Exeter Airport

We had a tour of Exeter Airport today, organised by our favourite society- the Curious Club - who have taken us behind the scenes in many places. Exeter Airport was first opened on 31st May 1937. It operated from a “tented” terminal before the permanent buildings were complete and the first airliner to use the airport was a Jersey Airways DH 86. It was greeted by the Mayor of Exeter, Alfred Anstey. The Mayor and civic leaders were then given a flight over the city. During the Second World War it was a base  for RAF Exeter, and for fighter pilots from the UK, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Poland.
During the Battle of Britain in 1940, 22 fighter pilots from RAF Exeter were killed. Outside the airport there is a memorial statue, see above.
The memorial was based on a mission in August 1940 when out of the 14 Hurricane fighters scrambled, four planes were lost with the death of three pilots.
The bronze statue depicts a pilot looking up at the sky and wondering how many crews will return.
It was a very interesting visit. The view from the control tower was stunning. See EXTRA.