The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility unveils new photos in meeting rooms illustrating the history of the local area

The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility has revealed new photos that have been displayed in their Javelin, Meteor and Typhoon meeting rooms. The Facility is located on the site of the former RAF Moreton Valence Airfield and these photographs show images of the historic aircrafts that were flown at the airfield from the 1950s and 60s. The collection features work from Russell Adam’s Jet Age Photography Collection entrusted to the Jet Age Museum, while others are from the Museum’s own collection. 

Russell Adams was a pioneering photographer, solidifying his place in history after taking the first jet aircraft aerobatic photograph. His air-to-air images feature models such as the Gloster Meteor and Gloster Javelin and were regularly featured in magazines and newspapers of the time. For those interested in his work, you can find out more in the book, ‘Jet Age Photographer, The Aviation Photography of Russell Adams’ by Tim Kershaw or by visiting the Jet Age Museum’s website. 

Dan Pearson, General Manager at the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility, said:

“These dramatic images from its most famous era celebrate the former RAF Moreton Valence Airfield’s rich history. The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility recognises its place in the county, honouring the local area’s previous achievements. We look forward to giving visitors of the Facility an opportunity to view the photographs for themselves.”

The Facility’s meeting rooms are currently not available for hire due to COVID-19. Before the pandemic, the rooms provided space for community meetings and events. Some of the photographs in the meeting rooms can be seen below. 

Here you can see Russell Adams with his trusty speed graphic plate camera, photographed in the rear seat of a Gloster Meteor T7 by pilot Rodney Dryland.

This photograph shows the Gloster Meteor jet. It is one of a pair of photographs which established Russell Adams’s international reputation as the first person to take air-to-air aerobatic photographs of a jet aircraft in 1952.

This next photograph shows the Meteor T7 WL415 jet flown by Jim Cooksey, demonstrating its slotted air brakes close to the Gloster’s Moreton Valence Airfield in July 1952.

This photograph shows women working on a “car door” type Typhoon 1B JP387 nearing completion in Gloster’s Hucclecote or Stoke Orchard factory in 1943. It went on to serve with 175 (Fighter) Squadron RAF.

To find out more about the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility, visit our homepage.