RAF Tempsford SOE Airfield visit.

[PADDY]

Cycled from St Neots in Cambridgeshire to the old airfield at Tempsford, Bedfordshire (UK) where SOE Agents were flown into enemy occupied Europe during WWII. Part of the runway remains, as does the barn where agents such as Violet Szabo were issued with their equipment prior to their mission (she was captured in France, tortured by Gestapo and executed at Ravensbrück Prison 3 months before the war ended.).
The covert Lysander planes would drop them off at prearranged RVs during the night and for many, this small airstrip in England was the last they'd see of th is land alive.
A very poignant place and worth the trek across the farmland to get to. The barn remains as a memorial to these brave volunteers who worked permanently under the threat of dscovery, torture & death.

 

[PADDY]

A few more...

 

[Lee Hutch]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Stearmen]

Here is a link to the airfield. http://www.tempsford.20m.com/home.html What has always amazed me is, they also used big old Lockheed Hudson bombers to insert and pick up agents!