Chairman:Alan Brown
Website: www.nfagroup.tk

The charity, Friends of the New Forest Airfields, was established by a group of aviation enthusiasts, veterans, authors and historians who lived in the New Forest area, which is located in south west Hampshire on the south coast of England. Their primary objective was to provide a memorial to the twelve airfields of the New Forest and all those, civilian as well as military, who participated in their activities. The memorial would contain a time capsule containing of memorabilia books and documents relevant both to the operations of the airfields but also the lives of the people involved at the airfields and in the wider community. Secondly, the Friends wished to develop an educational programme to help students of all ages and backgrounds understand the activities and impact of the twelve airfields. Finally a third objective was to provide some form of interpretation centre for visitors and to display in that centre the Friends’ collection of models, pictures and artefacts.

The 29th Entry of Aircraft Apprentices at RAF Halton joined up in January 1934 to serve King George V and continued under three kings and a queen. Trades included Fitter-Rigger Grade II, Armourer, and Wireless and Electrical Mechanic. The FitterII (for short) was qualified to work on engines and airframes and could convert to a more knowledeable Fitter I later. Training in the trade only lasted a few years and single trade Fitter II Engine and Fitter II Airframe were substituted, with future conversion to double trade Fitter I.

Stained Glass Window for the Entry at St George's Church, designed by 29th Entry artist David Howells.