Welcome to Friends of the New Forest Airfields Preserving our Aviation Heritage

Friends of the New Forest Airfields (FONFA)
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Friends of the New Forest Airfields (FONFA)
Home
About Us
Our Mission
Why Visit Us
New Forest Aviation
The FONFA Heritage Centre
The Airfields Memorial
FONFA Outreach Programme
The Airfields
The Aircraft
The Servicemen and Women
Air Crew Escape / Evasion
Join and Support FONFA
FONFA Member Stories
FONFA Newsletters
FONFA News and Events
Our Reference & Archives
Long Beech Camp Memories
Downloads
Useful Links
Contact Us
More
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Mission
  • Why Visit Us
  • New Forest Aviation
  • The FONFA Heritage Centre
  • The Airfields Memorial
  • FONFA Outreach Programme
  • The Airfields
  • The Aircraft
  • The Servicemen and Women
  • Air Crew Escape / Evasion
  • Join and Support FONFA
  • FONFA Member Stories
  • FONFA Newsletters
  • FONFA News and Events
  • Our Reference & Archives
  • Long Beech Camp Memories
  • Downloads
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Mission
  • Why Visit Us
  • New Forest Aviation
  • The FONFA Heritage Centre
  • The Airfields Memorial
  • FONFA Outreach Programme
  • The Airfields
  • The Aircraft
  • The Servicemen and Women
  • Air Crew Escape / Evasion
  • Join and Support FONFA
  • FONFA Member Stories
  • FONFA Newsletters
  • FONFA News and Events
  • Our Reference & Archives
  • Long Beech Camp Memories
  • Downloads
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us

FONFA Member Stories

Doug and Marian Harrison

Sqd. Ldr. Stanley Booker MBE

Doug and Marian Harrison

Doug and Marian Harrison visited the New Forest in May 2023 to walk in the footsteps of Doug's Father Second Lieutenant Jim Harrison DFC.

Patty Ashley

Sqd. Ldr. Stanley Booker MBE

Doug and Marian Harrison

Patty Ashley visited the New Forest in June 2023 to visit RAF Stoney Cross and RAF Ibsley where her Father Major William Jones was stationed  in 1944. 

Sqd. Ldr. Stanley Booker MBE

Sqd. Ldr. Stanley Booker MBE

Sqd. Ldr. Stanley Booker MBE

Stanley Booker became a member of FONFA after his 101st birthday and has donated his uniform and many other artefacts and stories.

Doug and Marian Harrison Visit FONFA

FONFA members Doug and MArian Harrison from Baton Rouge, Louisiana visited the New Forest in May 2023 to walk in the footsteps of Doug's Father, Second Lieutenant (later Colonel) Jim Harrison DFC, who served with the 371st Fighter Group based at Bisterne Advanced Landing Ground in 1944

Doug and Marian Visit Report v1 (pdf)

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JK Harrison pilot profile v1 (pdf)

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JIM HARRISON's letter home

Second Lieutenant James (Jim) Harrison DFC was based at RAF Bisterne flying with the 371st Fighter Group, USAAF. Bisterne Advanced Landing Ground was built on land belonging to Bisterne Manor, with most accommodation being in tents. However, the Lady of the Manor opened a number of rooms in the Manor for use by the Officers based there and she kept a guest book with the signatures of all the visiting officers. Jim visited the Manor for the first time on the 27th May 1944 and he then wrote a letter home describing his visit.  Here you can see Jim's entry in the guest book and his letter.  Please note that about a page and a half of personal content has been omitted from this copy.

Jim's son Doug, a FONFA member from the USA visited us in May 2023, nearly 79 years to the day after his Father wrote this letter. 

We are very grateful to Doug for making this letter available and to Hallam Mills for giving us access to the Bisterne Manor guest book.


JH Guest Book (jpg)

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patty ashley visits fonfa

  

Friends of the New Forest Airfield member Patty Ashley visited the New forest in June 2023 to see where her Father Major (later Colonel) William (Bill) Jones served as CO of 393rd Fighter Squadron before he was shot down over Brittany.  Major Jones evaded capture and escaped back to England two months after he was shot down.

Col William Jones Pilot Profile v2.0 (pdf)

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Patty Ashley Visit v1 (pdf)

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AMERICAN AIRMANS DAUGHTER MAKES EMOTIONAL VISIT

Patty Ashley's BBC News Article Text

The text taken from a BBC News article from FONFA member Patty Ashley's visit to FONFA and the New Forest in 2023. Patty took an emotional walk in the footsteps of her Father, Major (later Colonel) William Jones who was Commanding Officer of the 393rd Fighter Squadron flying P-38 Lightnings from Stoney Cross.

BBC News Text

Sqd. ldr. stanley booker mbe (rtd.)

  

Friends of the New Forest Airfield member Stanley Booker, a former Halifax Navigator during WW II,  has had a most extraordinary combination of experiences during his long service career. Stanley donated his uniform and artefacts to FONFA and working with his Daughter Pat Vinycomb has shared some of his experiences with us.  He recently visited the Heritage Centre to have a look at his uniform on display.

Stanley Booker visits FONFA v1 (pdf)

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Stanley Booker Air Crew Story v2 (pdf)

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New FONFA Member Stanley Booker MBE (101) visits the heritage centre

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    • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Why Visit Us
    • New Forest Aviation
    • The FONFA Heritage Centre
    • The Airfields Memorial
    • FONFA Outreach Programme
    • The Airfields
    • The Aircraft
    • The Servicemen and Women
    • Air Crew Escape / Evasion
    • Join and Support FONFA
    • FONFA Newsletters
    • FONFA News and Events
    • Our Reference & Archives
    • Long Beech Camp Memories
    • FONFA Info and Visits
    • Downloads
    • Useful Links
    • Contact Us

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