More at West Raynham. May18th

[Mr Gazza]

The Tirpitz talk is presented by our very own UKMOC member; Squadron Leader Dicky James.
Ken Delve is also a friend of mine (He owns a couple of Canberras.) and makes for some very interesting listening.

Welcome to our event! The planned programme of events is shown below but is subject to change. The presentations will be held in the Presentation Room on the First Floor; all other activities are on the Ground Floor. Note: Our event does not give you access to the rest of West Raynham airfield site, so please do not drive or walk around other areas.

1000: SHQ Open

1000-1500: Café open for hot and cold drinks, cakes; hot food served 1100-1400.

1000: Displays at SHQ (all day):
• Mission briefings at 1000; 1130; 1300
o ‘Slots’ to fly the mission (pre-booked 15 min slots from 1030 to 1530)
o Take part in a mission debrief (1145; 1345)
• Bomber Command history displays
• Canberra Heritage Trust rooms
• Military Research Library
• Second-hand military book shop
• Aviation memorabilia shop and Winged Bomb Customs special memorabilia
• Gardens
• Memorial Flight Lancaster fly by (subject to availability)

1030-1500: Guided tours of SHQ (check timings in entrance hall)

1100-1500: Presentations and discussions (subject to change)
o 1030: West Raynham’s Bomber Command ops (ken Delve)
o 1045: Spoofing and Jamming – and more: No.100 Group (Ken Delve)
o 1130: Sinking the Tirpitz (Dicky James)
o 1215: Bomber Command after World War Two
o 1300: BBMF Lancaster season (Ady Hargreaves)
o 1345: The Men of Bomber Command and Researching Bomber Command aircrew (Mark Every and Ken Delve)

1500: Café closes

1600: SHQ closes

Health and Safety: SHQ is a project work site and as such there are numerous trip hazards and uneven areas – so take care in and around the building. You enter the building at your own risk. If you have any questions or concerns please speak with one the hosts.

Veterans Central: You can follow the project, its purpose, events and restoration work on our Facebook page. Take one of our leaflets – and help spread the word! You may also want to join us as a volunteer or make a donation to the project.

Future Events: 2nd Saturday of each month: Veterans Breakfast
2nd June: D-Day event
6th July: SHQ Annual Open Day
Contact: Info@veteranscentral.co.uk

[Nickj]

If I wasn't going to be somewhere north of perth that day I'd have been up for a cross country schlep

[Mr Gazza]

You're obviously not put off by putting a mile or two in Nick.
It would have been good to meet you.

[Mr Gazza]

Aiming to get to West Raynham tomorrow about 10.30am to catch Ken's second presentation.

[Mr Gazza]

I had a wonderful time at West Raynham on Saturday.
Dacs and I had a pleasant enough ride in, even though it was a little on the chilly side and the sea mist made things a bit dull, but it was nice to see more Hares than cars on the roads.
The SHQ was buzzing with activity and they are always so welcoming.
The presentation schedule had gone a bit haywire but we caught some of Ken's first talk by accident and met Richard and Hamish.
Richard's talk on the sinking of the Tirpitz was fascinating with a barrage of previously unheard facts and new photos even though it was an abridged version of his usual presentation on this.
Ken as always is a dynamo and aviation encyclopaedia making riveting listening every time.
Bomber Harris was in attendance and not looking a day over 70. Winston Churchill also put in an appearance.
It's great to see how enthusiastically they have all embraced the restoration of the SHQ and indeed other buildings on the former RAF base. Good to feel the energy in the project, I even overheard plans to get a Bloodhound missile on display outside the SHQ.

Hamish persuaded me to take his place in a VR Lancaster mission to Berlin, which was a very interesting experience, but maybe not quite as noisy, cold, long and terrifying as the real thing!!

They like to have interesting cars and bikes on display in front of the building, so future visits are on the cards.