Now established 42 years providing for aviation enthusiasts in the Gatwick area.

A monthly magazine Hawkeye is available to all subscribing members which features the latest Gatwick News including Airline fleets, routes, schedules and visitor log together with broader topics such as World Air News, UK aerodromes, Foreign Reports, the British Register and topical Internet information. Other activities include regular slide shows, an annual International Enthusiasts Fair and aviation publications.

This excellent aerial shot of RAF Gatwick was taken on 26th April 1944 by Flying Officer B.F.N.Rachinger RAAF while flying Mustang IA FD552 coded ‘N'. He was engaged on a low level cross country training flight accompanied by FO R.Spooner in another Mustang while attached to 268 Squadron, Gatwick based at the time.

The sortie involved taking a number of practice photographs, and he finished off his training flight by returning to the circuit and taking this photo looking northwards towards the old racecourse and the 130 Airfield camp.

Basil Rachinger survived the war, leaving 268 Squadron in October 1944 after the invasion of Europe he joined 41 OTU as an instructor at Hawarden on Harvards, Hurricanes and Spitfires, was awarded the DFC, and was repatriated to Australia in July 1945, remaining with the RAAF until March 1948. He then rejoined in January 1951 later rising to the rank of Squadron Leader becoming heavily involved in the introduction of the Canberra bomber into the RAAF. He won an AFC after a Canberra incident in 1959, was promoted to Wing Commander and, on retiring from the RAAF in 1972 was given the rank of Group Captain. After a long and happy post-service life he died at Coff's Harbour in November 2005.

Of particular interest in the picture is the Beehive in its wartime camouflage, while several bomber types can be discerned, presumably in for maintenance with Southern Aircraft and Airwork. Fighters are also visible, based at the time were 2 Squadron (Mustangs), 4 Squadron (Spitfires), plus 414 and 430 RCAF Squadrons, both with Mustangs. A nice illustration of a part of Gatwick's contribution to the war effort.

Grateful thanks for use of the picture go to FO Rachinger, and to Colin Ford at the No.268 Squadron RAF Archives.

Click here for photographs of the Volcanic Ash closures

August HAWKEYE

Available now containing your Gatwick News, Trip Reports from Germany, Paris, Moscow,Riyadh and Australia, plus all the regular Features like Around the Dromes, the UK, IOM and Ireland Register update and, of course, the Gatwick Log in print.

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LATEST ADDITIONS

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6th Aug 2010	268 Sqn at Gatwick feature by Harry Hawkins added (members only)
30th Jul 2010	Movements Log updated to 13th July 2010
10th Jul 2010	Drover feature by Keith Palmer added with photos (members only)
4th Jul 2010	Autumn Slideshow update
14th May 2010	Summer 2010 schedules added
14th May 2010	Survivors 2007 Update published
21st Apr 2010	Aerial Photos of closed airport by John Dyer
	50 years - Complete historic movements for 1958-63 (members only)

REMINDER

Please remember to send your photos in if you applied for a Gatwick Aviation Watch card and have not yet done so. If you now have your badge, please wear it visibly when in and around the Airport.

The Anti Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321

The Gatwick Police control room - 0845 60 70 999 (non-emergency information)

A FEW COPIES OF THE NEW 'SURVIVORS' ARE STILL AVAILABLE
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LAST FEW STILL AVAILABLE

Get your copy now before they are gone

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ALSO STILL AVAILABLE

Over 100 current airliners described and illustrated in colour
Available at all good booksellers for £13.99

The few remaining copies of the 'De Havilland BiPlane Transports' publication are now selling at the reduced price of £19.95

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