Wycombe Air Park, originally known as Booker Airfield, first opened in 1939 as a Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Training Centre.

I’m afraid I have no details of the top left picture above, other than that it dates from the mid-1950s, but it is obvious that anyone using the B482 road between Marlow and Lane End might have experienced a slight delay!

The second picture however comes with complete facts and figures. It was given to me some years ago by lifelong Marlow resident Brian Stone who was an aircraft engineer at Booker from 1942 to 1962.

He tells me that it was in 1948 when the pilot of a Tiger Moth bounced upon landing, lost control and came down on a D Flight “Dispersal Hut” by the perimeter fence.

Brian can be seen on the right by that fence surveying the wreckage.

The pilot was relatively unscathed, but had he hit the other end of the building there might have been a different outcome: that part was used for fuel storage which would probably have exploded.

We are back to mysteries with the centre group picture which certainly has a Booker location.

These airmen have the appearance of being pictured at a later date than World War Two but any information would be welcomed, and I would be happy to supply a clearer enlargement if you think you recognise anybody or even yourself!

The aerial view lower left can be dated by the fact that the M40 motorway is seen to be in the early stages of construction.

This was the first section to be built (Handy Cross to Stokenchurch) and was opened in June 1967, followed by the section to Beaconsfield in 1969, but not completed eastwards to Junction 1 until 1973.

Finally, on to the last picture and the movie poster above it.

The spectacular (but overlong) 1965 film Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines was partly shot at Booker and many of the specially constructed early aircraft were filmed there, some only just making it off the ground.

Marlow photographer Barrie Lea stood by the perimeter fence and this is one of the pictures he obtained.

The film recently showed up on TV. I hadn’t seen it for decades: it includes a host of star names.

I always liked the Terry-Thomas character; he also had a major part in my all-time favourite film It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

Contact Michael at michael@jazzfans.co or 01628 486571