Citylife in Lichfield August 2021

Do You
Remember
Lichfield’s RAF
History?
By Rod Whiteman
............................
Rod Whiteman
First built as a maintenance airfield where bombers would be
made ready for their squadrons, the RAF Lichfield site evolved
into a training base and then into an operational airfield, from
where bombers aimed to destroy Nazi morale and airfields. Later
in the war the bombers carried propaganda leaflets to the enemy
in an effort to defeat the enemy's morale.
The site is now changing beyond recognition. New homes and
businesses are filling the once green airfields and the signs of war are
decaying, often now lost in the soil and woods. Transforming the Trent
Valley wants to capture memories of the military heritage left behind by
20th Century wars. As well as visiting remaining buildings, surveying and
recording them, we would like to hear from people who remember RAF
Lichfield, either as an RAF Airfield or as Fradley Aerodrome, as it later
became known.
Did you work there or have family who did? Did you live or visit
nearby? Do you remember the sights and smells of the airfield, the
planes that were stationed there, or who visited for repairs?
If you remember RAF Lichfield or Fradley Aerodrome, we would like
RAF Lichfield
to record your memories as part of our Oral History Project. Maybe
you played in the pillboxes or among the ruins, visited there as an adult,
or remember the stories you were told by loved ones.
We are recording the stories of our area's military heritage for future
generations to hear. If you would like to share your stories of RAF
Lichfield, please contact our Cultural Heritage Officer, Rod Whiteman,
who would like to hear from you.
Rod can be reached by email at: r.whiteman@staffs-wildlife.org.uk
Got a story or
charity event you
want to share with
our readership? Think
you’ve snapped an
image that captures
the spirit of the
region? We want to
hear from you!
Contact Citylife at
kristencitylife@gmail.com
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