Commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the opening of RAF Harrowbeer.
To be held on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd August, 10am to 5pm daily.
The RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend is organised by the RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group, with support from the Military Vehicle Trust (Devon MVE) and the WWII Re-Enactment South-West Group. We are also grateful for the help from Yelverton Rotary who run our car parking, to the Tamar Valley MG Owners Club for running the Classic Car Show at our event and to all our sponsors.
Our August event is completely free for everyone to attend but we still need financial support.
Please visit our ‘donations’ page for how you can help. Thank you for your support, and especially to those who have already made donations.
To make a donation: http://www.rafharrowbeer1940s.com/sponsorship-donations/
If you are on Facebook, you can also visit our dedicated page for the event, alongside our usual RAF Harrowbeer page.
We have an open invitation for WWII re-enactors, history groups, military, vintage and classic vehicle owners to attend our 1940s Weekends. Entry to all is free. Vintage based trade stalls are also invited to attend.
For all general enquiries, please email: info@rafharrowbeer1940s.co.uk
NOTE: This email link isn’t active to stop spambots. You will need to copy and paste it into your email app.
Our Classic Car Show will be organised by the Tamar Valley MG Owners Club, who will be dealing with the entries for the Classic Car Show. Entries for the car show will be accepted in due course.
The Military Vehicles will be marshalled by the Devon MVE (MVT). If you have a Military Vehicle and want to enter it for the 1940s Weekend then please use the online form which will be availbale in due course.
If you are a Re-enactor, part of a Re-enactor/Living History Group or have a Trade/Charity Stall you wish to bring, please complete the online form which will be available in due course. (NB if your current insurance doesn’t cover August don’t panic, just use your present one).
There are no pitch fees for traders but we do expect a donation (in advance) to secure your place at the event.
The RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend commemorates the WWII Airfield that was built on moorland near Yelverton, Devon. At our Remembrance Service, we especially honour the memory of the 72 personnel who lost their lives whilst serving on or from the airfield. Aircrew from many nations flew from Harrowbeer during WWII. As 2025 is the 85th Anniversary of the opening of the Airfield, we will be commemorating this milestone during our 2026 1940s Weekend.
News for 2026: We have invited back the 1943 Rolls Royce ‘Merlin’ engine (from an Avro Lancaster) which visited us in 2024/25. We hope to have a second Merlin to run alongside it. Once again there will be plenty of opportunity to get up close and ask questions in between runs.
News for 2026: We will have the bigger marquee again next year, with the bigger dance floor. So if you love dancing to 1940s music, then do come along and join in. Buckland Monachorum Drama Group will be running the ‘NAAFI’ stall selling tea and coffee in the marquee.
News: We have applied for a Flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for our 2026 event.
Please keep checking this page for further information on our 2026 1940s Weekend.
Updated 17th September 2025.
Sponsors
If you would like to sponsor our event in future, please see the ‘Donations’ page for details on how to help.
Sponsors in 2025 were:
Paladin Advocates
Willy’s Ice Cream
Meridian Sea
Westcountry Financial
Saturday 21st Events
All events and times are provisional and subject to change.
11am Service of Remembrance
A Service of Remembrance in front of the Airfield Trust Memorial Stone by Knightstone Tea Rooms, to commemorate the opening of the Airfield on the 15th August 1941 and to remember the 72 service personnel who lost their lives whilst serving at RAF Harrowbeer
Regular runs of the Merlin engine: 10.30; 11.50; 13.30; 15.00; 16.40.
1940s Music from Bern Stewart and Fine Whines. (sets throughout the day) Additional period music from Dave Dawes and the 1940sradio Road Show, (www.1940sradio.com).
Vintage bus rides on a vintage double-decker bus (provided by the South Devon Railway).
WWII weapons display (approx 2.30pm).
Family Dog Show (organised by Gables Dogs & Cats Home) from 3pm.
Vintage Steam Engine rides with the Robey Trust.
Military vehicles, living history displays, classic cars.
Face Painting
Vintage children’s funfair ride.
Plym Valley Railway miniature railway. (TBC)
Various trade stalls selling vintage clothing, Bric-a-Brac, militaria etc.
Saturday only @ approx 4pm: A convoy of military vehicles will leave the airfield and drive to Tavistock & back (possibly via Horrabridge on the return leg).
Sunday 23rd Events
All events and times are provisional and subject to change.
Regular runs of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine: 10.30; 11.50; 13.30; 15.00; 16.40.
1940s Music from Bern Stewart and Fine Whines. (sets throughout the day) Additional period music from Dave Dawes and the 1940sradio Road Show, (www.1940sradio.com).
Vintage bus rides on a vintage double-decker bus (provided by the South Devon Railway).
WWII weapons display at approx 2.30pm.
Family Dog Show (organised by Gables Dogs & Cats Home) at 3pm.
Vintage Steam Engine rides with the Robey Trust.
Military vehicles, living history displays, classic cars.
Face Painting
Vintage children’s funfair ride.
Plym Valley Railway miniature railway.
Various trade stalls selling vintage clothing, Bric-a-Brac, militaria etc.
Food & refreshments
Andy’s Munchbox (burgers, etc). (TBC)
Dartmoor Bars Ltd. (TBC)
Blue Skies Catering (sandwiches, jacket potatoes). (TBC)
Hungry Hog (hog roast).
NAAFI tent for tea & coffee (run by Buckland Monachorum Drama Group – all monies raised go to event funds).
Retromix Sweet Stall. (TBC)
Ice Cream supplied by Willy’s Ice Cream of Tavistock.
Living History Displays
Living history displays from various re-enactor groups. Including British, American, Russian and German units.
Military Vehicles
Displays of military vehicles.
Classic Vehicles
Displays of classic cars, motorbikes etc, organised by the Tamar Valley MG Club
Trade Stalls and other attractions
A selection of stalls selling vintage items and bric-a-brac. Displays/stalls for charities and veteran associations.
For the younger visitors?
Changing Faces Face Painting: Children’s face painting.
Vintage roundabout: Hand-cranked vintage roundabout.
Miniature railway provided by the Plym Valley Railway. (TBC)
BR Airsoft firing range.