This is the second cache in a planned series for the Kingmoor North Nature Reserve. This nature reserve to the north of Carlisle has been split from the Southern section by the new relief road. It is though well worth a look. Beech, Silver Birch and Oak tress predominate and the main path follows the line of the old Waverley Line, closed in 1969.The Waverley line was the direct route, through the Borders, to Edinburgh from Carlisle. As you walk the path remnants of the old route still remain. The line abruptly ends where the M6 crosses its path.
The Nature Reserve occupies land once used by the RAF. RAF Kingstown featured in one of the most audacious escape attempts by any German prisoners of war during World War Two. On 24 November 1941, two German pilots, held at POW Camp No 15 at Shap in a former hotel and now again the Shap Wells Hotel, escaped with flying jackets over their Luftwaffe uniforms and carrying forged identity documents that purported them to be Dutch airmen attached to the RAF.
Without any apparent difficulty they entered RAF Kingstown and, with the help of an RAF ground mechanic, started up a Miles Magister trainer aircraft and took off. Short of fuel they landed at another RAF airfield and refuelled. Setting off for the Netherlands they suddenly realised the aircraft’s range was insufficient and they turned back. Landing in a field near Great Yarmouth they were recaptured and returned to the Shap POW camp to spend 28 days in solitary, both airmen were then shipped to more secure confinement in Canada.
(Source Wikipedia)