RAF Base or Station?

[langleybaston]

When I was attached as a civvy, it was always to an RAF (name follows) and called a station, with a Staish.

My granddaughter, newly minted as RAF Regiment Reserve refers to RAF Honington as a base. I think that is an Americanism.

Before I berate her, should I perhaps move with the times? I hope not.

Anyway, she is bigger than I am [most people are].

[Melchett01]

Well the official RAF recruiting website talks about bases. The main RAF website calls them Stations.

Seems the RAF can’t make their minds up either, although you commonly hear people talking about ‘being based …’

Interestingly my old Kuwaiti DS was often getting flagged up by security for being overheard talking about ‘Al Qaeda’ … which in English is ‘The Base’ when he was just pottering round the place. So may be Stations and being stationed might be a better idea?

[The Helpful Stacker]

Isn't the use of the term "station" taken from the (in general but exceptions are there) historic policy of naming RAF units after the nearest railway station?

[Wensleydale]

During WW2, the older RAF Stations were allocated satellite airfields - the main station acting as their administration centre. The Stations together became a Base, so for example the combine of RAF Waddington, looking after RAF Skellingthorpe and RAF Bardney became Base 53: the third Base in 5 Group. Each of the stations had a Group Captain Station Commander, but in overall control at the main station was the Base Commander, an Air Commodore. Indeed, aircrew/groundcrew are seen in the F540s of the time as posted from a squadron to "Base" if administratively sick for example. I suspect that the "Base" as the HQ of the Stations carried on from here.

[langleybaston]

Thank you all. Admonition clearly over the top. Will wind my old-fashioned neck in .................

[Compass Call]

When I was in the R.A.F. I was always posted to R.A.F. XXXXXXX.
When asked where in the R.A.F. I was, the reply was always 'I am stationed at R.A.F. XXXXXXX'.
The word 'Base' was only used by our American cousins.

[Ninthace]

If I worked on the unit I was said I was stationed there but if I lived there but worked elsewhere I said I was based. I suppose that doesn’t help.:)

[ShyTorque]

The R.A.F declined to name Odiham after its nearest railway station.

“R.A.F. Hook”, especially if said quickly, might have caused offence.

[Krystal n chips]

Isn't the use of the term "station" taken from the (in general but exceptions are there) historic policy of naming RAF units after the nearest railway station?

Ostensibly so, however, local geography wasn't always what you might call the name designators strong point. Hence RAF Hednesford on Cannock chase, which falls firmly under the heading of "grim and bleak" in Winter was named as such when Rugeley is considerably closer.

[Wensleydale]

The nearest Railway Station is usually the "rule". However, if it could cause confusion then an alternative was used. For example, RAF Scopwick and RAF Shotwick are very similar, and so became Digby and Sealand respectively. The idea to use the nearest railway station was to help with the movement of logistics and personnel - you just bought a ticket to the station name!

[Imagegear]

An alternative view...?

It may be that an RAF Station can exist without having aircraft being "based" there.

However, a Station can also be a "Base" for aircraft. E.G High Wycombe is a Station but Lossiemouth is a base.

IG

[cliver029]

It could get worse, having built a lovely airfield near Yelverton (that's Devon for the northern folk amongst us) the nice people at the Air Ministry decided that the young men entrusted with the aircraft at that time might mistake Yelverton for Yeovilton and called it Harrowbeer!

[Barksdale Boy]

Genuine question: when did the term "Staish" come into common RAF parlance? I had never heard it until joining PPRuNE in the noughties.

[trim it out]

Genuine question: when did the term "Staish" come into common RAF parlance? I had never heard it until joining PPRuNE in the noughties.
I've only heard junior aircrew use the term, like a bit of slang, maybe they think they sound cool.

[Tengah Type]

The expression "Staish" or even "Harry Staish" was in use during the 60s.
And it was nearly always "RAF Stations", or American "Air bases". However RAF Marham was frequently termed "Mar-ham Air Base" in a mock American accent.

[ROC man]

The R.A.F declined to name Odiham after its nearest railway station.

“R.A.F. Hook”, especially if said quickly, might have caused offence.
Reminds me of another station 'funny', RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern). Nearest railway station probably Thurso.

[Ken Scott]

It could get worse, having built a lovely airfield near Yelverton (that's Devon for the northern folk amongst us) the nice people at the Air Ministry decided that the young men entrusted with the aircraft at that time might mistake Yelverton for Yeovilton and called it Harrowbeer!

Likewise, for the RAF station adjoining the town of Carterton it was felt that they might get confused with RAF Cardington so it was named after the small village on its eastern boundary, Brize Norton.

[stevef]

Camp was often used when referring to your own station when I was in the '70s RAF.
I'm going back to camp.
Where's the camp barber?
The camp's very quiet over Christmas.
Do you live near the camp?
Etc, etc.
I'm guessing it originated from the tented accommodation airmen lived in when overseas (back in the very old days). Is it still used?

[622]

Sorry for the thread drift here...but whilst we are talking Brize Norton...

What is the disused airfield WNW of the western runway end....looks mostly back to farmland now with some solar panels, but clearly an ex airfield and only a stones throw (maybe 2!) from the current Station / Base ...whatever we are calling them!

Just seems a bit odd that the new one was built so close to the old one.

[oldbeefer]

Sorry for the thread drift here...but whilst we are talking Brize Norton...

What is the disused airfield WNW of the western runway end....looks mostly back to farmland now with some solar panels, but clearly an ex airfield and only a stones throw (maybe 2!) from the current Station / Base ...whatever we are calling them!

Just seems a bit odd that the new one was built so close to the old one.
RAF Broadwell (from a map of historic airfields)

[Davef68]

Sorry for the thread drift here...but whilst we are talking Brize Norton...

What is the disused airfield WNW of the western runway end....looks mostly back to farmland now with some solar panels, but clearly an ex airfield and only a stones throw (maybe 2!) from the current Station / Base ...whatever we are calling them!

Just seems a bit odd that the new one was built so close to the old one.

RAF Broadwell, now home to a massive solar farm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Broadwell

[MPN11]

YLSNED ... I had always understood that RAF Stations were named after the Parish in which they were located. Railway Station it is, then ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_of_military_air_bases

[mad_collie]

Reminds me of another station 'funny', RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern). Nearest railway station probably Thurso.
I remember receiving my arrival booklet for RAF Saxa Vord.

Nearest train station - Bergen, Norway.

[Vortex Hoop]

The R.A.F declined to name Odiham after its nearest railway station.

“R.A.F. Hook”, especially if said quickly, might have caused offence.
Nice one!

I heard that Odiham was meant to be RAF North Warnborough after the name of the parish...but it was a mouthful so they went with the name of the village instead.

[Ripline]

622 - there you go: https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/broadwell/

Wikipedia quotes:No. 512 Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._512_Squadron_RAF) and No. 575 Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._575_Squadron_RAF) were based here, flying the Douglas Dakota (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_C-47_Skytrain).

In February 1944, No. 512 Squadron was transferred to No. 46 Group at RAF Broadwell. It was a tactical Dakota squadron and started training glider towing and parachute dropping. Its first operation in the new role was a leaflet drop on 17 April 1944 over France; this was followed by intensive flying in and out of France, including dropping parachutists at Arnhem (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden). In fact, 512 Squadron can claim that they were the first planes over on D Day as 3 Dakotas piloted by Fl Lt Hyde, W.O. James Proctor and a C Flight Flying Officer dropped a specialist team at 00.02 on 6 June to try and disrupt the Merville Battery before the main assault.

Broadwell took part in the D-Day (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day) assaults alongside nearby RAF Down Ampney (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Down_Ampney) and RAF Blakehill Farm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Blakehill_Farm). On the eve of D-Day, No. 575 Squadron dropped 5 Para (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Para) into the invasion drop zone. On 6 June, it towed 21 Horsa gliders (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspeed_Horsa) into France. In the next few weeks it started a casualty evacuation service from France back to England. In September 1944, it was involved in operations at Arnhem where the squadron suffered severe casualties.

The airfield continued to be a terminus for long-range transport operations to Europe, the Middle East and India.

The following units were here at some point:[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Broadwell#cite_note-ABCT-1)


No. 6 (RCAF) Casualty Air Evacuation Unit
No. 10 Squadron RAF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._10_Squadron_RAF)
No. 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._21_Heavy_Glider_Conversion_Unit_RAF)
No. 76 Squadron RAF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._76_Squadron_RAF)
No. 77 Squadron RAF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._77_Squadron_RAF)
No. 91 (Forward) Staging Post
No. 92 (Forward) Staging Post
No. 94 (Forward) Staging Post
No. 104 Terminal Staging Post
No. 105 (Major) Staging Post
No. 126 Staging Post
No. 271 Squadron RAF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._271_Squadron_RAF)
No. 512 Squadron RAF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._512_Squadron_RAF)
No. 575 Squadron RAF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._575_Squadron_RAF)
No. 2792 Squadron RAF Regiment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._2792_Squadron_RAF_Regiment)
No. 2807 Squadron RAF Regiment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._2807_Squadron_RAF_Regiment)

[Specaircrew]

During my 37 years service I was always 'stationed' at an RAF Station.
Therefore if I was caught displaying excessive 'high spirits' after Happy Hour in the Officers Mess I'd be on the Station Commanders carpet on Monday morning. The Americans have Bases and it's the Army who have 'Camps' however it was quite common for non commissioned personnel to use the word 'camp' when referring to an RAF Stations and hence this became a common colloquialism.

[Friedlander]

Seems clear to me:
https://www.raf.mod.uk/sites/raf-beta/cache/file/669DF22C-8C80-4712-B1280EA76DE8F662_source.png

I think most RAF stations are similarly named.

[mopardave]

The nearest Railway Station is usually the "rule". However, if it could cause confusion then an alternative was used. For example, RAF Scopwick and RAF Shotwick are very similar, and so became Digby and Sealand respectively. The idea to use the nearest railway station was to help with the movement of logistics and personnel - you just bought a ticket to the station name!
As were Topcliffe and Tockwith (which became Marston Moor).

[MPN11]

Following the Broadwell/Brize Norton diversion ... I went to Google Earth to have a look [as on does]. Drag the imagery timeline back to 1945, and there's a very clear B&W image o Broadwell ... but Brize seemingly does not exist! Just a patchwork of fields [which look as though they're photoshopped in], despite Brize having been there since 1937.

Why "hide" Brize, in that 1945 imagery? What was so 'special' there? There are plenty of other airfields displayed in their full glory [eg Alconbury, Wyton etc.]. But then go to Kent, and the entire county seems to be covered with 'cut and paste' imagery!

Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.

[chevvron]

Shirley an RAF station should have an SHQ whereas a base doesn't?

[trim it out]

Shirley an RAF station should have an SHQ whereas a base doesn't?
What about the ones with an SHQ and a BSW? :ooh:

[esa-aardvark]

I recall reading about 'self mobile squadrons', title may a bit wrong.
Was WW2 era.
When they re-located themselves was that a base ? How did the rest
of the R.A.F know where to find them ?

[AnglianAV8R]

Reminds me of another station 'funny', RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern). Nearest railway station probably Thurso.

Rumoured to be so named because somebody, having been posted there, asked "who's the tw*t that had the bright idea of putting a staion here?"

Or was it "base" that he said ?

[Warmtoast]

My Record of Service (RAF Form 543R) that I requested a copy of quite a few years ago shows that I was posted to a "Unit" - not a Base or Station- see attached.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1945x1608/image1_ee5154ecbaec83bfba55e9846e57466aec98859f.jpg

[Tengah Type]

Ken Scott #17 & MPN11 # 22
The name of the railway station by the South East (Brittania) gate on the RAF Brize Norton airfield boundary at the time the airfield was built was "Bampton" even though Bampton is 5 miles away. Carterton at that time was merely a crossroads with a shop and a few smallholdings established by Mr Carter. Brize Norton Parish and Village were well estabished centuries before. I have a map of the area dated 1828 showing Brize Norton and Bampton, but No Carterton. The railway station was renamed "Bampton and Brize Norton"in 1944 to reflect the new importance of the RAF station.
The railway station closed in 1962.

[radeng]

MPN11,

When the USAF extended the Brize runway, did they ever consider the effect of having a railway across it? On the face of it, it is apparently a somewhat silly thing to do: if you have an aircraft needing an emergency landing and there's a train in the section, it may not be possible to stop the train in time....

[serf]

During my 37 years service I was always 'stationed' at an RAF Station.
Therefore if I was caught displaying excessive 'high spirits' after Happy Hour in the Officers Mess I'd be on the Station Commanders carpet on Monday morning. The Americans have Bases and it's the Army who have 'Camps' however it was quite common for non commissioned personnel to use the word 'camp' when referring to an RAF Stations and hence this became a common colloquialism.

The Army are now based at Leuchars Station…

[MPN11]

radeng … also Ballykelly, IIRC. Perhaps the USAF had spoken to Dr. Beeching?

[Barksdale Boy]

Tengah Type

If staish was in use in the sixties, it certainly passed me by. At Waddo we talked of Bootsie, Mike or Des (RIP all of them).

[Barksdale Boy]

Sorry, should have mentioned Viv - still with us, I hope.

[Ken Scott]

When the USAF extended the Brize runway, did they ever consider the effect of having a railway across it? On the face of it, it is apparently a somewhat silly thing to do: if you have an aircraft needing an emergency landing and there's a train in the section, it may not be possible to stop the train in time....

Not really an issue, the extended runway runs parallel to the railway, the cross runway might have been affected had it been lengthened but has been disused for a long time.

At Ballykelly the track ran across the end of the runway:

RAF Ballykelly opened in June 1941 during the Second World War (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II) as an airfield for RAF Coastal Command (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Coastal_Command). In 1943, the main runway was extended and acquired an unusual characteristic in that it crossed an active railway line (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfast-Derry_railway_line). Rules were put in place giving trains the right of way over landing aircraft..
(Source: Wikipedia).

[Davef68]

The Army are now based at Leuchars Station…

That's a weird one really, It's the only British Army establishment in the UK called 'somethingf' Station. It's usually Barracks or occasionally Fort, Lines or Camp.Apparently due to the population being larger than a barracks but smaller than a garrison, and to reflect the fact there was still an RAF presence.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/601639/call-for-confusing-leuchars-station-army-base-to-be-given-new-name/

[Davef68]

My Record of Service (RAF Form 543R) that I requested a copy of quite a few years ago shows that I was posted to a "Unit" - not a Base or Station- see attached.



Presumably to allow for the fact that not all Units are based on Stations, or that many Stations may have more than one Unit?

[ZH875]

The 1945 Google Earth image of Wyton contains the V Bomber dispersals, the V Bomber runway extension across the old Ramsey Road, and at least 7 Canberra aircraft. Suspect its much later than 1/1/1945

[MPN11]

The 1945 Google Earth image of Wyton contains the V Bomber dispersals, the V Bomber runway extension across the old Ramsey Road, and at least 7 Canberra aircraft. Suspect its much later than 1/1/1945
Ah-ha … my trust in Google Earth is destroyed! Thanks for that input.

[Coltishall. loved it]

Not sure if true or not, But allegedly RAF Coltishall was originally going to be RAF Buxton but "they" were worried many would rock up in Derbyshire

[downsizer]

I'm loathe to contribute to these Jet Blast threads that keep appearing in the Mil Aviation forum, but in the Rock Ape world isn't Honington referred to as the Depot?

[BEagle]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x505/train_to_york_229ac2302481e9b2a48b6f265dd1f4e6e69dd6d0.jpg

York appears to have been a destination on the Brize Norton & Bampton to Carterton section of the Fairford Branch Line some 75 years ago.....

[vortexadminman]

The 1945 Google Earth image of Wyton contains the V Bomber dispersals, the V Bomber runway extension across the old Ramsey Road, and at least 7 Canberra aircraft. Suspect its much later than 1/1/1945


Really you can see photos of 1945 stations?? please tell how do you do that. That is fascinating !

[Bosi72]

When I was attached as a civvy, it was always to an RAF (name follows) and called a station, with a Staish.

My granddaughter, newly minted as RAF Regiment Reserve refers to RAF Honington as a base. I think that is an Americanism.

Before I berate her, should I perhaps move with the times? I hope not.

Anyway, she is bigger than I am [most people are].

Hollywood influence..

For example emergency phone numbers around the world are different (eg 000 in Australia), however most countries have also 911 redirected to their local numbers, because kids watching movies and that's the only number they know.

[MPN11]

Really you can see photos of 1945 stations?? please tell how do you do that. That is fascinating !
There’s a button on the toolbar (desktop version) that loads a slider/Time Machine) Can’t recall what it’s called … about 6 buttons in from the left. Not universal coverage, as you will see!

[langleybaston]

Regarding "Staish". in use in RAFG in my Gutersloh prime c. 1970 but not before in Cyprus or UK.

My wartime RAF father 1939-45 used "Groupy".

I think SWO or Swo-man has been around for yonks.

But then yonks has had its day I suppose.

[Tocsin]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x505/train_to_york_229ac2302481e9b2a48b6f265dd1f4e6e69dd6d0.jpg

York appears to have been a destination on the Brize Norton & Bampton to Carterton section of the Fairford Branch Line some 75 years ago.....

Another rail company excuse: "delays due to ailerons on the line" :D

[pineridge]

I lived at R.A.F. Marham for five years and never heard it described as a "base"; there was a large U.S.A.F detachment there, so maybe that`s where the description "base" came from. R.A.F Lakenheath, Mildenhall etc. were totally U.S.A.F bases and descibed as such.

[Headstone]

Re naming of airfields and the nearest village. When I first went to Wattisham in 1970 the lady we rented a house from in Lavenham called it Ringshall airfield. As far as I remember the airfield was in an area halfway between the two villages. Only heard two or thre other people call it that and they were the older ones.

[langleybaston]

I always thought that Watton was a rotten name.

[Shackeng]

My Record of Service (RAF Form 543R) that I requested a copy of quite a few years ago shows that I was posted to a "Unit" - not a Base or Station- see attached.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1945x1608/image1_ee5154ecbaec83bfba55e9846e57466aec98859f.jpg

Abingdon in ‘58! 47 or 53?

[MPN11]

I always thought that Watton was a rotten name.
Seven years there ... nice Station, uninspiring village! I wonder where the railway went?

[ZH875]

Seven years there ... nice Station, uninspiring village! I wonder where the railway went?

The line ran from Swaffam to Thetford

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14&lat=52.55980&lon=0.86042&layers=10&b=7

[fedex727]

Ah, I've also been stationed at stations which had on- and off-base married quarters and where a lot of people ended up being confined to camp...:rolleyes:

[radeng]

Sometimes even more upsetting for the railwayman, though!

https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/RAF_Defford1950.pdf

[MPN11]

The line ran from Swaffam to Thetford

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14&lat=52.55980&lon=0.86042&layers=10&b=7
Gotcha ... thanks! There are some hedge-lines on G Earth that show that orientation, and are strongly indicative.

[SLXOwft]

LB - I understand RAF Station Honington is also the RAF Regiment Depot now?:) (A role previously fulfilled by RAF Catterick - now Marne Barracks as part of Catterick Garrison)

I believe Valley was briefly RAF Rhosneigr, the eponymous railway station being closer to the aerodrome. If I recall correctly, anyone alighting there would have risked waiting for the tide to go out on their journey between the two types of station.

It was simpler idea being on one of 'HM ship's books' be it a steel, wooden, glassfibre or concrete one.

[57mm]

Wildenrath while I was there in the 80s was often referred to as the "Camp".....

[NRU74]

In the sixties in the Ship Inn in Narborough, Norfolk, Marham was often referred to (by the locals) as 'the Drome' !

[Barksdale Boy]

In the 60s,70s and 80s my father used to refer to anywhere I was stationed as the "the drome".

[MAINJAFAD]

Not got my copy to hand, but I'm pretty sure that AP3003 (an official history of the RAF issued in the early 2000's) covered the naming of RAF Stations and it stated normally the Station was named after the parish within which the Station HQ was located. There were exceptions like Coltishall or Lindholme, The naming of RAF Stations after Train Stations is a myth.

[Cyberhacker]

But then go to Kent, and the entire county seems to be covered with 'cut and paste' imagery!

I guess 1945's satellite coverage of Kent was a bit lacking ;-) ;-)

[SimonPaddo]

Probably lots of photo recon photos though

[langleybaston]

Sincere thanks to contributors: entertaining and informative.

I conclude that if granddaughter rock reservist rookie calls RAF Honington a base, I shall relax.
She has been warned by me about "raff" and "plane" so I think we are OK there!

[Warmtoast]

Abingdon in ‘58! 47 or 53?

VHF/DF operator in mobile DF vehicle (RV105) that provided cross bearings to Benson for aircraft on approach to Benson
for landing. I remustered as an AQM (Loadmaster) in the summer of 1959 and was posted to 99 Sqn at Lyneham in September of that year.
WT

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/450x278/image_f9504f2439c779be137c59c8cae8824c08cd1906.png

[WHBM]

And it was nearly always "RAF Stations", or American "Air bases". However RAF Marham was frequently termed "Mar-ham Air Base" in a mock American accent.
Almost certainly from the well-known (at the time) Peter Sellers parody of US travelogues "Bal-ham, Gateway to the South", likewise done in a ludicrous US accent.

Balham, Gateway to the South - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balham,_Gateway_to_the_South)

[minigundiplomat]

The R.A.F declined to name Odiham after its nearest railway station.

The RAF also declined to fund Odiham, probably why it’s more of a state of disrepair than a base.

[UAV689]

Always a Station! I was stationed was how I introduced my past life, never I was based!

Although most non military punters tend to ask “where was you based”.

[Shackeng]

VHF/DF operator in mobile DF vehicle (RV105) that provided cross bearings to Benson for aircraft on approach to Benson
for landing. I remustered as an AQM (Loadmaster) in the summer of 1959 and was posted to 99 Sqn at Lyneham in September of that year.
WT

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/450x278/image_f9504f2439c779be137c59c8cae8824c08cd1906.png
Great Bev pic, looks like returning/taking off from/for a heavy drop, as clam shell doors are removed. 👍

[possel]

My Record of Service (RAF Form 543R) that I requested a copy of quite a few years ago shows that I was posted to a "Unit" - not a Base or Station- see attached.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1945x1608/image1_ee5154ecbaec83bfba55e9846e57466aec98859f.jpg
"Unit" referred to the fact that a Squadron is a Unit which can be moved to a new station; ditto there are/were non-flying units which "lodge" at stations. If a Unit moves, I don't think there are any posting notices for each individual. My first tour was at the Radio Engineering Unit which lodged at Henlow with our own Group Captain who was not Station Commander. But I don't really think there were any hard and fast rules for this sort of thing. A Flt Lt friend was OC RAF XYZ (I forget where) which turned out to be a shed with an aerial in a field with no permanent staff!
Ken Scott #17 & MPN11 # 22
The name of the railway station by the South East (Brittania) gate on the RAF Brize Norton airfield boundary at the time the airfield was built was "Bampton" even though Bampton is 5 miles away. Carterton at that time was merely a crossroads with a shop and a few smallholdings established by Mr Carter. Brize Norton Parish and Village were well estabished centuries before. I have a map of the area dated 1828 showing Brize Norton and Bampton, but No Carterton. The railway station was renamed "Bampton and Brize Norton"in 1944 to reflect the new importance of the RAF station.
The railway station closed in 1962.
More recently (1980s?) RAF Bampton was opened (I think something to do with radar) and that caused confusion with RAF Brampton, so the former was renamed "RAF Bampton Castle". (I don't know anything about a castle there.) RAF Brampton, of course, was never even an airfield at all...

[Union Jack]

Not sure if true or not, But allegedly RAF Coltishall was originally going to be RAF Buxton but "they" were worried many would rock up in Derbyshire

Rather like the way in which young sailors apparently often arrived on the last train of the day at Gillingham in deepest darkest Dorset when they should have ended up at Gillingham in Kent for Chatham, thereby rendering themselves AWOL!:sad:

On a slightly different tack, there was evidently a lot of confusion between HMS LEANDER and RFA OLEANDER, which was finally solved by renaming the latter as OLMEDA.

Just don't get the dark blue started on whether you serve "in" or "on" a ship. Very broadly speaking, officers tend to say "in' and sailors "on", but for some reason no one referred to being in AISNE or in OPPORTUNE!:=

Jack

[MPN11]

Nice dit, UJ and yet another fine example of Andrew Speak! During my brief time with the RN I constantly struggled with the language and conventions. At BRNC the concept of the Liberty Boat before being allowed to Go Ashore had me silently sniggering every time!

[k3k3]

When my father who had never left Sussex was called up to the RN in WW2 he was given a rail warrant to a training base. He suffered from a stutter, so when he got to London and said he was off to join the navy at Sss he was put on a train to Scotland, to Scapa Flow. He arrived at his true training base a week late, Butlins Skegness!

[teeonefixer]

Butlins Skegness, otherwise known as "HMS Royal Arthur" - even by Lord Haw Haw !