Wednesday 11 December 2019

Ghosts of WW2 airmen

At first I thought Gail just wanted to see the wind turbines close up, on the old WW2 aerodrome at Boyndie, on Sunday afternoon after we'd taken leave of our friends in nearby Macduff.

But then she led me down an overgrown track, following signs which took us to a derelict building.

It was only when we entered the building (me with some trepidation) that Gail explained.

"See Bertie, this is the old operations block, from where the RAF pilots of the Banff Strike Wing set out on their missions to attack German shipping in the fjords of Norway, during the closing stages of the war."

And Gail reminded me that her late father, my Human Grandad, had been one of those pilots, flying his balsa and plywood Mosquito across the North Sea and into the range of the German ships' anti-aircraft weaponry all those years ago.

We both paused for a moment, and quietly pondered what might have been going through mind of a young airman as he checked out from the operation block, walked across the runway and climbed into the cockpit.

It's not something HGD ever really talked about, but if you click and enlarge the picture below you can read more about the Banff Strike Wing operations.


12 comments:

  1. Bertie that was a wonderful thought to pause for a moment and to think about the men who fought the evil once...

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  2. Hari OM
    Oh yes, Bertie lad - a poignant and worthy post today. Thank you for sharing this special place and your moment with Gail. I have such admiration for that generation. Courage such as few exhibit today... hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  3. It sure does make you pause to think about what was happening so long ago at that place. Your HGD and his comrades were very brave.

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  4. What a wonderful place to visit and explore! We know you can likely smell the history in the air! Happy Howlidaze!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  5. Bertie what a most wonderful place to visit with Gail and remember Human Granddad and is friends and thank them for their service. Dad of Angel Madi will thoroughly enjoy this post. He is very interested all the history with WWII.
    Thank you dear one
    Hugs Cecilia

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  6. A wonderful lesson...so many brave fliers, your HGD amongst them. Thanks for taking us along.

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  7. Such a great history lesson plus a nice adventure. Such a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!
    xoxo,
    Rosy, Jakey & Arty

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  8. it Is a lot to think of. Lady's great grandfather was a gunner on a plane in ww1 that was shot down. He spent part of the war as a POW. The scarifies these men (and women made) and the danger they faced are unimaginable.

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  9. That place must carry a lot of memories for many folks. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

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  10. Every time I think you live in the coolest place ever your make it cooler.

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  11. So VERY interesting! You and Gail have such wonderful walks!

    Kiki and Rosie

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  12. Interesting to see the old place. Lee's Dad was in WWII only in the South Pacific he was with the army air force and a mechanic for the planes. The B57 bombers and B29 bombers. He watched the Enola Gay take off. Lee upload some photos to Fold3 in that regard.
    Wills

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