A FORMER Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) member, who celebrates her 82nd birthday today, is looking for survivors from an airbase bombed in the Second World War.

Kathleen Charles believes she may be the only surviving member of her group who served in Tangmere.

Rations

She was at the WAAF camp iin Sussex, as a war administrator, dealing with rations, when the area was bombed.

Mrs Charles, who has proudly kept photographs of herself in the WAAF at the age of 18, said if there are other survivors from the group, she would like to hear from them.

Mrs Charles, from York Place, Worcester, has lived in the Faithful City for more than 14 years.

She said she was having her lunch when the airfield by the WAAF camp at Tangmere was bombed by the Germans on August 16, 1940.

"Johnny Johnson, the famous fighter pilot, was there," she said.

"I saw the planes come and took no notice - the bombs came out in a jumble.

"When they exploded we were dragged into a nearby shelter and everything went haywire.

"I heard some explosions but didn't see anything."

After her time in Tangmere Mrs Charles was stationed at the WAAF base in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

Mrs Charles, who has one daughter and two grandsons living in Stratford-upon-Avon, spent 20 years in Pershore after marrying her late husband Donald.

After serving as a WAAF, she spent the rest of her life as a full-time mother.

Anyone from WAAF in Tangmere who knew Mrs Charles' should ring Liz Freeth at the Evening News on 01905 742246.