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The RAF in Suffolk -> RAF Martlesham Heath -> Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
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TOPIC: Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
John Cooper


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Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
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There must still be someone around that was associated with A&AEE, so if you do please tell us about your experiences and perhaps share a photo or three.

To generalise Martlesham Heath has a fantastic history going right back to the days of The Royal Flying Corps [RFC] and prior to this A&AEE was associated with Orfordness [perhaps we can incorporate that piece of history in to this forum later]

The RFC base at Upavon ceased with the A&AEE in 1917 when it moved to Martlesham but I believe there is now in place at Upavon, Listed Buildings that may still have a connection, I shall have to check that one out.

The Marine equivalent to A&AEE existed at Felixstowe [again hopefully this can be incorporated later into these pages], I do have a connection with Flying Boats Sunderland MKV's at Seletar, Singapore and have many photos of these.

I have a looser connection with A&AEE at Boscombe Down as on occasion we had the chance of 'turning their kites' around at such places down route at RAF El Adem [Libya] and RAF Negombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka] 

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tarkey


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It was also affectionately known as  A squared  E Squared.

This was a new one to me but mentioned in the Unveiling speech by The Air Warfare Centre Boscombe Down’s Chief Engineer, Group Captain Mike Quigley, who is now a Vice president of the MHAS.


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John Cooper


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Yes Tarkey I recall Mike calling it that and I hadn't heard that expression for many a year! smile.gif

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John Cooper


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From Wikipedia

Grosvenor House was taken charge of by the Air Ministry and flown to Martlesham Heath for evaluation. Repainted silver and given the military serial K-5084 it made several flights before being written off and sold for scrap after a heavy landing. It was subsequently sold on, rebuilt and fitted with Gypsy Six series II engines and a castoring tailwheel, in which form it made several race and record attempts under various names. It claimed fourth place in the 1937 Istres-Damascus-Paris race, and later the same year lowered the out-and-home record to the Cape to 15 days 17 hours. In March 1938, Arthur Edmond Clouston and Victor Anthony Ricketts made a return trip to New Zealandcovering 26,450 mi (42,570 km) in 10 days 21 hours 22 minutes.

My own photos taken at the Shuttleworth Collection in c1998

FW G-ACSS comet grosvenor house.jpg



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The RAF in Suffolk -> RAF Martlesham Heath -> Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment


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