FHT 019-020

Date Created: 31 October 2013

Author: Unknown

Source: Private Collection

Owner: Unknown

Location: UK

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Training falcons to help reduce flying accidents experiments at R.A.F. Station in Shropshire 23.07.1947.

Early this year a joint Committee of the Air Ministry, Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Civil Aviation was formed to discuss means to reduce the accidents caused by birds to aircraft at airfields.. Last year the cost of damage to R.A.F. machines was £20,000. - In 1945 the figure was £120,000. A sum of money was provided from R.A.F.  funds to conduct experiments with falcons. The aid of Mr. Ronald Stevens, of Shropshire - a noted falconer was enlisted, and his peregrine falcons are being training - experimentally at the R.A.F. Station Shawbury, Shropshire. The idea is that the presence of falcons acts as a deterrent to other birds - they just keep away... On the photo: Terence O'Reilly whose home is at Slugh Bucks, and whose privately hobby is falconry, seen as he carries out his last job of the day - to put the falcons to "bed" in the falcony hutch - at R.A.F. Station Shawbury, Shropshire... Photo taken in November 1947.

With many thanks to BFC and Tony James.

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