October 2020

15 Buckden Roundabout October 2020 If you want to advertise in the Buckden Roundabout please do contact Fiona, our commercial manager by email at adverts@buckdenroundabout.info Advertising rates can be found on page 20 or our website at http://www.buckdenroundabout.info/about RAF Gransden Lodge The previously mentioned 109 Squadron had now moved to RAF Wyton, north - east of Huntingdon and was used for the development of another navigation aid, Oboe. It did not go unnoticed that Number 1418 Flight and 109 Squadron were largely doing the same function, i.e. the trials of navigation aids. As a consequence of the Tizard visit, the Air Ministry Bombing Committee decided to merge Number 1418 Flight with 109 Squadron and form the Bombing Development Unit (BDU) at RAF Gransden Lodge. In September 1942 the BDU received a number of visitors from the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE), based at Malvern, Worcestershire. A group of TRE scientists led by Bernard Lovell (later to be Sir Bernard Lovell and the first Di- rector of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, from 1945 to 1980). In 1942 Lovell was pioneering a new ground mapping radar sys- tem known as H2S. It was hoped that H2S would show surface features in sufficient detail for navigation and bomb aiming. Although early models showed great potential the equipment itself was very unreliable. For the remainder of 1942 the BDU continued to trial the H2S and also trialled a number of new systems including the Ground Position Indicator (GPI) – a derivative of the API with the wind component calculated; the Mark II Gee, which could operate on multiple frequencies to overcome enemy jamming; and a device from the Marconi Company called the Marcona- tor, which used radio beacons for direction finding. Number 1474 Flight continued on numerous operations to gather radar intelligence, including very dangerous missions to collect data on the Lichtenstein airborne interception radar. By the end of 1942, RAF Gransden Lodge had taken delivery of its first de Havilland Mosquito, delivered by female pilots from the Air Transport Auxiliary and much to the amazement of some of the male pilots! Next month I shall describe the contribution RAF Gransden Lodge made to the Pathfinder bomber force, its international connections and activities that followed after the war. References: Trials and Tribulations – The story of RAF Gransden Lodge by Chris Sullivan. Action Stations – 1 Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939 - 1945. Thanks to Terry Hayward for his review of the references to navigation and loan of the Gee Navigation Chart. https://wiki2.org/en/Hyperbolic_navigation Buckden Junior Football Club After what has been a very difficult few months across the world, we are pleased that football for BJFC is now back up and running. We have been able to train over the past few weeks under strict condi- tions and following all FA guidance and regulations. Although the season finished abruptly, all our teams have been able to do their end of season presentations over the summer in their small groups – congratulations to all players. We would like to thank all our managers, our parents and of course the players for being so supportive and patient with us during this unprecedented time. We would also like to thank our sponsors for last season, for their assistance and support throughout the year: Connectix Cabling Systems - Rob Barnes Decorating – Nisa - Montanez Ltd – A14 Integrated Delivery Team – Orange Squash Agency – Novo Facades – Bywater Plumbing – Munters – Kumon – Sherwood Stainless Steel – BH communications Ltd – M C Windows Ltd – GAP Home Improvements Ltd New Season Our new season starts on Saturday 5 th September. We have implemented a host of new measures to ensure that the return to football is as safe as possible for all involved, whilst ensuring that our primary aim of ‘ football is fun ’ is not compromised. This year we have a new Club Sponsor to announce – Butler Residential – we very much look forward to our partnership, thank you for all your assistance so far! We would also like to thank our new team sponsors for the coming 2020/2021 season are as follows: TP Plastering - M.A Motors - Fensom Business Solutions - Fi- nesse Mortgage Services - Butler Residential - MC windows Ltd - Annafield Estates – Explore - GAP home improvements Dribblers and Development sessions Our Dribblers sessions are now split into two - older dribblers (school year 1) and younger dribblers (age 3 and above). Younger dribblers play on a Sunday morning 9am – 10am. For information on the times for our older dribblers please contact our chairman via bjfcchairman@hotmail.com. We also run weekly development sessions. The aim of these sessions is to give children aged U7 - U10 (school years 2 - 5) a chance to learn the skills they need to assist them in the future with finding a team – please contact us for more details. For more information on the club, joining a team or the com- mittee please contact our Chairman Michael Lander via bjfc- chairman@hotmail.com .