator and didn't have time to take it out of the car!
Future Walks: The HIG members who give the guided walks have decided that there won't now be walks during the late May Bank Holiday. The next guided walks will therefore be during the Harrowbeer Weekend of the27th/28th June.
25th April 2009
Over the coming Bank Holiday Weekend, May 2nd, 3rd & 4th, Knightstone Tea Rooms are holding one of their regular "RAF Harrowbeer Weekends". Opening times are 10.30am to 16.30pm daily and all are welcome. Entry is of course FREE.
We will have our display stands there on the Saturday and Monday ONLY, as we will be at Bolt Head on Sunday for the Devon Strutt Fly-in. Our famous Guided Walk will likewise only take place on the Saturday and Monday afternoons, starting at 2pm (from Knightstone).
Future Guided Walk dates:
Sunday and Monday of the late May Bank Holiday, (24th & 25th May). Update: Walks cancelled
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June @ 2pm (during the RAF Harrowbeer Weekend organised by Knightstone Tea Rooms)
Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th & Monday 31st August @ 2pm. (during the RAF Harrowbeer Weekend organised by Knightstone Tea Rooms)
I will also be setting up a computer based flight simulator during the Harrowbeer Weekends. If all goes to plan, you'll be able to take off from Harrowbeer on missions over France. But as I say...if all goes according to plan!
Two other public events we will have our displays at are:
Buckland Monachorum June Fair on Saturday 13th June. The Fair opens around 1pm
Okehampton Army Camp Heritage Weekend, (12th & 13th September)
We hope to see you at one of the above events! (Stephen Fryer)
25th January 2009 (updated 2nd & 20th March)
Guided Walks & Talks: Our talks to groups start on Feb 4th. If you would like a talk for your group, please get in touch by email. No public talks are planned at present. We will be offering guided walks at the Harrowbeer Weekends organised by Knightstone Tea Rooms, but these have not yet been finalised. There will almost certainly be one during the August Bank Holiday Weekend and we will publicise others when we hear.
We do plan some public guided walks for the Easter Sunday and Monday afternoons. These will start at 1pm (so we can arrive back at Knightstone for a cuppa before they close!). Please drop us an email to pre-book a place. You can of course just turn up but we have to limit the number of walkers we take with us so if you pre-book it will help confirm your place.
If you can't make these days, we will offering another walk on Monday 4th May at 1.30pm again.
16th October 2008: I recently realised the significance of today's date! It is exactly 65 years to the day, that the Brazilian Ambassador visited RAF Harrowbeer to present 193 Squadron with its Hawker Typhoon aircraft! The Typhoons had been paid for by the Fellowship of the Bellows of Brazil. Read all about this on the "Bellows of Brazil" page.
Unlike that day however, today's weather is dry! Hope to take a 'today' shot of the bay where 193 took their photo with the Typhoon later.
29th September 2008
The HIG have had a busy year to date, and by Christmas we will have given 16 talks to various groups, with more planned for next year! The weather hasn't been kind for walking but the August Bank Holiday weekend was better than most and we took nearly 60 people out around the airfield over the three days. We've also been to Okehampton Army Camp and to the Transport Weekend at the Plym Valley Railway.
If that wasn't enough, we've added an 'extra' event. On Saturday the 11th October, from 7.30pm, we will giving a public talk on the history of RAF Harrowbeer in Buckland Monachorum Village Hall. We will also have our displays of pictures, maps and artefacts on show. The talk has been given privately to many groups but it's only the third time we've given it a public airing! Don't miss it!
8th August 2008
We've got our fingers firmly crossed for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, when we will be at Knightstone Tea Rooms with our exhibition, for their 'Harrowbeer Weekend'. Last year we had three days of sunshine, but there's been precious little sunshine this year! Rain, rain and yet more rain and after that...yet more b****y rain!!!! Will it never end!
Still...like I always say...."It's better than nothing!"
If you haven't been on one of our famous guided walks yet, then you've three further opportunities over the weekend. Each afternoon, we will be offering a walk starting at 1.30pm from Knightstone. Just come along on the day and tell us you want to go on the walk. We aren't put of by the weather either, rain or shine...we walk! If it's hot and sunny, put on the sunscreen, if it's wet and windy, put on the waterproofs! Walks last about three hours and it's all easy walking over flat(ish) moorland. Good shoes are recommended as it can get damp at times.
8th July 2008
Once again I've had to change the email address on the website! How much viagra can one old WWII airfield buy! Anyway, it's now info08@ instead.
4th July 2008
On the 12th July we are taking a group on a guided walk around the airfield and we usually find that there are a few spaces available for others to join the walk. If you would like to join us on the 12th, please email us on the usual address and we will send you further details. The walks usually take about three hours.
26th May 2008
Well, the weather Gods were not kind to us this weekend. Despite a week prior to this of fine warm(ish) weather, it all went bad for the Bank Holiday. Saturday was cool and windy, and we weren't able to get our gazebos up with the displays in them. We did try, but it quickly became apparent that they would become hang-gliders in very short time!!! I took six people on the 2pm walk and the weather hadn't improved much by then. Sunday started cold and windy with showers. Definitely no chance of putting the displays up. By the afternoon, the wind had dropped, and Brian took another eight on the walk, and finished in brilliant sunshine, with no wind at all to speak of. In fact it was a glorious sunny evening!!! Monday.......Ha! We would describe it as "blowing a hooley!". Branches were being ripped off trees, horizontal rain...just awful. We welcomed a group from the Widdecombe History Group, who were determined to go on the walk! We split them into three very small groups so we didn't have to shout over the wind too much, and set off into the wind and rain. To be fair, it did ease off rain-wise as we went round, and....at one point, I was bathed in warm sunshine for about 20 seconds! In fact the whole weekend can be summed up with, "Tch! Typical Harrowbeer weather again!".
12th April 2008
The HIG
displays will be in Buckland Monachorum Village Hall on Saturday
17th May, at the Hall's Coffee Morning which runs from 10am to Noon.
We will also have our WWII Flight Simulator running for any budding pilots
to try!
We are also gearing up for the "Harrowbeer Weekend" organised
by Mike, Lucy & Francis Hayes, at Knightstone Tea Rooms, over the
late May Bank Holiday Weekend (24th, 25th & 26th). We will
have our display stands there plus our collection of related artefacts.
HIG members will be on hand to answer questions or to hear anecdotes of
Harrowbeer.
Guided Walk: On each of the three days, we will be offering our 'famous' guided walk around the airfield. If you haven't been on this yet....why not!? It's FREE and takes about three hours, but we don't mind if you drop out half-way round. No need to book, just turn up.
14th March 2008
Just a brief note to say the Harrowbeer Interest Group will be at the Knightstone Harrowbeer Weekend over the Easter Holiday. As usual, we will have our displays and artefacts, plus once again offrering our famous guided walk around the airfield at 2pm on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons.
Follow up:
Well the weather wasn't too kind over the weekend. Twelve hardy souls braved the snow flurries on Saturday, but only three (two of whom are HIG members!) braved the hail showers on Sunday! Monday was a little better..eventually, (but we did manage to get the displays erected at least! Sat/Sun had just been too windy) and another sixteen people enjoyed a tour with us.
Our next guided walks will be at the next Knightstone 'Harrowbeer Weekend' at the end of May.
28th February 2008
It was with great sadness that the HIG learnt of the death of Frank Mares, on the 10th February, following a short illness. Frank, from Czecholslovakia, was a pilot with 312 Squadron and was the first Czech pilot to be awarded a DFM. He lived locally and was a terrific character, as all those who met him will testify. Our condolences to Gwen and the Family.
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Frank at Duxford in 2007, signing copies of his biography, "Mission Accomplished" |
26th January 2008
DNPA Rangers
are organising a further scrub clearance attended, they hope, by Radio
Devon.
Volunteers to meet at the aircraft bay down near the Leg O' Mutton &
Children's playground end of the taxi way. In fact where the last scrub
clearance ended in December. Turn up anytime between 1000 - 1400. Last
time we finished at about 1500.
21st January 2008
The HIG gave its first talk of the year, when we went to Yelverton War Memorial Hall to talk to the Yelverton Ladies Open Group. They all enjoyed the evening and we got some useful feedback too!
10th December 2007
The HIG can now offer you the opportunity to buy a Harrowbeer postcard or an A4 framed print of the graphic created for our interpretation boards. Postcards are available from: Knightstone Tea Rooms, Leg O' Mutton Corner Shop, Yelverton Stores, Leg O' Mutton Pub and Horrabridge Post Office and Tavistock Information Centre. The A4 Framed Print is available from Leg O' Mutton Corner Shop.
If you live a long way away (America? Australia? Canada?) and aren't able to get to any of the above, please let me know and we'll see what we can do. It's the usual email address.
10th December 2007
The DNPA organised a working party to tackle some of the gorse and scrub growing on and around the dispersal bays today. It was pleasing to see about 30+ volunteers getting stuck into a major clearance operation! I didn't take any photos but I have been promised some! [Stephen Fryer]
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Volunteers from several groups tackling the gorse and shrubs that have grown up on the dispesal bays. Another session of this is planned for February 23rd. Photograph
from DNPA: |
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11th November 2007
The Harrowbeer Interest Group laid a wreath at the Rememberance Service at Crapstone War Memorial on Sunday 11th November at 11am in memory of all those who lost their lives whilst serving at RAF Harrowbeer.
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Sunday 11th November 2007 Just before 11am and a photo of the people gathered to pay their respects at the Rememberance Service. The service, organised by the Parish Council, has been getting larger each year recently and over one hundred people attended today. |
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I was proud
to lay the Harrowbeer Interest Group wreath in memory of all those
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The Crapstone War Memorial is situated at the South-Western end of the airfield, on the road from Yelverton to Buckland Monachorum/Milton Combe.
13th October 2007
We have received planning permission for our third interpretation board! This will be placed near the 'armoury' in due course.
We are continuing with our 'walks & talks' during the Autumn and New Year. There are two walks we are doing for a local history group on Saturday 20th & 27th October, on which we will have spaces for others. If you would like to join us please drop us an email for further details. (we can't publish start time etc as we only have limited spaces)
We are also doing talks for private groups, but have no public talks planned. Please get in touch if you would like us to visit your group or club.
27th August 2007
We've just had three glorious warm sunny days for our final outing of the year with the Harrowbeer displays at Knightstone. Highlight of the weekend with out any doubt was meeting Judy Goldup on Sunday, who's Father was a member of the "Fellowship of the Bellows of Brazil"! Take a look at the Bellows of Brazil page for the details.
Our new feather banners look terrific and are very eye-catching!
Our next event will be the Military Weekend at Okehampton Army Camp, over the weekend of 8th/9th September.
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Our new feather banners
fluttering in the breeze outside Knightstone during the |
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Guided Walks! We offered a free guided walk around the airfield on each of the three days. On Saturday, it was bakingly hot (definitely not 'Harrowbeer Weather'!) and only 6 people started the walk and had to give up after an hour because of the heat! We took twenty plus people out on the Sunday and as you can see here, over thirty on the Monday! |
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2nd August 2007 (with 19th Aug update)
First...the spammers have been at it again! The info06 email was being bombarded with pointless viagra adverts and has had to be switched off. I will now use info07...until that starts getting hit!
The HIG are gearing up for our next big event, the "RAF Harrowbeer Weekend" at Knightstone Tea Rooms, over the August Bank Holiday Weekend (25th, 26th & 27th). We will have our display stands there plus our collection of related artefacts. HIG members will be on hand to answer questions or to hear anecdotes of Harrowbeer. We have also purchased some smashhing 'feather banners' to draw attention to ourselves! So you can't miss us now.
Guided Walk: On each of the three days, we will be offering our 'famous' guided walk around the airfield. If you haven't been on this yet....why not!? It's FREE and takes about three hours, but we don't mind if you drop out half-way round. This is the last opportunity this year so don't miss it! No need to book, just turn up. Early indications are that the weather will be dry on the Saturday at least!
There will be lots of other attractions on show at Knightstone over the weekend. Their [Knightstone Tea Rooms] private archive will be on view, together with a replica Spitfire Cockpit and other Spitfire bits and pieces, (courtesy of the South West Historical Aircraft Group) also there will be Military Vehicles, Model Aircraft, plus (all being well) a Spitfire Flight Simulator! There is no charge for entrance although donations to any of the attending groups are always welcome.
29th June 2007
My Wife and I have been away for a short break and during this, we took the opportunity to visit a few airfields during our travels! One of these was Aston Down Airfield near Stroud. We'd just like to say "thank you" to Pat, Richard, and also John Muir, who showed us round and answered our questions. I'll try and add some of the photos I took at the next big update.
In the meantime; we are going to be at three events during July. I am giving a talk at Milton Combe Village Hall on the 9th July in the evening about RAF Harrowbeer. It's open to everyone and the Harrowbeer displays will be there if we can squeeze them in! Then, we are taking the displays to the Eddystone Model Flying Club 'Open Day' on Sunday 15th July, at Little Lane, Staddiscombe. Full details about this event and the model club on: http://www.emfc.rcfun.co.uk/ [This event was cancelled due to bad weather] Finally, we are giving a guided walk around the airfield on the evening of the 17th July for the Yelverton History Society. More details on this last event to follow.
15th June 2007
We will be at Knightstone Tea Rooms next weekend, 16th/17th June for another 'Harrowbeer Open Day' (which is what the Spitfire Weekends have been renamed). On the Saturday & Sunday afternoons, we will be offering another opportunity to go on a guided walk of the airfield. Starting at 2pm from Knightstone, the walk will take about 2 - 2 1/2 hours. No need to book, just turn up in plenty of time.
25th May 2007:
The Spitfire Society (Registered Charity; 2999033) have asked me to point out that group who have visited Knightstone in the past are called the Spitfire Society - South West Region. I am happy to make this clear. I have thus changed all references accordingly. Stephen Fryer
Quote from the Spitfire Society:
"The
Spitfire Society held their AGM at RAF.Hendon, London on 21st April 2007 not
the Knightstone Restaurant, as reported. The South West region is only part
of a world-wide organisation which covers an area of Somerset/ Cornwall/Dorset/Avon
and has been a successful group under the elected chairman Dave Dorey.
It is incorrect to assume the title South West Spitfire Society, the correct
heading is The Spitfire Society - South West Region. Events for this region
have been held at Knightstone, but it is only one of many other locations
and Knightstone Tea Rooms & Restaurant is not endorsed by The Spitfire
Society.
At no time has their been consultation with the Society's Executive Committee
and The Spitfire Society has not authorised the promotion or advertisement
of Knightstone Tea Rooms & Restaurant, which breaches the rules of our
Constitution."
Also, Please Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Spitfire Society - South West Region will NOT be attending any of the weekends at Knightstone previously advertised.
The weather for the Bank Holiday weekend looks very poor for Sunday & Monday. We will not be able to put up our displays if there are strong winds.
20th May 2007 "Spitfire Weekend" at Knigtstone Tea Rooms, Yelverton
We will be at Knightstone Tea Rooms over the Bank Holiday Weeekend (26th, 27th & 28th May) with our displays. We will also be offering a guided walk around the Airfield at 2pm on each of the three days. The walk lasts about 2 hours and takes in most aspects of the Airfield's life.
Also at Knightstone will be artefacts, memorabilia and a replica Spitfire Cockpit. Also expected over the three days are a varied selection of visiting WWII vehicles.
8th May 2007
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Interpretation
Boards formally unveiled!
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It was typical
Harrowbeer weather for the formal unveiling of our Left to right:
George Finegan; Richard Vavrecka; Stephen Fryer; |
On Tuesday evening (8th May) the Interpretation Boards on former RAF Harrowbeer were unveiled by Mrs Pam Fendall, the widow of the founder of RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group, and three WWll veterans: Frank Mares DFM, Richard Vavrecka and George Finegan - combined age 268 years! All three who served together at Harrowbeer in 1942.
In spite of the wet and misty evening the unveiling was attended by about 80 supporters from schools, parishes, tourist organisations and by many individuals - all of whom had supported this community project to install Interpretation Boards on the former airfield site. The occasion was given a military flavour by the attendance of a Flight from 2312 (Tavistock) Squadron Air Training Corps, Officer Commanding Flight Lieutenant Phil Newcombe; and by former Royal Marine bugler, Tony Holder of Princetown.
After a short speech of welcome by Stephen Fryer, Pam Fendal & Frank Mares DFM unveiled the board at Leg O' Mutton and, after moving to the other side of the airfield, George Finegan and Richard Vavrecka unveiled the board near the Rock. There was a reception in Knightstone Tea Rooms (the original Control Tower for RAF Harrowbeer) afterwards, during which guests were able to view the RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group displays, together with artefacts, etc., held at Knightstone by Michael, Lucy and Francis Hayes.
Those conducting the unveiling
were:
Pam Fendall. Widow of the founder of Harrowbeer Interest Group - the
late Norman Fendall of Clearbrook. RAF Harrowbeer enthusiast and long time
friend of Frank Mares. They met because of Norman's interest in RAF Harrowbeer.
Frank Mares. Czechoslovakian former RAF pilot who was based at and
flew with 312 Czech Sqdn from RAF Harrowbeer in 1942. Frank now lives at Sampford
Spiney and aged 87
Richard Vavrecka: served with 312 RAF (Czech) Sqdn throughout most
of war as a parachute packer and 'off duty' tailor at RAF Harrowbeer at same
time as Frank Mares. After the War Richard taught tailoring at Plymouth Polytechnic.
Now lives at Roborough and aged 96
George Finegan: was a Rifleman with the Royal Ulster Rifles who were
tasked with providing RAF Harrowbeer airfield Defence and Security from Sept
1941-December 1942. Now lives in Tavistock and aged about 85.
(Interestingly Frank Mares, Richard
Vavrecka and George Finegan time at Harrowbeer overlapped in 1942. Frank and
Richard served together again in 1944 at RAF North Weald, north-east of London.)
19th April 2007
And now the second is up!
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On the left, our second
interpretation board with |
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18th April 2007
The first of our new interpretation boards has been erected!
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This is by the Leg O' Mutton car park, a short distance from the memorial stone (middle picture).
10th April 2007
Our new Interpretation boards will be installed in the next few weeks! We will then hold an official unveling ceremony in early May. Further details in due course.
The Spitfire Society - South West Region are holding their AGM at Knightstone Restaurant on the 21st/22nd April. The HIG will be there with our displays and we will also be offering guided walks at various times during the weekend. This will depend on demand! We haven't any times in mind yet but if you would like to join one of the walks please get in touch...or just turn up!
2nd February 2007
The HIG are attending a number of local events over the coming months. However, during February, I will be giving a talk on RAF Harrowbeer to the members of the Tavistock History Society at the Tavistock Parish Hall on the 13th February, and then, on the 23rd February, the same talk will be given at Buckland Monachorum Village Hall, to which everyone is welcome. Start time for both talks is 7.30pm.
HIG member David Keeling is giving a talk to the Old Plymouth Society at Mutley Baptist Hall, in Plymouth on the 16th February and to the Yelverton History Society on the 20th February at Meavy Village Hall. The latter talk is more to do with 'old Yelverton' though.
Sometime in April, we hope to be able to officially unveil the new interpretation boards! More on this in due course.
The Spitfire Society - South West Region are holding their AGM at Knightstone Restaurant on the 21st/22nd April. We plan to offer guided walks at sometime during the weekend. More in due course.
Stephen Fryer
23rd January 2007 (copy of Press Release)
RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group wins funding for Interpretation Boards on former RAF Harrowbeer Airfield at Yelverton
Ever wondered what went on at RAF Harrowbeer and what it looked like?
Well, soon, visitors to the former site of RAF Harrowbeer at Yelverton on Roborough Down will see Interpretation Boards informing them of what they are seeing now and what 60 years ago was there when, between 1941 and 1946, it was an active WWll airfield. Thanks to Lottery 'Awards for All', West Devon Borough Council Community Fund, Dartmoor National Park, Buckland Monachorum Parish Council, WestDen Community Chest and individuals, enough funds have been raised by the RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group to provide three Interpretation Boards at key locations around the former WWll aerodrome. The Lottery provided £5000, WDBC £3174, The Dartmoor Trust £500, BMPC £200 and WestDen's 'Communities in Action' £150. In addition we had very good moral support from local primary schools, parish councils, tourist organisations as well as Dartmoor National Park and Maristow Estate.
RAF Harrowbeer was built in 1940 and was operational between 1941 and 1946. Flying from Harrowbeer were many types of planes and nationalities - British, Canadians, Americans, French, Czech and Polish - mostly RAF Squadrons but also Fleet Air Arm and US Navy. The airfield existed virtually intact fo