Kennet Valley TR Group join Chiltern, Windsor Forest & Vale of White Horse at RAF Benson Family Day
Kennet Valley TR Group joined Chiltern, Windsor Forest & Vale of White Horse at RAF Benson Family and their celebrations of RAF100 on Thursday 26th July, probably the last of the scorching hot days of July.
RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire is a support helicopter main operating base working within the Joint Helicopter Command. RAF Benson is home to two front-line Puma HC2 helicopter squadrons, and one Operational Conversion Unit, flying a mix of Puma HC2 and Chinook HC4 helicopters. RAF Benson is also home to the civilian National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance which operate 24 hours a day. Here's some info on their Station Badge.
Let us be known by our actions
The Station Badge, granted in 1955, depicts a red lion rampant on a gold scallop. The lion signifies that the Station was built on the Manor of Bensington that once belonged to the Royal Duchy of Cornwall. The scallop is the traditional emblem of medieval pilgrims and symbolises the mobility of the service.
Whilst KVG, WFTR & VoWH displayed in the hanger with the Puma HC2's, Chiltern Group exhibited outside in the sunshine next to the Jaguars, so the TR Register had a superb display of TR's for RAF families and visitors alike, and many TR Action back copies and membership forms were taken by visitors.
That's not a Chinook!!!
There were hundreds of classics of many marques on display (See Morgan & Aston Martin) as well as trade stalls and steam engines, including this recently full nut and bolt restore and probably the most expensive steam engine in the country, the fabulous Showman Engine.
After lunch, the RAF laid on a superb air display with helicopter's displaying their agility and WW2 and modern planes skilfully going through there paces in the summer sky.
"I want one!!!"
It was a very busy show and of course the Ice Cream vans had endless queues all day and the stall did a very good trade especially the RAF benevolent.
This is a super event, well worth taking day off work to attend!