This is the Forum at it's best.Thanks for the research Peter it is a bit addictive at times as well as enjoyable.
The Control Tower as viewed on Google Earth looks very complete and possibly still in Service or at least preserved as a Museum, I feel that your suggestion that it is still in use could well be right as the runway appears to be in good condition also.
The research I have been doing recently into my wifes Family tree revealed that her great Grandfather was a Journeyman Shoemaker living in East Street Newton Abbot which is about 20mls from our home here in Devon. This information gleaned from the Birth Certificate Registering his Son in 1866, his wife had no writing skills and is entered as "the mark" of Sarah Ridgway this would have been the norm for the day for the average citizen.
The strange thing about this discovery is that during all our years of working overseas and UK she never seemed to have a sense of belonging until we moved to South Hams. Here she threw herself into organisations that she feels deeply about with total selflesness and it would seem that she has come back home now.
I'm just happy she "belongs", my Fathers ancestry is half Polish and 1/4 Russia, 1/4 French (my English Mother chose to run away when I was 18mths old and I'm quite happy to never sight her again) so I'm Happy wherever she is as I have no yearnings to live in either of the other options and feel comfortable wherever I am simple soul that I am.
It seems that during the last period of service 250 Squadron and 318 Squadron shared the airfield. The current 250 Squadron is indeed a model aero club.
Risano, Tissano and Lavariano are all within a triangle and probably were the towns in which the squadrons were based. The airfield itself was, at the end of the war two strips, Risano and Lavariana, that were joined in a V by the Germans. I can't see any trace of the second strip now, it probably ran parallel to the A23. Apparently this has led to the combined airfield being called both Risano and Lavariana at the same time.
The model club uses the western part of the strip and the eastern part is used as a drag racing strip. A manufacturer of ultralight aircraft was based there but has now moved. I can't quite work out if it is still in use as a private airfield.
I must say I find this historical research quite interesting.
