FLYING BACK IN TIME OVER WARTIME DEVON INCLUDING RARE FOOTAGE OF SALCOMBE

The Second World War arrived in South Devon in 1940.
The Air Ministry landed to survey the area with a view to establishing an Advanced Landing Ground high on a section of flat ground above Salcombe town.
The Aerodrome that was built became RAF Bolt Head and was active from 1941 until 1946.
Salcombe was an Advance Amphibious Base for the US Navy in September 1943. Over 100 vessels sailed from Salcombe on D Day on June 4, 1944 which landed on Utah beach. The landing stage at Mill Bay was also used to repair damaged landing craft.
This film takes a flight back in time which includes rare wartime footage from Salcombe in 1944.
With Thanks to my friend Terry Kent for the use of his film footage.
• FLYING BACK IN TIME ...

[@oldhack931]

The higher quality film of the landing craft was shot in Torquay harbour. You can see the ramps built for the very purpose of embarking troops and. in the background you can see the quay wall. Thankfully, the ramps were eventually listed by English Heritage and are described as "the most important D Day structure on Mainland England" NIce little programme and so good to see Salcombe in ithe pre-second home days!

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Appreciate your kind feedback Old Hack, do please have a subscribe and check out some of my other films. Chris.

[@kevchilton908]

Some amazing content in that nostalgic look back at wartime Salcombe and South Devon, Chris!👌🏻👍🏻

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Kevin appreciate you watching along. Chris.

[@SuperGoldenv]

Really enjoyed this bit of local history. Thank you.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Much appreciated Rich. Chris.

[@gavinking5605]

Really good video.Thank you so much for putting this together.Very thought provoking.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks Gavin I am glad it was of interest, please have a subscribe and check out my other films. Chris.

[@joeschenk8400]

Enjoyed the video very much! The film of the various US landing craft was very interesting. 👍👍👍

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Joe glad you enjoyed the film. Chris.

[@johndavey72]

Good evening Chris. Great footage and as usual well documented ......we wouldn't expect anything less ! Thankyou Chris

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Very much appreciated John, many thanks. Chris.

[@petehunter6335]

My late father was stationed on Bolt Head whilst serving in the RAF at one stage. My family spent many summer holidays in Salcombe during the 60's . . . . I wonder why!

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

That is very interesting Peter please check out my channel, I have made several films about RAF Bolt Head. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@vacuumelite2065]

That was splendid. Thank you. All the best from Teignmouth.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

More on my channel please have a subscribe. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@Firebrand55]

Well put together Chris. At a time when RAF airfields where everywhere, you've brought to life Bolt Head, which played its part in WW2.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many Thanks keep an eye out on my facebook profile 'gull perch' I will be posting up a moving three d look at RAF Bolt Head 1944. Also do have a subscribe to my channel. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@TT3.2]

What a lovely account of this local area of an historic and torrid time. I expect GUZ took most of the planes as air cover for the dockyard back then? It was great watching this thanks 🙏🏼

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Gary I have several more local history films on my channel. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@TT3.2]

@@GULLPERCHFLYER Thank you Chris, now subscribed 👍🏼

[@royyoung3104]

Excellent, interesting watch,really enjoyed that.....many thanks.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks Roy please check out some of my other local history films. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@darrenbutler93]

am from strete down the way from salcombe ,used to help a farmer at bolt head,didnt know about the church at aveton gifford being blown up,and a mate of mine from salcombe his dad was an ex german prisoner of war,at least they got to improve kingsbridge.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Appreciate your interesting feedback Brett there are many other local history topics on my channel, it would be great if you consider subscribing. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@terrystephens1102]

Many thanks for this very interesting account of the impact of the war on South Devon. 👌👌❤️❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks Terry do please have a subscribe to my channel, there are many more local history films on there. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@stephenburchett8263]

Hi Chris. This was a real pleasure to watch. Great collection of period photos and film. I like the way you fly over the Salcombe and Kingsbridge estuary. I can just make out the cottage we lived in for 7 years at Croft Farm. We really miss south Devon.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks Stephen really glad you enjoyed the film, please subscribe and check out some of my other films. Chris.

[@martinross5521]

Really interesting footage and commentary, Chris. Appreciate all your hard work on this.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed it Martin. Chris.

[@kenh3344]

Interesting to here your commentary on the laying of the runway. Chris. Now what if anything have you got on the brixham gun battery. Ive had to do with these guys . And we appeared in a film they made in suppose to be in normandy . Called between the lines .. they are in the Devon m.v.t. . Mike ford who lives in torquay with his family along with many others running the museum there on brixham top ne the gun battery. We used to do ww2 reenactment. As parras and french resistance. With blank fire stens in mock battle. Also went to castle drogo a lot along with mount edgecomb. Also army base at okehampton on edge dartmoor. . Took my jeep up haytore as well. Used to do road runs as well across dartmoor to widdecombe on the more .

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Crikey Ken you get about, you have given me some more reading material. Was your jeep a Willys one. Have you come across that Robin Uren near Totnes. Chris.

[@kenh3344]

@@GULLPERCHFLYER cannot remember robin from totnes but possible . If he in mvt. Or brixham museum or to do with gun battery. Possible did he ha w anything to do with the filming of between the lines. Jeep was a hotchkiss 24 volt version . We did film on the show ground opposite the go kart track between brixham and goodrington . Some film work was done in other places and the gun battery was used but done in b+w . Think it was todo with devon light infantry kings own . And a place in bodmin as a museum nr bodmin railway station. . Yes got about a bit . So do you have any thing on brixham gun battery or torquay battery no longer there. .

[@kenh3344]

@@GULLPERCHFLYER there was an older than me fellow at the time with a Austin utility ( tilley) vehicle in mvt. Some used in the film . Not general release film but for education purposes. Somwhere we got a dvd of it and we did our own footage of making of it . But me son never knows where he put stuff . We drove to Normandy beaches and all around and to ARNAM . And return . Done a bridge to far stayed at ousterbeak. Took jeep through the escape route under the railway nr ARNAM. Drove to pegasus bridge . A d stay at CARANTAN went to store eglesee and yes the well is there in a French mans back garden. Saint males not store comm error. Got anything on my edgcombe yanks went from there. . Till recently concrete blocks still there but here they been dug up . Mmmm

[@kenh3344]

Now just thought about it yes Robin . Yes Chris. South devon mvt.

[@christopherhowell768]

Thanks Ken that is a very interesting tour. Chris.@@kenh3344

[@MarkEbdon-q1h]

Thanks for the video. My dad was at Kingsbridge grammar school in the war and had a piece of shrapnel he found. He lived in the crabshell pub and my grandfather did a roaring trade with the Americans. They would come up the estuary in landing craft, then drive to the pub from the slipway. My mum was living nearby and remembered seeing a German fighter flying up the Dart valley very low. They had very little ill will to the Germans generally and had POWs on the farm, one of whom at least never went home.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

How amazing Mark, thank you so much for posting up your family's wartime experience.

[@edwardmace3072]

I had no idea POWs still working in 1947. Was that choice ? Thanks for the video. I’m not local it I still find it fascinating. Thank you

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

International law stipulated that POWs should be repatriated after a peace treaty was signed, but with Germany occupied, a peace treaty was a remote possibility. So Britain kept its German POWs who were proving useful as a labour force without announcing when they might be sent home. The practical issue of arranging transports hindered plans; at the same time, repatriating ardent Nazis among the POWs was considered imprudent. Most had been repatriated by 1948. Do please subscribe Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@edwardmace3072]

@@GULLPERCHFLYER I have subscribed and will in time watch all the videos. Thank you for explaining it. It makes a lot of sense. Thank you

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks for subscribing Edward. Chris.

[@derekdee9592]

Interesting history many thanks 👍

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed the film Derek, please subscribe to my channel. Chris.

[@yorkshirelad3524]

Very interesting and a look back at what the heroic generation did thankyou I’m ashamed at the way this country has been allowed to deteriorate post war

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thank you for your feedback Yorkshire Lad. Please consider subscribing to my channel. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@alecjefferson6993]

Very interesting had holidays in that area did know about this. New about Slapton sands. Thanks

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Alec please check out my other channel films. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@brentdykgraaf184]

Love your content

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many Thanks hopefully you can have a subscribe. Chris.

[@brentdykgraaf184]

​@@GULLPERCHFLYERI did... your content is great...Mike patey quality...shhhh ..do not tell him!

[@123boat]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video 👍

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Boats and Bits. Chris.

[@lablackzed]

Saying I was looking forward to this.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many Thanks Chris.

[@andrewreason636]

When you mentioned the church was rebuilt, my instant thought was of Coventry Cathedral...its the first time I have heard of anything in this country being rebuilt (nearly) as was. Going to take a ride down there in the spring to have a look

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Andrew it's an interesting one. Do ponder subscribing please. Chris.

[@motorbikemuso]

Nice work, thanks

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks for watching along have a look at my other channel films. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@Aubury]

What an excellent video.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed it Aubury. Chris.

[@simonhawker9277]

DID YOU DO THAT PIC OF THE AA GUN, VERY GOOD LIKE TO SEE MORE LIKE THAT

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you found it interesting please have a subscribe to my channel and check out my other films I always try to find interesting and unusual content. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@nicholasbell9017]

You keep adding new photos to entice us to subscribe, but all you get is this same video about Start Point RAF base.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Sorry about that please try this link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoLaeXpnr5qCbM0

[@iamgod6464]

The Haldon Golf Course near Dawlish, Devon was an Airfield in the Second World War. 😊

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks I am God, you may like to subscribe and check my facebook profile gull perch I have featured Haldon Aerodrome on there. Chris. facebook.com/search/top/?q=HALDON%20AERODROME

[@stuartlynn-q8q]

👍

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Stuart. Chris.

[@lablackzed]

I thing your having problems with comments🤔

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Sorry about that you tube have some quirky issues which are difficult to work out. Chris.

[@lablackzed]

I commented before ?

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many Thanks for highlighting the issues I will check it out. Chris.