Wartime base reunion planned

3:41pm Tuesday 1st April 2008

THE RAF St Eval Friends Reunited Association would like to contact all ex RAF St Eval personnel to invite them our next reunion at the Trebarwith Hotel, Newquay In October 2008.

All members will receive a newsletter in July to keep them up to date with the latest St Eval news.

For further details please contact Bob 01303-892559, Graham 11179-762547, or Dave 01202-729762.

RAF St Eval was situated about nine miles from Newquay and near some of the finest bay's in Cornwall - Water Gate Bay, Mawgan Porth, along the rugged Cornish coast line.

The airfield was completed in 1939 with the demolishment of the nine house hamlet of St Eval and the public house, the Spry Arms, which was situated in the middle of where the new runway was to be built.

The first squadron to arrive was the 217 which had Anson aircraft.

It soon became one of the largest operational stations under the control of 19 Group Mountbatten, Plymouth. Almost 1,000 RAF personnel were killed while serving at RAF St Eval during World War Two.

The airfield was closed In 1959 and today St Eval is a very tranquil place not like the wartime days with the Norman church of St Eval still dominating the Cornish coastline. In the churchyard Is a poignant reminder of the past, where many brave RAF personnel are buried.

David Lockyer

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