@bobballoon - well, you have the memory of your friends, and of the significance of it all to them, which I think is the most important thing. One of the elements I enjoyed about Masters of the Air was the portrayal of the closeness of the local community - especially the children - with the airmen. Although "only" eighty years ago, it's now an entirely different world, isn't it? I think the memories of people who were there are just so important. I was a primary school teacher, and a couple of times managed to get WWII veterans (one a Lancaster air gunner who'd won the DFC for his part in the Peenemunde raids, and one who'd served on HMS London when she was - or wasn't - escorting PQ17) to come and talk to my classes. The children absolutely loved the experience, and by the time they're in their eighties WWII will be as distant as the Boer war is to us now; I really hope that they'll remember the days, and can maintain just a sliver of that human memory.

@@simondaw I often think how lucky I am, being in my late 60s I have seen many aircraft flying that today you would only see them on video. I grew up overlooking RAF Abingdon where the 50th anniversary of the RAF was held. I was allowed to bunk off school to watch the rehearsals, and witness many great sights like the stream of 6 Victors followed by 18 Vulcans in pairs. Many great unrepeatable memories from the past

@@boballoon - wonderful memories for you. Yes, it's another age now. I was an air cadet in the late 70s / early 80s and attended a week-long station visit to Abingdon in 1982, when the recently acquired VC10s were being converted to tankers.

Glad you enjoyed it - thank you for the comment.

How lovely to hear that! Hope it brought back some memories for you. (And yes, the area was absolutely covered with airfields. Google Earth - or similar - shows quite a few, though they're becoming harder to spot as time passes.)

No, the point has been made by others (although some have also said that they like the music, actually), and with the benefit of hindsight I agree.

I think it's variously known as Wadingfield, Acton or Sudbury locally, but its official name was always RAF Sudbury. It's like a lot of airfields - the (official) name isn't always the closest town or village; thinking locally, you have Rattlesden, for example, which is closer to Brettenham.

Hope you enjoyed it, @Daniel-S1.

I'm really pleased to hear that. Did you know him or his family, or "just" his history? Incredibly brave men, all of them - to face the odds they faced, week in, week out... Also, have I got his name wrong? I have Clarence B *Herman*. I can at least easily change the subtitles, even though to change the audio would now be impossible.

@@simondaw I am the historian for the 486th. I am in touch with one of Clarence's grandchildren. I did misspell it myself. The correct spelling is Herrmann. I've corrected my original post.

@StarGazer568 - Oh, my! That's amazing! Well, first, thank you for your interest and for your comments. If there's ever anything I can do for you, or for the families of veterans, then please just ask - I'll do my best. (I'm thinking photographing local scenes that may hold special interest for them, etc.). I think it's fair to say that there's a special bond between locals and those who serve here; people (most, anyway) remain conscious of the sacrifices made.

Fair point, @nicholasbell9017. Obviously, it wasn't meant that way at all, but it's certainly something I'll make an effort to avoid in future.

How about just avoid music, full stop?

@daveworthing2294 - it would make life a lot easier, that's for sure! I certainly wouldn't class myself as a "KZbin creator", and I'm a bit bemused (not to say amazed!) at the number of views / comments / likes this video has received. The music is of course the last element added, and by the time I reached that point - it was a very (very...) faffy video to edit - I'd had enough, and didn't spend the time I should have checking it. Had I had any idea how much attention this video was going to receive (it's had about thirty times as many views as even my more popular videos) I'd have spent more time on finishing it well. Videos do seem very unfinished without any music, though; it's so "normal" that I think we just don't notice it a lot of the time. If someone (ahem...) gets it wrong...then it becomes noticeable! I got the volume wrong, and as others have said the choice - certainly for the Woodhall bit - was also wrong. But as I say, not using music is definitely a lot easier - as you may know, YT are pretty tight on copyright, so the "safest" method is to use something from their audio library. The problem with that is that the choice and quality is a bit variable. Live and learn...

@simon, thanks for the detailed response. Maybe I'm just old fashioned but I just don't understand why almost every video on YT has to have a soundtrack. Some have terrible AI voice-overs now too. They get switched off instantly. I didn't watch all of your video due to the loud music. A shame because it looked very interesting. Good luck with future productions.

Thanks for the feedback, @@daveworthing2294 - it is helpful, and definitely a pointer for future projects. (Those AI-generated commentaries are usually truly dreadful - I suppose there may be good reasons why people use them, but they remove all character from the commentary in my view.) Unfortunately, I can't even produce a music-free version of my video now, because I pretty much have to delete everything as soon as possible - high resolution video takes up an immense amount of disk space. The only thing I *can* offer is that if you turn the sound off completely and subtitles on, they are completely accurate - they're not the basic subtitles generated by voice recognition software. I try to make time to add my own subtitles, and have done so for this video.

Thanks for the feedback - yes, to be honest when I've reviewed it I thought the same about the music. I think my audio - recorded at different times - varies in volume. Something to check in future, for sure! On videos with commentary, I do always now try to create custom (so, accurate...) subtitles, which are a workaround (but which don't reduce the irritation, I appreciate).

Thank you for the comment, Richard. Sounds as though we appreciate the same things!

Yes, absolutely. It happened fairly often, I think, but I wonder if the collision you refer to was the one between two B-17s from Rattlesden (twelve days before the Woodhall incident, which emphasises just how often these things happened)? There's a memorial at Kettlebaston, close to the crash site - www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=1834&MemID=2405

@@simondaw I'd love to be able to ask my dear dad but that's now impossible. Good vlog!

Thank you. You touch on the reason I think it's important to record things like this; fading memories and the gradual loss and change of the landscape. It's been wonderful to read about people's experiences in these comments.

It would. This paining is by Malcolm Root, a family friend. His work is amazing, and I especially like this one, because it manages to include four of my loves - aviation (381st BG B-17, of course), the J15s on the Colne Valley line being used to transport munitions, Hedingham keep and, of course, the Essex countryside. flic.kr/p/2qzvyTL

Yes - extraordinary story! One of the luckier USAAF crews, that's for sure. It's also a reflection on how lucky we are, and how different life was, to think that they were denied an immediate emergency landing. I guess other airfields weren't an option - either busy or blacked out - because the first and most obvious thing would otherwise seem to be to to fly straight and (fairly!) level to avoid losing altitude in turns. Ridgewell is, what, eight miles ahead, and pretty much in line with Sudbury's runway 25.

Yes, the place must hold a lot of memories.

Oh, no - I wasn't aware that Wormingford is being developed! Quite apart from the loss of the airfield itself, it sounds as though that's going to be yet another parcel of countryside gone forever.

The farmer who owns the land is not renewing the gliding club lease when it expires in September 2026. Raydon ( Wings ) has been rejuvenated as a power aircraft airstrip and is not keen to accommodate a gliding operation as well. The hangar and buildings at Raydon have been repurposed for commercial use and are well worth a visit on the ground. Like Sudbury airfield I have flown over this site in powered aircraft many times from both Southend and Earl's Colne prior to the airstrip being reactivated. Spent many hours flying and gliding over Suffolk and Norfolk disused military airfields 2015 to 2016. The airfields project started in August 2014 and, so far, has taken in East Sussex, Kent, Essex, Eest Herts, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Incidentally, not only have I 'lost' Meir Aerodrome and am about to lose Wormingford, which goes back to 1917, other lost airfields in my log books include Burtonwood, Morridge, Woodford, Firle Beacon, Weston-super-Mare and Bessacarr , which goes back to 1909 ! The other gliding club in Essex is based at Ridgewell near Haverhill and now owns it's own site. A wise precaution in these times. The demise of Rougham airfield should be a stark reminder. Another lost airfield in my flying records, although the control tower museum still exists at the moment. The weather always deteriorated badly whenever I flew to or near Rougham!! Similiar experience with a site in North Wales. Sad to hear Sudbry airfield under threat too.

I was recently one of the flying members of Rougham unceremoniously kicked out as part of Skyways flying school which I think has now folded, despite much hard work to try and find an alternative site. By the way, I also remember Meir Aerodrome before it got taken over by the pottery industry and latterly a housing development. An older friend told me that during the war, newly produced Blenheims from the Rootes shadow aircraft factory at Blythe Bridge were taxied up the road and flown onward from Meir to their allocated squadrons. Happily, I have now joined the Norfolk Gliding club to continue flying with a share in a T61 based there. With some foresight they managed to purchase the runways at Tibenham and should be able to resist the pressure of inevitable development for some time

Good luck with your T61 at Tibenham. It's a nice site. Flown a similiar aircraft the SF25B/C in Germany , and at Bessacarr, North Weald and Withybush. We have a T61 at Wormingford. Yes , like your good self I have a few 'lost' airfields in my log books including Meir, Church Broughton, Morridge, Burtonwood, Firle Beacon and Weston-super-Mare. Losing flying and gliding sites appears to be an occupational hazard for recreational pilots. Almost forgot , you can add Woodford to the lost list, they used to have a company gliding club there. Good luck with your T61!

Thank you - that's very kind, and highly valued, coming from someone whose videos are as excellent as yours!

It's a DJI Osmo Action 4. You can probably pick one up quite cheaply, because it's recently been replaced by the 5, which has a number of improvements, including MUCH longer batter life. the 4 is excellent, though, and I get just under two hours from each battery anyway. And yes, the stabilisation is phenomenal - even on extremely bumpy roads (see some of my Isle of Man videos!) it's just rock-solid. I did quite a bit of reading before buying it back in April, and I have to say I think it has quite a significant advantage over the competition.

They're wonderful places, aren't they? I learned to glide in the air cadets in the early 80s at Debden (not calling it Carver Barracks!), and I think that was where my appreciation of them, and the things they've seen and heard, started.

Id be interested in a video on RAF Marston Moor in Yorkshire. I'm there all the time .

@@ClassicTrialsChannel I love airfield with history, and I know that Marston Moor certainly has that. It's a long way from me , unfortunately, and my knowledge of the airfield is limited purely to what I've read. I can also see that there might be some sensitivity about drone use there, as a result of its (proper!) uses. However, you never know - I may get the chance at some point!

Really glad you enjoyed it - thank you for the comment.

We share two passions, then! I think if you have family who served, then that makes it even more special. Thank you for the comment.

That's amazing! Quite a special place, I think, and I imagine that's especially the case for you.

@simondaw I think that he was Air comadore ,but I might be wrong , I remember he lived a very nice house onstite , & had a bat man that took care of all his clothes,

Brilliant! Thanks again for sharing it.

No, agreed. I assume it was more related to aircraft taking off, rather than landing.

There you've got me, I'm afraid! It's certainly not something I've ever heard (but that's far from conclusive evidence! 😂)

Polebrook

Thanks, @georgewaters9587 !

Agreed. Some are in better condition than others; at least most of the Suffolk airfields aren't under housing estates, like Hornchurch. Yet...

@ very true. Once a cheap housing estate gets dumped on top it’s all lost.

Yes, still often is, I think. Not hard to understand why!

That's really kind - thank you! Yes, that would be fantastic. Perhaps it would be better to wait until next spring now, especially if it would be okay to fly the drone and to film...a day like today would, erm, be less than ideal. Gravely is a little way from me, but I do venture that way sometimes. Thanks again!

Thank you again for your comment, Susan!

Ha, ha! Thank you.

Ha, ha! Thanks for the comment. I wouldn't quite go so far as to say "no traffic"...just quite a bit less than the depressing 2020s Sunday norm! 😉

Thank you, Anne. I'm still learning what the drone does best, hence the varied video quality - night mode isn't worth bothering with, was last night's lesson!

Really - sorry - I've somehow missed the Facebook message. Road riding certainly isn't what it once was - not sure I'd start now if I were 18 again - but although I use virtual cycling platforms too I'd be very reluctant to stop road riding.

That's a very generous assessment, @Moscizwysokosci, but thank you! The colours here are spectacular at the moment (though now fading fast as winter draws closer), so I think any credit goes to nature. I'm learning (only had the drone for three weeks), but I have to say that I look at some people's videos in utter awe.

@emburnett1603 - thank you for the lovely comment! Really glad you enjoyed it.

That's so lovely to hear, @OldAlastair - thank you for the comment.

No, you're right about deer - I seem to remember someone being killed by one in the same way perhaps ten years ago. Overall, though, if I have to choose between traffic and deer, I'll take my chances with the deer! 😂

Thank you; it was! I was lucky - I know a warden there, and he invited me to create some clips they can use. I wouldn't normally fly over a nature reserve, obviously. Anyway, I'll be going back to record more in different seasons, so you might be interested to take a look at my channel in December / January-ish (and beyond).

@@simondaw Not sure if it is possible here, but snow cover with low angle sun that gives warm cast and long shadows will be amazing scenery for this place.

Yes, good point. We don't get a lot of snow here at all nowadays, but I'll try for that. (Mind you, I might not actually be able to GET to the place if we have enough snow to be effective! 🤣)

Thank you for the comment, @paulwooding8382. It's lovely to hear that it's been appreciated. And yes, I agree about the buildings - there was at least one (near the old school) that I had no idea was there! It's also interesting to see how the mediaeval buildings have been developed and added to. I take it that you're one of THE Woodings (and therefore Hedingham royalty, basically!)?

...In fact, I think you're possibly Steve Wooding's son?

​@@simondawIndeed. His youngest :-) He cast a big shadow and left some big shoes to fill, which we all do our best to live up to.

​@@simondawIt's the building behind and to the right of the memorial hall. Used to be Ruffles coaches. Is that a new build?

@@paulwooding8382- ah, yes! Several houses - built about twenty years ago. We’ve (so far…) missed most of the huge developments which have…well, *changed* the area more generally. Most of what we have had have been brown field - Ruffles, the old coal yard on Sudbury Road, and the former youth hostel annexe. They’re all quite high quality builds, and fit in reasonably well, though with the traffic on Sudbury Road now I’d say that pretty much every trip from the coal yard is in a car.

Thanks, Russ. Yes - lovely ride. I was on a fairly boring and basic old Dolan Preffisio, I'm afraid. (Great value, but the frame is fairly solid...doesn't absorb a lot of anything, so bumpy roads over long distances are interesting! 🤣) Hope you're keeping well.

The algorithm has taken a long time to deliver your channel to me, ironic considering how far apart we live! Enjoyed the video greatly but very sad to see the hut going. I very much doubt I'll ever do another 200km but it was nice to see glimpses of once familiar roads. What camera were you using?

Good to hear from you, ​@pfaulks3009 ! Glad you've found the channel, and hope that at least it gives you some reminiscences! Hope you and family are all wel; it would be great to see you.

Yes indeed. Hugely busy at the moment but am hoping to get back on the bike in the New Year, weather and old age permitting!

@pfaulks3009 - that's great - hope to see you out and about!

Thanks for the sub!