Warfare in News

The Prince of Wales has unveiled a new memorial commemorating the female secret agents who flew out of RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire to aid resistance movements in occupied Europe.

At a Service of Dedication, Prince Charles met relatives of the women and members of the public at a nearby public house. He sat with three veterans, who described their memories of carrying out covert missions.

The mosaic style memorial was constructed in an attempt to tell the stories of the women who risked their lives across the continent during the Second World War.

Historian Bernard O'Connor said he had records of more than 80 female secret agents flying from what was then the most secret airbase in Britain, the stories of most had never been disclosed. Mr O'Connor told the BBC:

'I think the contribution that they made to the liberation of their countries needs to be told.'

Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, praised the women's 'extraordinary bravery which helped change the war'.

The Prince of Wales has unveiled a new memorial commemorating the female secret agents who flew out of RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire to aid resistance movements in occupied Europe. At a Service of Dedication, Prince Charles met relatives of the women and members of the public at a nearby public house. He sat with three veterans, who described their memories of carrying out covert missions. The mosaic style memorial was constructed in an attempt to tell the stories of the women who risked their lives across the continent during the Second World War. Historian Bernard O'Connor said he had records of more than 80 female secret agents flying from what was then the most secret airbase in Britain, the stories of most had never been disclosed. Mr O'Connor told the BBC: [i]'I think the contribution that they made to the liberation of their countries needs to be told.'[/i] Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, praised the women's 'extraordinary bravery which helped change the war'.