The 1947 Spitfire Crash in Bournemouth and the Death of John Henry Green
In the immediate post-war period, thousands of people around the country were entertained by Battle of Britain Air Displays. The shows raised money for the…
The Bride Who Never Was: The Wartime Tale of a Girl and Her Wedding Dress
As a historical researcher, I spend a lot of time trawling through newspaper archives. I find them an invaluable resource, as they feature stories of…
RAF Sopley: History from 1941 to 1945 During WW2
I was recently given a document that was researched and written by Pat (Patricia) Sparks in 1990. Pat was a WAAF serving at RAF Sopley…
Spitfire Production in Southampton in 1939
The iconic Supermarine Spitfire has deep roots in Southampton, where it was not just designed, but also built by the Supermarine company. Southampton’s role in…
How Fire, Flight, & Fate Struck Southampton Water in August 1931
In 1931, Britain was in the grip of the Great Depression. The Wall Street Crash two years earlier had triggered a chain of events that…
The Graf Zeppelin Over Southampton in 1931 (The Death of Ethel Irene Moore)
On Tuesday the 18th of August 1931, a low humming sound over Southampton brought people out of their homes. As they looked to the skies, an…
The USAAF 370th Fighter Group at RAF Andover
The USAAF 370th Fighter Group was established in mid-1943 at Westover Field, Massachusetts, and comprised of the 401st, 402nd, and 485th fighter squadrons. The pilots were equipped…
Segregation & Sacrifice: Htin Yain Lao & Black American Troops in the New Forest
With it being the 80th anniversary of D-Day this year, it’s more important than ever to look back at the sacrifices made. I think it’s…
Curtiss JN-3 (A5496) Crash at RFC East Boldre, March 1917
I was recently emailed these photos of brass pulley rings by the New Forest Heritage Centre, asking if I could shed any light on them….