Farewell "RAF Kinloss" - end of an era.

[rab-k]

BBC News item.

RAF colours to come down at Kinloss airfield (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-18991618)

[Scuttled]

And there goes more of the family silver.

Sad.

[Wander00]

Anyone know what is happening to Waterbeach?

[Al R]

A small private ceremony has been planned to mark the transition to Kinloss Barracks. The engineer regiment has been based at Waterbeach near Cambridge. By October, 716 personnel will have moved to Kinloss.


Isn't the HQ element of 39 Engineer Regiment only moving to Wittering though? Someone's not stupid.. ;)

I'd be interested to know how/why the army names these hand me downs as they do - whats the protocol? Some (Cottesmore) are now named after dusty Generals, some keep the name of the place.

I have strong memories of Kinloss (just as it will have of me..), I'm glad to see it keep a military presence.

[aw ditor]

Waterbeach to be "built over", as is Oakington.

[Unusual Attitude]

Anyone know the future for Moray Flying Club and the local VGS squadron? They must be the only things left flying out of Kinloss??

Spent a couple of happy years flying Vigis and MFC spam-cans out of there, had many a good night in the mess too..... :(

[Courtney Mil]

:sad: I have happy childhood memories of Kinloss from when my Dad commanded 120 Sqn. Kinloss Barracks doesn't quite sound the same.

[SOSL]

The wonderful outdoor activities lodge at Feshiebridge, near Aviemore, used to be run by the PEdO at Kinloss.

As I remember it had 3 wings which each had room for about a dozen warm bodies sleeping in bunks, and a large kitchen/communal room. There was also a central drying room for wet clothes etc.

It had a ski store, so during the winter you could get boots and skis etc and you also got a ski lift pass.

In the summer there were kayaks and canadian canoes which you could take out to Loch Insh or Loch Morlich.

I seem to remember the cost was about £3 per person per day.

We had some fantastic times there both in the winter and summer seasons.

On one occasion a Rolls Royce rep (male) and a senior civil servant (female) dared each other to get undressed, garment by garment. He went the whole way and waved it about; she, as it turned out, was double bagged and so we never saw her bits. What a shame!

I loved that place. I even took my my wife and 2 little daughters there for a holiday one summer.

But my point is - who is managing it now?

[Wander00]

Waterbeach - seems like a cunning plan to convert Cambridgeshire into one housing estate - sad

[VMD+12]

SOSL - to answe your question. RAF Lossiemouth. The lodge has its own website RAF Adventure training centre Feshiebridge Lodge in Aviemore (http://www.feshiebridgelodge.co.uk/) and veterans can use it as well as those currently serving - great facility at all times of the year even with the midges!

[VMD+12]

Impressive and moving ceremony at RAF Kinloss today as it transitioned to Kinloss Barracks at 1200. Very well done indeed to the RAF Kinloss pipe band for stirring the memories and a great GR4 flyover at the end of JJs speech. A sad day but the transfer could not have been done in a more fitting manner.

[baffman]

Impressive and moving ceremony at RAF Kinloss today as it transitioned to Kinloss Barracks at 1200. Very well done indeed to the RAF Kinloss pipe band for stirring the memories and a great GR4 flyover at the end of JJs speech. A sad day but the transfer could not have been done in a more fitting manner.

Many thanks for that VMD. Just as I would have expected from RAF Kinloss but it is good to hear. I gather JJ honourably elected to stay in post until the job was done.

It is little enough consolation, but I hope that everyone has found a reasonable billet whether within or outside the service.

Good luck and thanks to all, and welcome to the new arrivals.

[Dunky]

Don't forget you can also use Rothiemurchus Lodge and Norwegian Lodge. Not many people seem to know about Norwegian Lodge. It's just when you turn off for Glenmore Lodge, it's on the right. There are also Chalet's at Rothiemurchus Lodge to rent if you want to go with your family. A word of warning about the road up to Rothiemurchus, from the main road, it's not very good, very occasionally it gets graded. I wouldn't try it in winter unless you had a proper off-roader.

[Avtur]

RAF Marmite; I loved it, especially as it grew smaller in the rear view mirror. Fond memories nonetheless.

[Avionker]

'92 to '99, my last and longest tour in the mob. Fantastic camp, if you choose to be there, or made the most of it if you were a 'pressed man'.

My job there was not my favourite by a long shot, but the social side more than made up for that.

[Dan Gerous]

Well there goes the only social club with an airbase on it. Spent a few years there in the early 80's and it was a great posting, though you couldn't really call it work.

[Charlie Time]

Great times, my first holdover post BRNC in 1987. Thanks to 206 crew 6 for looking after me :-)

[baffman]

The only trouble with some of those comments, even though they have some validity as reflecting a place where many enjoyed serving, is that it gives the impression that those involved were not doing the job which the taxpayer was paying for.

The fact is that they produced the goods.

[Al R]

Moose milk!

(And steak sarnies at the Kimberley..)

:ok:

[pamac51]

Went to Kinloss in 1969 on first posting just as Nimrods and the 'super techs' were arriving. Got a lift home in a Ballykelly Shack for my Christmas leave. Happy memories indeed.

[letsgoandfly]

First posted to Kinloss in 2006, PVR'd in 2012. Only frontline posting but surely the best there is to have. happily employed outside now but miss the crew spirit, banter and laughs and it's such a shame to see so many people got rid of before their time. Why couldn't they have called it 'Nimrod Barracks'?

Power to the Hunter.

[Big Tudor]

First tour as a wet behind the ears LAC. Whilst it was never the busiest airfield in the RAF it was certainly one of the most interesting. Frequently felt that the station was actually doing something rather than just training for something that would never happen, whether it was SAR, fisheries patrol or sub hunting.
Add to the mix a very suitable local tavern in the shape of the Crown & Anchor and you had a very enjoyable two years for a young chap.
Farewell RAF Kinloss. It was fun.

[reynoldsno1]

Did a tour at Kinloss prior to my PVR. Didn't miss it then, and won't miss it now ...

[5aday]

My tours at Kinloss were briefly on 206sqn.(Soggie Goss's crew) followed by Trg Sqn in the Sim then 120sqn. with the VR all as AEOp. Called it a day in 94 as it was interfering with my bidline bids and costing too much. We bought our first house in Wyvis Drive in Nairn and my (then new)better half transferred from Big European Airways at LHR to Scottish (Jock)Airways -Highland Division in Glasgow and commuted home to Inverness most evenings. I also lived at Waterbeach in the fifties as a youngster when it had all sorts of wonderful machinery which probably started my interest in all things with wings - and I learned to fish and row in and on the Cam.
On reflection, lovely countryside, lovely distilleries, some great trips, fun while it lasted and above everything some really good colleagues and lasting friendships.

[NutherA2]

During yesterday's golf in St Andrews, we were entertained by a couple of fly-bys by the Red Arrows, once as a big 10, then as 2 vics of 5; they then landed at Leuchars, I think.

I wondered whether they had been up for a flypast at the Kinloss closure, but have seen no mention of them in the news; anyone know why they were here?

[SOSL]

Thanks for the link VMD.

Rgds SOS

[dagowly]

Was a nice ceremony apart from the PA issues.

The MFC and VGS are probably under discussion. Hopefully they'll go to inverness.

[aw ditor]

"120" early sixties, Mk3 Phase2 grossly underpowered at Max. AUW and Griffon 57 unreliable', Big Harry, Pop Gladstone of Culloden fame, Courtney Mil's father as a great Boss', Winter of 63/64 diesel freezing in tanks, the Angel's dram from the then open Forres distillery, Cuban problem in 62', etc.etc.etc. ......... .

I hope the Pongo Engineers don't wreck it!

[Yeller_Gait]

First posting after training, spent a total of 11 years at Kinloss flying and a ground tour. Most interesting flying , most professional aviators, and some of the best times of my life.

A real shame to see RAF Kinloss go, and good luck for the future to everyone who served there.

Y_G

[hihover]

It seems like a fitting change of ownership, to the Royal Engineers, from whose loins the Royal Air Force was spurned many years ago.

Tam Macklin

[betty swallox]

Goodbye to my alma mater. Good times...

[Shack37]

Went to Kinloss in 1969 on first posting just as Nimrods and the 'super techs' were arriving. Got a lift home in a Ballykelly Shack for my Christmas leave. Happy memories indeed.


And you went back after Christmas?:ok:

[Janda]

Kinloss was also my first operational station when I arrived on 201 Squadron in 1973. I only did 6 years on the Kipper fleet all on 201 but they were the best years. Will always remember the friendliness of the station and the local community. Perhaps it was its remoteness that made it so. So sad that it is no longer RAF Kinloss. God speed to all those that are moving on to other stations.

[MFC_Fly]

The MFC and VGS are probably under discussion. Hopefully they'll go to inverness.
Unless things have changed in the past few days both are staying at Kinloss.

The Kinloss runway and northern taxiways and apron are staying open so that Kinloss can be used as an emergency landing ground for Lossie based aircraft, with ATC staffed, when Lossie are flying, by Lossie controllers.

[dagowly]

The Kinloss runway and northern taxiways and apron are staying open so that Kinloss can be used as an emergency landing ground for Lossie based aircraft, with ATC staffed, when Lossie are flying, by Lossie controllers.

I'll keep my fingers crossed they fly with 6177's in the future.

[pamac51]

Shack 37....indeed I did and to other stations various for the following 37+ years!

[Mend em]

Wonder who'll get to kull the deer that nip through the missing fence when JJ's moved on?

[Always a Sapper]

The Sappers will look after the deer....

[fincastle84]

I did numerous detachments to Kinloss in the 70s, 80s & early 90s. Fortunately I only did one tour, 206 from 72-75. I still have my car sticker " Happiness is Kinloss in my rear view mirror". True then & still true today.:ok:

[SOSL]

Poor old you!

Rgds SOS

[Yellow Sun]

I did numerous detachments to Kinloss in the 70s, 80s & early 90s. Fortunately I only did one tour, 206 from 72-75. I still have my car sticker " Happiness is Kinloss in my rear view mirror". True then & still true today.

Come,come there's nothing wrong with Kinloss other than it's 500 miles too far North:E

YS

[betty swallox]

Thanks for that Y-S. Really added a lot there....

[david parry]

Always remember the camp dances at Kinloss, when the Wafus from Lossiemouth, used to attend:ouch: and Hedgehoppers anonymous, the camp group had a hit with "it's good news week" ps the pint bet if you, got the C/0s missus up for a dance:D:D

[Union Jack]

It seems like a fitting change of ownership, to the Royal Engineers, from whose loins the Royal Air Force was spurned many years ago.

Presumably as in "frogspurn"?

Jack

PS And, yes, I know what you really meant about the origins of the RFC:ok:

[cooheed]

Served quite a while at ISK. The finest camp I have been on. Good and bad times, you won't find a better bunch, regardless of the year.

[Akrotiri bad boy]

The drudgery that was NMSU was the most mind numbing period of my life. However, the location and social scene more than made up for it. It was truly a case of "work getting in the way of play".

[SOSL]

Was that before or after the contactor took over?

Rgds SOS

[5aday]

David Parry,
That group may have appeared at Kinloss but I'm sure they were from Wittering. They were managed by the now disgraced Jonathan King I believe.
Dave M
5aday

[Akrotiri bad boy]

I was there '84 - '87. Bae only had a working party there at the time, I think they were involved in fitting the LORAN or LORAL pods on the wing tips. My drudgery reached rock bottom whilst removing corrosion from around the 'D' panels on the mainplanes. Life on the NMSU got marginally better when I became involved in the removal of the aircraft khazi's.:(

Not my favourite line of work, but a cracking place to live.

[aergid]

Was ther in the 90's with the FAA. 815qn Lynx detachemnt for JMC excercises...

Used to love winding the Crabs up with dodgy tannoy messages from inside one of the silos := lol...

Oh the days used to drag in :zzz:

End of another era..............................

[enginesuck]

Kinloss NLS 2002 - 2010 best time of my life. One day SAR trails that ended up in the U.S and Canada for 10 days. Too many to remember trips around Europe - Toulon on Monaco G.P weekend , Gibralter booze cruises ( i mean crew training) Eight weeks in Curacao on ops with a hotel safe full of rates that i couldnt seem to spend because of my good fortune in the hotel casino. Many Desert trips inc Telic trips north and supporting Herrick - being completely impressed by what was achieved on Ops . The whole station was numbed by 230 but we still produced the goods - despite the odds right till the end. I actually still live in quarters at ISK - despite working the last two years at ISL and you may be pleased to hear that quarters look almost full - kids playing in the street etc just like it used to be.

[MAD Boom]

One day SAR trails that ended up in the U.S and Canada for 10 days.

Nose-wheel failure in Halifax late 2002 perhaps? One of the best times I ever spent overseas with the rod. I have never seen someone spend so much on hotel porn in my life until I saw the Co-Pilot's room bill!

One of many happy times I am glad to say I was a part of.

[Al R]

David Parry,

That group may have appeared at Kinloss but I'm sure they were from Wittering. They were managed by the now disgraced Jonathan King I believe.

Dave M



This framed single is on the wall of the Wittering Sgts Mess toilets. I am sure that this pop combo is still enjoyed by lots of fellows sipping on a mug of steaming char and munching happily on an iced bun.

http://www.echelonwealthcare.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/IMG-20120814-01184.jpg