I am writing a children's novel set in South Devon near Hope Cove. This one involves a WW2 aircraft. I have done some research on Bolt Head and believe there were surveillance runs to search out U Boats off the Devon coast., part of Coastal Command. I would like to know what type of small aircraft would have been involved. In the story the plane does crash losing the pilot. Therefore I need to ascertain would he be able to bail out. Your help would be referenced accordingly. Thank you in advance.
hi
bolt head was a small airfield, mainly single engined a/c
in 1942 it was spitfires & typhoons
these were mainly escort missions and defence against the ' tip and run' raids by the luftwaffe
only twin i know of that operated from there was the whirlwind but that was in 1943
think you will find a coastal command liberator crashed nearby but that was 13 july 1944 from 311 squadron
a google search should bring it up
cheers
jerry
Units at Bolt Head
257 Squadron detachment from September '42 - Typhoon
276 Squadron detachment - Lysander , Walrus and Spitfire.
310 Squadron detachment - July '42/September '42 - Spitfire
421 Squadron detachment - June '42/July '42 - Spitfire
The airfield was attacked twice, on 7th March's and again on 1st May '42.