Memorial unveiled to WWII base
TO many people Stormy Down near Porthcawl is remembered only for the market and car boot sale that was held there for decades.
But now it has finally received recognition for the vital role it played in World War II.
Between 1939 and 1945 it was an RAF air base which trained more than 10,000 Allied air crew who went on to serve with RAF Bomber Command or RAF Coastal Command, with some paying the ultimate price.
A total of 53 air crew were also lost at Stormy Down, including men from Britain, Poland, Canada and New Zealand.
Yesterday, a memorial stone to all those who served there was unveiled at a special dedication service attended by dignitaries including Air Commodore David Williams, Air Officer for Wales, the Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan Kate Thomas, First Minister Carwyn Jones and Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns.
A Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight carried out a spectacular fly past, as did the Red Arrows.
Addressing the 500-strong crowd Ceri Joseph, secretary of Porthcawl Museum – which has been instrumental in researching the site’s history – said the service “is the culmination of a lot of hard work, ingenuity, tenacity and incredible support from all the many people involved”.
She said it was long-term friend of the museum, Ken Picton, who had contacted them two years ago to propose a memorial.
He also met Martin Popham of Cenin Renewables, which now owns Parc Stormy, but neither felt they had the expertise to make it a reality.
Then retired Flight Lieutenant Robert Taylor, RAF Volunteer Reserve, who is also a member of the museum, took on the mammoth task of researching RAF Stormy Down’s history with his wife Ann.
Their work is now on display in a special exhibition at the museum.
“We have at last re-established the significant contribution that RAF Stormy Down made in the Second World War,” said Ceri.
“Alongside the many RAF bases throughout Britain in WWII, RAF Stormy Down certainly played its part in securing our country’s freedom. Forever, we will remember them.”
As well as training 7,000 air gunners, RAF Stormy Down also trained 400 air observers, bomb aimers, 2,000 flight engineers from St Athan completed a short ground gunnery course at the location, and pilots from the Fleet Air Arm underwent the armament phase of their advanced training, together with bombing and gunnery training before qualifying for their wings.
A ground armament school also trained 1,800 RAF and WAAF armourers, as well as several hundred sailors destined to become Telegraphist Air Gunners with the Fleet Air Arm.
Towards the end of the war, when it ceased to be a flying station, it became a Free French Air Force depot for the air force and navy air arm.
Sunday’s service was also attended by Wing Commander Lisa D’Olivera, from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, who visited Nottage Cemetery in Porthcawl.
Accompanied by Robert Taylor and Father Philip Masson, she placed a wreath on the grave of Flight Sgt T W Shrimpton of the RNZAF, who was among those who died at Stormy Down. The technical trainees from RAF St Athan also attended the dedication at Parc Stormy, as did three Welsh Wing RAF cadets.