Hi Graham
I'm far too young to remember the times you relate too, but do remember passing the Airfield regularly between home and Meriden along the Chester Road. I remember the old airplane they used to have by the gate to the Air Force married quarters and the special occasions when there was tethered Barrage balloon.
I understand that the transport of the finished planes was done by women pilots. Their job was to test the planes and deliver to replenish the lost planes. It must have been a dreadful time taking planes to the same squadrons over and over again. I also remember when they brought the Barrage balloons out again during the Cuban crisis although what good that was going to be against the H bomb was beyond me. Round about that time we were instructed how to form a fall out shelter from an internal door.
We were naive then, some of us still are.
I loved the metal Spitfires they erected on the traffic Island shame they aren't lit at night what a sight that would be.
My father worked with Barns Wallace on the Bouncing Bomb project. He worked in Livery Street and was in the ARP for the duration. He took me to see the Dam Busters film at the Clifton Cinema and proudly told me how his bouncing was the one which caused the breach in the Mouwna Dam.
Of course I believed him them as I do today