Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Meet the authors at iwm duxford at 1100 on saturday 4 april 2020 for a book signing event. Our cross strip makes flying easier on windy days giving us safer take off and landing options. To read more about the history of the gliding club of western australia, book aef.
Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country. See more of gliding club of western australia on facebook. The facility comprised a large airfield, hangars and technical huts together with a main base camp further to the east. An airfield history hardcover january 1, 1989 by col.
Having lived close to dunsfold airfield as a boy and young man, 1953 to 1965, this wonderful record of its beginning imparts a wealth of knowledge and history hitherto unknown to only those working within the airfield. Aldon fergusons thoroughly researched and actionpacked book describes the history of each airfield, highlights the work carried out from them and puts these air stations into the overall context of a county and country at war. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Gliding at cunderdin airfield gliding is the ultimate flying experience, an easy form of flight that just about anybody can engage in. Our museum is open to the public on various dates during the year. Cunderdin airfield was employed as a migrant camp between 1949 and 1952, with a. Cunderdin airfield lies to the north of the town and was constructed early in. Initially wellington bombers used the airfield for flying practice, but occasionally supplying aircraft and crew for operational bombing raids. A memorial stone is situated near the entrance to the kart circuit.
Hunsdon airfield was built on a natural plateau about 240 feet above sea level. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. Cunderdin airfield lies to the north of the town and was constructed early in world war ii as an elementary training school for ab initio pilots for the empire air training scheme eats. A major flight training base was located at cunderdin. Cunderdin airfield daily temperature and rain summaries including extremes, records and averages as well as archived historical data. Historical temperature sensor equipment types for acornsat stations.
The airport was originally used during ww2 as a training base and some of the original buildings are still in use. Cunderdin airport is one of the best gliding airfields in western australia. The hunting lodge for the estate partially exists on the airfield as hunsdon lodge. There are many fine illustrations from the time and details of the use made of the airfield by the americans in particular. We built this site to share information about airfields not generally available to the public. Soarability was established at cunderdin airfield wa to provide training. The last air raid shelter left on the airfield site is near to hunsdon lodge farm. After the war, cunderdin airfield was utilised as a migrant camp, and has an association with the.
Cheshire airfields in the second world war ww2 aviation. King henry viii had the original building, that was built by edward vii enlarged. Pacific wrecks cunderdin airfield, western australia, australia. Military history of the wheatbelt central wheatbelt visitor centre. Cheshires contribution to the war effort was massive and it began well before the outbreak of hostilities in september 1939. Cunderdin airfield was constructed early in world war ii as an elementary training school for ab initio pilots for the empire air training scheme eats. There is an excellent book that tells the story of the war years at the airfield. The history of manston airfield site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916 it is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Seafires, spitfires, typhoons and masters operated here until the end of the war. The gliding club of wa is the oldest gliding club in western australia and the second oldest in the country. Pat carty, who has given many talks in the area about the airfield, wrote a book secret squadrons of the eighth published by ian allan. Leavesden as an airport it came as quite a surprise during my research to learn that leavesden was once an airport, in 1971 at least, when humber airways started scheduled flights using the brittannorman islander flying from brough and leconfield in yorkshire.
Cunderdin historical society large building with very tall chimney. Military history of the wheatbelt central wheatbelt visitor. Cunderdin is a town located in the wheatbelt region of western australia 156 km east of perth, along the great eastern highway. Witness the daring exploits and dangerous challenges that form the story of flight in this beautifully illustrated book, filled with rare photographs and historical documents. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the early days of bomber command training and on to when the airfield became the secret home of the telecommunications flying unit. Wabased ascent aviations plans to redevelop cunderdin airport with a 2600m runway with full international landing aids to meet diversion standards are well advanced. Lee author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Much of this area is now a suburb but i have been told that the large hangar is still there. The kart club shares the airfield with the present shenington gliding club. Crash of a b24 liberator in a creek bed beside cunderdin. It is flat and has very few obstructions with regard to trees. In 1933, beatty hangs out at the airport where her pilot father flies mail.
Airfield cunderdin airfield was constructed early in world war ii as an elementary training school for ab initio pilots for the empire air training scheme eats. The opening of this novel service attracted quite a bit of press attention. Flying started from the site in 1941 as raf edgehill. Cunderdin airfield was used for flying training as no. We have been in operation for more than 75 years, with humble beginnings following wwii at caversham near perth, and over 60 years of flying from our current home at cunderdin airfield.
Raaf station cunderdin was a royal australian air force raaf airfield located at cunderdin, western australia, during world war ii. Airfield by jeanette ingold meet your next favorite book. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Current observations from weather station cunderdin airfield. Lifting airport fog a winner article from the weekend west radio interview with shire ceo, peter naylor. Michael jones book, fairoaks airport, an illustrated history, was a real labour of love and he continues to share his passion about the chobham airfield, currently under threat of closure to. Library cabinet b2 box 11 in a binder labeled historic photos binder 2. Derived from the njungyar aboriginal language it is said to mean place of the bandicoot but according to another source translates as place of many flowers. A usaaf b24 liberator crashed into the creek bed on the edge of the cunderdin airfield in western australia in about march or april 1942. Glider flying at cunderdin airfield western australia. In the event of t he airfield being over run by enemy forces, a modified mortar shell fitted with a detonator ould have been used to destroy stocks of aviation fuel thus denying the fuel supply. This section is about the study and conservation of modern military airfields. Ww 2 sites under threat cunderdin airfield, wa information. Work started on the airfield in 1941, but it was not until april 1943 that it was commissioned.
History of cunderdin the search for pastoral lands east of perth led explorer charles hunt to many towns in todays wheatbelt, including cunderdin a town he named in 1864. Airfield publications publish books on uk airfields, recent publications include raf kirton in lindsey, burtonwood, woodvale and 611 west lancashire squadron, royal auxiliary air force, raf brampton and raf waterbeach. A book on military airfield architecture written by me was published by haynes in 1996 which was based on the 1994 research carried out for english heritage, although at the time and outside of arg there was still very little interest in airfield architecture and history so accordingly the book was quickly remaindered. The search for pastoral lands east of perth led explorer charles hunt to many towns in todays wheatbelt, including cunderdin a town he. The boxted airfield historical group was founded with the aims of educating, as well as promoting and preserving the history of boxted airfield, including its association with the various usaaf and raf groups that were based here during and after world war ii. A walk through history rattlesden airfield, suffolk 8th. A book on military airfield architecture written by me was published by haynes in 1996 which was based on the 1994 research carried out for english heritage, although at the time and outside of arg there was still very little interest in airfield architecture and history. Due to it being on the route of the goldfields water supply scheme it is also on the golden pipeline heritage trail. Cunderdin airfield daily temperature and rain summaries. Photographs and memorabilia werribee, airfield, victoria. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique singlevolume illustrated reference book covering all of the rafs frontline airfields in the uk during world war 2. Ycun is located a t cunderdi n, western australia proposed redevelopment. Military history of the wheatbelt central wheatbelt.
The raaf also assembled a number of curtiss p40 kittyhawk fighter aircraft at cunderdin in march 1942 to provide air defence coverage of perth. Contributors include a number of published aviationrelated authors as well as enthusiastic argl members. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. Welcome to uk airfields, this website is to show my photography of airfields, aircraft and aviation related memorials around the uk and overseas. A wheatlands history hardcover january 1, 1986 by joseph stokes author visit amazons joseph stokes page. Attract more customers by adding more content such as opening hours, logo and more yellow pages directory. The cunderdin public library offers the residents of cunderdin, meckering and surrounding towns a range of books, dvds and audiobooks to borrow. This being part of the estate of nearby hunsdon house.
Tom scotland, a trainee pilot at the time just after the crash, can remember sitting in the crashed aircraft day after day until it was lifted out of the creek. Within it you will find advice on their conservation and how you can contribute your knowledge to a growing body of knowledge on first and second world airfields. This remarkable work pulls the lid off one of the legendary air forces in history at the very peak of its. Ycun is located at cunderdin, western australia proposed redevelopment. Moors exhaustively researched book is the first to tell the full story of the part detling played in the defence of the realm and the history of flight. The airfield is now the site of the annual kent county show, but two memorials stand as poignant reminders of the epic events that transpired in this otherwise sleepy corner of britain. Henstridge airfield was a wartime fleet air arm training airfield designated hms dipper. The manual data such as reset temperatures are recorded in the a8 field book. Wartime history used by the royal australian air force raaf as a heavy bomber base for bombing missions against the dutch east indies. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british flying. Affiliates royal western australian historical society. If youre interested in recreational aviation and backcountry flying, youve come to the right place. One of the greatest changes in warfare during 20th century was the growth of military aviation. Raaf units based at cunderdin 25 squadron liberator contribute information do you have photos or additional information to add.
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