2023 Event

Thanks to everyone who came along to the event.

The RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend took place on the 19th & 20th August 2023. The event ran from 10am to 5pm on both days.

Our guest engine this year was a ‘Cheetah’ engine, as used on Avro Ansons. No.276 (ASR) Sqd used Ansons at Harrowbeer so it was great to hear the engine during our event, the first time one had been heard here in over 80 years.

Saturday 19th Events

11am Service of Remembrance
A short Service of Remembrance in front of the Airfield Trust Memorial Stone by Knightstone Tea Rooms, to remember the 72 service personnel who lost their lives whilst serving at RAF Harrowbeer.

Regular runs of the Cheetah engine

1940s Music from The Hummingbirds and from Bern Stewart throughout the day.

Vintage bus rides on a Leyland Atlantean double-decker bus (provided by the South Devon Railway).

Vintage Steam Engine rides with the Robey Trust.

Military vehicles, living history displays, classic cars.

WWII weapons display (TBC)

Family Dog Show (organised by Gables Dogs & Cats Home)

Face Painting

Vintage children’s funfair ride

Plym Valley Railway miniature railway

Various trade stalls selling vintage clothing, Bric-a-Brac, militaria etc

Sunday 20th Events

Regular runs of the Cheetah engine

1940s Music from Bern Stewart throughout the day.

Vintage bus rides on a Leyland Atlantean double-decker bus (provided by the South Devon Railway).

Vintage Steam Engine rides with the Robey Trust.

Military vehicles, living history displays, classic cars.

WWII weapons display (TBC)

Family Dog Show (organised by Gables Dogs & Cats Home)

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)

Blue Skies Catering (sandwiches, jacket potatoes)

Hungry Hog (hog roast)

Royal Oak Meavy (public bar & pizza)

NAAFI tent for tea & coffee (run by Buckland Monachorum Drama Group – all monies raised go to event funds)

Baking Wisbeys (baked goods, cakes & savouries)

Retromix Sweet Stall

Ice Cream supplied by Willy’s Ice Cream of Tavistock.

Living History Displays

Re-enactor & Living History

RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group (display of photos etc of RAF Harrowbeer)

RAF Aircrew Display (Staff Car, uniforms etc)

WWII Display of Uniforms, equipment & weapons

Homefront Kitchen
Display of items related to the homefront in Britain.
(Rationing, kitchen utensils, recipes, gas masks, make-do-and-mend etc)

Devonshire Regiment LHG – British Glider Infantry/Paratrooper
Displays based on the Normandy Campaign, including French Resistance.

Brixham Battery Heritage Group
Museum display and sales – weapons, Home Guard, 1944 Jeep, German motorcycle & sidecar

UTAH 237th Army Camp
US Army display

29th ‘Dog’ Company
US Army Display

Home Guard
Display of weapons & kit used by the Home Guard in WWII

Devon Front Re-enactment Society
Home Guard and Home-Front display

The D-Day Dodgers
Display of an Italian British Army Group

The Yelverton Patrol GHQ Reserve Battalion 203 (Home Guard)
Home Guard Auxiliary Units/British Resistance Movement

French Army (post-war) Re-enactment Group
Peugeot P4, SX8AR Cagivas T4e, 350 (x2), plus weapons display.

Military Vehicles

As well as military vehicles with above displays, we expect the following:

M35 A1 Truck & 105mm howitzer
M31 A1 Scout car;
Harley Davidson motorcycle
Willys Jeep x 4
Ford GPW x 2
Morris 10M Staff Car
GMC 352 Troop Carrier (1943)
GMC 352 Troop Carrier (1941)
Weasel M29C Tracked Amphibious vehicle
1941 Dodge Panel Van
Dodge WC51 Weapons Carrier (1942)
Dodge WC51 Weapons Carrier
Kubelwagen (German)

Classic Vehicles

The following classic cars, Tractors & motorcycles have said they will be with us:

4in scale Foster Traction Engine

Royal Enfield 202 Lightweight motorcycle (1925) – Sat only
Austin Mini Cooper (1968)
MGC GT & MG RV8
Austin A30 (1955)
MG TD 1951 – Sun only
Austin Healey Frog-eyed Sprite (1959) – Sat only
MGF (1999) – Sun only
Austin A35 – Sun only
Triumph TR6 – Sun only
1924 Crossley
Triumph Dolomite Sprint (Sun only)
1940 Austin 8 & 1953 MG TD
1967 Vauxhall Viva HB
MGB Roadster (Sun only)
Wanden Plas 1100 Princess (Sun only)

1965 Massey Ferguson MF2139
Allis Chalmers B Tractor (1940)

The Civil Service Motoring Association will also have a display at the event

Trade Stalls

Martyn Ward – Bric-a-Brac & Curios
Lancaster Supplies – Army Surplus, Collectibles & Militaria
S.B.V.C (Ivybridge) – Militaria
Knightwood Photoart – Handmade collectibles with a military theme
Tavistock Area “Men in Sheds”
Tavistock Turners & Wood Carvers Club
Old Rose Vintage Clothing
TQ – Militaria
Oldmaidnew & Clive Stephens Photography

Other Displays & Attractions

Devon Air Ambulance Trust
Tavistock Air Cadets (TBC)
Buckland Monachorum Play Park
Plym Valley Railway
South West Blood Bikes
Royal British Legion
Royal Air Force Association

RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend