Dunkeswell Airfield

Operation Sados - 16th October 2004

A revolutionary group, based in the South West are attempting to set up the Somerset and Devon Opposition State (Sados).

Intelligence so far shows that preparation in some areas, particularly in that part of the country to the North, East and West of Dunkeswell Airfield are at a relatively advanced state and may involve the installation of defensive, communication and observation points. It is thought that these points may be used to defend themselves from the forces of the legitimate government. They may also be used to base an attack upon the areas to the East of the country which is partially under the control of Sado.

The Fleet Air Arm Squadron has been tasked with utilising the intelligence so far gained about the Sado preparations, to survey all known and listed suspicious points and report back to the temporary base set up by the legitimate government on the former WW2 airfield at Dunkeswell.

Little is known about this far flung region of the United Kingdom and the government places great reliance on The Squadron to further its knowledge and add to the sparse intelligence already gleaned . To this end an aerial reconnaissance will be carried out during the morning of 16th October to gather more information. It is anticipated that not all the required details can be obtained from the air and some reliance on personal initiative may be needed. To this end discreet enquiries should be addressed to the personnel manning the DFS and the Dunkeswell Air centre, who are thought to be loyal to the government.

Such importance is attached to this operation that the Government has indicated that it is prepared to offer certain awards to members of the Squadron who are of the greatest assistance in it’s tactical preparations. Such, however, is the parlous state of the government finances that the squadron members are being asked to make a contribution to the expense which this operation will entail.Please do your best to assist in this vitally important Tactical Reconnaisance.

Thus was the first announcement sent out to all FAAS members in the September edition of Buzz.

The response was gratifying and despite some weather problems, ten aircraft made it to Dunkeswell on the day, nine of which took part in the exercise. The ‘Flying Lawyers’, introduced to us by ex Member James Crick, did their best to join in and by 1st October we had a potential eighteen starters – probably a Squadron record for any airborne event.

Come the day, we had one pilot ill, one stuck with his yacht in Spain and one with u/s aircraft. Six others were ‘the wrong side of the front’ and although a few tried, none of the six could get through to Dunkeswell. Despite that we had an excellent turnout of thirty-one, with some six ’flying lawyers’ and a few members who came by road.

Each crew was provided with a map with a marked route and a number of questions to resolve- varying from very easy to quite difficult - in a 45-50 minute flight around Devon and Somerset. First prize went to Edward Tate and Nod Nayland in their Auster from Middle Wallop and runners up were Tony Ashmead with John Hart – an ex submariner on his first light aircraft flight (in the lovely Ashmead Pulsar), and Nigel and Alison de Candole in their Jodel.

On arrival all joined in a spot landing competition which was won by Ron Dobrée-Carey in his Kittiwake, - right on the spot, with Mike Ryan and Doc Holliday in the Tobago , second by just a yard but judged to have ‘caught a wire’.

Dunkeswell Air Centre gave us freely of their facilities for briefing and debriefing and supplied us with an excellent hot lunch so it may be that we may use the venue for another event.

Report by Pat Mountain