Sir, I may be able to throw some light on the "mystery" aeroplanes flying over Abingdon (Letters, May 6).

I believe these are the same planes that have infested the skies over Long Wittenham and surrounding villages for years, performing loops and turns and cutting out and re-starting their engines. I suspect the source of the annoying noise comes from aircraft belonging to the Oxford University Air Squadron based at RAF Benson. It is the training unit of the RAF. Close your eyes on a peaceful sunny, day while relaxing in the garden enjoying a wine or G&T (with a slice of lime not lemon) and the restful scene is shattered by the noisy antics of these planes. It's like listening to a World War One aerial dog-fight.

The only thing missing is the rattle of machine gun fire.

Mr Hawtin is correct: the noise should be illegal and definitely constitutes a nuisance. If a moto-cross track was allowed to set up in a peaceful, rural setting it would be condemned and probably shut down, that's if in the unlikely event it was granted planning permission in the first place.

Long Wittenham suffers noise during the day and sometimes at night from helicopter training flights out of RAF Benson. At least the RAF is training crews in a vital defence role for the nation – the University Air Squadron activity is largely recreational. Why should residents have to tolerate this noise pollution?

Long Wittenham Parish Council is in touch with RAF Benson over the issue of helicopters flying over the village disturbing residents and I will be urging the council to pursue the Benson-based Air Training Squadron.

If all else fails, I will, in the time-honoured fashion of complainants, write to my MP, Ed Vaizey, the recently returned member for the Wantage Constituency.

Gordon (ear plugs at the ready!) Rogers
Long Wittenham