Gone but not Forgotten. (Control Tower)

            RAF Tangmere, West Sussex England

Situated 3 miles from the South coast of England, this land was a former RAF fighter base of 11 Group which defended our skies during the Battle of Britain.
The Control Tower built in 1944 replaces an earlier tower destroyed during the Battle of Britain.
On the 16th August 1940 the station was attacked by German aircraft and Tangmere sustained severe damage destroying 2 hangars and several other buildings, 13 people lost their lives.
The base was home to legendary Douglas Bader who on 18th March 1940 was promoted to acting Wing Commander and became one of the 1st Wing Leaders with 145, 610 and 616 squadrons flying spitfire aircraft.
RAF Tangmere was also home to Spitfire ace Johnnie Johnson the RAF's most successful fighter ace during WW II.

The SOE (Special Operation Executive) also used RAF Tangmere as the base to fly resistance/secret agents to France to carry out sabotage missions against the Germans.
Violett Szabo "Bravest women of the war" flew from here on the mission which sadly she never returned executed in Ravensbruck concentration camp aged 23 on the 5th February 1945.
For her bravery she was awarded the:-

George Cross 1946
Croix de guerre avec étoile de bronze   by the French government in 1947.
Médaille de la Resistance in 1973.

In 1956 her exploits were dramatised by the film "Carve her name with Pride" played by Virginia McKenna.

HRH Prince Charles (10-09-2022 King Charles III) learnt to fly from Tangmere in 1968 but in 1970 the base was closed.
This control tower is the only building left as a reminder to the events carried out from this former Battle of Britain RAF airfield.

"Rest in peace to all those Men/Women of the United Kingdom/ Allies and Commonwealth that gave there lives during WW II."

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.  
   

Taken in: UK / England / Chichester District / Tangmere (show map)

Taken on: September 25, 2021

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