News Scouts’ quiz


TABLES for the popular quiz night at Egerton Village Hall are selling fast.


The event, on Saturday October


14, is in aid of Headcorn Scouts. Teams of six are required, at a cost of £9 per head, which includes a meal. The first question will be fired at 7.30pm. Call Kevin Harper on 01233 756659 or email kevin- harper623@btinternet.com to re- serve your table.


Traders talk


FORMER firms in Maidstone will be the subject of an illustrated talk at Headcorn Methodist Hall on Wednesday, September 27. Companies including Sharps Toffees, the breweries and Clarke’s furnishers will be among those fea- tured in Andrew Clarke’s two-part presentation for Headcorn Local History Society. All arewelcome. The talk starts at 7.30pm.


Garden show


HEADCORN Gardeners’ Society stages its autumn show at the vil- lage hall (Andred Hall) from 2pm on Saturday, September 16. As well as the exhibits, refresh-


ments and plants will be on sale. Entry is free.


downsmail.co.uk


Pilot George reunited with a WWII Spitfire


DELIGHTED crowds enjoyed a chance to attend Kent’s only mili- tary vehicle and air show at Head- corn. The Combined Ops Military and


Air Show on August 19 and 20 in- cluded 100 trade stands, living his- tory displays and more than 350 military vehicles. Visitors were also treated to aer-


ial displays by the RAF MK XIX Spitfire and a Chinook, with more than 200 take-offs and landings over the weekend. Ninety-four-year-old George


Harris DFC, an ex-Lancaster bomber pilot with Squadron 101, was among those to attend on Sat- urday. He was a flight lieutenant during WWII, based at Ludford Magna in Lincolnshire. His 101 squadron was a special


duties outfit involved in spoofing the German defence network. By coincidence, the Spitfire “Eliz- abeth” taking part in the display had escorted George (pictured cen- tre with his family) and his crew on one of their missions. Organisers are now trying to


make George’s hope of sitting in a Spitfire become a reality. The Band of the Army Air Corps


also took part, with a display by The Tigers, from the Kent-based Princess ofWales’ Royal Regiment Parachute. The site of the aerodrome has a


strong link to the pilots and aircraft of WWII, after the Airfields Board requisitioned Shenley Farm in 1942. The board used rubble from the damage left by the Blitz to fill in


ponds where the runway now stands, while tracking and coconut matting, held down with steel spikes, were used to make it fit for purpose in allweathers. The Royal Canadian Air Force


were the first to move onto the site in 1943, with two Spitfire-flying squadrons. At one point, 3,000 ground crew supporting 70 aircraft were based there. Next year’s event will be held on August 18 and 19.


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Maidstone Weald September 2017


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