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    RAF Firbeck Memorial Fund Appeal 

    by
    AiXAdmin
    Published on 19-06-2011 13:19

    RAF Firbeck Memorial Fund Appeal
    Noel Ryan & Chris Percy



    Tucked away in the south-east corner of South Yorkshire, a short distance south of the former pit village of Maltby and near the historic Roche Abbey, lies the little, unassuming disused airfield of RAF Firbeck. Opened before World War 2, it was the private airfield for the nearby Firbeck Hall, a large residential Country Club for the very well-heeled in society. Requisitioned in WW2, the airfield was the home to Army Co-Op Squadrons but also doubled up as a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Hucknall and latterly (1944 onwards) was under the administration of 21 Group (Training), which saw a limited amount of gliding take place until closure in 1948.

    The principal resident Squadrons, 613 (Lysanders), 654 (Auster I) and 659 (formed here with Auster IIIs) were largely used for local duties with nearby Army and Home Guard units. However, with the invasion of mainland Europe, 645 Sqn and 659 Sqn were moved out and closely followed the advancing Allied forces acting as air observation for artillery units, winning two DFCs in the process.
    Post-War, the airfield was rapidly run down and the very temporary accommodation and technical site removed and the landing ground was returned to agriculture. A few relics remain scattered around: a pair of unsually designed air raid shelters in a local wood and the NCOs mess in the grounds of Firbeck Hall Farm (the Nissen hut watch office was moved there and now forms an extension to the Mess). In the 1980s, these huts formed the exhibition halls of the South Yorkshire Aviation Preservation Society's museum. The majority of this collection formed the nucleus of Aeroventure, now at former RAF Doncaster.

    A recent visit by Noel Ryan and myself saw the idea of a simple memorial germinate. A perfect location was found at the junction of three public footpaths on the concrete base of one of Firbeck's small blister hangars. On the same day, contact was made with the landowner who was immediately enthusiastic. Over the weeks, a concerted effort to raise local awareness, including a leaflet drop in the village, which has resulted in very positive local feedback. Various Local Authority and Parish Councillors have also expressed a very positive attitude towards the project too – useful for the planning application process! Already, support has been pledged by the 613 Sqn Association and the village pub is to hold an auction. A dedicated bank account is in the process of being set up with the Co-Operative Bank (Community DirectPlus Account) (delayed due to the number of applicants for other community projects!); once open, a Pay Pal link will be organised for on-line donations via the Firbeck Memorial Fund Appeal web site (see below for details) and other on-line donation opportunities, including AiX. An announcement will be made on the forum once the Pay Pal link is established.

    So far, the project has identified a suitable manufacturer for the stainless steel laser-engraved plaque, measuring 14” x 12”) and the cairn itself is to be of concrete core construction clad in locally-sourced, dressed limestone.
    And this is where ARG comes in – so far as we know, this is the first ARG-endorsed memorial project of its kind. As such, we very much hope that ARG members will find a little something to help support the memorial fund – every little helps! For the time being, pledges and donations can be made by cheque made payable to the FIRBECK AIRFIELD MEMORIAL FUND to the address below. Announcements and updates will be made regularly on the forum and hopefully, we can have an e-newsletter for similar purposes.

    The proposed dedication date is the 25th August, 2011 but for the time being this is, to a certain degree, flexible.

    Please support us in this venture to help remember a little airfield with an interesting history and ensure it is not forgotten! Thank you!

    Noel Ryan & Chris Percy

    Contact Details and Donations
    Web: www.firbeckmemorial.co.uk
    E-mail: firbeckmemorial@gmail.com

    Cheques made payable to the

    FIRBECK AIRFIELD MEMORIAL FUND to

    Firbeck Airfield Memorial Fund
    c/o Chris Percy
    206 Heavygate Road
    Crookes
    Sheffield
    S10 1PJ
    South Yorkshire

    Please include reply contact details (including e-mail) so receipt acknowledgements can be made.

    Urgent appeal 


    Help us to preserve valuable RAF Pembrey documents

    The archive is now in the process of being properly sorted and indexed, ARG have purchased 50 special archive boxes which have all been filled and filed, we will need more very soon. In addition we have an opportunity to purchase some valuable and rare Home Office books for the archive.

    We have also been very fortunate in securing a large archive about RAF Pembrey, this has been donated by the daughter of a researcher who has passed away. This archive is huge and consists of many original documents, plans, photos etc. It will also need sorting and storing in boxes.

    We now need to raise an initial sum to purchase the books and additional storage boxes. We are slowly setting up a funding and marketing strategy which will bring in funds at a steady rate, however the books are too good to pass up and the Pembrey archive needs to be stored. Once the archive is fully sorted and indexed it can be made available.



    The cabinet housing boxes 37 to 50 containing negatives and slides - we need more!

    The idea of pledging an amount of money in support has been raised before on here and I'm hopeful that this appeal will be supported by as many people as possible.

    I therefore pledge £20 towards this appeal and hope many more will follow.


    NJR

    Welcome To The Home Of The AiX ARG Archives 

    by
    AiXAdmin
    Published on 25-06-2010 08:02   

    The AiX-ARG Archive Limited Company owes its formation to a discussion that originated on the Internet forum ‘The Airfield Information Exchange’ (AiX). - Membership of the forum is diverse. Many well known names in the military research world, including authors and noted experts in their own particular field have been brought together. Forum membership also includes individuals/representatives of interest groups (museums, collections, for example. AiX amalgamated with the Airfield Research Group (ARG) and the forum was re-named AiX - The Public Forums of the Airfield Research Group.


    It became apparent that the private archive collections of some of the older members (with collections dating back to the early 1970s and in some instances, earlier), had great historic significance. A major concern was that these archives could be lost as people age and pass away. The general feeling was that something must be put in place as soon as possible to guarantee the survival of these historic archives for future generations. It was also decided that it was important to bring these collections together, provide and manage a secure and safe environment for donated archives and to enable the collections to be used as an educational and research facility.

    The AIRFIELD RESEARCH GROUP was formed thirty years ago in 1978 by a small nucleus of enthusiasts. Coincidentally this was the same year that the first book dedicated to airfields appeared (‘Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now’). It was also a year before the first Action Stations book was launched.
    The aims of the Group are to research, collate and disseminate material relating to the history, development, architecture, current status and uses of current and disused, civil and military airfields of the United Kingdom.

    The Group publishes the Airfield Review four times a year - around 120 issues have appeared to date (a previous editor and chairman have included Norwich Paul). Contributors have included a number of respected aviation related authors, and recent issues have covered in-depth reports regarding Flying Boat bases, Fleet Air Arm stations, OTU Organisation, the First Hard Runway in the UK, and Satellite Landing Grounds. A large number of airfields, some virtually unknown have been extensively researched.Associated subjects have included Ammunition Depots, Flying Control and radar/radio aids, control caravans, railway systems, and the RAF Maintenance Organisation.



    Our Aims & Objectives:
    • To collate and digitise collections of negatives and to catalogue photographs, books, reports, maps and plans of the UK and European 20th Century military archaeology / architecture and history relating to airfields. To collate and digitise collections of negatives and to catalogue photographs, books, reports, maps and plans of the UK and European Civil airports and airfields. To record digitally in the 21st Century the former military landscape, extant structures and surviving infrastructure. To record digitally in the 21st Century Civil airports and airfields both in service and disused This data will form a unique collection of photographs, books and paper-medium archive that we believe is important in a National context. The information will be made available by digital means to organizations or individuals such as universities, schools or researchers.
    • To make the physical archive available to researchers, universities and schools.
    AiX - ARG ARCHIVE LIMITED - incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 as a Private Limited Company No: 6753683