Bracknell Air Cadets believe they have found a secret airfield that was used during World War Two.
The Squadron Airfield Archaeology project lead by Civilian Instructor Stephen Clark has uncovered new evidence which suggests that an area of woodland in Ascot was once a runway used for a covert operation and that their was even once an “RAF Ascot”.
Civilian Instructor Stephen Clark, who is overseeing the investigation, said: “I am totally convinced the site was a secret airfield. Around Ascot is a big aviation area with a lot of military history but seemingly with no airfield, but now we think we have found it.”
The squadron recently discovered that a mid-air collision near to the airfield happened on December 28, 1942, between a Tiger Moth training plane from RAF Smiths Lawn and a L4B aircraft in which both pilots unfortunately died. CI Clark continues “The only reason that the Tiger Moth would have crossed the path of the L4B is if the pilot didn’t know that the runway in Ascot existed. “We have also excavated parts of an aircraft from the site that are painted in cockpit green and the only reason you would paint an aircraft that colour is if you didn’t want it to be seen.”
This investigation is the latest in a line of in depth projects for the team who have travelled as far as Cornwall and the New Forest to investigate known and potential airfields.