Prior to the arrival of the 474th Fighter Group in the spring of 1944 and Warmwell becoming Station 454 Moreton, RAF personnel vacated the airfield except for a stores contingent (to maintain Warmwell’s satellite units) and transport section.

Joan Gillet was one of those who remained on the camp.

“I was one of the MT drivers left when the Americans came. I remember their PX. It sold everything in the cosmetic line you could think of but we missed our cups of tea – it was all coffee!

My husband and I became engaged at Swanage. He had volunteered for the RAF Commandos, so was due to go to Germany. We were married in September 1945. He got held up in Germany because of a blown up bridge and arrived home at Cerne Abbas two days late.

Our wedding photo (below) is taken on the church at Cerne Abbas with the MT section acting as guard of honour.”

Joan Laing WAAF, MT Section

Joan and Theo Laing at the Crossways Exhibition in August 2000