Jean Batten CBE ‘Garbo of the Skies’ at Poole ...by Harry

Thanks to research on the ROF Creekmoor by David Warhurst

backed by info. from historical authorities out in New Zealand,

it has been confirmed that during WW2 the wonderful aviator

Jean Batten lived & worked in Poole, travelling to + fro to the

Royal Ordnance Factory No18 by train from Parkstone Station.

In the process of compiling my pdf for PFBC’s Archive,

I am very hopeful that somebody will be able to provide

the residential address for Jean’s influential mother Ellen

who had moved here & was joined by Jean during WW2.

Jean worked in Inspection of the machine guns produced

on the Waterloo site for about a year or more in 1942/3

~ where today this is currently Siemens by Sopers Lane.

Previously, in 1934 Jean had flown solo from England to

Australia in 14 days 22 hrs, in her 3rd attempt at beating

by over 4 days that record set in 1930 by Amy Johnson...

It is known that Jean was inspired by the famous aviator

Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, an Australian national hero

who made the first trans-Pacific flight from the USA to

Australia in 1928 + the first transcontinental flight there.

[Also trans-Pacific eastwards, and Australia to London.]

Apparently, she attended the Diner given in his honour,

after which she was taken for a flight, then learned to fly !

However, Jean had grown up with her love for aviation

from the time when she moved to Auckland as a young

child, especially for the Flying Boats, including those of

Walsh Bros Flying School training pilots at Mission Bay.

The time of Jean and her mother in UK was blighted by

Press interference & speculation about Jean’s romances.

This caused them to leave their Berkshire home & move

around, until Parkstone became their abode during WW2.

After her stint at the ROF which apparently she enjoyed,

Jean was next recruited to raise money for the war effort

~ before once again seeking greater anonymity postwar !

Today she is regarded as a great national hero out in NZ

+ should be recognised as part of Poole’s Great History.

Poole Flying Boats Celebration Charity No. 1123274

PFBC

PFBC Friends Newsletter: Spring 2012

www.pooleflyingboats.com ( THE PICK A BACK PAIR in colour )

The Friends of PFBC, with the Trustees of the Charity thank

everyone who have supported us in 2011, and now send our

collective v. best wishes for this year, together with a special

welcome to those who recently joined our growing numbers.

And please be aware that we look forward to receiving your

news & views about we what do, inc. our aims + objectives.

At present we are conducting reviews about various matters,

especially our Revenue Streams to support growth of PFBC.

The Friends are also planning initiatives to raise more funds

as we are all now greatly benefitting from the Office facilities:

These have developed since its inception to match potential !

In particular, the Friends Library Collection is being well-used

and it prospected that this should have a regular opening slot

if a Friend is happy to take this responsibility for just a 2-hour

session one morning-a-week, 10am~12: So please Volunteer !

There is an excellent, wide-range of titles for loan /reference.

Rental + outgoings for the Office are approx £1,500 per year

and PFBC would be delighted if a Business, or an Individual

will be prepared to cover this by way of sponsorship /donation:

THE

PICK

A

BACK

PAIR

©

Sponsorship from a Company, or from an Individual is welcome for PFBC’s Office

Pictured alongside her Percival D.3 Gull Six,

which was ‘impressed’

by the RAF, though her offer to train new pilots

was sadly declined…!

Did Jean’s interest in

Flying Boats influence the choice of Poole as

a WW2 seaside home ?

Jean Batten &

her G-ADPR

Commodore: Ken Sanson V Commodore: Harry Alexander

Flight Officers: Bertie Bowman

Flag Officers: Aimée Alexander

Babs Plumbridge

*Also now with* Stephen Macey

… and with support from Brian Galpin, Terry Mobley and David Seymour ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hon. Comm, Air: David Mauleverer

Hon. President: Jeremy Waters

Hon. Vice Pres: Leslie Dawson, June Topham, Adrian Borrill,

Douglas Cook OBE, Colin Cruddas, Norman Hull,

Mike Phipp, Vic Pitcher, Colin Pomeroy & John Witcomb

also including Ian Andrews (who Represents our HLMs) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

i/c Friends: Bertie Bowman and Coordinator: Thelma Cooper

ALL CONTACTS PLEASE

Poole Flying Boats Celebration

For the attention of:- - - - - - - -

Parkstone Library Buildings

1 Britannia Road Parkstone

Poole Dorset BH14 8AZ

For membership of Friends… and renewals contact Bertie Bowman.

For bookings of tickets for PFBC Celebrations contact Ken Sanson,

and all other general enquiries - PFBC’s Office new reg’d. address. PFBC Email: info@pooleflyingboats.com

PFBC Website: www.pooleflyingboats.com

and please mark clearly who you are contacting…

This now includes PFBC’s

Stephen Macey who’s joined

the ranks of our Trustees in

the realm of public relations

and various other capacities

In return the Office could carry a Name dedicated accordingly

if this is desired by the organisation /person willing to help us.

At this point, it is relevant to mention that Princecroft Willis

whose Logo is on our Website, give vital support by covering

Accountancy costs: Thanks to Messrs. Aldridge & Smuland.

Also, that we are grateful to John Butterworth of FJB Hotels

for continued support, in providing a room for our meetings !

Please read on for details of our Spotlight on Hamworthy and

Special Anniversaries which are variously being Celebrated...

The 75th. Anniversary Year of the Empire C-Class which PFBC

Launched at the RMYC on 6th. October continues during 2012.

To mark this there is a special Celebratory Booklet Empire Air

published by PFBC, with limited nos. available at £10 (+ p&p).

So please email Aimee asap to ensure that you will have a copy aimee@pooleflyingboats.com

There is a Companion to Empire Air (which enjoys great reviews)

this is at the printer’s, so both

booklets can be ordered together

with just one minimal charge for

p&p. This title is Cats Aweigh

which also highlights references

to Poole in telling the history of

significant FBs of Consolidated

AC (or under licence), especially

Guba; the Catalinas viz those at

Poole - inc. a set of BOAC Cats

which next served on the Double

Sunrise Route; Cats of the RAAF

where some featured for civil air

postwar; + also Capt. P.G Taylor.

Patron: Lady Nadine Cobham

Trustees of PFBC with various Invitees to Meetings mostly convened on a monthly-basis

2012 as the 70th. Anniversary year of RAF Hamworthy

The construction of RAF Hamworthy was conceived in 1942

at some point yet to be fully determined (subject to research).

Likewise the formation of RAAF Flying Boat Squadron 461

occurred in the middle of WW2 - initially under the aegis of

RAAF 10 Squadron stationed at RAF Mountbatten, Plymouth.

Thereafter popularly becoming known as The Anzac Squadron

due the official date of 25th. April: 461 lasted just three years.

The impetus for 461 & for RAF Hamworthy was increasing

significance of RAF Coastal Command and Biscay Patrols !

Discussion & argument concerned congested Poole Harbour.

Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferte who headed Coastal Command

knew the area well, esp. as he had a home near Canford Cliffs.

[From time-to-time a Pilot would puzzle about how he knew

of a less than perfect approach on landing; with reprimand!]

After land was requisitioned along Lake Shore, building work

took place so that the rudiments of an RAF Poole appeared in

August, and was renamed within a week as RAF Hamworthy,

as RAF Transport Command complained about that selection !

A forward party arrived, and the base was ready by September,

but even in this transition period Sunderland T9113 was lost...

and soon T9085 with 11 crew failed to return to Hamworthy.

With just the Slipway, the Hardstanding Area and a Marquee

various buildings around the Lake Estate were requisitioned

for Station Units as offices, a mess, storage and arms bunkers.

Then also a guard house and a control tower were developed,

with a NAAFI, field tents & a field kitchen for the personnel.

The Station HQs were at Salterns & more offices in Parkstone;

with Officers’ Quarters at Harbour Court, and their Mess at

Harbour Heights Hotel; + Sick Bay at Folly Cottage, Lilliput !

The difficult conditions experienced by 461 had improved a

little by the time that 210 Squadron arrived as the replacement.

However, service was still v. fraught with dangers for Patrols

- viz the loss of FP232/P with all 10 aircrew on 13/14th. June,

and FP287/E after training on 24th. Aug. when 8 were killed.

PFBC will tell this History in full, & acknowledge those lost.

The Dragon Route opened by Hythe Class G-AGHW Hamilton

for Flying Boats only lasted a few years, but was a significant

achievement for postwar Britain in a period of tough austerity.

Those who were lucky enough to travel this, remember it with

great affection, which included ten fascinating stops en route:~

Singapore being the junction with the

famous Kangaroo Route to Australia.

Just before the Flying Boats relocated

to Southampton + BOAC’s Berth 50,

the DR was extended from Hong Kong

to the Allies’ Base of Iwakuni in Japan.

With the flight of G-AGHW from Poole

history was in making, also there was

another v. significant parallel storyline

with one of the pilots being BOAC’s

Capt. John Lobley, who when on 210

Squadron based at RAF Hamworthy in

1943, as Squadron Leader, took over

Command of the station from 5th. July.

PFBC Friends’ Spotlight on Hamworthy throughout 2012 !

Following PFBC’s successful sojourn at Hamworthy’s Library

in the 2nd. week in November, our spotlight is now focussed !

This commences in 2012 with a very special occasion & venue

in the excellent modern Community Room which is adjacent…

Remember to now BOOK YOUR

TICKET(S) for

Celebrity Chef’s

Demonstration

followed by Your Chinese Meal

there is alternatively a Vegetarian Option:

please order asap

Clearly State your

Choice and Address

and bring your own

bottle /drink or

orange juice /squash

available

Please make cheques

payable to ‘PFBC’

Poole Flying Boats

Celebration

Post To: PFBC

@ Parkstone Library

No.1 Britannia Road

Ashley Cross

Poole BH14 8AZ * with SAE for Receipt

Also, with the Chinese New Year of The Dragon coordinating

with the 65th. Anniversary Year of the inauguration of BOAC

Poole’s Dragon Route by Flying Boat to Hong Kong (1946-48),

it is certainly an opportunity not to be missed for Celebration !

So it is the Friends’ intention to enjoy our memorable evening

in the focal point of Hamworthy, and to reach out to Hamside

Residents who are rightly proud of their Flying Boat History...

As OQZC riding out a Poole Harbour gale when moored off Salterns

Below: G-AGHW previously OQZC under the aegis of RAF Transport Command with BOAC

The Squadron Badges & Mottos:

461 They Shall Not Pass Unseen RAF Hamworthy from 31st. Aug. 1942

210 Yn Y Nwyfre Yn Hedfan ~ Hovering in the Heavens RAF Hamworthy from 31st. Mar. 1943

up until the end of that year

Please note: So far Research has been

unable to locate a ‘Station Badge’ for

RAF Hamworthy in use during this era

When he had transferred from the RAF,

BOAC was grateful to have recruited

a charismatic and experienced Captain

with valuable local knowledge of Poole.

After his distinguished flying career, in

retirement John was held in esteem by

fellow members /yachties at the RMYC,

as were various of his Poole Comrades.

At Salterns HQ