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Bombing around us WWII

  • BCA - 2024.7481
  • Item
  • 1940

Newspaper article about Bombing around us in WWII
August 16th 1940 RAF Brize Norton. Two German aircraft bombed the base. Nos 1 and 3 C-type hangars plus 4 aircraft were destroyed or written off. It was the most spectacular attack on any British airfield during WWII. One civilian, Frederick Harden was killed, he was 61 and came from Witney. On the same day six civilian Irish workmen were killed in the raid on RAF Stanton Harcourt which was under construction.
Stanley Jenkins describes in his book,Witney Through Time, how one of the bombs landed on Church Green and
second exploded behind the Eagle Brewery. The bombs caused blast damage to the grammar school and many houses.
their reports speak of army vehicles parked round Church Green being destroyed, windows being shattered in he church, the council offices and the police station as well as several shops. In addition, falling glass from the glazed roof of the weaving sheds at Mount Mills, the home of blanket manufacturers James Marriott and Sons, damaged the looms and production of blankets was halted while they were repaired. Remarkably the only injuries appear to have been cuts and bruises and building repairs were quickly carried out.

Nik Stanbridge

Avro York failed take off from Brize Norton 1946

  • BCA - 2023.4131
  • Item
  • 1946

On 28 November 1946 an Avro York MW168 belonging to the Transport Command Development Unit at RAF Brize Norton failed to become airborne and instead crashed on to the railway line between Brize Norton and Carterton stations, coming to rest in a field, as pictured. Needless to say the line was closed for several days while the RAF effected recovery.
Photograph from the Martin Loader Collection

Janet Westman

Princess Anne at Brize Norton: End of Hercules

  • BCA - 2023.4183
  • Item
  • 2022?

Article by Miranda Norris Senior Reporter reporting on the stand down parade at RAF Brize Norton attended by Princess Anne marking the end more than 100 years of service. On June 30, the iconic Hercules retired from service in the Royal Air Force, coinciding with the stand-down of No. 47 Squadron. The Princess Royal, who served as the Honorary Air Commodore to RAF Brize Norton, reviewed the Squadron on parade, commemorating their proud history.

Janet Westman

Princess Anne at R.A.F. Brize Norton

  • BCA - 2024.6926
  • Item
  • 14th June 2023

Princess Anne attends the retirement of the C-130 Hercules and the stand down parade of Number 47 Squadron.

Janet Newman