RAF Shinfield Park

Headquarters Flying Training Command

(27th May 1940 - 1st June 1968)

Luke Sullivan and Ewart Park

Luke Sullivan sent this email message on June 9th, 2020:

Hello there,

I have this item that came from Ewart park, where the flying trade command was posted during the Second World War.

Just an enquiry to whether you know what this item is. I think it’s some sort of weather vane?

The photos he sent are shown below

I sent this reply on June 10th, 2020, after some investigations by Greg North:

Hey Luke .....

Thank you for sending these photos. A colleague of mine and I have some information as follows.

My colleague believes that the image depicts a 50s-style aircraft design. Ewart Park is a former Roman settlement and commands a wonderful manor house in the design of a castle. EP is an area in Edinburgh and many towns have an EP Road - even in the commonwealth countries, for example, there is one in Singapore.

I am not sure that there are any direct links to our group at www.rafshinfieldpark.com. Just to give a little history, RAF Training Command was set up in 1936 and I am told it was located on the grounds of the current Reading University adjacent to Pepper Lane. It was reorganised and part of it was transferred a couple of miles south to RAF Shinfield Park (where we were stationed, near Shinfield) as the camp hosting the Headquarters of Flying Training Command. More reorganisation saw the camp closed at the end of May 1968, its functions being absorbed into (ironically) a newly formed Training Command situated elsewhere.

My colleague found the following link to Ewart Park which might interest you. https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/ewart-park-mansion-northumberland-aug-18.114304/

I hope this has been useful and informative for you. I will post a mention of this correspondence on our website without revealing your email address ... unless of course you specifically request this, perhaps for anyone wanting to get in touch with you with further information.

Best wishes.

Photos from Ewart Park

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