THESE amazing photographs of life at RAF Westonzoyland down the ages are just some of the amazing artefacts in a new archive documenting the site.

The airfield near Bridgwater was in operation from the 1920s until the late 1950s and was used as a training base for pilots who flew early jets.

Thousands of airmen and women were based at the site during the war years when Polish, Czech and American pilots were put up in houses near the air base to fly a variety of aircraft from the site.

Historian Robbert Turner said: “It was a pilot’s dream – an absolutely ideal place to have an air base.

“There are so many wonderful stories and memories people have of the base and the men who flew there.

“One popular one is of a housewife who, when faced with a German pilot who had been shot down and survived being on fire, could only think to say to him ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’”

The village of Westonzoyland has 13 graves of those who died at the airfield and Mr Turner believes four more pilots lost their lives at sea during sorties over the Bristol Channel.

The airfield was located between Westonzoyland and Othery, but only some patches of land covered in concrete and some abandoned buildings remain.

Mr Turner is hoping to set up a permanent memorial centre to honour the memories of the 13 pilots and crew who died after flying out of RAF Westonzoyland.

He said: “It is such a shame that an airfield which played such an important part in our history has been left to degradation.

“Many veterans and family members feel the site should have something to preserve its history and that is what I am hoping to achieve.”

Anyone with memories or memorabilia of RAF Westonzoyland or the pilots who died flying from there should contact Mr Turner via email at robbertturner@gmail.com or call 07822-136765.

ALL PHOTOS: Courtesy of Westonzoyland Aviation Museum