LEDBURY BUF (1) - RECCE SECTION

In the early light of morning, a fast-moving BUF Reconnaissance Troop speeds along the A438 Tewkesbury - Ledbury road, heading westward towards the Herefordshire border and one of its most important County towns.

Storm Leader Reckless, commander of the BUF Recce Troop, "takes point" on the A438

"Steady, chaps!" About to cross the county line, the Storm Leader brings the Recce Group to a halt. Herefordshire is well known as one of the most dangerous places in all of England.

Engines idling, the barrels of the Storm Leader's modern armoured cars traverse the countryside in unison. The crews' pre-departure briefing had been ominous in the extreme...

Is this an unsupported reconnaissance mission? Or the armoured spearhead of a more substantial force?

Only time will tell.....

Notes: Scout Car and Armoured Cars by Dinky. Storm Leader Reckless from Empress. His driver (mostly obscured) from Reiver. Flag from Solway. "Recce Group Black & White Flashes" very old GW Space Marine(?) transfers. BUF Pennons printed paper.

LIFTING OFF OUT OF LOCKDOWN - REDS

Comrade Colonel Professor Winter's County Communist Front has struggled to keep up with the recent accelerated pace of air force expansion. This is possibly due to the limited manufacturing capability available to the far-left within Herefordshire, or to its recent concentration upon increasing the output of "Proley Tanks", or simply Winter's pre-occupation, at the expense of industrial production, with the elimination of his many internal enemies. Be that as it may, the Comrade Colonel has welcomed the Escuadrilla Espana (prop. Andre Malraux) to the recently liberated Shobdon Airfield:

The Escuadrilla Espana fly in to Shobdon Airfield, anxious to lend
"fraternal support" to "fellow anti-fascists". These
aircraft have retained the markings used in Spain.

Winter's 'home grown' squadron of interceptor types (Squadron "Ned Ludd") proudly boast
the red star on their wings, possibly because (it is rumoured) these
aircraft are exclusively piloted by 'Soviet advisers"

The outnumbered (but not undergunned) "Luddites" grimly display Soviet
military precision in aerial maneouvres....

...whereas the enthuiastic but somewhat wild Spanish Republicans straggle into battle as
 best possible. Note tails adorned with Republican markings. The aircraft with the
red marked rear fuselage is a Section leader, indicating the Escadrilla's
notoriously relaxed approach to combat organisation.

Some historians argue that Winter's Reds principally used captured Gloster Gladiators and Vickers Venoms during the Herefordshire VBCW. However, Dr. I. Cataract of the VBCW Historical

 Institute has conclusively opined that these aircraft are, in fact, "export versions" of the

 Polikarpov I-15bis (biplane) and the Polikarpov I-16 (monoplane).  It would take a

 brave man to query the learned Doctor's opinion (or eyesight) - and for 

further evidence, see HERE

LIFTING OFF OUT OF LOCKDOWN - RAF

The professionals of the Royal Air Force were not to be left behind in the "2020 Modelling Challenge" ("Aircraft & Anti-Everything"):

"Gloster Gladiators" lined up for inspection. This is the original biplane configuration
of the modelling challenge "piece of cheep Chinese plastic" with a simple paintjob.
In an alternative timeline, interwar silver and colourful heraldry similarly banished,
 this paint scheme would become known as "Munich colours".

A mixed Squadron of 'Gloster Gladiators' and Vickers Venoms. The pressures of the VBCW
often resulted in RAF Squadrons having 'mixed types", much as in early WW1. The Venoms
have the same "cheep Chinese body" as the "Gladiators", with only the second wing
removed. A simple job of finger pressure and a little subsequent cutting/sanding.

A "standing patrol", Venom in the foreground and Gladiator in the rear.
With scientific detection of enemy aircraft still in its infancy, this WW1
tactic for protection of airfields was still much in use during the VBCW.

Vulnerable to attack - Mongrel day-bombers on the ground. The RAF also used
'Blenheims' and 'Battles' as tactical bombers, but were not above adopting the
Mongrel (a favourite of the BUF) when required. More info HERE

An RAF heavy bomber coming into land. Some have tentatively
identified this as a "Lancaster", although in 'other times', this famous
four engined bomber did not enjoy its first flight until January 1941.
Perhaps an example of scientific development being spurred on by Civil War...

A contemporaneous newspaper photograph of the same landing, extracted from
"Our Civil War Illustrated" (pub. Newnes, London 1938). While the headline simply
records "New Bomber Introduced", the article noted "strong local opposition to
engine noise and inconvenience to cattle" with a "vociferous campaign" being
launched by locals "against the planned extension to the airfield's flare path".

Safely down - the Lancaster ("Meng Model Kids") being refuelled by an
RAF Bowser ("Lledo"). A shot to establish relative scale (and how to have
a squadron of heavy bombers in the VBCW without overwhelming the
area of the wargames table)

Light bomber and Heavy bomber - a Mongrel soars over a grounded Lancaster. Another
shot to establish relative scale. Despite their very differing origins (historically and in
terms of plastic and modelling quality), the two types look fine together.

"Instrument check, is it? Engine check, sir!" - a pair of Mongrels joyride
over the airfield. As the VBCW wore on and parts and aviation fuel became
scarcities, such early RAF practices of youthful enthusiasm became
 frowned upon. These two light bombers have to get back soon, anyway..

...ready for that afternoon's full parade. Clockwise from the Lancasters - Gladiators,
Venoms at the fore, Mongrels. The overworked RAF Bowser sits in the middle.

Next up - Red Air Force!

LIFTING OFF OUT OF LOCKDOWN - BUF AIRFORCE

Well, at some point we all (in the real world) will get out of lockdown - hopefully in time for a (slightly delayed) Spring Big Game 2021! Back in the world of the Hereford1938 Very British Civil War, the British Union of Fascists have been first to take advantage of the "2020 Modelling Challenge" ("Aircraft and Anti-Everything") with a display of airpower lifting off "at a strategic site out of County", thought to be the Gloster Aircraft Works at Hucclecote, Gloucestershire:

A flight of BUF Vickers Venom interceptor aircraft. The timing and demands of the Civil War 

caused the Venom to be favoured over the more complicated and expensive Spitfire, and 

even the rugged Hurricane. See HERE for an explanation and brief history of this

 iconic - if scarcely remembered - VBCW type.

A full BUF Squadron of Venoms line up for inspection. Vickers turned out hundreds of these 
aircraft over the course of the Civil War. The BUF's pilots were recruited either from
the civil aviation sector, or via the BUF's many "gliding clubs", with a relatively few
senior officers being directly transferred from the RAF (often, but not always, under protest).

A half Squadron of BUF ground attack aircraft - the Mongrel day bomber. Developed by Sir Reginald B'Stard, the
 famous (in his day) aircraft designer, these have been identified as characteristically "square tailed" Mk.II(G) types,
of course indicating manufacture by Messrs. Woolworths & Woolworths of Enfield.
 A potted history of their design can be found HERE

Lift off! Mongrel Day Bombers fly out of Hucclecote Landing Strip.
(Wargamers Note - bases from tops of Tesco coffee jars (small) weighted
with cheap WH Smith modelling clay, stands from bamboo barbecue skewers.
Even these 'cheapskate' bases plus costs of paint came close to being more
expensive than the aircraft models themselves....)

The complete BUF airforce in late afternoon flight (or forest of bamboo skewers).The Mongrel day bombers
take the lead, with 'top cover' being provided by the Vickers Venoms. The two 'weavers' or 'tail end Charlies'
bring up the rear at a slightly higher altitude, as per best RAF early war practice. It is thought that this was
a training flight rather than a battlefield mission.

Next up - the "Red" Air Force and Royal Air Force.....