Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum

12/04/2026

23/03/2026

Two for the price of one! Two short films bought to you from Martlesham Heath Aviation Society. Tickets will sell fast so use the QR code to secure your place asap.

09/03/2026

March Meeting Report – Friday 6 th March 2026. US Air Force Major (ret) Mr Donald Mobley.

Don formerly a F-111 pilot with the United States Air Force, came along and gave us a meeting of two halves,
The First, called “Reaching for the Stars – NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Early Days”, which was created in 1958.
It came about as a result of the Sputnik Shock – when this Satellite was put into Orbit…. Stunning the US. This was followed by sending Dog Laika, a stray dog from Moscow, on Sputnik 2 on November 3 rd 1957, and Yuri Gagarin the first human to orbit the Earth on 12 April 1961.

America responded using (like the USSR) repurposed Ballistic Missile technology to launch satellites like Telstar and Alan Shepard the first American in space. (1961) and then John Glen ( the first American to orbit the Planet) in 1962, (and much later in 1998 to go into Space again) both in the 60’s in Mercury Program space capsules.

Remember, the 1960’s was a very Cold War period – when both Superpowers were trying to outdo each other in Space, claiming that their political systems (Communism V Capitalism) is the best.
The US was very open talking about their successes and failures like Gemini Capsule docking problems with another spacecraft – which nearly ended in disaster and the Apollo Spacecraft fire of Friday 27 th Jan 1967 when Gus Grissom, Ed. White and Roger Chafee, burned to death in less than a minute in their seats atop the launch rocket, as a spark ignited the oxygen rich atmosphere. This caused a major rebuild of the Apollo Command Module.

The much more secretive Russians tried to project their image of developing a faultless technology however they had their own share of disaster and near misses… and fairly recently they had serious damage to one of their launchpads.
As of January 2026, there have been five incidents in which a spacecraft in flight suffered crew fatalities, killing a total of 15 astronauts and 4 cosmonauts. Of these, two had reached the internationally recognized edge of space 266.000ft. when or before the incident occurred, and one was planned to do so. In each
of these two accidents, the entire crew was killed. As of December 2023, a total of 676 people have flown into space and 19 of them have died in related incidents. This sets the current statistical fatality rate at 2.8 percent.

The Americans were more focused on sending men to the Moon – with the Russians being somewhat outperformed with The Apollo Program successfully landing 12 astronauts on the moon in six missions between 1969 and 1972, the first one being Apollo 11. The Russians seemed to have concentrated more on Satellite and associated technologies. For the future of the American Space programme, there have often been questions in the US Congress etc over the Cost, and even necessity of going back to the Moon or even further to Mars predicted that the Commercialisation of Space Travel is now a reality… with people like Elon Musk using his SpaceX company and setting some amazing project targets with his
Falcon Rocket being the most powerful ever produced.

After a break Don described the History of Drones….. The first Drones go back to the first to Ancient China, in about the 5th Century when kites were used for leisure, military, military reconnaissance and even psychological warfare. Some were even used to carry incendiary devices over enemy positions. The
first properly recorded use occurred during the siege of Venice in 1849 when Austrian military launched approx. 200 paper hot air balloons carrying small explosive payloads with time delayed fuses.

In World War 1 the Royal Flying Corps developed an experimental radio controlled “Aerial Target” as a guided weapon against Zeppelins. Though there are no records of them actually being used. The Americans built “The Kettering Bug” in 1918 as a flying Bomb with a mechanical guidance system before cutting
power and dropping its payload. Sounds Familiar- then look at the German V-1 “Buzz Bomb” or “Doodle Bug”. Reconnaissance drones like the American Ryan Firebee were designed in the Cold War.
Both are basically what is in use by the military with hugely more
sophisticated systems. For instance the Lockheed D21 , was a high Speed drone to be launched from a modified SR21 “Blackbird” to spy over the Soviet Union…But fitted to the SR21 – there were serious aerodynamic issues so was abandoned.

Military Drone technology has redefined defence strategies. As Global threats evolve, continued development ensures tactical superiority, minimises human risk, and improves operational intelligence shaping the future of conflict and global security dynamics. Drones have many more tasks they can and will perform…. Using real time control and live data streaming, they laid the groundwork for the military systems like the Predator and the Global Hawk, with the Israelis and Ukrainian’s being recognised for speedy and effective innovations. These days they are used by a wide variety of Industries, like Agriculture (crop
and pesticide spraying), land and plant growth surveying, construction and infrastructure - site inspection and tracking progress. Energy companies inspect pipelines and powerlines and wind turbines (being cheaper than manned helicopters).
Search and rescue – locating missing persons in difficult terrain or over the sea. Perhaps one day they could even rescue someone!
Delivery services (Amazon? UPS? Ziplane?) offering rapid, contactless delivery and even medicine delivery during pandemics or disasters. Climate Change Research. Drones could become an aerial Taxi. Wisk Aero, a subsidiary of Boeing, is looking to market their autonomous Gen6 air taxi by the end of the 2020’s, which will
be a 4-passenger aircraft, with a range of 72 nautical miles, flying at 120 knots.
Perhaps UBER would get involved?

The development of Drones is outpacing current Privacy and Surveillance issues. They can capture high resolution images, audio and thermal data at a distance, often undetected.
This raises serious privacy and civil liberties concerns, that
can easily breach personal boundaries without consent.

Cheers Howard.

26/02/2026

23/02/2026

MHAS in March is going Sci-Fi!
Not Star Wars but retired US Air Force Major Don Mobley is delivering a double header ( two for the price of one) with a dive into the history and future of Drones and the early days of NASA.
See you all on Friday 6th March!

22/02/2026

Often the accounts we share here are of tragic events marking the passing of a young pilot in combat or an accident. It is important to remember also that between combat missions the pilots and groundcrew of the units based at Martlesham Heath had a lot of downtime and would fill this in a number of ways; perhaps a trip into a local town or to the theatre or maybe to meet with a local girl with whom they had become acquainted.

A rather more light hearted event was recorded by 132 (Bombay) Squadron on 19 February 1943 which also involved personnel from Martlesham’s other resident units at that time, 198 Squadron, 277 Squadron (ASR) and 1488 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight.

The 132 Squadron Intelligence Officer takes up the story:

When news got around at Martlesham that 132 (Bombay) squadron were organising another Exercise Bombay, many others expressed a keen desire to join the fun. Pilots of the 182 (Typhoon) Squadron, 277 Air/Sea Rescue Squadron and 1488 Gunnery Flight, plus several F/Sgts of the ground crews, brought the total number of ‘escapers’ to 44.

The first party left the ‘drome at 1400 hours, February 19th, in a closed coach, followed half an hour later by the second batch. They were dropped in pairs in a wide flung area six miles from base, armed only with a pocket compass and 2d.

As pilots on the previous Exercise considered it “just too easy”, this time the hunt was fast and furious. Laid on by the Station Intelligence Officer, the country was infested by supplementary police patrols on bicycles, on foot, and in cars. The civilian populace had been warned by the police to be alert and co-operate, and the Home Guard were out in force, together with several hundred RAF Regiment personnel with armoured cars, “jeeps”, binoculars, bicycles and on foot. So energetic was the hunt that only eight of the 44 succeeded in making 132 dispersal without being caught.

Five minutes after the 132 Squadron I.O. returned with the first empty coach he was joined in dispersal at 1515 hours by F/Sgt Raeder (Norwegian) and Sgt Caulton (New Zealand), of 132 Squadron. Outside dispersal was a high-geared, high-seater Dodge tonner. The sergeants after evading a Home Guard immediately after being dropped acquired a truck in which the driver had conveniently left the ignition key. Driving away from the American Air Corps construction camp, they cheerfully saluted a Home Guard officer and a Policeman. It is understood that the language of the truck driver (the Sgt of the Guard) and the comments of his Commanding Officer, were equally remarkable – as were the smiles of the Master Sgt and his buddy who later collected the vehicle.

Another pair who successfully evaded capture were F/O Lowey and F/O Snowdon (182 Squadron). After an unsuccessful attempt to back an Austin 7 from a private garage, they commandeered a bakers van in the village of Grundisburgh. Abandoning the van on the ‘drome outskirts they crawled along a ditch and through the barbed wire of the northern boundary.

There were no repercussions re van, the owner and the driver being informed by a Police Inspector that they would be lucky to evade a prosecution.

P/O Calder (Australian) and F/O Vise, of 132 Squadron, attempted a take-off from Debach in a 3 ton lorry loaded with stones. But when taxiing on a sharp turn with flaps down the vehicle became bogged in mud up to the differential. After abandoning their lorry the pair were caught near Martlesham Creek where they were trapped in marshland by RAF. Regiment patrols who fired blanks.

Sgts. Coxhead and Bubes (182 Squadron) had a most successful sortie, penetrating the Aerodrome defences with 4 minutes to spare before the Exercise ended.

Another pair who successfully made base in reasonably good condition were F/O McMane (182 Squadron) and F/O Clearly (1488 GF), two Canadian’s who broke one rule by taking a bus ride on the main road before climbing through the barbed wire of the southern boundary. Seated in front of them on the bus was an unsuspecting RAF. Regiment type es**rting home a captured pilot.

After a hectic chase near the ‘drome four pilots F/O Burges and F/O Wooley D.F.C. (132 Squadron) and Sgts Castle and Hufton (182 Squadron) were captured by the police inspector, who trapped the first pair against Martlesham Creek, and the others in a sewage swamp. The four returned to dispersal in the inspectors car.

In the same neighbourhood S/Ldr Pugh and F/Lt Mariak (182 Squadron) were hounded down by RAF Regiment patrols after a hue and cry was raised by 5th column schoolchildren, of whom the S/Ldr nestling in a ditch of brambles took a poor view.

Early in the Exercise Sgts Trigg and Ellison (132 Squadron) were caught by a policeman co-operating with Home Guard and a truck. Sgt Trigg leant out of the lorry and made a getaway but was later rounded up by RAF Regiment patrols. After his escape Ellison was handcuffed to the policeman and taken to Otley police station. For some time the “Bobby” failed to locate his keys, but after this the lone Sgt Ellison was entertained to tea and cribbage until sent for.

Others caught by police patrols on bicycles included Sgts Rae, Swindlehurst, Dench and Weeks (132 Squadron), after they had been chased by farmers. They were handed over to an RAF Regiment armoured patrol.

F/Sgt Gilbert and Sgt Pullin (132 Squadron) were picked up by police and lodged in Grundisburgh Police Station from which they were bailed out by their Adjt. later in the day.
All the remainder were caught within a mile of the ‘drome either by R.A.F. Regt, or Home Guard patrols and es**rted to base in armoured cars.

LJ Gauleard F/O

Intelligence Officer No 132 Squadron

All sounds like rip roaring fun.........

15/02/2026

Tragedy at Levington, 13 February 1945

Mid-afternoon of the 13 February 1945 saw four 361st Fighter Squadron P-51 Mustangs take off from Martlesham for a routine training flight. Of the four young pilots, Lt Baylor, F/O Loffler, Lt Baskin and Lt Webb only three would return…..

Walter Malone Baskin was born on Christmas Day 1921 in the small town of Vaiden, Mississippi. He was the middle child of three and had an older brother, Jack and a younger sister Margaret. Walter grew up on Ashburn Plantation near Greenville, MS and attended Sterling High School. He spent a lot of time working on the family farm and enjoying life in a small rural town. After graduating from high school he travelled alone to Washington DC before returning to study as a medical student at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS.

Walter enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 22 July 1942 in Jackson, MS. After passing through the AAF Classification Centre at Nashville, TN in February 1943 he underwent training at Maxwell AFB, AL before being posted for Basic Pilot training to Ocala, FL in May 1943 and then Columbus, MS in July where he received his commission and graduated as a pilot in November 1943.

Following his commission as a 2nd Lt, Walter was assigned to the 34th Bomb Group at Blythe AFB, CA as a B-24 Liberator pilot. He remained there with the group until they received their orders to leave for the United Kingdom, arriving at Mendlesham on 26 April 1944

Walter Baskin flew his first mission with the 34th Bomb Group on 23 May 1944 as pilot of a B-24 Liberator, the group converted to the B-17 Flying Fortress in late August 1944 and by the end of October, Walter had flown a total of 40 missions with the group.

Towards the end of this period, Walter had put in a request for a transfer to a fighter unit but was not hopeful. It came as a surprise to him when On 31 October 1944 he has called to the Adjutant’s office at Mendlesham to be told that his transfer had come through and he was ordered to report to the 356th Fighter Group at Martlesham Heath without delay……

Lt Baskin was assigned to the 361st Fighter Squadron and arrived at Martlesham on 1 November 1944 at a time when the group were transitioning from the P-47 Thunderbolt to the P-51 Mustang. Therefore he only flew 14 hours in the P-47 before his first experience of a P-51 on 23 November 1944. On 29 November Walter flew his first combat mission which was a sweep deep into NE Germany. Missions then came thick and fast primarily es**rting bombers to targets such as Berlin, Munster and Hamburg.

On 15 December 1944 following an es**rt mission to Kassel, Walter suffered a mishap upon his return to Martlesham Heath. Upon landing the brakes froze on his Mustang 44-15642, QI-D and it nosed up, sliding around 100yds down the runway. Walter was unharmed but his Mustang required a new propellor and engine.

A month later, Walter flew an es**rt mission to Hannover and at 14:10 hours just south of the city, the squadron engaged a formation of 15 to 20 Focke Wulf 190’s. In the ensuing combat Walter was credited with the destruction of one of the FW190’s and another shared with Lt Ashby. In an interesting twist of fate, one of the bomber groups who were the intended target of the German fighter attacks was his old unit, the 34th Bomb Group.

By the middle of February, Walter had been awarded the DFC, Air Medal and 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, signifying the completion of at least 60 combat missions. He had amassed a total of 372.55 combat hours including 116.15 hours in the Mustang.

On 13 February 1945 he was scheduled to fly a routine training flight……….tragically, for 1st Lt Walter M Baskin the flight would be his last. The flight leader, 1st Lt Melvin W Baylor reported the tragic events that unfolded:

“At approximately 1615 hours, I saw Lt Baskin chasing a P-51. I was at 7500 feet. He pulled above me and stalled out while going up. The plane sliced off on a wing and ended up in a flat spin. It made approximately seven turns before it crashed into about three feet of water on the mud flats of the River Orwell, 2 miles West of Trimley St Mary, Suffolk. The cockpit burst into flames after it crashed.”

Lt Webb also provided an account:

“At 1615 hours Lt Baskin was chasing a P-51D from the 353rd Group and I was following on his tail. At 7000ft Lt Baskin, attempting to do an Immelman seemed to snap at the top of it and went into a flat spin to the right. The plane went down and hit in the mud flats of the River Orwell and burst into flames”.

Lt Walter M Baskin, age 23, was buried in the American Military Cemetery at Madingley, near Cambridge on 16 February 1945 and can be found in Plot C, Row 6, Grave 2.

We have a display cabinet in the MHAS Control Tower museum dedicated to Walter

07/02/2026

What a treat we had last night!

Possibly one of the most thoughtful and well researched and indeed heartfelt presentations we have received over recent years.
Kara Neave did not disappoint, and impressed the large audience which made the February meeting.
It's obvious that Kara is very passionate about sharing the story of these little known and spoken about, a group of pioneering women from the RAF who put themselves upon the firing line ( quite literally) to es**rt the wounded men from Normandy beaches back to Britain.

She told the personal story of three of the total 93 "Nightingales" as they would become known. These three pioneering women were selected to be the first and only women to be part of the RAF flight crew which flew supplies into the Normandy beachhead, and then flew the wounded out! This was sometimes to the dissatisfaction of their male colleagues!

By the 18th June 1944, all nightingales were operational upon RAF transport command Dakota transport aircraft.

Their service mattered, and many soldiers, sailors and airmen became thankful for their brave service, and their work under fire and in challenging circumstances. With one personal account, being that she was fired at by a sniper!

Kara has diligently researched and traced the living nightingales and really brought their personal stories to life, such as the challenges one nightingale faced when having to stop a casualty from choking in his own vomit when he became airsick. Experiencing airsickness herself she bravely and skillfully carried on regardless and never was a casualty lost in transit due to their injuries!

Kara also documented the airfields used for resupply and repatriation of the injured, and has obviously used her experiences within the military to research these places.

The whole presentation held the audience the entire evening and a rapturous applause was well deserved for a thoroughly enjoyable and informative evening, presented by possibly one of the most passionate presenters MHAS has had for a while.

Kara has a page called the "Flying Nightingales" and has also written several books upon the subject, and we would urge you all to take a look at it and if you would like to know more then purchase one of her books!

06/02/2026

Tonight's monthly meeting is a special one.
Kara Neave presents "The Flying nightingales".

31/01/2026

This Friday coming.