V-Force dispersal query
I remember reading Supernature by Lyall Watson back in the 70s. At one point he made the assertion that the area known as The Bermuda Triangle is unique as it is the only place on earth where magnetic variation is zero !
As I knew this was tripe I reckoned there was a fair chance the rest of the book was tripe too - and it was!
As I knew this was tripe I reckoned there was a fair chance the rest of the book was tripe too - and it was!
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Did this thread come to any definite conclusion about Tarrant Rushton's use for V-bomber QRA dispersal. My local friends say that 4 Valiants used to visit periodically and the photo attached clearly shows parking for 4 aircraft. I presume the additional dispersals to the right of the QRA area were a relic of the 2nd World War era.
airsmiles
airsmiles
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From information on a map in the Waddington Heritage Centre, the V-Force dispersal sites were:
St Mawgan; Tarrant Rushton; Yeovilton; Boscombe Down; Manston; Lynham; Filton; Brawdy; Pershaw; Bedford; Wattisham; Bruntingthorpe; Coltishall; Llanbedr; Cranwell; Valley; Burtonwood; Elvington; Leconfield; Leeming; Middleton St George; Ballykelly; Machrahanish; Prestwich; Leuchars; Kinloss; Lossiemouth.
It does not state which type went where however - nor does it have a date....
St Mawgan; Tarrant Rushton; Yeovilton; Boscombe Down; Manston; Lynham; Filton; Brawdy; Pershaw; Bedford; Wattisham; Bruntingthorpe; Coltishall; Llanbedr; Cranwell; Valley; Burtonwood; Elvington; Leconfield; Leeming; Middleton St George; Ballykelly; Machrahanish; Prestwich; Leuchars; Kinloss; Lossiemouth.
It does not state which type went where however - nor does it have a date....
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Finningley was/had been a V-Force base (230 OCU) and so I did not include it. If you wish me to add the permanent bases as well then: Finningley; Scampton; Waddington; Coningsby; Cottesmore; Wittering; Marham; Gaydon; Wyton; Honington. As previously stated the map we hold, which is just a sketch map, has no date but possibly relates to the Cuba Missile Crisis era.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Finningley's role was to provide 4 aircraft for the Waddington wing. OCU crews would combat check the aircraft and we supplied the crews. We had to get 4 crews on the road,with operational go bags on a Mick, in under two hours.
On one exercise we generated 24 aircraft on top of 7 at Finningley and had to bus Finningley crews to Waddington when we ran out. We had to request additional ALNs and I ended up on QRA and also the duty ops officer. Had we had a QRA alert I would have had to make the broadcast and leg it.
Yes add Finningley.
BTW, it is PERSHORE.
On one exercise we generated 24 aircraft on top of 7 at Finningley and had to bus Finningley crews to Waddington when we ran out. We had to request additional ALNs and I ended up on QRA and also the duty ops officer. Had we had a QRA alert I would have had to make the broadcast and leg it.
Yes add Finningley.
BTW, it is PERSHORE.
Please did FY have that role 1970 - 75?
I was in Met. throughout that period and we had little visibility of such activities, probably because just about all Met. for the V. Force originated in HQSTC and we had little or no involvement.
We certainly saw/ heard Vulcans from time to time of course. "The sound of freedom" as I told my whingeing neighbours in Bessacarr, Doncaster.
I was in Met. throughout that period and we had little visibility of such activities, probably because just about all Met. for the V. Force originated in HQSTC and we had little or no involvement.
We certainly saw/ heard Vulcans from time to time of course. "The sound of freedom" as I told my whingeing neighbours in Bessacarr, Doncaster.
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FY certainly did have a dispersal role in the early '70's. My 1st posting was FY in '75 and I recall arriving in ATC one afternoon to see 4 x Vulcans on Delta Dispersal (SW corner on the airfield) and the 'Bomber Box' Hadley bleeping away in Local Control.
I almost wet myself when "Attention Attention, This is the Bomber Controller for Strikelist Hotel, Scramble, Scramble, Scramble" came over the 2 core wire from Bawtry. (In my defence, I was young and impressionable). After all, having watched Varsity's, JP's and Dominies doing their stuff, to see real Air Force was somewhat else.
Sad, I know.
I almost wet myself when "Attention Attention, This is the Bomber Controller for Strikelist Hotel, Scramble, Scramble, Scramble" came over the 2 core wire from Bawtry. (In my defence, I was young and impressionable). After all, having watched Varsity's, JP's and Dominies doing their stuff, to see real Air Force was somewhat else.
Sad, I know.
Thank you.
As far as I know the only local Met. inputs were:
SMetO checking the instruments in the SSA [under armed escort of course], and the routine obs. and warnings and TAFS to ATC.
As far as I know the only local Met. inputs were:
SMetO checking the instruments in the SSA [under armed escort of course], and the routine obs. and warnings and TAFS to ATC.
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Langley
In my time (1975), the SSA was mostly derelict. The 'mine shafts' were wrecked. However, there was one mysterious small hangar type building that still had power and 'humming' coming from it. Rumour had it that it glowed in the dark!
In my time (1975), the SSA was mostly derelict. The 'mine shafts' were wrecked. However, there was one mysterious small hangar type building that still had power and 'humming' coming from it. Rumour had it that it glowed in the dark!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
LB, while Strike Met was supposed to be supreme after a particularly forecast, as in d*g sh1t, the question was always asked "what do you think?" We always followed the local device, even to the extent of taking div kit.
Thanks to my respondents. I shall shortly be going to a Met. reunion which will include a lot of chaps of both FY and Bawtry. I will ask for their inputs and, if I trawl anything, report back.
Its a bugger: I know where I was 1970-75, but the details are less than clear. For example, I seem to recall that Met. moved from a classical front of hangar location to the Air Electronics block. Perhaps I was on day duties [lecturing] but darned if I can remeber the inevitable turmoil of the move. On my keyring I still have a brass disc inscribed "Hangar ablutions airmen" goodness knows how I came by that!
Its a bugger: I know where I was 1970-75, but the details are less than clear. For example, I seem to recall that Met. moved from a classical front of hangar location to the Air Electronics block. Perhaps I was on day duties [lecturing] but darned if I can remeber the inevitable turmoil of the move. On my keyring I still have a brass disc inscribed "Hangar ablutions airmen" goodness knows how I came by that!
