This evening we launched our air balloon ride from our base at Wendling as all our passenger were quite local. We were aloft at 7.00 p.m. with a light wind coming from the southwest. We soon spotted the wash simmering in the evening sunshine and the north Norfolk coast. We fly past the old American air base at Wendling I always a think about what it must have been like when it was active and for the hundreds of airmen who forfeited their lives flying from here during the Second World War. We gently drift towards the picturesque village of Gressenhall to the north of the village there is a wonderful rural life museum and 1940’s style farm complete with working horse it’s a great day out especially if you have children As we pass the village the large grass airfield of what used to be RAF Swanton Morley was to our front and is such a perfect spot to land, especially prior to harvest with limited landed spots available. This is now run by the British Army and the Light Dragoons as based there. Thus it is a highly secure base a radio call to our ground crew to instruct them to ask permission to land. We had landed here once already this year and were conscious that we did not want to appear liberties. Permission was given and the crew arrived with an armed escort complete with SA80 rifles. Our escort were extremely helpful and courteous once the hot air balloon was packed away we were guided through the base thanked the guards for their assistance. An interesting an diverse end to our balloon flight
An Excellent and well organised evening, superb balloon flight
Kind Regards John Miller