vmars container sale - vmarsmanuals · us air force (it had previously ... of tsr2 and f111...
TRANSCRIPT
Issue 124 A publication of the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society July 2013
www.vmars.org.uk M0VMW Affiliated to the Radio Society of Great Britain
1 July 2013
Operating position of Jan 2E0UPA aboard the lightship SULA in Gloucester Docks. Report on page 4.
From our Chairman
Thirty or so Members (see page 7) attended the 14th Annual General Meeting of VMARS, held on Saturday July 6th at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, about eight miles southeast of the historic City of York. Carolyn’s brother lives close to the Royal Air Force station at Leeming, 35 miles away, so we took the opportunity to combine a rare stay with family
members and the VMARS event. On the day before the AGM, Carolyn and I visited Gerald G3LEO and Jo Brigham who live nearby, and were entertained by them to a very pleasant afternoon tea in their lovely garden where we were joined by another VMARS Member, Peter Norris G4VUN. The Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington proved to be an ideal venue for our meeting and, following the successful meeting and a convivial lunch in the NAAFI, Members took the opportunity to spend the afternoon exploring the various galleries and aircraft exhibits at this superb award-winning museum.
Royal Air Force Elvington was originally opened in the late 1930s as a grass airfield but was soon rescheduled for the construction of three hardened runways to enable it to have an all-weather capability for the heavier aircraft being
VMARS Container Sale
Saturday 7th September 2013 Rosswood Farm, Baginton
10.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. Please see back page for details
VMARS Committee Chairman:
Ian Underwood M0YMK Roundwyck Farm Pipers Lane, Balls Cross Petworth, West Sussex GU28 9JZ +44(0)1403 820185 [email protected]
Secretary:
John Keeley GW6RAV 93 Park Crescent Abergavenny, Gwent NP7 5TL +44(0)1873 850164 [email protected]
Treasurer & Publications Manager:
Bronek Wedzicha M0DAF 22 Farmers Way Copmanthorpe, York North Yorkshire Y023 3XX +44(0)1904 708704 [email protected] [email protected]
Membership Secretary:
Peter Shepherd G7DXV 25 Tomkins Close Stanford-Le-Hope Essex SS17 8QU +44(0)1375 640618 [email protected]
Ordinary Member:
Peter Jones G8CDC Tudor House Stoneleigh Road Blackdown, Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 6QR +44(0)1926 883345 [email protected]
Ordinary Member:
Ron Swinburne M0WSN 32 Hollywell Road Sheldon, Birmingham B26 3BX +44(0)1217 421808 [email protected]
Co-opted Member and Public Relations Officer:
Stuart McKinnon G0TBI 145 Enville Road Kinver, Near Stourbridge West Midlands DY7 6BN +44(0)1384 872157 [email protected]
Co-opted Member:
Philip Staplehurst 2 Sussex Cottages Bluebell Lane, Sharpthorne West Sussex RH19 4PF +44(0)1342 810299
Issue 124 The VMARS News Sheet
July 2013 2
introduced to the RAF at that time. On reopening in October 1942, the airfield was occupied by No. 77 Squadron, having recently converted from ageing Whitley bombers to more effective four-engine Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers. As part of No. 4 Group, 77 Squadron played a major role in the bomber offensive against Germany and mounted numerous raids from RAF Elvington against industrial targets in the Ruhr Valley. The squadron suffered heavy casualties, with over 450 British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand aircrew killed on bombing operations flying from Elvington between October 1942 and May 1944, at which time they relocated to nearby RAF Full Sutton. In the same month, and with much excitement locally, the airfield became the operational base of 346 and 347 RAF squadrons flying Halifax heavy bombers crewed by a sudden influx of Free French aircrew, whose Gallic charms proved irresistible to some of the local ladies. This sudden arrival had been the result of the Allied occupation of Vichy-controlled French North African territories, aided significantly by the forces of General Henri Giraud, who had colluded with the Allies to place himself and his 60,000 troops under Allied control following invasion. In retaliation, the infuriated Germans occupied the Vichy French-controlled southern half of France. This, in turn, was the final straw for legions of patriotic Frenchmen of General Giraud’s army, causing many of his aircrew and ground support staff to volunteer to serve directly under Royal Air Force command so that they could strike a vengeful blow for France against Germany. While at Elvington, 346 ‘Guyenne’ and 347 ‘Tunisie’ Squadrons were heavily engaged in night bombing missions over Germany, suffering numerous casualties. At 01:50 on the night of March 3rd 1945, while returning from a raid on synthetic fuel plants in the Ruhr, the French squadrons were attacked by Luftwaffe Junkers 88G night fighters of 13 Nachtjagdeschwader Gruppen as they were coming in to land at Elvington. Escaping after being hit several times, the crew of one Halifax survived a crash landing at a nearby airfield, while one of the attacking aircraft, re-forming for a further low level attack, hit a tree and crashed into a nearby house killing all 5 crew, a local farmer and his wife and mother. A black cross commemorating the tragedy can be seen by the roadside in front of the farmhouse near the Museum on the York road. In October 1945, both squadrons were placed under French control in the Armée de l'Air and relocated to Bordeaux, ending their formal association with the RAF and with Yorkshire. The only remaining Handley Page Halifax bomber can be seen in the hangar at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, in original Free French livery.
With military hostilities now over, RAF Elvington settled into its peacetime role as an RAF Maintenance Unit until 1952 when the airfield came to the attention of the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. As a counter to the growing Soviet threat, the US concluded an agreement with the British Government to use RAF Elvington as a dispersal base for the massive B36 ‘Peacemaker’ strategic bomber, with its six Pratt & Whitney piston engines, two outrigger jet engines and 230 ft wingspan. Everything about this aircraft was on such a large scale that a B29 Superfortress, the previous largest US strategic bomber in service, would almost fit under one wing of the B36. Work quickly got underway on lengthening the main runway at Elvington to nearly 2 miles, while the US Navy and the recently formed US Air Force (it had previously been the aviation branch of the US Army until 1947), publicly and with much vitriol, argued about the B36’s viability as a strategic nuclear weapons delivery system because of its disputed vulnerability to intercepting aircraft. The Navy was much vexed by President Harry Truman’s decision to cancel its new 65,000 ton super-carrier ‘United States’ only a week
after the keel had been laid, while continuing to fund the development of the B36, which they irreverently named, with considerable justification, the ‘Lumbering Cow’. While the B36 was, for a while, the nuclear deterrent platform of the United States, the maiden flight of the all jet B52 in April 1952 heralded its imminent eclipse. At a crucial time in modern history, the B36 succeeded in bluffing the USSR into believing that it could deliver a decisive nuclear blow against them, but the B36’s more valuable, though less advertised, role was as an extended endurance, high altitude photo reconnaissance aircraft and for this role, without being encumbered by a 10,000 lb nuclear bomb load, it could operate directly from bases on mainland USA. Despite the preparation work carried out at RAF Elvington, which included a new control tower and a 49 acre hard standing as well as the runway lengthening, the airfield was never made operational by the US Air Force and it was handed back to the RAF in 1958.
For the next 34 years, RAF Elvington was maintained as a relief airfield and as a training runway for Central Flying School students from the RAF stations at Linton-on-Ouse and Church Fenton. In the 1960’s, the Blackburn Aircraft Company, based at Brough near Hull, used RAF Elvington as a flight test base for the Blackburn Buccaneer nuclear strike aircraft procured initially for the Royal Navy and later for the Royal Air Force to fill the gap left by the cancellation of TSR2 and F111 aircraft. The Yorkshire Air Museum has a very fine Blackburn Buccaneer in their collection on display at the former airfield, which was finally closed as an RAF station and was disposed of by the Ministry of Defence in 1992.
The VMARS AGM held at the former RAF Elvington also provided a golden opportunity for Members to spend a few days in the area with their partners and take advantage of a visit to the ancient walled City of York, founded by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago with the name of Eboracum, view the magnificent York Minster cathedral and the latest extravaganza of steam engines dating from the 1930’s at the splendid National Railway Museum. On Sunday, some Members drove a few miles south to RAF Waddington, Lincoln, to enjoy the warm and sunny weather and join the crowds watching the spectacle of the RAF’s largest annual air display. It was a great pleasure to meet, for the first time, with several Members who live in the region and have been unable to attend previous meetings further away. They made the rest of us feel very welcome and I would like to extend my thanks for their consideration and hospitality.
The 2014 VMARS AGM is to be held at the home of the Royal Signals at Blandford in Dorset and the plan is to hold it on the Saturday in the same weekend as the highly-rated Hamfest organised by the Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society at nearby Wimborne on Sunday. This will present an ideal opportunity for Members to spend some leisure time exploring the extraordinary Jurrasic Coast nearby and to investigate the excellent local museums such as the Bovingdon Tank Museum.
There is a 15 minute video consisting of extracts from the meeting and views of the museum on our VMARS website at http://www.vmars.org.uk/News
Ian Underwood M0YMK
Are you listening? Bletchley Park 5th–6th October 2013
This year, the ‘radio’ event at Bletchley Park is called “Are you listening?” and will celebrate communication through Bletchley Park's history – from the Post Office and pigeon carriers to radio waves and the first televisions, right up to
The VMARS News Sheet Issue 124
3 July 2013
the age of computers and the internet. VMARS is being invited to put on a working display of classical transmitting and receiving equipment. Any Member who would like to contribute should contact either Stuart McKinnon G0TBI or any Committee Member with their offer of equipment so that we may have some idea regarding the structure of our display which will be housed in the marquee on the lawn. Further details will be published in the August and September News Sheets.
Bronek Wedzicha M0DAF
Wartime in the Vale 22nd and 23rd June 2013
VMARS Members once again excelled themselves with a fine display of military communications equipment and vehicles at the Wartime in the Vale event at Badsey Farm in Evesham and were spoiled by the organisers who lavished 20 m x 70 m upon us as the area for the antenna farm. My thanks must go to Show Organiser Paul Valadis, who is Chairman of South Midlands MVT Group, and his Team for the organisation of a very well-run show. I particularly enjoyed seeing strict health and safety marshalling taking place, but the general vibe of the show was a friendly interactive couple of days. Taking part, and in no particular order, were:
Ron Swinburne M0WSN with his Austin K9 c. 1954. This vehicle had served with various units notably in BAOR with the Royals Signals TA Unit fitted with C11 and R210, the Classic Larkspur combination. I had hoped he would run the Saturday morning AM Net but, in the end, he was called upon as our media person to take video footage. Nevertheless, his Carolina Windom always works very well.
Peter Bannon M0XPB with his Defender Land Rover FFR c. 1986 complete with a Clansman installation, 321 and 353, 352 etc. Peter also erected a gazebo with a military radio display, not neglecting his duties to Badsey Farm permanent camp display where Peter had produced a fine display of bayonets for their armoury from c. 1907 to the present day.
Dave Waters 2E0NBC, also with an Austin K9 c. 1954, complete with a plethora of Larkspur/Clansman radio equipment including the Clansman RT 322.
Stephen Williams M0MOG with his Unimog Signals vehicle fitted with fine German engineering in the shape of the Rhode & Schwarz SK101 and a VW patrol vehicle, also trailer mounted mains generator and an ‘inverted-V’ antenna. Sadly the generator decided to stop functioning and, with no battery back-up, the system ground to a halt. Luckily for Stephen, he then had more time to wander around the show.
Recent new Member Neil Bishop M6XWD brought along a couple of Signals-related motorcycles, one a Can-Am Bombardier ex-RA with fitted Racal PRM 4031; it could have been made for it. The second was a Honda XR-400 and that has real provenance, as it was ex-22 Squadron SAS. Neil had also bought along an ex-military vehicle in the shape of a Series 2A FFW c. 1961, the FFW signifying Fitted for Wireless, which was always run off 12 V.
Accompanying Neil to the show was Mick Law, a mutual colleague from the MVT (Dudley). Mick has been a member for well over 30 years and provided a fine display with his series Land Rover and associated signals kit and weaponry.
And yours truly, a Lightweight Land Rover (Airportable) FFR c. 1980 finally repaired the day before arrival at Badsey (replacement cylinder head) and fitted with
Racal Syncal 2000 with ALE unit and Racal Panther ‘V’ 50 W with hopping capability.
Issue 124 The VMARS News Sheet
July 2013 4
It was also nice to see a number of VMARS Members who made the trip to Badsey despite the cruel wind and hopefully they were pleased with our efforts. Interest in our display makes it all worthwhile. It is a pity that the wind was so strong; I thought at one stage that Ron’s K9 was about to tip over with the 40’ SCAM mast at a tilt but Ron says he has had it tilted worse. Whilst I cannot believe that, I can say for sure that, all in all, with the help of the ladies Pauline, Jeannette and Anne we had a great time and the event was enjoyed by all our many visitors.
Some photographs of the event appeared in last month’s Issue of the News Sheet.
Stuart McKinnon G0TBI
Out and about
Anne and I had planned to go to Gloucester, Taunton and then visit fellow VMARS Member John Knott 2E0KNJ. My apologies, John. As you are aware, the visit fell through as the caravan I was meant to view had been sold that very morning in Taunton, but I am sure we will catch up soon.
Whilst in Gloucester, Anne and I decided to reacquaint ourselves with the historic Gloucester Docks, our last visit having been some 12 years ago. We were taking in the maritime theme when we stumbled across a light-vessel named 'SULA'; nothing out of the ordinary you may think. We last visited one in Cardiff Bay four years ago, where we had coffee on board, but this one was different. As we
approached abeam the vessel, I noticed the dipole antenna between two of the lightship's masts. Upon making enquiries of a Dutch lady called Agnes, she pointed me in the direction of a Dutch gentleman, her husband, Jan 2E0UPA, who owned the retired vessel.
We had an interesting visit to the radio room/shack. The first thing we spotted was a Marconi marine TX/RX set-up, marked T1158B and R2354A, respectively. Neither Jan nor I knew much about this equipment so, if any readers can help, please let me know so we can pass on the information to Jan. This equipment was not in use but looked tidy, so I encouraged Jan to get it up and running. Hopefully, any information provided by Members will speed up that process.
Jan has been licensed for two and a half years now and says that he owes his amateur success to members of the CARA Cheltenham and District ARS and the Gloucester Club. Jan uses a Trio TS830 and another period Trio for VHF. Looking at the dipole at some 65 feet and the 2 m whip at 40 feet, he should get out quite nicely using 12 W.
The light vessel was built in Beverley, East Yorkshire in 1958 and commissioned in 1959. It was formerly known as the 'SPURN' light-vessel LV 14 and, for the latter part of its working life, formed part of the Humber Conservancy Board, http://www.feuerschiffseite.de/SCHIFFE/ENGLAND/LV14/lv14gb.htm. Jan and Agnes use their light-vessel as a home and place of business, running a successful Centre for Complimentary Health, including a delightful shop and light (no pun intended) refreshments are also available. My thanks to Jan and Agnes for a very interesting visit and I cannot wait to hear the Marconi on the air.
Stuart McKinnon G0TBI
Goodies at the War and Peace Revival
To show Members what they may have missed, below is a photo gallery of some of the goodies that were on sale at the War and Peace Revival at Westenhanger. Most of the kit had come from the Netherlands and the diversity and availability of equipment was exceptional.
The VMARS News Sheet Issue 124
5 July 2013
Stuart Atkinson G3YPS
BRATS Rainham Rally 23rd February 2014
I am giving Members plenty of advance notice of the BRATS Rainham Rally due to take place on 23rd February 2014. Doors will open at 10.00 a.m. for visitors (disabled entry at 9.30 a.m.).The venue is Rainham School for Girls, Derwent Way, Rainham, Kent ME8 0BX. Information is available from [email protected] (0798 2244788) or via www.brats-qth.org.
Paul Coppin M0YMJ
List of VMARS Members
The List of Members was circulated with the May Issue of Signal. Unlike previous years, I have not received any corrections or comments with regard to accuracy. I find it difficult to believe that the List is, indeed, free from errors and would ask Members to check their entries. Any corrections can then be made to the database from which the List is compiled so that we avoid repeat errors in coming years. Please let me know of any changes which need to be made. Thank you.
Bronek Wedzicha M0DAF
VMARS Autumn Event
Saturday 26th October 2013
Baginton Village Hall
Whilst principally intended as a social event, there will be an auction of Members’ equipment as part of the programme for the day.
Sending in articles, news items, letters and advertisements for VMARS Publications
Please send copy to Colin Guy, G4DDI, by post or e-mail, 7 Herrick Court, Clinton Park, Tattershall, Lincs. LN4 4QU Tel 01526 344715 [email protected] The copy deadline for the next issue of the News Sheet is 15th August. For articles for the next issue of Signal the deadline is 9th August, but copy would be appreciated as far in advance as possible.
Issue 124 The VMARS News Sheet
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Barry Amateur Radio Society (BARS)
Special Event 31st August, 1st September
Barry Amateur Radio Society will be putting on a special event to commemorate Barry at War in WWII. More information can be found at
http://barryatwar.info/wartime-weekend/.
I write to ask if there is a section of VMARS in South Wales who may care to join us in this re-enactment by using or displaying their WWII radio sets. Any advice or help in this matter would help. Please contact me on Tel:01446-774522.
Glyn GW0ANA Chairman, B.A.R.S. www.bars.btik.com
Saturday AM Net-Controller’s Rota
Date 1st op 2nd op 3rd op
17th Aug M0DAF G0TBI G4GEN
24th Aug G0TBI G4GEN G4BQF
31st Aug G4GEN G4BQF GW8TBG
7th Sep G4BQF GW8TBG G8AQN
14th Sep GW8TBG G8AQN M0YMK
21st Sep G8AQN M0YMK G3XGW
28th Sep M0YMK G3XGW M0TCM
Whenever possible Ian Underwood M0YMK posts a recording of the Saturday AM Net from his QTH in West Sussex on the VMARS website:
http://www.vmars.org.uk/Regular_NETS_Details
Committee Notices Applications for Membership
We wish to welcome the following new applicants for VMARS Membership:
Name, Callsign (Region) Interests Mr SJ Davis M6BWU Tavistock, Devon Clansman radio.
Mr DJV Vanstone M0JMV Sudbury, Essex
Clansman HF 320/321, Skanti marine radio. Has used 18, 38 and 88 Sets as a Cadet. Interest in all HF vintage radio.
Mr KE Earp G0MZJ Melbourne, Derbyshire
Monitoring. Measurements of field strength and frequency of equipment.
Mr OM Boyle M6BQY Hildenborough, Kent
Restoring and driving military vehicles. Scout leader. Clansman equipment. Researching old woodcraft technology.
[Membership rules require names of applicants for Membership to be published, before they are formally accepted as Members. This allows existing Members to object, if they wish. If you want to object to any of the above, please write to our Hon Sec, John Keeley – Ed.]
Helplines Plessey PTR1851K
I'm looking for information and collectors of the Plessey Avionics & Communications PTR1851K VHF Transceiver. Can you help? I have two units, pictures attached, with folding antennae, headsets, and green canvas carry bags. They appear to be new and unused. From the controls and frequency display they appear to be 30–79.97 MHz FM tactical radios. Please contact me on [email protected]. Thank you in advance for any assistance you may provide.
John L Wray AL4U
.
Copyright Notice The VMARS News Sheet is a publication of the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society. Copyright remains vested in the authors, thus no material in this News Sheet may be copied and published elsewhere, in part or in full, by any means, without the express permission of the author. This may be sought either from the author direct, or from the News Sheet Editor, Bronek Wedzicha, M0DAF.
Issue 124 The VMARS News Sheet
July 2013 7
Some of the VMARS Members attending the AGM
Advertisements FOR SALE: Clansman RT320, gwo, no mods, fins and panel fine. £150.00 Skanti Columbus 400 marine TX/RX 400 W PEP, ring or mail for photo and further details. £110.00 Stuart G3YPS 07803601176 [email protected]
FOR SALE: Hallicrafters SX101 amateur bands receiver, plus 240/110 V transformer and Hallicrafters speaker all in working condition. £130.00 Paul Cheshire M0GMO 01392 660246 [email protected]
FOR SALE: RAF T1509 TX, 4 x 813's, large and impressive, much work done, not air-tested but an excellent example, complete with remote control unit and spare valves. £450 B40 RX, working. £60 R1475 + PSU exc. condition, on the front cover of Signal a while back. £140 ART13 + new remote control with Cannon connectors. £450 Wireless Set (Canadian) 58 Mk 1. £120 Offers invited for: Butternut HF6V 80–10 m vertical aerial with manual, dismantled, fits in car boot. Large collection Radio Bygones from No. 1, many bound.
Command TX 5.3–7 MHz. Some B2 items. Ken Brooks G3XSJ 01453 845013
FOR SALE: Radio Bygones Issues 1 to 44. Pristine. No split. £100 collect near Newmarket or plus £20 P & P. US Signal Corps Frequency meters: BC-221-AK 125 kHz–20 MHz with PSU. Ser No 3681 TS-323/UR 20–480 MHz. Ser No 907 TS-175/U 85–1000 MHz Ser No 788 All with original handbooks and in good condition. PSU can be used with all three, lead included. All working and very accurate when last switched off. £100 for the three if collected. Otherwise plus carriage. Prefer not to split. David AD Smith G8IDL, The Old Forge, Brinkley, Newmarket CB8 0SE 01638 507230
WANTED: National 1-10 or 1-10A receiver and coils. Ken G3XSJ 01453 845013 (Re-advertised due to incorrect phone number given last month)
WANTED: A glass tuning scale, or a scan of one, for an Eddystone 659/670 marine receiver John G8CLW 0208 941 8299
Issue 124 The VMARS News Sheet
July 2013 8
VMARS CONTAINER SALE
Rosswood Farm, Stoneleigh Road,
Baginton, CV8 3AD
Saturday 7th September 2013
10.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Members will have read, in this News Sheet, of the successful Container Sales of equipment owned by the late John Coggins G3TFC. We now wish to sell the contents of the final container located in Baginton. The sale planned for 7th September is on the same site as that which took place on 27th October 2023, which proved also to be a very good social event with lunch at the local pub across the road from the site of the sale, As before, all contents will be sold out of the container at low prices for using, renovating or stripping for parts. No REASONABLE offer will be refused, and any unsold items will regrettably be sold as scrap. The items to be sold are loose stored in the container and, for safety and practical reasons, viewing of items in the container prior to the sale will not be possible. The sale team will do their best to bring out a good selection of items for inspection prior to the sale. Where an item of obvious rarity or value is discovered, the sale team may, at their discretion, hold the item over for sale at a later Society Auction. Whilst there will be a covered area available adjacent to the container, we would recommend the wearing of suitable outdoor shoes (it is a farmyard) and clothing. Car parking is available by the containers but please do not block the road as others may want to pass. If you need to park by the Farm Shop, please make sure you do not block anyone in! The intention is to move items quickly and aim to complete the auction by 4.00 p.m. with a break for lunch at the Oak Pub which is only a short walk from the container site. Finally, whilst the sale of this equipment is primarily for the benefit of VMARS Members, it will be OK for you to bring a friend with you on the day. Your Committee hopes and trusts that you will give these ‘one off’ purchase opportunities your maximum support on this occasion, and enjoy the social get together at the same time. If any of you have any queries, please do not hesitate to call Peter Jones G8CDC on his mobile on 07788 417 300.
General conditions pertaining to VMARS
Auctions
Unless otherwise stated, all items are as seen, and have not been inspected in detail, so no warranty as to them being authentic, complete, or in working order can be implied. Buyers are advised strongly to check that mains operated items comply with current safety standards before connecting to the mains. Unless otherwise stated, no such checks have been carried out on equipment offered at this auction. Buyers should be aware that equipment may have been stored under damp conditions, with the risk of ‘leaky’ transformers which could trip RCCB protected mains supplies, or fail-to-chassis when powered. Equipment may not be adequately earthed, or earth connections may have corroded. Critical power supply components such as electrolytic smoothing capacitors require ‘re-forming’ if stored for extended periods of time, resulting in spectacular failure if not treated accordingly! Some equipment offered in this auction operates at high voltage. Applying power to equipment which has not been dried out properly, or with accumulated dirt or corrosion, can damage the equipment whilst making it potentially hazardous.
Those intending to place bids at this auction will be issued with a bidding card before the start. All accounts must be settled by close on the day of the auction. Those attending should be aware that the settling of accounts necessarily takes time and all are being asked to be patient and to allow sufficient time for this at the end of the day. Reserve prices will be at the auctioneer’s discretion.
Getting to Rosswood Farm
Rosswood Farm is located opposite the “West Entrance" to Coventry Airport (not the airport passenger entrance, which is on the South side of Coventry Airport). Directions from the North via M69 The M69 becomes the A46 as you approach Coventry. Proceed to the A45 roundabout (on the East corner of Coventry Airport), take the inside lane on the roundabout and go across the island (2nd exit) to the mini-island. Do not turn left, but go straight over the mini-island to Rowley Road. Proceed with the Airport on your left, to the T-junction at Baginton. Turn left, go through Baginton village along Coventry Road past the Oak Pub. The Farm is about 300 yards on your right hand side, almost opposite the Airport West entrance. It is actually located at the junction of Coventry Road, Stoneleigh Road, and Bubbenhall Road. Directions from the South Take the A46 (e.g., at J15 of the M40) in the direction of Coventry to the A45 turnoff. Take the first exit on to the A45 and immediately take the left slip road (B4115, Howes Lane) signposted to Baginton village. Take first left (Mill Hill) which becomes Coventry Road and takes you through Baginton village. Proceed through the village to the mini-roundabout, carry straight on along Coventry Road, past the Oak Pub, the Farm entrance is about 300 yards on your right hand side, almost opposite the Airport West entrance. It is actually located at the junction of Coventry Road, Stoneleigh Road, and Bubbenhall Road.