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Memories

Edward Walkey

Salterns was the Headquarters of 210 Squadron when based at RAF Hamworthy in 1943 under the control of Coastal Command -  and shared with Transport Command / BOAC.

210 Squadron had been re-equipped with Consolidated Catalina Flying Boats replacing Sunderlands, and became known as the Catalina Squadron. The Squadron moved from Pembroke Dock in Wales, switching with RAAF 461 Squadron (the Anzac Squadron) which had been at Poole from September 1942.  

Edward Walkey was on 210 Squadron at RAF Hamworthy (Poole) from 21st April to 31st December 1943 as a Member of the Groundcrew, with its responsibility for FB Maintenance and Security at the Sites … read Edward Walkey’s memories

Memories - Edward Walkey

‘Salterns HQs in WW2’ by Edward Walkey

Eric Le Jeune

How and why we moved to the UK in 1941

We left Lisbon by BOAC Empire C-Class Flying Boat G-AFCT Champion for Poole - England on January 14th 1941.  It was a six-hour journey with a wide detour via the Irish Sea to avoid being shot down by enemy fighters that now controlled France.  

We arrived at Poole Harbour in pitch darkness, and Annette made the memorable statement before the customs officers : “Oooh, isn’t England beautiful”.  Somewhat surprising, considering we had just left a city of brilliant lights, and were now in total wartime Blackout, but it must have pleased the Customs … read Eric Le Jeune’s account of wartime travels

Memories - Eric Le Jeune

Albert, Sità, Eric and Annette LE JEUNE, 1940

Patricia Miller, Brian Grinter, Ron Gubb & Gordon Reeves

Local residents recount memories of the golden age of flying boats in Poole

A feature article in the Daily Echo, 23rd February 2010 … read it online

Click here to read the article

Recalled: Golden age of flying boats at Poole

Searching for the family of ... Night Watchman Musselwhite

PFBC’s Babs Plumbridge is working on a project to seek out information about Night Watchman Musselwhite who survived the bombing of flying boat Guba in Poole Harbour in May 1941

On 22nd August 2011 Babs spoke with BBC Radio Solent about this project, but so far no information has been forthcoming.  Can you help?

To hear Babs’ interview please click the Radio Solent logo (below)

Click here to start the audio file of Babs' interview with Radio Solent

Interview 22nd August 2011

If you have any information for us, no matter how tenuous the connection, please email Babs at info@pooleflyingboats.com

Click here to view film clips of the first two C-Class Empire Flying Boats Canopus and Caledonia, Autumn 1936

British Pathé videos

Click here to view the PFBC video, kindly produced for us by Geoff Mason-Brown of Blue Light Media

View the PFBC video