The big skies above Bempton Cliffs are full of the cries of kittewakes, gannets and gulls right now.

But there was a time they were buzzing with the sound of aircraft.      

RAF Bempton was a key location for spotting enemy planes during the war years.  It first saw action in 1939 and functioned as a radar station until 1945.  In the 50s, it became home to 146 Signals Unit under the auspices of Fighter Command and remained operational until the early 1960s.

To commemorate the men and women who served here, three ex-RAF 'boys in blue' came to talk to assistant warden Dave Aitken about placing a memorial bench on the reserve.

Tom, George and Norman regailed us with tales of their ex-comrades and of a time when the blue tiles of the village pub had to be 'blacked out' to avoid enemy aircraft using it as a landmark.  Their cheeky banter with one another still had a ring of the barrack room.

Their annual re-union will take place in Bridlington in July, which is when the bench will be officially unveiled.   But before then, the boys will be back to finalise details and make sure that we don't forget this important part of the history of the cliffs.

 

Further information on RAF Bempton can be found at:  wwwrafbempton.toucansurf.com

  Tom Mayfield, George Hepworth and Norman Furnace - the boys in blue from 146 Signals Unit, RAF Bempton.