GAYNA WALLIS

Local historian Gayna Wallis has undertaken extensive research & written in fascinating detail on RAF Carnaby - the highly important airfield upon which Carnaby Raceway & Carnaby Industrial Estate were eventually built.

Without venturing into too many spoilers, let’s just say RAF Carnaby had major significance in saving the lives of many aircrews during the Second World War and a more secretive role in the Cold War as a missile installation.

Gayna was an instrumental figure in the Carnaby Airfield Memorial project which facilitated the village’s installation of a stunning illuminated panoramic artwork by local artist and sculptor Stephen Carvill on Church Lane. She also researched the amazing story of Sgt Smith which is depicted within the artwork and detailed within her Station XI series of books.

We’re fortunate to have all three of Gayna’s Station XI titles on sale in our shop:

Station XI: The Story of RAF Carnaby
This book tells the story of RAF Carnaby and the contribution that it made during World War II. It gives a detailed account of how one small airfield saved the lives of countless airmen from all corners of the British Empire and beyond. The airfield also held a secret, known simply as FIDO, which helped pilots to land safely in extreme weather conditions. This secret installation was only installed on 12 airfields in whole of the British Isles. It was expensive and dangerous, but was worth every penny. Without it Britain may well have lost the war.

Station XI: Call Up Carnaby
The story of Station XI, RAF Carnaby continues with more true accounts of aircrews that needed the assistance of this small emergency landing ground. It also recounts the stories of those who did not quite make it. Some had to ditch their aircraft into the North Sea, others had to bail out. Some were eligible to join unique clubs, such as The Goldfish Club or the Caterpillar Club and others were awarded Medals of Honour.

Call Up Carnaby focuses on all those who had to “Call Up Carnaby” in an emergency and those who were ‘called up’ for duty. The daily dramas and history of this small but vitally important airfield have been captured for posterity so that its contribution and sacrifices are not forgotten. Often overlooked are the ground crews and medics, who are given a special mention. They often worked under extreme pressure and poor conditions. They too deserve to be remembered.

Station XI: Cold War in Carnaby
Cold War in Carnaby is the third book in the local history series about Station XI - RAF Carnaby. It follows on from the end of the Second World War, through the many events that occurred during the Cold War decades and how close Britain came to being involved in yet another world conflict.

RAF Carnaby was brought back into service and used as a Thor Missile site - a joint venture between the USAF and Great Britain. Bloodhound missiles were also based on the same site, which was very unusual and far from ideal. Research from the National Archives gives an insight into the daily operations that were carried out in secret during the 1960s on the former emergency aerodrome. The aerodrome no longer exists and the secrets that it holds are now being revealed.