NORTH EAST AIRCRAFT MUSEUM

The Vulcan

On permanent display at the NEAM

We were very lucky on the night of the investigation, as we were blessed with a beautiful early autumn evening, with no wind and reasonable temperatures.

We began by meeting for a meal at the local pub, as we had to meet new arrivals, and also celebrate the 21st birthday of our friend and fellow team member, Ashleigh. It proved to be a good start to the evening as we had a spirit visit even there, of an older lady who used to work as a cleaner. As the tempereature dropped Julie took some stills photos, and as you can see below, did manage to pick something up!

Because of the size of the area to be covered, we decided to split into two groups, so the report will be covered as to area, and what happened to each group in those areas. We investigated three areas mainly, hangar one, attached to the reception area, hangar two, opposite and to the left and hangar three opposite and to the right.

Hangar three is the smallest of the three, at the moment housing only one plane. What was experienced by both groups was a very cold breeze, felt by everyone, including the sceptics amongst us. There was not a breath of wind outside, and no source of the moving air could be found. Group one had a very promising start, with a small light recorded as soon as the videocam was switched on. It was decided to start by placing hands on the plane, as there had been reports of it moving in the past. So it proved on that night, as group two also had the same thing happen, with the plane rocking so much that you could hear the tyres squeaking against the chocks. A strange noise was heard by group one, like a metal bar falling and rolling, but nothing could be found.

Both groups performed table tipping in here, group two got nothing at all except an unusual darkness descending for a short period, but group one were more sucessful earlier in the night. They got off to a good start while reinforcing protection and energy gathering, see clip below.

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Hangar 3

Using the table for information gathering proved very successful for group one, Lila picking up on a WW2 pilot, details being confirmed by violent movement of the table. He had apparently died in a fire after his plane had crashed, and he had ended up in water. Lila was kicked on the foot after this fact had been revealed, and Andrea suspected that he was very angry at having lost his life at such a young age. She felt so uncomfortable, that she left the table. The name could not be confirmed.

Meanwhile, group two had a brief visit from a woman, who told us that another woman had been on a recent visit to the museum. That was the only information she gave, before she was replaced by a man who really didn't want to comunicate with us.

Two other very perculiar things happened, in and around this hangar. Paul was investigating a noise on the outside of the building when he reported seeing a black cat sidling very close to the hangar. He watched it for a little while then was distracted for a second. When he looked back, it had gone, but there was nowhere it could have gone! The other incident occured as group two were walking away from the hangar and a loud bang was heard, as though someone had hit the metal side. David rushed straight away to investigate but there was no one inside or out.

Hangar 3

Julie taking EMF readngs

Hangar 3

David and Andrea

Hangar two, for my part, seemed to be divided into two distinct areas, front and rear. At the front of the hangar is a helicopter, with the spirit of a man definitely attached to it. He does not seem happy when people approach it, and is very protective. He seemed quite happy to spend his time circling this piece of equipment, but wouldn't respond to any of our questions, other than causing breezes and dramatic temperature drops. He did show me a picture of Elvis Presley wearing boxing gloves, and for the life of me I could not understand the significance of it. Later it was revealed that Elvis made a film in which he played the role of a boxer, Kid Galahad. The helicopter had seen active service during the Falklands conflict and had been a major force in the rescue of the survivors from the ship the 'Sir Galahad'. Sometimes this is hard work!!

At the rear of the hangar was a 'lurking' spirit. Hiding away in the shadows, making his presence known by a strange rustling sound, like a paper bag or crisp packet, that was also heard by David in the other group. As I walked into one corner I was almost poleaxed by a very strong pain in the back of my head, and a strange sensation in my throat. There then followed a series of images, showing a man hiding behind a bunker, running across tarmac being chased by a group of others and then being set-upon. I asked Keith if there had been a spy there during the war and it is well documented. His name was Augustin and he was executed by the Czech underground after being found guilty of spying for Germany during the war. He escaped from the airfield in England by stealing a plane, then tried to do the same thing from Czechoslovakia, but was caught. According to Keith, he was shot in the back of the head.

Hangar 2

The helicopter

Group one took a totally different approach, by starting their investigation from inside the helicopter. All the time they were in there, there were complaints of feelings of being watched, sickness, strong breezes, intense cold on feet and legs, and every time someone mentioned the cockpit, the helicopter seemed to move. Dave also mentioned a very strong smell of chocolate that wafted across him, and a cup had been used for drinking chocolate was close by, but he is convinced that that would not have produced such a strong smell.

Outside the helicopter the rustling was heard, so it was decided to try some table tipping, near one of the other planes. The spirit of a WW2 pilot was picked up, by the name of Bernard Williams, (name being researched), who was a gentleman and very popular with the ladies! He was apparently shot down during the war, but did survive the ordeal. Whilst this information was being gleaned foorsteps were being heard around the aircraft, Scott was convinced he had seen someone through one of the windows and everyone heard a shuffle, then there was a strange blurring on the camera.

Hangar 2

The area of the spy

It was to be hangar one which gave us by far the most evidence of presence. Group one got an almost immeadiate response to asking out for spirit presence with a loud noise in the corner of the hangar. That was quickly followed by two lights, (click on the two links below). The first light is particularly interesting because, as can be seen in the slow-motion version, it splits into two in front of the camera, and then joins again! It was thought it was the spirit of two women who had worked as nurses during the war period. When asking for a noise one was heard, and then so was the repeat. At exactly the same time in a different part of the hangar, Dave was experiencing a strong smell of perfume.

Two more loud noises were then heard, click on windows below.

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The table was set up in between the Hunter and the Meteor. It was noticed that the EMF meter had actually started to rock backwards and forwards without anyone touching or moving the table, and the two nurses persisted with their presence. A really cold breeze sprang up from nowhere and a small light was caught under one of the aircraft.

When asking for confirmation that they were two women (apparently named Shirley and Ruth), this was heard, (click on window below). Research is still on going regarding a pilot named Roger Keighley, who died from a heart attack while in the air, in 1954.

Group two were also graced by two spirits, this time of a man and a woman, who were only too happy to show that they were indeed a couple!! I cannot be more specific, but suffice to say that the images were VERY graphic!! The lady also showed an image of an open parachute, so I could only assume that that was her role at the airfield, a parachute packer.

At one stage we heard what sounded like a man and woman whispering, quickly followed by a cough, but it sounded as though it was coming from the middle of the room, so we decided to move there.

These two were quite happy to share images of themselves together, him presenting with his arm around her shoulder. The very strange thing here though, was a very strong smell of almonds, carried on a very cold breeze, but what the significance of that was, they were not inclined to share.

I left the group briefly to make a visit to the office, where on the reecy visit I had noticed a young man walking up and down the stairs. Karl, the curator, had agreed to a brief visit, as visitors are not normally allowed in there. Even on the way up the stairs I could here his voice saying, 'It wasn't my fault'. He seemed very upset about something, and it soon became plain what that was. When I asked his name he told me his mates called him Teddy, so that is the name I used when I spoke to him. His second name, he gave as Shaw. He died in a training accident in 1942, which he was blamed for, but he is convinced was not his fault.

The stairs to the office

It was then he showed me a pair of feet, which I must say did shake me a little. Along with this he kept repeating, 'I never got to do it.'. According to Keith, the morning of the accident this man had received a letter from his mother, along with a pair of socks she had knitted him. The socks were left, along with his feet, with the remainder of the plane that they couldn't retrieve. Also, he never got to answer the letter he had received.

Karl then asked if I would like to see 'Teddy's' belongings. He brought out, a map, diary, wallet, letter, cigarette case and a piece of flight suit.

It was at this point, especially when handling the diary, that it all got a little too much for me. I'm not given to tears readily, but I must admit I began to sob uncontrollably. I seemed to be picking up on this man's frustration and sadness, and the realisation of how many lives had been lost at such a young age.

'Teddy' then began speaking again. He was asking me to tell the man that he was there when the transport broke. I asked Keith (who was at the retrieval), if the transporter had suffered a flat tyre or broken down while doing the job. He was amazed at this because this was not known to anyone else. The transporter had had a flat tyre.

Karl also knew the whereabouts of 'Teddy's grave, and I asked if he would mind if we took flowers and placed them there. He said no, and that is what we did during RAF week. He is named on the War Memorial at Honley Cemetary and is interred in the family grave. His full name is Edgar Grenville Shaw.

The two pictures above are taken outside near the entrance. I had said since our arrival that a man had been stood in the vacinity, pointing at a gap between hangar one and the Vulcan bomber repeating over and over, 'Thirty-six over there'. Our researcher, Ian, came up with the fact that 36 Squadron had been stationed there for many years, so we can only assume that was the significance.

We would like to thank all the people at the North East Aircraft Museum for their help and encouragement, and we shall be returning there soon.

Pat Adams-Wright for WYPG

Some extra photos for you to look at