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TOP 10 FACTS

Did You Know?

FACT 1

Early balloons were made of “goldbeater’s skin” which was made of ox intestines. The method of preparing and joining the strips of skin was a jealously guarded secret of the Weinling family who made British military balloons for over 30 years. They were reluctant to employ outsiders which sometimes led to problems (the construction of the first goldbeater’s skin balloon was delayed because their principle balloon maker was imprisoned for three months) but they managed to keep their secret for many years which gave the British a great advantage in this field of aviation.

FACT 2

Lieutenant Broke-Smith RE reached a record altitude of over 3,000ft (914m) in a man-lifting kite in 1905.

FACT 3

James Montgomery Doohan who played Scotty, the Chief Engineer in the original version of Star Trek, was an Air Observation Post Squadron pilot. He flew with 666 Squadron which was a Royal Canadian Air Force unit formed at RAF Andover, Hampshire, in 1945.

FACT 4

The Museum is right alongside the most famous of the Battle of Britain airfields at Middle Wallop. Several World War 2 buildings are still extant on the site and in their original form. The Museum is reputedly haunted it is said by the ghosts of three men killed when a hanger door exploded on them during an air raid and by a WAAF killed as she rode away on her bicycle.

FACT 5

During the Second World War, Middle Wallop was home to No. 604 Squadron RAF. This night-fighter unit flew Beaufighters equipped with radar which enabled them to detect and hit enemy aircraft. One of the Squadron’s pilots, Flight Lieutenant (later Group Captain) Cunningham RAF was particularly successful and in order to keep the reason for his success (the radar) a secret, the press dubbed him “Catseyes” Cunningham and attributed his excellent night vision to his consumption of carrots.

FACT 6

Electrically heated clothing for pilots was introduced in 1917.

FACT 7

In the 1960s the Army Air Corps carried out trials on the Wallace-Benson Autogyro, a later version of which became famous as “Little Nellie” flown by James Bond in the film “You Only Live Twice”.

FACT 8

Shortly after midnight on 6th June 1944, D-Day, men of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry were landed in gliders with the purpose of capturing two bridges over the River Orne and the Caen Canal in Normandy, France. The skilled glider pilots landed their aircraft within yards of the bridges which were captured intact within ten minutes.

FACT 9

Air Observation Post Squadrons usually flew over enemy lines and yet their light aircraft, Austers, were unarmed. They survived by flying very low, using woods, buildings and folds in the land as cover.

FACT 10

The Air Battalion, Royal Engineers, was formed in 1911. Those officers who wished to join as pilots had to acquire a pilot’s licence from the Royal Aero Club or another recognised European flying organisation and were refunded £75 for their lessons once they were accepted into the Battalion. This compensation would not have covered the full cost of their lessons.