Our History

Inside Bircham Newton: Preserving an RAF Legacy

In this episode of the Fighting High podcast, Steve Darlow visits the RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre in Norfolk to meet Jamie Heffer, Chairman of Trustees.

Steve first met Jamie at the July launch of Melody Foreman's book Love as Strong as Death at IWM Duxford, and Jamie subsequently invited him to Bircham Newton to record this podcast.

Bircham Newton has a remarkable RAF history, stretching from the First World War through the inter-war years and into the Second World War. Jamie explains its important role with Coastal Command, including the British, Canadian, Dutch and Fleet Air Arm squadrons that served there.

The conversation also explores the human cost of operations from Bircham Newton, including the station’s Roll of Honour, which records 541 wartime deaths, and the personal stories preserved by the Heritage Centre.

Steve and Jamie also examine some fascinating original photographs, logbooks and memorabilia.

Photographs of items discussed in the podcast can be viewed on the Fighting High website -

https://fightinghigh.com/blogs/news/raf-bircham-newton-podcast-images

Their Story

Spitfire Evader with Tom Hannam

For Tom Hannam, becoming a fighter pilot was a childhood dream. After training in the United States, he returned to Britain and joined 222 (Natal) Squadron, flying Spitfire Vs.

On 27 September 1943, Tom’s Spitfire was hit by a Luftwaffe fighter during an operation over France. Unable to make it back across the Channel, he turned towards the French coast and bailed out behind enemy lines.

What followed was an extraordinary escape. With the help of courageous French civilians and members of the Resistance, Tom moved through occupied France, travelling from Normandy to Paris and Lyon before reaching Perpignan. He then crossed the Pyrenees on foot in winter conditions, eventually reaching Spain and the safety of the British Embassy in Barcelona.

In his own words, Tom recalls the danger, ingenuity and sheer luck that enabled him to evade capture and return to the UK on Christmas Eve 1943.

Hangar Talk

Anson Reborn - Restoring a Wartime Legend

In this Hangar Talk episode of the Fighting High podcast, Steve Darlow speaks to New Zealand businessman and aviation enthusiast Bill Reid about the extraordinary restoration of Avro Anson Mk.I MH120.

Known affectionately as ‘Gentle Annie’, the aircraft was discovered in Australia in a heavily modified and neglected condition. What Bill initially imagined might be a three-to-five-year project ultimately became a ten-year labour of love, involving painstaking research, the recovery of rare components and the efforts of more than 100 people.

Bill describes the challenges of recreating a wartime Anson, including finding original-style cowlings, Fairey Reed propellers, a gun turret and suitable Cheetah engines. He also recalls the excitement of the aircraft’s first flight in 2012, its remarkable reception at airshows, and the emotional connection it provides to the thousands of aircrew who trained in Ansons during the Second World War.

Now flying in Europe under the auspices of RAF Station Czechoslovakia, MH120 continues to bring that history to life.

(The image of Anson MH120 in the podcast graphic is credited to Gavin Conroy)