AN appeal for information has been issued on the old Okehampton Aerodrome at Follygate, which is to be included in research being collated on former airfields all over the British Isles.

Okehampton historian Mike Wreford has been contacted for help by noted author Kenneth P Bannerman, who is carrying out the research.

Mr Wreford said he has always been 'intrigued' by the aerodrome at Follygate, which has been used since 1919.

He said it is known that the Prince of Wales, later to become Edward VIII, once landed at Follygate.

The aerodrome was even mentioned during Questions in the House of Commons in 1932.

This was because the great aviator, Sir Alan Cobham, planned to use the aerodrome for a fantastic air display, featuring 'upside-down flying, startling aerobatic feats, daring parachute descents' and 'how not to fly'!

The problem was that Sir Alan planned the display for a Sunday and the Lord's Day Observance Society considered this 'a menace to the workers' rest day' and a 'challenge to the Christian conscience of this town'.

The display only went ahead after the Under Secretary for Air assured the Commons that flying would be avoided during the hours of worship.

Mr Wreford said the aerodrome increased in importance in following years.

Aeroplanes had replaced the barrage balloons used by the army for reconnoitring purposes — instead of the Royal Engineers using balloons on Dartmoor for training, the RAF used Follygate.

Mr Wreford said: 'It was used during the war and some of the stories are that it was used for dropping spies into enemy territory.

'That sort of cloak and dagger thing is probably hearsay, but that's one of the stories.'

He said the aerodrome was also a target for German planes during the war.

'If they were returning home from a mission and they had bombs left, they would have used Follygate as a secondary target,' said Mr Wreford, who owns a detailed aerial photograph of the aerodrome, which was recovered from a German bomber.

Eventually the aerodrome fell into disuse and was probably not used again after the 1960s.

Mr Wreford said there are few official records existing concerning the aerodrome, but he felt it was an appropriate time to gather together as much material as possible about a place which was so valuable for training during the war.

He would like to hear from anyone in the area who has newspaper cuttings, photographs, memorabilia or memories of the area, which he can pass on to Mr Bannerman.

Mike Wreford can be contacted on 01837 52932.