RAF
Tempsford publications
Following the
evacuation of British and allied troops from Dunkirk in 1940 Winston Churchill,
Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, put in place a long-term plan to invade France.
The Special Operations Executive was set up – a TOP SECRET organisation to
support resistance groups in occupied Europe with arms, ammunition, food,
medical equipment, training, targets to attack and people to assassinate. The
main airfield they were flown out from was RAF Tempsford, Mid-Bedfordshire. It
was designed by an illusionist. The locals never knew what went on there. They
weren’t meant to. Many of those involved signed the Officials Secrets Act and
for the rest of their lives never divulged what went on. Some did. My years of
research can now reveal all – well – most of its history.
A brief overview of RAF Tempsford Suggested reading Tempsford Airfield links
RAF Tempsford: Bedfordshire’s Top Secret Airfield
during World War Two
Its
construction, 138 Squadron, 161 Squadron, ground crew, their airplanes, top
secret missions, agents, preparation, accidents, the Americans at Tempsford,
the airfield since the war and some of the requisitioned local ‘Stately ‘Omes
of England - Hasells Hall, Gaynes Hall, Woodbury Hall, Tempsford Hall, Tetworth
Hall
The Women of RAF Tempsford: Bedfordshire’s Top Secret
Airfield during World War Two
An
investigation of the women and girls associated directly and indirectly –
catering staff, WAAF, FANY, WVS as well as the more than fifty sent out on TOP
SECRET missions into occupied Europe, a number to their deaths
An historical
faction of a woman trained as a secret agent by the Special Operations
Executive and flown out of RAF Tempsford to work with the resistance in
occupied France, her arrest, interrogation, torture, escape and return to
‘Blighty’ followed by a second mission to help ensure the D-Day plans for
southwest France take place.
An investigation
of the lives of some remarkable women involved with the resistance in occupied
Belgium and several who got out of Belgium during the war yet volunteered to be
sent back. Between 4th – 6th August 1944 three women were
flown out, probably from RAF Tempsford, on top secret missions before the
Allied invasion of Belgium. Sabotage, prostitution, alcohol, drugs, propaganda
and attempts to rescue aristocracy all feature in this story told for the first
time.
Currently in
the wings. Contact the author to express interest.