Kenneth Bannerman’s Decades-Long Commitment to Commemorating Britain’s Airfields

Today, most nine-year-old boys aspire to become footballers or professional gamers. How did a family holiday in Norfolk lead Kenneth Bannerman to dedicate decades to networking with veterans, politicians, and royalty in order to celebrate forgotten airfields across the UK? Mr. Bannerman recounts that his encounter with Langham airfield, near Blakeney Point, occurred by chance in 1973. His father had been stationed there in the 1950s, and a spontaneous decision for a nostalgic visit before the family went out for dinner resulted in the younger Bannerman’s first airfield experience. Approximately 20 different squadrons were based at the site during World War Two, but three decades later, the Bannermans found it being used for poultry farming with minimal features indicating its past as an old base. Kenneth stated, “I more or less instinctively realised how incredibly important our airfields are but also how terribly badly they, and the personnel associated with them, were being treated.” He mentioned having likely visited around 2,000 airfields or former airfield locations since then, and during one trip, he witnessed a veteran in tears over the condition a former base had been left in. This experience further solidified his determination to “right the wrongs” and ensure airfields received recognition. However, it was not until 2006 that he established the Airfields Of Britain Conservation Trust (ABCT). Since its founding, he and his small team have installed 235 memorials at sites throughout the UK. The initial marker was erected at Fambridge in Essex in 2009, a location believed to be Britain’s earliest airfield. In 2016, the late Duke of Edinburgh assisted in unveiling a memorial at a disused airfield in Berkshire, partly because he was the last person to officially fly from it. Mr. Bannerman remarked: “These places have won wars, saved lives, helped people and revolutionised every day society in an incredible variety of ways.” This week, markers are being placed on the former sites of Fersfield and Pulham airfields in Norfolk. Fersfield became particularly known for Operation Aphrodite, during which Boeing B-17s were filled with high explosives and converted into radio-controlled flying bombs. Joseph Kennedy, the brother of future US President John F. Kennedy, died during this mission. Meanwhile, RNAS Pulham was recognized for its airships, which patrolled the North Sea, safeguarding shipping from German U-boats. The trust aims to mark every airfield in Britain; while many are still utilized by the Royal Air Force, a significant number are owned by various organizations or private companies. Identifying the precise locations of all airfields also poses a challenge, as many were kept secret to provide the Allies with a tactical advantage. Decoy airfields, which were established with dummy aircraft and mock fuel stores to trick the Luftwaffe into bombing them instead of actual operational airfields, are also being acknowledged. So far in 2024, approximately 14 markers have been unveiled, with Mr. Bannerman describing the demand for memorials as “incredible.” He commented, “It is just really interesting to meet the people who normally turn up to the memorial unveilings.” The ABCT also works to help prevent airfields from being closed or damaged. Last year, it assisted in stopping plans to relocate the grave of the black labrador that served as the Dambusters’ mascot. Mr. Bannerman stated that airfields have been profoundly significant for employment, boosting local economies, and shaping local communities. He remarked, “Contrary to what some people might think, [airfields] are more popular than you think.” He added, “In our every day lives, we just simply cannot afford to lose these places.” News from the East of England is available on X, Instagram, and Facebook via BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire, or BBC Suffolk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.