On This Day in Wembury
27 November 1951 — Royal Navy Responds to Low-Flying Complaints
On this day the Western Evening Herald reported on Wembury Parish Council’s ongoing complaints about low-flying aircraft disturbing residents. At a meeting in Down Thomas, the Clerk, Mr. Wilfred James, read out a letter from the Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. The Navy expressed regret for the inconvenience caused but stressed that training must continue: “The Royal Navy must be prepared and efficient to meet any emergency, which of course includes safeguarding residents of the Wembury area themselves.” The letter assured that the aircraft were under the control of highly skilled and experienced pilots. Parish chairman Capt. R. P. Giles wryly observed the “admirable chaps the way they skim the roof tops.”
Reflection: The exchange highlights the uneasy coexistence between military readiness and rural community life. For villagers, low-flying aircraft meant noise and disruption; for the Navy, it was essential training in the tense early years of the Cold War.
Source: Western Evening Herald, 27 November 1951.
