GB2HAR/GB0SOE

GB2HAR  and GB0SOE are the special event callsigns used from Harrington Airfield in Northamptonshire and Tempsford airfield in Bedfordshire for the 2011 Airfields on the air weekends,

During WWII RAF Harrington and Tempsford were linked in support of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) operations in Europe. Agents were trained at Harrington and transferred to Tempsford where they were dispatched on their missions to Europe, mainly France. Harrington supported the agents as well as the French resistance with supply missions using converted liberator bombers painted black for their night time missions.

Tempsford closed after the war and was returned to farmland. Harrington was bought back into service during the early 1960's as a base for Thor ICBM's missiles and the remains of three launch pads can still be seen on the centre line of the airfield which has now been returned to farm land. There is a museum on the airfield at the eastern end (see links)

These two airfields have been activated for the Airfields on the air event in support of that event as well as bringing attention to the historical link between the to airfields and pay tribute the agents and aircrew from both airfields who never returned.

The Harrington station GB2HAR will operate adjacent to the Memorial on the Lamport to Harrington Road. The Tempsford station GB0SOE will be situated near Tempsford Airfield and near to Tempsford village where in the church there is a memorial plaque.

Airfields on The Air 2/3 April 2011

We will be participating over this weekend in the RAFARS Airfields on the Air weekend where we will be operating from Harrington Airfield over the weekend and from Tempsford Airfield in Bedfordshire using the callsigns GB2HAR and GB0SOE which was linked to Harrington during the second world war for the secret S.O.E. operations that took place from both airfields.

Here is a map of former RAF Airfields that will be participating in the Airfields on the Air weekend. Click on the icon for call sign move and zoom around map using controls.

Centre of activity frequencies 1.855 MHz & 1.993 MHz, 3.515 (CW) MHz & 3.710 MHz, 7.015(CW) MHz & 7.045

Operations should be conducted around but not on the above frequency's which are the RAFAS net frequency's

Northamptonshire Communications Club 2011