Reflections of RAF Warmwell - a book by Anthony Cooke.
PREFACE - This second edition continues to be a tribute to the RAF, a subject that I have lived with since I purchased , in the early 1960s, a copy of Richard Collier's "Eagle Day - the Battle of Britain".
Since then, my reference library has grown in stature and I have made many friends and probably been in contact with approaching one thousand people who served at Warmwell, in an effort to record their personal reminiscences. What began as an interest has become an obsession. Nevertheless, such a project can only be conducted with the help of one's family. Carol, my long suffering wife, has had to endure much and became a 'grass widow' to my preoccupation with the historic events surrounding Dorset's only fighter station.
The history of RAF Warmwell is the history of the people who served there. It is the people who make history - the men and women who, of all service branches and many nations, bought with their bodies and minds the freedom we readily accept today without a thought. They were young once, full of confidence and lived for the day; because 'today' literally might have been the last day of their lives.
Today, they are old and frail, their bodies and minds are still paying the price of that conflict over half a century ago. I ask you to remember them, their yesterdays bought us our tomorrow. Their legacy is our freedom.
The anecdotal stories related between these pages are quoted verbatim from the material veterans have supplied. Their words describe the events they experienced.
To everyone who has helped and assisted me over the years, I can only express my thanks for your kindness, time and effort. I hope you will not feel it was wasted.
Meanwhile the work continues......Anthony Cooke
