THE Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust will be in Folly Gate next week to remember the airfield that was once sited there.

The director general of the ABCT, Kenneth Bannerman, will unveil a memorial stone at Folly Gate Parish Hall, dedicated to all the units and personnel based at the airfield, and commemorate the community's involvement.

The airfield opened in 1928, and closed in 1960. The site was chosen following an exhaustive search by the Air Council for an appropriate site in close proximity to Okehampton Camp which did not suffer from the same weather problems as other landing strips in the area, including at Halstock Down.

The Prince of Wales, later to be, briefly, King Edward VIII, visited the site in around 1930. He was accompanied on his visit by Mr Nicholls, the farm manager to the Duchy of Cornwall.

One of the most notable days in the airfield's history was Sunday August 21 1932, when famous aviator Sir Alan Cobham held an air display there. The event drew a huge crowd, with upside down flying, daring parachute descents, aerial marksmanship, formation flying, and an appearance by the world famous Golden Arrow car, which set the land speed record in 1929. Braver audience members could also pay five shillings to be taken up in a three-engined bi-plane.

The day courted controversy, however, as it was held on a Sunday — Okehampton Free Church Council and the local council protested.

The debate was even raised in the House of Commons by the Under Secretary for Air, Sir Philip Sassoon. He stated assurances had been received from Sir Alan Cobham that flying would not take place during worship time.

The site was used annually by Army co-operation squadrons, with aircraft supporting the artillery practice camps on Dartmoor until 1939.

The airfield remained an RAF station throughout the war. The United States Army briefly used the site during preparations for D-Day in 1944.

Following the end of the second world war, the airfield was closed for military use on July 24 1945. It was made occasional use of by AOP Austers until the early 1950s, when the site was gradually returned to agriculture.

The stone will be unveiled at midday on Friday, August 12, with the hall open from 11am for coffee and refreshments.

The parish council is looking to hold a display of war memorabilia, photos and articles about Folly Gate and Okehampton on the day. If anyone has anything they would like to bring along to the event or are willing to put on display, call parish clerk Marilyn Cooper on 01837 53305.