The Airline of Kent

MALCOLM FINNIS

Malcolm hails from St.Margarets-at-Cliffe, some three miles from the Battle of Britain ‘Chain Home’ stations that still stand sentinel  on the Dover cliffs and 15 miles along the Channel coast from the isle of Thanet and Manston airfield.....RAF Manston until 1998 and now Kent International Airport. Manston

The forced landing of an USAAF Flying Fortress in 1945 ignited his enthusiasm for aviation and the American connection continued  during the years in 1950s when Manston was home to the USAF Thunderjets and Sabres.

Malcolm worked for Folland Aircraft at Dunsfold  at the time of the Gnat trainer development and at Manston for virtually all Air Ferry’s operational life.

The American connection has carried on since 1982 through close involvement with the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Thorpe Abbots in Norfolk.

Working with great characters of the airlines in the compilation of the books and in the organisation of the Invicta/Air Ferry reunions of 2005 and 2007 has been a very rewarding experience. These men and women were at the heart of independent aviation.

During the final phase of writing ‘Twilight of the Pistons’ the first Air Ferry reunion was held on the 7the March 1966. This was followed, after publication by a second reunion on the 12th August 1991.
During the preparation of ‘Take off to Touchdown’ it was decided to hold a joint Invicta/Air ferry reunion on the 16th April 2005 and this was followed by a ‘Last \Reunion’ for both airlines on 15th september 2007.

All four gatherings were held at the Hoverspeed Sports and Social Club, a few houses and a potato field from the eastern end of the huge Manston runway----in the airline days there would sometimes be several Vulcans or Victors sitting on the Operations Readiness Platform situated there.

Audrey Kennard, a past director of Air ferry and Invicta and Michael harridine, who worked closely with Hugh Kennard throughout the time of both airlines and was also an Invicta director,attended all four reunions. Ex-aircrew members came from the Far East,the USA,Italy,France and Scotland while ex-staff and people who worked with the companies came from Belgium and many parts of England.

Any ex-Air ferry or Invicta staff who are seeking,or able to give, information on old colleagues are invited to contact Malcolm.

E-mail Malcolm