1944 Stocken Farm Airfield - Revision history

Joan at 08:18, 11 August 2025

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Joan at 15:14, 17 December 2023

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 '''WW2 AIRFIELD, STOCKEN FARM   reported by [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Doug_Tilbury Doug Tilbury]'''
-On Saturday June 6th 1944 at the farmhouse of [[Stocken Farm]], Mr Richard "Dick" West, whilst having tea, there came a knock a the door and there stood three gentlemen, Mr R M Kimber. Wycombe Divisional Officer of the Bucks War Agricultural Executive Committee, Mr G H Cox, Waldridge Farm and an Air Ministry Official who said "We want the centre of your farm for a flying field, the bulldozer will be here within the hour". So it was, the three gentlemen were unable to let Mr West know of their plans beforehand because of the risk of a security leak.
+'''On Saturday June 6th 1944''' at the farmhouse of [[Stocken Farm]], Mr Richard "Dick" West, whilst having tea, there came a knock a the door and there stood three gentlemen, Mr R M Kimber. Wycombe Divisional Officer of the Bucks War Agricultural Executive Committee, Mr G H Cox, Waldridge Farm and an Air Ministry Official who said "We want the centre of your farm for a flying field, the bulldozer will be here within the hour". So it was, the three gentlemen were unable to let Mr West know of their plans beforehand because of the risk of a security leak.
 [[File:Centre of The Airfield.jpg|left|thumb|Hedge removed from centre of airfield. This was replaced after the war and later laid by [[Gerald Bedford]] ]]
-By 6 pm, bulldozers arrived to make an airfield for Air Chief Marshall ‘[https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber%E2%80%99_Harris Bomber’ Harris], of [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber_Command Bomber Command], [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Walters_Ash Walters Ash].   45 acres of the flat grazing land of the farm were to be taken.  The fields of the farm were bulldozed to make the airstrip.  The first plane took off three mornings later on 6th June 1944.  (Note D.Day was on Tuesday 6th June 1944)
+'''By 6 pm''', bulldozers arrived to make an airfield for Air Chief Marshall ‘[https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber%E2%80%99_Harris Bomber’ Harris], of [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber_Command Bomber Command], [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Walters_Ash Walters Ash].   45 acres of the flat grazing land of the farm were to be taken.  The fields of the farm were bulldozed to make the airstrip.  The first plane took off three mornings later on 6th June 1944.  (Note D.Day was on Tuesday 6th June 1944)
 A hedge was removed, two clumps of horse-chestnut trees and a clump of lime trees had been felled and [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Nanny_Coopers_pond Nanny Coopers pond] was filled in.   A very large oak tree was also removed from the "Horse Meadow" near Miss Sampson's house [[Malmsmead]] in Kiln Lane.   All these trees combined, gave enormous shade  for livestock and were greatly missed.
-The next year they took a further 21acres, making a total of 66 acres, which this time, included the [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Sports_field Sports field], which was being leased from Dick West by the Sports Club.   The farm had reduced their breeding ewes and now rented yet more land further away for other cattle.
+'''The next year''' they took a further 21acres, making a total of 66 acres, which this time, included the [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Sports_field Sports field], which was being leased from Dick West by the Sports Club.   The farm had reduced their breeding ewes and now rented yet more land further away for other cattle.
 '''''Research Note by Joan West.'''  [[Dick & Hilda West]] had lost their best, and only flat land, of which there wasn't a lot,  with only a few hours notice.   It was a terrible blow.    The dairy cows needed all the land remaining for grazing, so they could return for milking twice daily.    Mr G H Cox lent 25 acres of land, then extra land had to be rented further away, most of which was found at Notley Abbey, the home of Vivian Leigh and Lawrence Oliver at that time, with whom they got on with very well.''[[File:Lacey Green Airfield Illustration.jpg|thumb]]
-There was the usual wind stocking, and a strip of chalk let into the turf for directional purposes so that aircraft would land into the prevailing westerly wind.   The approach was usually over [[Turnip End]] - towards [[Lacey Green School]].
+'''There was''' the usual wind stocking, and a strip of chalk let into the turf for directional purposes so that aircraft would land into the prevailing westerly wind.   The approach was usually over [[Turnip End]] - towards [[Lacey Green School]].
 A blister hanger was erected behind the school to house the American Stinson plane of Air Chief Marshall Arthur Harris.  Local lads, including [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Gordon_May Gordon May] used to help push the plane into the hangar.
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 The entrance to the airfield was the entrance to "[[Coolangatta]]", the home of Gordon May,opposite the church.
-'Bomber' Harris ordered Andrew Oliver To inspect every Spitfire which came down in England.   He used Harris's private plane, to fly to the crash sites to see if the accident was due to a fault in the wood/ glue manufacture.
+'''<nowiki/>'Bomber' Harris ordered Andrew Oliver''' To inspect every Spitfire which came down in England.   He used Harris's private plane, to fly to the crash sites to see if the accident was due to a fault in the wood/ glue manufacture.
-Gordon recalls the time when an Auster was taking off and was just about to leave the ground when it hit a frozen mole hill with one of it's wheels.   This tipped the aircraft onto its nose, breaking the propellor, unfortunately the pilot suffered a broken nose.  Gordon was among a number of local school lads who were called upon by the RAF mechanics  to right the aircraft and push it back across the airfield and into the hanger for repairs.
+'''Gordon recalls''' the time when an Auster was taking off and was just about to leave the ground when it hit a frozen mole hill with one of it's wheels.   This tipped the aircraft onto its nose, breaking the propellor, unfortunately the pilot suffered a broken nose.  Gordon was among a number of local school lads who were called upon by the RAF mechanics  to right the aircraft and push it back across the airfield and into the hanger for repairs.
 Numerous football matches were played after school, between schoolboys, including me and the RAF fitters.   Their team was made up of a Flight Sergeant, Sergeant, 2 Corporals and 2 airmen versus a dozen or more of the boys from [[Lacey Green School]].
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 During the morning church services, aircraft could be heard taking off from the airfield behind the School.
-After some time, flying eased a bit and Mr West was allowed to graze the airfield, but this meant that every time an aircraft arrived to land, he had to go out and collect his cattle that were grazing.
+'''After some time''', flying eased a bit and Mr West was allowed to graze the airfield, but this meant that every time an aircraft arrived to land, he had to go out and collect his cattle that were grazing.
 The aircraft based at Lacey Green were at least 2 Taylor-craft Austers powered by 90 h.p. Lycoming engines, supposedly capable of taking off in a 160 yd run, a Tiger Moth, Miles Messenger, Miles M28 Percival Proctor  and a De Haviland 86 B Hornet moth, this aircraft  had still got the hooks fitted inside the aircraft where the original owner hung his golf bags,   All these aircraft were privately owned, but commandeered at the commencement of the war.[[File:Old Hanger Sports Field Spectators.jpg|left|thumb|Sports Club spectators. Hanger storing straw in background]]
 [[File:Old Hanger Sports Field.jpg|thumb|The Sports Ground. Hanger in background.  Over the years the school expanded. A swimming pool was for some years in the grounds, about where the hanger had been.]]
-The aptly named New Road was constructed to speed the journey from Bomber Command at Walters Ash to the airfield
+'''The New Road''' was constructed to speed the journey from Bomber Command at Walters Ash to the airfield
 Previously, the route from Lacey Green had travelled round [[Slad Lane]], into Smalldean Lane and then turned south through the woods to [[Walters Ash]].
-Letter dated 11th January '''1946''' from the Air Ministry Directorate of Works to F Chilton Esq, Belle Vue, Lacey Green. <u>Re. Lacey Green Cricket Ground</u>
+'''Letter dated 11th January''' '''1946''' from the Air Ministry Directorate of Works to F Chilton Esq, Belle Vue, Lacey Green. <u>'''Re. Lacey Green Cricket Ground'''</u>
 Further to this headquarters' letter of 31st December 1945, I have to inform you that there is no objection to your doing such work that may be necessary of repairing the cricket ground to allow the Club to get going for the coming season.
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 After the war the hanger remained and was used by the farm, until the land on which it stood was compulsory purchased to enlarge [[Lacey Green School]] grounds.
-[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg|center|thumb|Photo taken by Dave Alsworth from '[[Beaulieu]]']][[Harry Church]] added a comment.     I was very interested in Douglas Tilbury' recollections of Lacey Green's wartime airstrip, as I was involved in a roundabout way with the manner in which a portion of Stocken Farm was requisitioned.
+[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg|center|thumb|Photo taken by Dave Alsworth from '[[Beaulieu]]']]'''[[Harry Church]] added a comment'''.     I was very interested in Douglas Tilbury's recollections of Lacey Green's wartime airstrip, as I was involved in a roundabout way with the manner in which a portion of Stocken Farm was requisitioned.
 I doubt if Mr West ever knew that I was awakened very early one Sunday morning by a workman with a bulldozer who said he was to contact me and I would give him instructions to proceed with the clearing of the fields to construct the landing strip.

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-click [[Wars]] for local details of the Boer War, WW1, WW2, & The Cold War
+This item is listed in [[Social Snapshots 1900-1968 inc]].
-also click [[Lacey Green Airfield]] where Doug Tilbury describes in detail the story of this airfield on [[Stocken Farm]].[[File:Plane on Airfield.jpg|thumb]]
+click [[Wars]] for local details of the Boer War, WW1, WW2, & The Cold War[[File:Plane on Airfield.jpg|thumb]]
 '''WW2 AIRFIELD, STOCKEN FARM   reported by [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Doug_Tilbury Doug Tilbury]'''

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 The aircraft based at Lacey Green were at least 2 Taylor-craft Austers powered by 90 h.p. Lycoming engines, supposedly capable of taking off in a 160 yd run, a Tiger Moth, Miles Messenger, Miles M28 Percival Proctor  and a De Haviland 86 B Hornet moth, this aircraft  had still got the hooks fitted inside the aircraft where the original owner hung his golf bags,   All these aircraft were privately owned, but commandeered at the commencement of the war.[[File:Old Hanger Sports Field Spectators.jpg|left|thumb|Sports Club spectators. Hanger storing straw in background]]
 [[File:Old Hanger Sports Field.jpg|thumb|The Sports Ground. Hanger in background.  Over the years the school expanded. A swimming pool was for some years in the grounds, about where the hanger had been.]]
-'''Letter dated 11th January 1946''' from the Air Ministry Directorate of Works to F Chilton Esq, Belle Vue, Lacey Green. <u>Re. Lacey Green Cricket Ground</u>
+The aptly named New Road was constructed to speed the journey from Bomber Command at Walters Ash to the airfield
 Further to this headquarters' letter of 31st December 1945, I have to inform you that there is no objection to your doing such work that may be necessary of repairing the cricket ground to allow the Club to get going for the coming season.
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 As however this area has been allocated to Mr West of Stocken Farm to enable him to pen his cattle there during the time that flying is in progress on the Landing Ground.   It will be necessary for you to consult with Mr West on the subject and agree with him as to what can be done in a way suitable to both parties.   Yours faithfully, L C Borthwick,  for Superintending Engineer.   ''Note. This letter is archived in Lacey Green [[Village Hall]]''
-'''After the war the hanger remained''' and was used by the farm, until the land on which it stood was compulsory purchased to enlarge [[Lacey Green School]] grounds.
+After the war the hanger remained and was used by the farm, until the land on which it stood was compulsory purchased to enlarge [[Lacey Green School]] grounds.
-[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg|center|thumb|Photo taken by Dave Alsworth from '[[Beaulieu]]']][[Harry Church]] added a comment to the article [[Lacey Green Airfield]] in Hallmark by [[Doug Tilbury]] with the following:-   I was very interested in Douglas Tilbury' recollections of Lacey Green's wartime airstrip, as I was involved in a roundabout way with the manner in which a portion of Stocken Farm was requisitioned.
+[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg|center|thumb|Photo taken by Dave Alsworth from '[[Beaulieu]]']][[Harry Church]] added a comment.     I was very interested in Douglas Tilbury' recollections of Lacey Green's wartime airstrip, as I was involved in a roundabout way with the manner in which a portion of Stocken Farm was requisitioned.
 I doubt if Mr West ever knew that I was awakened very early one Sunday morning by a workman with a bulldozer who said he was to contact me and I would give him instructions to proceed with the clearing of the fields to construct the landing strip.
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 Halfway between [[Lacey Green School]] and [[Darvills Hill]] was a pond known as "Nanny Coopers", and a veritable haven for newts and frogs, much sought after by we local boys.   I have no knowledge who Nanny Cooper was, but she was reputed to to swing over the pond in a bucket, suspended by a rope, from the branch of a large oak tree which reached over the pond.   This may or may not have been true, I have always regarded this action as a somewhat hazardous and stupid thing to do, but it is fairly certain a lady of this name was drowned in the pond.  This well known landmark disappeared for ever and the original run of the hedges were not replaced in the exact same lines.
-This was not the first time part of Stocken Farm was used for military purposes, as there was a searchlight site near Mr Wilkinson's bungalow '[[Beaulieu]]', [[Slad Lane]], at the beginning of the last war, and in the 1914-18 war not only part of the farm buildings but also the farmhouse were used by the Royal Artillery.
+This was not the first time part of Stocken Farm was used for military purposes, as there was a searchlight site near Mr Wilkinson's bungalow '[[Beaulieu]]', [[Slad Lane]], at the beginning of the war, and in the 1914-18 war not only part of the farm buildings but also the farmhouse were used by the Royal Artillery.

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 'Bomber' Harris ordered Andrew Oliver To inspect every Spitfire which came down in England.   He used Harris's private plane, to fly to the crash sites to see if the accident was due to a fault in the wood/ glue manufacture.
 [[File:Old Hanger Sports Field Spectators.jpg|left|thumb|Sports Club spectators. Hanger storing straw in background]]
 [[File:Old Hanger Sports Field.jpg|thumb|The Sports Ground. Hanger in background.  Over the years the school expanded. A swimming pool was for some years in the grounds, about where the hanger had been.]]
 '''Letter dated 11th January 1946''' from the Air Ministry Directorate of Works to F Chilton Esq, Belle Vue, Lacey Green. <u>Re. Lacey Green Cricket Ground</u>

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 '''''Research Note by Joan West.'''  [[Dick & Hilda West]] had lost their best, and only flat land, of which there wasn't a lot,  with only a few hours notice.   It was a terrible blow.    The dairy cows needed all the land remaining for grazing, so they could return for milking twice daily.    Mr G H Cox lent 25 acres of land, then extra land had to be rented further away, most of which was found at Notley Abbey, the home of Vivian Leigh and Lawrence Oliver at that time, with whom they got on with very well.''[[File:Lacey Green Airfield Illustration.jpg|thumb]]
-A blister hanger was erected behind the school to house the American Stinson plane of Air Chief Marshall Arthur Harris.  Local lads, including [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Gordon_May Gordon May] used to help push the plane into the hanger
+There was the usual wind stocking, and a strip of chalk let into the turf for directional purposes so that aircraft would land into the prevailing westerly wind.   The approach was usually over [[Turnip End]] - towards [[Lacey Green School]].
 'Bomber' Harris ordered Andrew Oliver To inspect every Spitfire which came down in England.   He used Harris's private plane, to fly to the crash sites to see if the accident was due to a fault in the wood/ glue manufacture.

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 also click [[Lacey Green Airfield]] where Doug Tilbury describes in detail the story of this airfield on [[Stocken Farm]].[[File:Plane on Airfield.jpg|thumb]]
 '''WW2 AIRFIELD, STOCKEN FARM   reported by [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Doug_Tilbury Doug Tilbury]'''
 [[File:Centre of The Airfield.jpg|left|thumb|Hedge removed from centre of airfield. This was replaced after the war and later laid by [[Gerald Bedford]] ]]
-On Saturday June 6<sup>th</sup> 1944 at 6 pm, bulldozers arrived to make an airfield for Air Chief Marshall ‘[https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber%E2%80%99_Harris Bomber’ Harris], of [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber_Command Bomber Command], [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Walters_Ash Walters Ash].   45 acres of the flat grazing land of the farm were to be taken.  The fields of the farm were bulldozed to make the airstrip.  The first plane took off three mornings later.
+At 6 pm, bulldozers arrived to make an airfield for Air Chief Marshall ‘[https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber%E2%80%99_Harris Bomber’ Harris], of [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Bomber_Command Bomber Command], [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Walters_Ash Walters Ash].   45 acres of the flat grazing land of the farm were to be taken.  The fields of the farm were bulldozed to make the airstrip.  The first plane took off three mornings later.
 A hedge was removed, two clumps of horse-chestnut trees and a clump of lime trees were felled and [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Nanny_Coopers_pond Nanny Coopers pond] was filled in.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:14, 17 December 2023
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		+	click [[Wars]] for local details of the Boer War, WW1, WW2, & The Cold War
		+
	also click [[Lacey Green Airfield]] where Doug Tilbury describes in detail the story of this airfield on [[Stocken Farm]].[[File:Plane on Airfield.jpg\|thumb]]		also click [[Lacey Green Airfield]] where Doug Tilbury describes in detail the story of this airfield on [[Stocken Farm]].[[File:Plane on Airfield.jpg\|thumb]]
	'''WW2 AIRFIELD, STOCKEN FARM reported by [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Doug_Tilbury Doug Tilbury]'''		'''WW2 AIRFIELD, STOCKEN FARM reported by [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Doug_Tilbury Doug Tilbury]'''