John P
Mellor
PC 290
Staffordshire County Police
Tettenhall Sectional Station, 1950-1955
The RAF
Perton had a short active life then became, with Wrottesley, the
headquarters of the Princes Irene Brigade, a crack Netherlands
army unit. The brigade left in May 1947 and was followed at Perton
by the Polish Resettlement Corps and European displaced persons.
The runways were still in use and many people from Wolverhampton
learnt to drive there.
The cold
war was at its height and the fears of the many nationalities living
on or near Perton were of the Russians. They felt they had
suffered enough under the Nazi yoke. Scares were frequent and, in
1951, the government ordered all eastern European aliens on the
register - no missing asylum seekers in those days - to report at
the nearest police station which, in the case of Perton, was
Tettenhall. Anyone with poor documentation was referred to
Willenhall Police Station for expert interrogation.
During
this time, two White Russian aliens reported that a twin engined
plane had landed at Perton. No one believed the story; it was
considered far fetched. The story was widely circulated
amongst the eastern European community here. During September 1951
I was on duty, on cycle patrol, along Perton Lane, and entered the
main entrance by the Stone Cottages. It was about 11.30 p.m. a
clear night. To my utter amazement I saw a twin engined plane come
from the direction of Compton and land. I clearly saw a man with a
suitcase get into the plane, which was taxing slowly. I rode
towards the plane and made a note of the number. The plane
took off.
I went
to the police pillar in Wergs Road, at the junction with Keepers
Lane, and reported what I had seen. On my arrival at Tettenhall
Station at 1.45 a.m. to complete duty (6 p.m. – 2 a.m.) I was
required by the Sergeant, who had been awakened by the Divisional
Superintendent, to enter full details in the Occurrence Book. This
I did and went home to Tettenhall Wood.
At 9
a.m. I was asleep when my wife awakened me and told me I was to
report to Tettenhall Police Station immediately. I did so. I was
interviewed by the Detective Chief Superintendent CID and Special
Branch officers. The registration number I had taken was a Russian
civilian marking and, of course, confirmed the original reports by
the White Russians.
The
sequel? There wasn't one. No press release was authorised and dire
warnings were given to all Tettenhall Police Station staff about the
provisions of the Official Secrets Act. Despite weary months of
observations nothing further was seen. The matter was placed in the
hands of the Special Branch in London. An interesting slice of a
Dixon of Dock Green type police constable in the 1950s.
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