Abigail Tompkins and Colin Campbell

Name : Abigail Tompkins [married name Campbell]

Rank : Flight Mechanic

Ser. No. : T.B.C.

Dates at Cranage : Late 1943 - Early 1944

Miss Tompkins was a Flight Mechanic at Cranage at the end of 1943 into early 1944.

One of her jobs was to wash/scrub the ‘white’ Wellington bombers that were kept in a separate hanger and classed as secret. These aircraft are believed to have been involved in navigation and radar test flights that were part of the Aries flight from Shawbury in the October of 1944. [The information on the white Wellington aircraft and the role they played is still to be confirmed].

Also kept in the hangar was a Magister which Miss Tompkins had to ‘push out’ as no one else was allowed into the hangar.

Name : Colin Campbell

Rank : Flight Sergeant W/O

Ser. No. : T.B.C.

Dates at Cranage : Late 1943 - Early 1944

Instructor No.2 S.o.A.N.

As you can see, we have two ex-personnel on the one page. Miss Tompkins and Mr Campbell met on Christmas Day 1943 while Miss Tompkins was playing in a hockey match. She recalls that, afterwards, they enjoyed an excellent lunch in the Officers Mess.