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Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:57 pm
by Dan4th
During WWII, my mother was an officer
in the US Army Nurse Corps and spent
all of her time in England in Taunton
where the local hospital was expanded
substantially to receive casualties of
all types, allies and axis....

Can anyone tell me which or what air
station, Murkin or RAF, would have
been the receiving point for my mom's
"customers"?

I do know that come D-Day, they were
swamped for weeks with tents erected
on the grounds....

Anyone know the answer to my Q?????

Danf.

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:51 pm
by Dougs
The chances are that in ww2 most of the casualtys were boated back not air lifted they were then road and railed all around the country my gran was a nurse in Leicester and they had Gerry and us solders along with the uk boys ;)

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:27 pm
by Dan4th
Is your Gran still around?

I'll bet she has some stories!

My Mother has been gone for 10
years now, and she remembered
it all!

You had to get her started, though :))

I know they had casualties airlifted
in because they were a critical care
hospital and she told me they got
patients via "Air Mail" :D

Danf.

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:06 pm
by Dougs
There are a few Ex RAF bases around that part of Devon I would bet your answer is only a google away my gran is still alive @ the good old age of 89 as is my grandad at90 he served in the navy on MTB102 which also survives. my gran only really talks about sneeking out at night to go to dances ;)

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:53 pm
by Dan4th
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTB_102

Isotta engines??????????

WHEW!

Get your Gran talking, though, and
she'll tell you stories that could curl
your hair!!!!!!!

That brand of nursing in wartime
was a very special kind of duty...

Still want to know about Taunton
airfields ;)

Danf.

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:04 pm
by Sooty655
Try looking here under Somerset, Dan.

You should be able to google or wiki for info on any nearby airfields.

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:15 pm
by Dougs
Dan4th wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTB_102

Isotta engines??????????

WHEW!



Danf.

Whoops sorry my bad I ment MGB81 latterly MTB416
http://www.bmpt.org.uk/other_boats_history/Motor%20Gun%20Boats/MGB-81/index.htm
I get them confused the guys from MGB81 sent me a crew photo a while back as they wanted to confirm my grandad was there as he is prob the only remaining crew member he hasn't changed a bit lol

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:38 pm
by Dan4th
AHA!

PACKARD POWER B-) !

Ask him about those engines and
I'll bet you'll get a GRIN :D

3 X V-12 but not Merlin as some have
mis-stated....

The craft were powered by three Packard 1,250bp petrol engines with the centre engine driving directly and the wing engines using a "Vee-drive". Speed was about 40 knots maximum with 35 knots being achieved continuously and 26 knots cruising. These speeds increased about 3 knots when underwater exhausts were fitted.




Danf.

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:26 am
by Ramshornvortex
Dan4th,

Getting back to your original question, the hospital is Musgrove Park in the Somerset (not Devon, Dougs) County town of Taunton. The airfield used to ferry in patients by air was RAF Merryfield, near Ilminster, about six miles from Taunton, which was opened in 1944 jointly by the Americans and British. It is still in use today by the MOD. The hospital, too, is a principal NHS hospital with an A&E facility.

RHV

Re: Taunton?????????

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:07 pm
by Dan4th
Thanks, RHV :ymapplause:

I knew the hospital was Musgrove Park,
but Google turned-up four possible
airfields close to Taunton...

My mother was back to visit Taunton
and Musgrove Park several times :D

Addendum::::::::::::::::::

Here's Merryfield........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Merryfield

That answers most of my question as
this is where D-Day "customers" would
have landed, but I suppose they would
have had to be brought back by boat to
your side of the channel first...

No helicopters back then!

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/Wartime-hospital-home-home-Yanks/story-11349601-detail/story.html#axzz2b1p1ZYBc

Of course, my mother's unit would have
been among the first Americans over
there as she arrived in September of
1942...

She was there in Taunton for over three
years :D

Danf.