Whilst researching the wartime activities of Squadron Leader Percy Walter Mason DFC, who flew in 2, 268 & 168 Squadrons between Jan 1940 and Nov 1944, on low level reconnaisance, a suggestion has been made that he might have flown clandestine missions to occupied France from a temporary runway just north of Hammerwood House Park in Sussex. The Hammerwood House history site indicates that there was an RAF/SOE operation there from late 1943 to mid 1944 using Lysanders. There is some credence to the suggestion that he might have flown out of this site as he initially flew Lysanders in 2 Squadron. So far I have drawn a blank in attempting to discover any info on this, and there does not appear to be a reference in his logbooks according to his family. Can anybody assist please?
A small dirt strip was used in that area (aircraft were hidden in buildings). It was used as a forward base for insertion/extractions into France. Very low key. Some sources suggest it was used for especially sensitive missions and/or if WX was likely to sock in larger special duties air fields
Stumbled across the possible name of the strip you may have referred to. "Heigham Holmes" indeed a sensitive very low vis strip used for Lysander ops heading to occupied france
