Introduction

Airfields QSL CardMiddlezoy Aerodrome is located just outside Westonzoyland on part of the site of the wartime RAF Westonzoyland Airbase. Not the easiest place in the world to find, it isn’t exactly hidden away either and the site is used for a number of public events including Westcountry WarAg and the Somerset Aerofest. The postal address is: Middlezoy Aerodrome Ltd, Middlezoy, Somerset, TA7 0JS. However, there are some additional details that will be of interest to Radio Hams:

  • Lat/Long (WGS84 Geoid): 51.10259°N, 2.902985°W
  • OSGR: ST 36873 34087 (6 figure ST368340)
  • IARU Locator: IO81nc
  • WAB: ST33
  • IOTA: EU005 (Mainland UK)
  • What 3 Words: ///flow.triangles.clustered (Entrance to the Operating Post)
  • What 3 Words: ///unstated.chapters.rounds (Entrance to the Site)

Location

The wartime Westonzoyland Airfield no longer exists in full. The site was returned to agricultural use in 1969 having last seen active duty in 1958. This image of the airfield in 1944 shows how different things are compared to present day:

Westonzoyland Airfield in 1944

The most notable missing element in the photo above is the lack of the A372 which now bisects the original airfield. Overlaying (to the best of our abilities) the original runways on a modern map shows the changes that have occurred.

In fact the “new” A372 appears to have been built on a section of the original wartime runway 11/29. The airfield to the north of the “new” A372 has retained the Westonzoyland name and is currently used for Micro-Lights as the home for Westonzoyland Flying Club. To the south of the “new” A372, but still well within the boundary of the original wartime Westonzoyland Airfield, is Middlezoy Aerodrome and this was to be our “home” for the weekend of Airfields on the Air.

Operation

Equipment

Following last year’s inaugural operation, we were a little clearer on the equipment we were likely to need. As far as possible we like to restrict equipment to Club owned but this isn’t always possible. This year we used:

  1. Nissei DPS300GL power supply,
  2. Yaesu FT991 HF/6m/2m/70cm multi-mode transceiver,
  3. MFJ 993 auto atu,
  4. 80m flexweave half-wave doublet fed with 450Ω ladder line supported at the feedpoint by a MFJ-1908H 13m telescopic mast,
  5. Acer Aspire 8942 laptop running PyQSO under Debian with the Cinnamon Desktop,
  6. Behringer XENYX 302USB audio mixer,
  7. Logitech external powered speakers,
  8. 9m telescopic “roach pole”, and
  9. 2.5kW petrol generator.

All of the above items were Club equipment other than the roach pole and generator. There was one item of equipment that was damaged and it had to be the 9m telescopic fibreglass “roach pole”. Ironically, the same member had a 7m roach pole damaged in a similar way at a Railways on the Air event several years previously! You’d have thought he would have learnt by now! However, this is why we prefer not to use equipment that isn’t the Club’s.

Antenna InstallationAntenna Installation

Operation

We set up in the Nissan hut as last year, the FT991, Nissei PSU, MFJ 993 AMU, Behringer, speakers and laptop went on a spare table which was protected by a blanket to avoid scratches. Power came from a wall socket although the Nissan Hut is devoid of mains power so the generator is plugged into the building exterior.

The teamOperating

The doublet antenna was set up in an inverted-vee configuration with the centre pole strapped to the corner column of the “Dutch barn” adjacent to the hut. One end of the doublet was secured in the outer picnic seating area in front of the Nissan hut and the other leg was taken over the metal roof of the barn with the aforementioned “roach” pole and secured to the other end of the “Dutch barn”. The ladder line feeder was taken into the Nissan Hut through a metal framed window. Should this have worked? Probably not. Did this work? Yes, better than we would have predicted showing that last years operation was not a mere fluke.

Guest operatorGuest operator

We were slow in setting up this year but we were operational by 12:00 BST. As usual we started by searching around the bands to test the station and locate a free frequency. this allowed us to track down our first two airfileds: RAF Chipping Ongar and RAF Hornchurch. Happy that our station was operatring within normal parameters we settled on 7.173MHz.

Guest operatorGuest operator

From there on we were the target of a pile up working 75 stations between 11:24UTC and 15:31 UTC, and average of 1 QSO every 3.3 minutes. Countries worked included: Wales, England, Southern Ireland (Eire), the Netherlands, Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, and Isle of Man. We also managed to work another 4 participating Airfields.

OperatingOperating

Sunday dawned fair and we returned to Middlezoy Aerodrome for day 2. We were on air around 11:00 BST and confident in the setup we picked a new clear frequency and started calling, once again rapidly becoming the target of a pileup. Althouh many of the countries that we aorked yesterday were once again represented, we added: Belgium and Italy. We worked a further 2 participating airfields and a total of 69 stations averaging 4.4 minutes per QSO.

Map of Participating Stations Worked

Log of Stations Worked

Date (UTC) Time (UTC) Station Worked Band or Freq (MHz) Mode Sent Received Operator’s Name QTH IARU Locator Dist (km) Notes
RST No. RST No.
06/04/24 10:56 GB0WAO 40m SSB 59   59   Sid RAF Chipping Ongar     Operated by Harlow & District ARS Harlow and District ARS. 3rd year of operatrion
06/04/24 11:14 GB0HAF 40m SSB 56   57   Kevin RAF Hornchurch     Operated by Havering and District ARC
06/04/24 11:21 GW4XLS 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Wrexham     Quiet but nice audio 400 – 500W
06/04/24 11:24 G3VCG 7.173 SSB 59   59   Don Chelmsford      
06/04/24 11:33 GW4PUC 7.173 SSB 59   59   Ray Llanelli      
06/04/24 11:38 G0KOJ 7.173 SSB 59   59   Brian Kings Lynn     FT1000MP 200W G5RV
06/04/24 11:43 G2ABR 7.173 SSB 59   59   Chris Harwich      
06/04/24 11:44 GB2NWA 7.173 SSB 59   59   Richard RAF North Weald     Operated by LEFARS IC7300 barefoot into a dipole
06/04/24 11:48 GW4NOO 7.173 SSB 59   59   Mike Tenby     IC7300 100W full size Delta Loop
06/04/24 11:52 M0HJO 7.173 SSB 59   59   John Tintagel      
06/04/24 11:54 G8BSP 7.173 SSB 59   59   Alan Shaftsbury     100W loaded dipole
06/04/24 12:01 2W0LPU/P 7.173 SSB 59   59   Lee Brecon      
06/04/24 12:04 M0NMI 7.173 SSB 59   59   David Swindon      
06/04/24 12:06 GX4ZFR 7.173 SSB 59   59   Sarah RAF Martlesham Heath     Operated by Felixstowe and District ARS Felixstowe District ARS Home Call 2E0ISJ
06/04/24 12:10 M7BBZ 7.173 SSB 55   57   Norman Bristol      
06/04/24 12:11 2E0OTM 7.173 SSB 59   59   Owen Durham      
06/04/24 12:13 MM6DBT 7.173 SSB 56   59   John Falkirk      
06/04/24 12:15 EI2JIB 7.173 SSB 57   57   Peter Dublin     Antenna at 8feet double bazooka 200W
06/04/24 12:18 M0WCW/QRP 7.173 SSB 23   48   Colin       2.5W
06/04/24 12:22 M7LCB 7.173 SSB 45   46   Liam Doncaster      
06/04/24 12:26 GX1IDR 7.173 SSB 59   59   Brian RAF Husbands Bosworth     Operated by G8GMU plus
06/04/24 12:30 M0KKM 7.173 SSB 59   59   Kevin Downham Market      
06/04/24 12:34 M0OXF 7.173 SSB 59   59   Clint Witney      
06/04/24 12:37 2E0XVX 7.173 SSB 58   59   Mick Market Harborough     IC7610 OCD
06/04/24 12:40 G0SVY 7.173 SSB 59   59   Dave Hereford     FT991A 80/40 trapped dipole
06/04/24 12:44 G0DUE 7.173 SSB 57   57   Alan Falmouth     QSB Halfwave multi trap dipole 100W FTDX10
06/04/24 12:47 G0MNN 7.173 SSB 59   59   Ben Bridlington     100W dipole
06/04/24 12:50 PA3BOE 7.173 SSB 57   58   Reni Bilthoven     QSB FT200
06/04/24 12:54 G4ENH 7.173 SSB 59   59   Ian Solihul IO92CK   WAB: SP18 FT991A long wire 90W
06/04/24 12:56 G0IEW/QRP 7.173 SSB 59   59   John Liverpool     IC705 10W doublet
06/04/24 12:59 2E0HEV 7.173 SSB 59   59   Mark Chingford      
06/04/24 13:04 GI0PGC 7.173 SSB 59   59   Jim Belfast      
06/04/24 13:08 MM0GXQ 7.173 SSB 57   58   Gary Glasgow     Half size G5RV FT710 100W
06/04/24 13:13 2E1HYD 7.173 SSB 58   59   Tony Leeds     Paul operating IC7300 Carolina Windom
06/04/24 13:16 G0AIX 7.173 SSB 59       David Penzance     Grew up near the airfield
06/04/24 13:19 M0BAR 7.173 SSB     59   Brian Co Durham      
06/04/24 13:20 GB6SL 7.173 SSB 58       Mike Kingston upon Hull      
06/04/24 13:23 G6NYG 7.173 SSB 59   59   Roy Droitwich      
06/04/24 13:25 MI3GRZ/P 7.173 SSB 58   59   Geoff       1500feet ASL Co Antrim
06/04/24 13:27 MN0JQS 7.173 SSB 55       Bill        
06/04/24 13:31 G4NXL 7.173 SSB 59   59   Malc Derby     WAB: SK34
06/04/24 13:35 M1CNO/A 7.173 SSB 59   59   Dan Wincanton IO81SB   Father was Sqn Leader at RAF Coltishaw and flew Jaguars
06/04/24 13:37 M3OPW 7.173 SSB 59   59   Harold Dorchester     IC 7300 25W
06/04/24 13:40 M0RSX/A 7.173 SSB 57   59           Operating /a from Centreparcs
06/04/24 13:43 M0RCE 7.173 SSB 59   59   Gary Bristol      
06/04/24 13:46 GB0MEA 7.173 SSB 55   57   Carl RAF Beccles     Operated by Lowestoft District & Pye Amateur Radio Club RAF Beccles
06/04/24 13:48 M0KSD 7.173 SSB 59   59   Ed Bungay     IC-706 into 40m end-fed, 100 watts.
06/04/24 13:51 G1HSL 7.173 SSB 58   59   John Ipswich     Delta loop 8m AGL
06/04/24 13:54 GW1FKY 7.173 SSB 19   59   Ken       Very distorted audio
06/04/24 13:58 GW1CUQ 7.173 SSB 59   59   Nigel Cardiff      
06/04/24 14:01 M7BUE 7.173 SSB 59   59   Ian Stoke-on-Trent      
06/04/24 14:05 2E0NMK 7.173 SSB 59   59   Simon County Durham      
06/04/24 14:08 F3HZN 7.173 SSB 57   59   Laurence South West France      
06/04/24 14:11 GD3ZZN 7.173 SSB 57   59   Martyn Port Eyron, Isle of Man     Close to the former RAF Jurby.
06/04/24 14:20 G4GMN 7.173 SSB 59   59   Ray Chigwell      
06/04/24 14:22 G4BGX 7.173 SSB 59   59   Derek Poole     Greg operating Some QSB
06/04/24 14:26 2E0WEK 7.173 SSB 59   59   Keith Horsham      
06/04/24 14:28 MM1KML 7.173 SSB 56   59   Dave Inverness     Lived in Bristol for 40 years
06/04/24 14:31 G0LOL 7.173 SSB 59   59   Chris Doncaster      
06/04/24 14:32 ON4CAS 7.173 SSB 57   59   Egbert Antwerp      
06/04/24 14:34 2E0XGO 7.173 SSB 57   59   Richard Whitehaven      
06/04/24 14:36 M6JNZ 7.173 SSB 57   59   Steve Cattrick N Yorkshire     Father stationed at RAF Cattrick
06/04/24 14:40 GM4MTI 7.173 SSB 55   58   Stuart Oban     Some QRM and QSB, adjacent continental station casuing interference. WAB NM83
06/04/24 14:42 PD3W 7.173 SSB 58   59   Hans 20km S of Eindhoven      
06/04/24 14:45 GI3NPP 7.173 SSB 59   59   Ron Co Terome      
06/04/24 14:47 M0WGD 7.173 SSB 57   59   Derek Lincoln     80W doublet antenna NE/SW
06/04/24 14:58 G0ECX 7.173 SSB 59   59   Rob Weymouth     FTDX10
06/04/24 15:02 M0KED 7.173 SSB 58   59   Andy Lincoln     Visited steam rally in Westonzoyland as a child. Ex RAF
06/04/24 15:07 MM0GTX 7.173 SSB 57   56   Brian Campbell Town Mull of Kintyre      
06/04/24 15:10 M6LSC/QPR 7.173 SSB 57   59   Jake Hendon     5W. EFHW. Xiegu G90
06/04/24 15:16 G3OKA 7.173 SSB 57   59   John Wirral near Liverpool      
06/04/24 15:17 G4FAP 7.173 SSB 59   59   Roger Walsall     FT891 200W with Amplifier
06/04/24 15:21 G0GRI 7.173 SSB 57   59   Ian Winchester     Used to live in Temple Combe
06/04/24 15:23 M0VCP 7.173 SSB 59   59   Simon Layton near Sizewell     TS520S
06/04/24 15:25 M7KAL 7.173 SSB 57   59   Richard South Staffordshire      
06/04/24 15:27 2E0YEH 7.173 SSB 59   59   David Spalding     FT710 100W Inverted Vee
06/04/24 15:29 M7KJF 7.173 SSB 59   59   Mick Trowbridge      
06/04/24 15:31 2E0FQT 7.173 SSB 59   59   John Scunthorpe      
07/04/24 10:01 GX3EFX 40m SSB 59   59   Philip Bushy      
07/04/24 10:10 M3DPQ/P 40m SSB 59   59   Bob RAF Henlow     WAB: TL13 Signals Museum (Museum 5026) RAFARS 1214 May 2024 will be last operation due to redevelopment
07/04/24 10:19 M0TNY 7.174 SSB 33   57   Tony Watford     Mobile whip
07/04/24 10:19 PA3GEG 7.174 SSB 59   59   Gerald       100W
07/04/24 10:21 GW4TUD 7.174 SSB 59   59   Wyn Aberystwth     100W FTDX10 Temporary inverted vee EFHW
07/04/24 10:24 G3VWH 7.174 SSB 59   59   Brian Shrewsbury     80m Windom
07/04/24 10:28 G1IVL 7.174 SSB 59   59   Richard Worcestershire      
07/04/24 10:28 ON3WAB 7.174 SSB 57   57   Kris NE Belgium     High winds – Force 5
07/04/24 10:30 GM6ZAK 7.174 SSB 58   59   Andy Cupar     Ex RAF
07/04/24 10:32 G0BRC 7.174 SSB 59   59   Jack Bredhest     Nickname “JJ” Fathers callsign M0OFM, may have been stationed at Weston Zoyland
07/04/24 10:38 MW6HNN 7.174 SSB 59   59   Darren Tenby      
07/04/24 10:39 G1FYS 7.174 SSB 58   59   Kevin Huddesfield      
07/04/24 10:43 M7DPA 7.174 SSB     59   Alex Plymouth      
07/04/24 10:46 M3KQJ 7.174 SSB 59   59   Charlie Birmingham      
07/04/24 10:48 GB0MEA 7.174 SSB 57   59   Tim RAF Beccles     Operated by Lowestoft District & Pye Amateur Radio Club Good audio IC7300 Icom SM30
07/04/24 10:54 2E0AJM 7.174 SSB 59   59   David Chard     100W IC7300
07/04/24 10:58 G7HFS 7.174 SSB 59   59   Ian St Leonards on Sea near Hastings     IC7300 Random wire
07/04/24 10:59 PD3ED/P 7.174 SSB 58   59   Ed Allotments in Rotterdam      
07/04/24 11:02 2W0DSP 7.174 SSB 59   59   Andrew Swansea     IC7600 30W Double Bazooka
07/04/24 11:05 M0CSF 7.174 SSB 56   59   Alan        
07/04/24 11:08 2E0MIZ/A 7.174 SSB 59   59   Angela        
07/04/24 11:10 G3ADZ 7.174 SSB 55   59   Keith Ipswitch     Alinco DXSR8 100W
07/04/24 11:17 M7NHC 7.174 SSB 58   59   Nick Eastborne     IC7300 SM30 mic 25W long wire
07/04/24 11:21 G4VHM 7.174 SSB 58   59   Mike Kingston upon Hull     Strong winds
07/04/24 11:25 G1XZX 7.174 SSB 58   58   Barry Clacton on Sea     IC757DX Mk1
07/04/24 11:27 G8APF 7.174 SSB 59   59   David Loughborough     100W IC7300 EFHW @ 6m
07/04/24 11:35 G6ASK 7.174 SSB 59   59   John Dulverton     1kW 40m rotory dipole
07/04/24 11:39 G8KPD 7.174 SSB 58   59   Brian Newcastle     Near Newcastle Airport
07/04/24 11:42 GM4TPQ 7.174 SSB 59   59   Bill Tunbury     Fleet Air Arm
07/04/24 11:47 G4BSC 7.174 SSB 59   59   John Cheltenham      
07/04/24 11:56 M1CBK 7.174 SSB 59   59   Rob Erith north Kent     FT5000MP 1kW
07/04/24 12:00 G0PPU 7.174 SSB 59   59   Roy Kidderminster     IC7300 100W G5RV SM50 mic
07/04/24 12:06 2E0XVX 7.174 SSB 59   59   Mike Market Harborough     IC7610 OCD 80m – 10m
07/04/24 12:07 M0HOO 7.174 SSB 56   59   Alan Buxton     Harper Hill RAF Maintenance 28 Long wire 100W FT710
07/04/24 12:11 M3NOW 7.174 SSB 59   59   Steph Reading      
07/04/24 12:14 GB3RS 7.174 SSB 59   59   Simon Bletchley     Home call: G4WQG
07/04/24 12:18 G1OVA 7.174 SSB 45   59   Peter Between Barnsely and Sheffield South Yorkshire      
07/04/24 12:21 M0AAX 7.174 SSB 58   59   Mike East London      
07/04/24 12:24 2E0OCR 7.174 SSB 59   59   Patrick Bilstead Kent      
07/04/24 12:27 2E0KAX 7.174 SSB 59   59   Neil Wolverhampton     TS870 with external audio gear
07/04/24 12:29 GW4NOO 7.174 SSB 59   59   Mike Tenby     FTDX101D 100W full size delta loop
07/04/24 12:32 M1DRK 7.174 SSB 59   59   Andy Hull IO93US    
07/04/24 12:38 G6ZBV 7.174 SSB 59   59   Adrian Bolton Manchester      
07/04/24 12:39 G8GHD 7.174 SSB 59   59   Bill West Sussex IO90    
07/04/24 12:41 M0KOI/M 7.174 SSB 45   59   Peter Chesire     ATAS120A
07/04/24 12:43 MM0VOK 7.174 SSB 56   56   Ralph Fraserborough     WAB: NJ85 Lived in Burnham on Sea
07/04/24 12:46 G4JXC 7.174 SSB 59   59   Bob Dursley     ANAN 75 DLE Raspberry Pi 400
07/04/24 12:48 G4PBZ 7.174 SSB 57   59   Tony Warrington      
07/04/24 12:52 GW4YNP 7.174 SSB 59   59   Dave Uskside ARC      
07/04/24 12:56 2W0IIU 7.174 SSB 59   59   Paul Newport      
07/04/24 13:02 GM0GOV 7.174 SSB 59   59   Fred Dunlop     icom 7300
07/04/24 13:04 2E0VGP 7.174 SSB 59   59   Peter Swindon     icom 7610. 1/2 endfed
07/04/24 13:06 M3ZLA 7.174 SSB 59   59   Glyn Chester     25w flat top dipole
07/04/24 13:13 G2NV 7.174 SSB 59   59   Tom Lutterworth      
07/04/24 13:16 G6LTT 7.174 SSB 57   58   Ron NW London     200w endfed longwire
07/04/24 13:19 M7DMS 7.174 SSB 45                
07/04/24 13:23 MW7CIH 7.174 SSB 55   59   Mat Uskside ARC, Newport      
07/04/24 13:25 G3ZDQ 7.174 SSB 59   59   Ian Dorset, Blandford      
07/04/24 13:27 IZ5DRL 18.109 SSB 56   59   Maio Tuscany      
07/04/24 13:44 M6BZG 7.111 SSB 59   59   Rob POTA GB0656      
07/04/24 14:27 MM7RVC 7.166 SSB 55   58   Chris       Ex RAF
07/04/24 14:35 PA3GLK 7.166 SSB 43   59   Dave        
07/04/24 14:38 M0JIM 7.166 SSB 59   59   Jim Andover     FT1000MP
07/04/24 14:41 G4BCA 7.166 SSB 23   59   Dave Gloucester     QSB
07/04/24 14:45 G6LXK 7.166 SSB 59   59   Howard Braintree      
07/04/24 14:48 G0EIG 7.166 SSB 59   59   Mick Plymouth      
07/04/24 14:54 GB1HA 7.166 SSB 35   56   Patrick Headcorn Aerodrome     Operated by Kent Weald Radio Club Used by Canadians in WW2
07/04/24 14:57 G3VHH 7.166 SSB 59   59   John Langley E Berkshire      
07/04/24 14:59 M0UTA 7.166 SSB 59   59   Alex Stockport     FT1000Mk5 M90 Mic 80W
07/04/24 15:04 M7EEJ 7.166 SSB 56   59   Matt Newark on Trent     FTDX1200 End Fed

10 Year RSL Tracker (2015 – 2024)

The Regional Secondary Locators (RSLs) are letters altered or added to an individual or club amateur radio callsign to denote which part of the United Kingdom the station is operating from, the map and table below indicate the principles:

Location Foundation Callsigns Intermediate Callsigns Full Callsigns Club Callsigns Special Event Callsigns
England M#☐☐☐ 2E#☐☐☐ G#☐☐☐
M#☐☐☐
GX#☐☐☐
MX#☐☐☐
GB#☐☐☐

Typically Special Event Callsigns are of the form GB + 1 Number (0-9) and 3 letters.
However, Special Special Event Callsigns can have 1, 2, 3 or even 4 letters after 1, 2 or even 3 digits following the “GB” prefix depending on:
1. Ofcoms disposition,
2. Who you ask,
3. Who you know, and
4. How much “clout” you can bring to bear.

Guernsey MU#☐☐☐ 2U#☐☐☐ GU#☐☐☐
MU#☐☐☐
GP#☐☐☐
MP#☐☐☐
Isle of Man MD#☐☐☐ 2D#☐☐☐ GD#☐☐☐
MD#☐☐☐
GT#☐☐☐
MT#☐☐☐
Jersey MJ#☐☐☐ 2J#☐☐☐ GJ#☐☐☐
MJ#☐☐☐
GH#☐☐☐
MH#☐☐☐
Northern Ireland MI#☐☐☐ 2I#☐☐☐ GI#☐☐☐
MI#☐☐☐
GN#☐☐☐
MN#☐☐☐
Scotland MM#☐☐☐ 2M#☐☐☐ GM#☐☐☐
MM#☐☐☐
GS#☐☐☐
MS#☐☐☐
Wales MW#☐☐☐ 2W#☐☐☐ GW#☐☐☐
MW#☐☐☐
GC#☐☐☐
MC#☐☐☐
Map of RSL's

We have long harboured the ambition to work all RSL’s on a single Special Event or contest but have yet to manage this (although we have come close on a few occasions). We didn’t manage it again this time either, but we live in hope!

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