RAF Leuchars - It's All Over

[TomJoad]

Am I correct in thinking that the last ac departed Leuchars this week. All happened a bit quietly, I was hoping for at least a fly past over the local area as a good bye. Oh well, another bit of history gone - it's sad it was such a great place.

Tom

[RedhillPhil]

Makes one feel old now. As a sprog being towed around by Pa on postings I can recall Ouston(gone), Usworth(gone), Acklington(gone), Leuchars(gone), North Weald(gone), Gaydon(gone).

[Herod]

I served, or trained at: South Cerney, Syerston, Tern Hill, Odiham, Khormaksar, Sharjah, Thorney Island and Lyneham. With the exception of Odiham (still open?), all gone.

[TomJoad]

I served, or trained at: South Cerney, Syerston, Tern Hill, Odiham, Khormaksar, Sharjah, Thorney Island and Lyneham. With the exception of Odiham (still open?), all gone.

At least two in that list I hadn't even heard of Herod, Khormaksar and Sharjah, both long gone before I joined. Guess it has always been changing.

Tom

Edited RedhillPhill, lol only recognised Leuchars on your list!

[Tashengurt]

Many personal milestones at Leuchars. Sad to see it go.


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[Roadster280]

With the exception of Khormaskar and Sharjah, and including Leuchars, they are all still in the MOD estate, and have ongoing defence uses.

[Typhoon93]

Herod, yes, Odiham is still open. It's my 'local' RAF station.

[chiglet]

As a scopie, I went to RAF Innsworth, [now Army] Bawdsey Buchan Kuching Neatishead [burned down] and Patrington, with a detatchment to Staxton Wold, we also worked with Lindholm. Btw It wasn't the real Bawdsey Manor in "Castles in the Sky"

[Coochycool]

Its my nearest or rather was my nearest station. This passed me by too though.


Given that the army is moving in, was there never the intention of keeping the airfield open for trooping/supply flights at least?


Oh silly me letting common sense encroach

[mad_collie]

The airfield is keeping open for UAS & Q diversion apparently.

[Lima Juliet]

I believe they're keeping the runway open for the UAS/AEF and for QRA when needed as a weather diversion with a cable? All that will be RAF run and then the rest goes to the Army?

Don't know the full ins and outs but that is the rumour I've heard...It'll be great as a weather diversion with a set of golf clubs! :ok:

LJ

PS. beat me to it by 3 minutes Collie - must type faster!!!

[TomJoad]

So was there a fly past, final salute over NE Fife?

Tom

[Davef68]

There was a 1 Squadron flypast, and on the last day a fast pass and climb out.

That was it

[sitigeltfel]

VIDEO: End of era as fast jets leave RAF Leuchars - Fife / Local / News / The Courier (http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/video-end-of-era-as-fast-jets-leave-raf-leuchars-1.565023)

Photo gallery: Final fast jets leave RAF Leuchars for last time - Fife / Local / News / The Courier (http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/photo-gallery-final-fast-jets-leave-raf-leuchars-for-last-time-1.565286)

[melmothtw]

There was a 1 Squadron flypast, and on the last day a fast pass and climb out.

That was it

I guess the MoD felt that now was probably not the time to be drawing attention to the 'closing' of bases in Scotland.

[sharpend]

I once travelled down from Cranwell back to Brize with a fellow RAF chum. Instead of ISpy, we recalled the number of operational RAF stations closed since we joined. When we got to 50 (yes really) we gave up and placed ISpy :)

[Red Line Entry]

Try 73 just since 1990! (can't swear to the complete accuracy of this list, but it's not far off) :{

• Barnwood – 1990
• Bawdsey – 1990
• Bishops Court – 1990
• North Coates – 1990
• Abingdon – 1992 Site remains with Army
• Biggin Hill – 1992
• Brawdy – 1992 Site remains with Army
• Ely – 1992
• Mount Batten – 1992
• Wildenrath – 1992
• Gutersloh – 1993 Site remains with Army
• Jurby Head – 1993
• Wattisham – 1993 Site remains with Army
• Catterick – 1994 Site remains with Army
• Belize – 1994
• Gatow – 1994
• West Drayton – 1994
• West Raynham – 1994 Site remains with Army
• Chilmark – 1995
• Chivenor – 1995 Site remains with Royal Marines
• Harrowgate – 1995
• Hullavington – 1995 Site remains with Army
• Swinderby – 1995
• Swanton Morley – 1995 Site remains with Army
• Ash – 1996
• Carlisle – 1996
• Finningley – 1996
• Lindholme – 1996
• Machrihanish – 1996
• Pitreavie Castle – 1996
• Quedgeley – 1996
• Rheindahlen – 1996
• Sek Kong – 1996
• Turnhouse – 1996
• Ty Croes – 1996
• Upavon – 1996 Site remains with Army
• Wegberg – 1996
• Wroughton – 1996 Site remains with MOD
• Bracknell – 1997
• Decimomannu – 1997
• Stanmore Park – 1997
• Locking – 1998
• North Luffenham – 1998 Site remains with Army
• Stornoway – 1998
• Hereford – 1999 Site remains with Army
• Manston – 1999 Site remains with Defence Fire Service
• Laarbruch – 1999
• Bampton Castle – 2000 Site contractorised in support of MOD
• Cardington – 2000
• Newton – 2000
• Rosehearty – 2000
• Rudloe Manor – 2001 Site remains with DE&S
• Bruggen – 2001
• Nordhorn – 2001
• Oakhanger – 2003 Site contractorised in support of MOD
• Buchan – 2004
• Goose Bay – 2005
• Sealand – 2006 Site remains with MOD
• Stafford – 2006 Site remains with MOD
• Coltishall – 2006
• Neatishead – 2006
• Saxa Vord – 2006
• Boddington – 2007
• Innsworth – 2008 Site remains with Army
• Aldergrove – 2009 Site remains with Army
• Bentley Priory – 2009
• Wainfleet – 2009
• Uxbridge – 2011
• Kinloss – 2012 Site remains with Army
• Cottesmore – 2012 Site remains with Army
• Lyneham – 2012 Site earmarked for DTTCP
• Brampton – 2013
and finally...Leuchars – 2015

[Cows getting bigger]

You missed Stanbridge and Prestwick. :(

[Selatar]

Sad to see the base go.

Crikey, what a closure list. Apart from Mount Pleasent I don't think we have opened any either? Any more after Leuchers or have we paused for breath....

[Above The Clouds]

How on earth do they justify keeping it open for just UAS ?

[Dan Winterland]

Red Line - a correction to your post.

Sek Kong 1996 - Site remains with the Peoples Liberation Army.

[langleybaston]

add Brueggen, Laarbruch, JHQ I think.

[PICKS135]

Last Fast jet departure from RAF Leuchars - Leuchars 01

Kept it low
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/f4phixeruk/LastFastJetdeparturefromLeucharsLEU01a_zpsbbab1c23.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/f4phixeruk/media/LastFastJetdeparturefromLeucharsLEU01a_zpsbbab1c23.jpg.html)

Wing Waggle 1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/f4phixeruk/Keepingitlow_zpsf9a1a71b.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/f4phixeruk/media/Keepingitlow_zpsf9a1a71b.jpg.html)

2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/f4phixeruk/Wigglewiggle_zps9796152d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/f4phixeruk/media/Wigglewiggle_zps9796152d.jpg.html)

3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/f4phixeruk/wiggle2_zpsf7f4796a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/f4phixeruk/media/wiggle2_zpsf7f4796a.jpg.html)

So long and Thanks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/f4phixeruk/SoLongandthanksforallthefish_zps1ec9d1cb.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/f4phixeruk/media/SoLongandthanksforallthefish_zps1ec9d1cb.jpg.html)

[Tashengurt]

Daws hill. Chicksands?


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[Davef68]

There is always rich golfers landing their private jets to go to St Andrews. The diversion airfield is perhaps more relevant.

[Roadster280]

Only about 20% of the 73 sites were actually used in the 24 years as proper airfields with squadrons posted there though. The likes of Catterick, West Raynham, Hullavington, Swanton Morley etc were hardly major losses to the RAF estate. Neither were places like Buchan, Boddington or Sealand.

Carlisle is missing from the list.

I'm a fan of the 1930s architecture in the expansion period airfields, as long as those stay in MOD ownership and are used, then reaping the "peace dividend" is not such a bad thing with the likes of Laarbruch or Wildenrath going.

But the photos of Little Rissington and Watton being demolished are horrid.

[1.3VStall]

Watton is also missing from the list (Eastern Radar).

[TomJoad]

Picks135,

That last photograph is a sad sight. Thanks for sharing.

Tom

[sandozer]

Picks 135,

Thank you, excellent captures.

So, So, Sad.

[SirToppamHat]

I believe I have mentioned this before, but for those of you with Google Earth there is an overlay showing the vast majority of RAF stations (of all types). It can be found here:

Google Earth RAF Stations (https://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/group/gec-military-moderated/attach/38b41a7cf820cef6/823789-RAFStations.kmz?part=0.2&view=1)

It's not perfect, but it is reasonably accurate and I believe it continues to be updated.

For me, a few years ago it only seemed necessary to request a posting to somewhere for it to be closed: Saxa Vord, Benbecula, Staxton, 280 SU, a couple of which still exist, but only as remote radar heads.

Ho hum.

Edited to add, depending on the outcome of next wk's vote, might we be seeing a second move from Lossie to err Leeming?

STH

[dbee]

Finningley- now Doncaster Robin Hood
(still think that someone will mistake it for nottingham (EMA)

Sharjah-- across the Gulf from Bahrain (or should I sat Muhurraq!)

dbee

[ShotOne]

Maybe it's time now for my confession to a Leuchars-related crime of practicing my aero's routine as a 17 year old cadet...in their MATZ pan handle! Oops, very sorry about that.

[Courtney Mil]

Hell of a list, RLE. Well compiled and very scary.

[O-P]

Slight tear in my eye as I remember many happy times...tears dry up when I remember the sh1te ones.

It wasn't the Station, the Jet (F3), the location, it's the men and women that made my time at Leuchars special.

I'll always....No that's for another thread!

[Saintsman]

I only served on one squadron - all my other postings were on flights or in bays.

So 43 and Leuchars was quite an eye opener for a 17 year old straight from training.

Wouldn't have missed it for the world. I turned into a man there.

[matkat]

Saintsman, please elaborate would that be something to do with the weathergirls in Hendies LOL:p

[Tashengurt]

matkat you bad!
There were some horrendous sights down the village and in the bowl of a night.
Mind you, I married a girl from the village. Not a Hendies regular though.


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[chopper2004]

Could say Coltishall is still in HMG service - albeit HMP!

Machrihanish was still MoD Machrihanish till a few years back?

Didn't see Cardington in the list as MoD till 15/16 years ago IIRc diving past the sign in old A428 in my UoTC minibus on our way some where .....can't rememebr where heading towards camp or what not

What no RAF in Deci or Goose Bay must have missed that one .....

Swanton Moreley - where one did their first taste of unpowered flight after CHippies during the CCF days .....then 6 years later was on ex and getting pissed with the new inhabitants of there being the Dragoons when I was an OcDt

Cheers

[Roland Pulfrew]

Church Fenton (again :{), Elvington and Topcliffe also missing. Soon to be joined by Linton-on-Ouse! Does RAF Stornaway count as well?

[langleybaston]

Come to think of it I did 3 years at the ex-RAF HQ at Shinfield Park Reading from 1975 to 78 ............that should confer some bragging rights.

Still had an Eagle memorial outside too.

I was teaching Met. of course.

[4mastacker]

Tashengurt wrote:

There were some horrendous sights down the village and in the bowl of a night.
Mind you, I married a girl from the village. Not a Hendies regular though.


Would the horrendous sights be the Dundee "ladies" falling off the bus with their 'cerry-oots' of Carlsberg Special Brew before heading to the weekly Naafi bop? Was never a Hendies person myself. I got banned by Nancy as I stepped through the door on my first visit. "Gerrooot yah barrred!!"

[PICKS135]

Nancy threatened to thump me on my first ever visit:eek::eek:.

Used the Commie from then on.

[Hangarshuffle]

Still on there and likely to be until the end of the yes or no vote.


RAF - Stations (http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/stations.cfm?selectLocation=Scotland)


Also, I thought 617 Sqn was a goner these days as well? Must admit it all looks very threadbare for the RAF when you are putting on Tain range as a station(?!!). And as for the rest, they aren't "stations" as such the public would expect-only Lossiemouth on that list is a real airbase.
Need to stop fibbing mr head crab, and build an honest website-expect lies from politicians but not the services.

[Biggus]

I don't know where you got that link, but it's well out of date.

What was left of Saxa Vord was sold in 2012:

Unique Property Bulletin - Unique Property for sale (http://uniquepropertybulletin.co.uk/unique-property-bulletin-10-june-2012/)