V Bomber dispersal airfields after 1968
Stumbled across an old BH1 site, (still recognisable as such on internet maps) near Misson near Finningly recently. Advertised as 'Rocket Site' but with BH mounted outside warranted a quick search on getting home. Before my time, but I was never really aware of localised SAM defences in the uk.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
As I said elsewhere, the 301 (Skybolt aircraft) engined Mk2s could develop greater thrust if set to take-off power and were thus seen as more suitable for the higher temperatures of the far east. Initially the Cottesmore wing was assigned to the far east role with 24 aircraft. With the pending disbandment of 12 Sqn the Waddington near east role, with a 16 aircraft requirement, was swapped to Cottesmore and the 201s.
The 301 higher take-off power produced significantly more thrust than was needed and increased engine fatigue. They were then restricted to cruise power for take-off which, as 50+ said, meant they had the same take-off run as the 201 aircraft.
The 301 higher take-off power produced significantly more thrust than was needed and increased engine fatigue. They were then restricted to cruise power for take-off which, as 50+ said, meant they had the same take-off run as the 201 aircraft.
Bloodhound Mk 1 sites were:
Breighton
Carnaby
Dunholme Lodge
Marham
Misson
North Coates
Rattlesden
Warboys
Watton
Woolfox Lodge
We had Bloodhound Mk 2 at RAF Wattisham - one of the missile pads couldn't be used as the launcher would have been about 2 ft from a PSA lighting pole...so the rocket wouldn't have got very far.
Having a SAM site on an active AD aerodrome was...interesting. Although it gave us an excellent excuse for wazzing the place on approved aerdrome attacks (until some mate went over OC Ops Wg's office at about 500 knots), the Rules for security lighting directly contradicted the Rules for aerodrome lights during exercises. So although the area south west of Needham Market might have been a black hole (in lighting terms!), the blaze of security lights surrounding the Bloodhound site could be seen from Lowestoft on a good night....
I was fortunate enough to be tasked to arrange some activity for a station Mineval once - an opportunity for much inspired villainy! One item of which was a 'defecting' Vulcan which was escorted through the Bloodhound MEZ by a pair of F-4s. Once inside min. range, the Vulcan crew had been tasked to accelerate and open the bomb doors to see what the reaction from the F-4 crews would be. All went to plan, but as the Vulcan approached the aerodrome, over the ether came the immortal words of the 'Mad Major', 56(F)'s Luftwaffe exchange officer as he broke off from formating on the Vulcan's wing: "SHOOT ZE F***ER!!"...followed by an amused "Fox 2" from the other jet.
Breighton
Carnaby
Dunholme Lodge
Marham
Misson
North Coates
Rattlesden
Warboys
Watton
Woolfox Lodge
We had Bloodhound Mk 2 at RAF Wattisham - one of the missile pads couldn't be used as the launcher would have been about 2 ft from a PSA lighting pole...so the rocket wouldn't have got very far.
Having a SAM site on an active AD aerodrome was...interesting. Although it gave us an excellent excuse for wazzing the place on approved aerdrome attacks (until some mate went over OC Ops Wg's office at about 500 knots), the Rules for security lighting directly contradicted the Rules for aerodrome lights during exercises. So although the area south west of Needham Market might have been a black hole (in lighting terms!), the blaze of security lights surrounding the Bloodhound site could be seen from Lowestoft on a good night....
I was fortunate enough to be tasked to arrange some activity for a station Mineval once - an opportunity for much inspired villainy! One item of which was a 'defecting' Vulcan which was escorted through the Bloodhound MEZ by a pair of F-4s. Once inside min. range, the Vulcan crew had been tasked to accelerate and open the bomb doors to see what the reaction from the F-4 crews would be. All went to plan, but as the Vulcan approached the aerodrome, over the ether came the immortal words of the 'Mad Major', 56(F)'s Luftwaffe exchange officer as he broke off from formating on the Vulcan's wing: "SHOOT ZE F***ER!!"...followed by an amused "Fox 2" from the other jet.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Woodhall Spa was also a Mk 1 BH base. The launch pads are visible on the google earth imagery from 1999.
BEagle,
In addition to your comprehensive list of Bloodhound 1 stations there was also No. 222 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa for the defence of Coningsby.
Interesting thing the Bloodhound 1 force, spawned out of the 'age of the guided missile' 1957 Defence White paper yet they were all gone by 1964 and apart from the Bloodhound 2, which went mainly abroad, no replacement was ever developed. Missile age? What missile age?
In addition to your comprehensive list of Bloodhound 1 stations there was also No. 222 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa for the defence of Coningsby.
Interesting thing the Bloodhound 1 force, spawned out of the 'age of the guided missile' 1957 Defence White paper yet they were all gone by 1964 and apart from the Bloodhound 2, which went mainly abroad, no replacement was ever developed. Missile age? What missile age?
Yes, sorry - I missed out Woody Spa!
When I first arrived at Sunny Scampton, I was intrigued by the local sites which had once been aerodromes - Dunholme Lodge and Ingham were almost within the visual circuit. When I discovered that Dunholme Lodge had been a SAM site defending Scampton in earlier days, it made me rather amused to think that the sole defence we had at the time was the RAF plod on the gate with his SMG - there wasn't even a pass check in those days when you drove in! Although the nuclear weapon storage site was probably patrolled by armed guards and their woolly alligators.
When I first arrived at Sunny Scampton, I was intrigued by the local sites which had once been aerodromes - Dunholme Lodge and Ingham were almost within the visual circuit. When I discovered that Dunholme Lodge had been a SAM site defending Scampton in earlier days, it made me rather amused to think that the sole defence we had at the time was the RAF plod on the gate with his SMG - there wasn't even a pass check in those days when you drove in! Although the nuclear weapon storage site was probably patrolled by armed guards and their woolly alligators.
Thread Starter
What an absolutely fascinating thread that this has become. Thank you to everyone who posted, as its really invaluable information for me.
It does strike me though that perhaps the time is rapidly approaching to ask our V Force friends to start recording their memories through the IWM - the events of the early 1960s are now half a century ago, and time will start taking those veterans from us in the not too distant future.
Perhaps we need to push for a 'forgotten voices of the V-Force' book, which chronicles the incredible job done by the RAF during this period?
It does strike me though that perhaps the time is rapidly approaching to ask our V Force friends to start recording their memories through the IWM - the events of the early 1960s are now half a century ago, and time will start taking those veterans from us in the not too distant future.
Perhaps we need to push for a 'forgotten voices of the V-Force' book, which chronicles the incredible job done by the RAF during this period?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The defensive benefit from the UK being an island extends to the ability to engage enemy forces at a distance from the UK. Better an interceptor at 200 miles than a SAM inland in UK. This was brought home when Hungary was becoming a western state. Her air defence was naturally confined within her borders as she is landlocked. The air policing mission was the preserve of a SAM 6 battery in the centre. It was the only unit that could react to a sudden incursion.
As we know, Sandys logic was flawed from the outset but not before the UK aircraft industry was almost destroyed.
V force 60s
I can still remember (Just) my first posting to Waddo in 63 - straight out of BE training. I have a few "anecdotes" which might amuse should anyoneone want to publish a broadbased (i.e. including us poor bug*ers on the ground) record of cold war activity on the Vulcan Force...
But hurry up - the old memory is dimming
But hurry up - the old memory is dimming
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
OME, well here, for a general V-force flavour, or Did You Fly the Vulcan in the nostalgia forum.
Are you going to the Newark Reunion in April?
Are you going to the Newark Reunion in April?
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Ingham
Lunchtime in the Officers' Mess bar. One young Havn'tbeenanywheredriver buying a pack of Rothmans. Brand new; still a Pilot Officer on his first week on an operational station. Collared by an Air Commodore (Engineering Branch).
"What's it like to be in a dead-end job?"
I had never seen an Air Commodore before let alone answer questions from one.
"What do you mean, Sir,"
"Don't you know you are going to be replaced by missiles in a few years and you will be out of a job."
With that he turned back to his chortling minions.
That was in 1962.
"What's it like to be in a dead-end job?"
I had never seen an Air Commodore before let alone answer questions from one.
"What do you mean, Sir,"
"Don't you know you are going to be replaced by missiles in a few years and you will be out of a job."
With that he turned back to his chortling minions.
That was in 1962.
Green Flash, yes, the weather guessers' beetle and fir cone farm at Ingham (or Cammeringham) was a well known landmark during my course at CFS.
Coming back in murky weather on my A2 ride, I saw it out of the corner of my eye, so knew exactly where I was and would only have had to say "I have control", count to five and turn down the A15 to call right base.... But to heck with that, it would have got us back quicker and given more time for me to cock something up. My 'Bloggs' continued to fly the IF exercise as instructed (he'd aleady been 'picked up' for flying eyes half in and half out when he should have been on the dials), so we wasted an extra 10 minutes or so on the 'radar to visual' approach I'd requested....
.
And yes, a first time A2 pass....
Coming back in murky weather on my A2 ride, I saw it out of the corner of my eye, so knew exactly where I was and would only have had to say "I have control", count to five and turn down the A15 to call right base.... But to heck with that, it would have got us back quicker and given more time for me to cock something up. My 'Bloggs' continued to fly the IF exercise as instructed (he'd aleady been 'picked up' for flying eyes half in and half out when he should have been on the dials), so we wasted an extra 10 minutes or so on the 'radar to visual' approach I'd requested....
.And yes, a first time A2 pass....
Fareastdriver: the Met. Office equivalent of the missile age was "the paper-less office". This holy grail of non-operational very senior officers, few of whom had drawn isobars on a chart or briefed an anxious OC Ops, was mooted c. 1960 when stinkingfax. machines were installed in Met. Offices and, I think, V force dispersals. The mantra was still being chanted when I handed in the fir cone, crystal ball and seaweed 40 years later.
When I'm right no-one remembers, when I'm wrong, no-one forgets.
Fascinating thread about the sound of freedom, brings back happy memories of feeling useful and valued.
When I'm right no-one remembers, when I'm wrong, no-one forgets.
Fascinating thread about the sound of freedom, brings back happy memories of feeling useful and valued.
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S41: indeed he does. He also has no co-housing of US and UK bombs, same SSA, and has US gone from BC SSAs 17/3/62. So: YS2 into Wadd/Honington some weeks later. Finningley SSA served Scampton so 27 and 83 Sqdns. could have stood Q from 1/1/62, soon 617 Sqdn, with their interim YS2. Wadd. Vulcan 1 44/50/101 Sqdns. from c.1/4/62, Honington Victor 1 55/57 Sqdn from c.1/5/62.
Plans on paper are Archive sources; facts on ground may have differed. Wynn P.303 has 14/12/59 Plan for 30 dispersals, cockpit readiness at end of runway: i.e: cheap. That could explain posters' suggestions/log book visits to, say, Tarrant Rushton, Thorney I., Chivenor, Shawbury, Kemble, W.Freugh. P.301 has 22/10/59 wish for turning loops at Leeming and Pershore. P.302, 22/10/59 has ORPs as "by far the best method". Then P.306, 2/62 has "a building programme now in hand for ORPs (&tc) at (9 Main Bases and) 27 dispersals"...but that was before 12/62 demise of Skybolt, which was to have equipped at least 48 Vulcan 2, Coningsby/Scampton. I suggest that of these 27, the commitment to Polaris instantly scuppered (Stansted and) Bruntingthorpe, Burtonwood, Cranwell, Elvington, Llanbedr, Middleton St.George, Prestwick: these 7, P.552: "given up in 1966".
PN: Wynn's P.338 BOl.301 point is "a rapid start capability...(by31/12/63) 32 a/c were fitted". MF >1969: P.554 has Defence Minister Healey, 3/7/69: "it is no longer necessary to keep a/c of the V-bomber force at immediate readiness".
Plans on paper are Archive sources; facts on ground may have differed. Wynn P.303 has 14/12/59 Plan for 30 dispersals, cockpit readiness at end of runway: i.e: cheap. That could explain posters' suggestions/log book visits to, say, Tarrant Rushton, Thorney I., Chivenor, Shawbury, Kemble, W.Freugh. P.301 has 22/10/59 wish for turning loops at Leeming and Pershore. P.302, 22/10/59 has ORPs as "by far the best method". Then P.306, 2/62 has "a building programme now in hand for ORPs (&tc) at (9 Main Bases and) 27 dispersals"...but that was before 12/62 demise of Skybolt, which was to have equipped at least 48 Vulcan 2, Coningsby/Scampton. I suggest that of these 27, the commitment to Polaris instantly scuppered (Stansted and) Bruntingthorpe, Burtonwood, Cranwell, Elvington, Llanbedr, Middleton St.George, Prestwick: these 7, P.552: "given up in 1966".
PN: Wynn's P.338 BOl.301 point is "a rapid start capability...(by31/12/63) 32 a/c were fitted". MF >1969: P.554 has Defence Minister Healey, 3/7/69: "it is no longer necessary to keep a/c of the V-bomber force at immediate readiness".
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
There was, I believe, a further operational generation in late 1969 after Dennis Healey's announcement.
Interestingly DH said in The Human Button that he would never have given the order to retalliate. James Callaghan had no such reservations but did say he would not have been able to live with himself.
Fareastdriver,
You sure?
He was certainly a medal winning British Army Major.
You sure?
He was certainly a medal winning British Army Major.