Question about RAF Swanton Morley
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Question about RAF Swanton Morley
I have an e-mail from a bloke who recalls seeing a Canberra T.17 in the hanagr at Swanton Morley around 1975-1980. He was in the local ATC at that time and they regularly used the hangar for some purpose or other (drill maybe?). He reports that it sat there for quite some time (months) and was never moved.
I thought Swanton was a grass airfield, seem to recall it being that the couple or so times I paxed there in one of Wyton's Chipmunks in the early 70s. Although I think a Canberra could just get into Swanton with those big main wheels and, maybe, on a scorching hot summer's day and hard ground, it seems improbable. Especially as T.17s were the exclusive property of 360 Sqn and they were operational at the time.
Query - Does anyone please know about this mystery Canberra at Swanton? Anything?
I hope the wealth of knowledge on this forum can unearth an aswer.
Thanks.
I thought Swanton was a grass airfield, seem to recall it being that the couple or so times I paxed there in one of Wyton's Chipmunks in the early 70s. Although I think a Canberra could just get into Swanton with those big main wheels and, maybe, on a scorching hot summer's day and hard ground, it seems improbable. Especially as T.17s were the exclusive property of 360 Sqn and they were operational at the time.
Query - Does anyone please know about this mystery Canberra at Swanton? Anything?
I hope the wealth of knowledge on this forum can unearth an aswer.
Thanks.
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I was there in August of last year after just passing close enough to be nosey! It is a grass airfield and not much happens there it seemed at the time. The two hangars had a lot of stuff stored in them and most of it belonged to film companies (props) I guess.
No areoplanes of ANY description were visible from what I saw. But it is a huge place and maybe there is another hangar - who knows.
PPP
No areoplanes of ANY description were visible from what I saw. But it is a huge place and maybe there is another hangar - who knows.
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Originally Posted by Beeayeate
Query - Does anyone please know about this mystery Canberra at Swanton? Anything?
http://www.bywat.co.uk/gall01.html
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3rd Hangar
Pop,
There used to be a 3rd hangar outside the northern perimeter and was used by the gliding school. It would not be readily visible from the area between the main two hangars as it is in dead ground about 50ft lower.
In fact looking at multi map is still there nowdays with its own strip.
There used to be a 3rd hangar outside the northern perimeter and was used by the gliding school. It would not be readily visible from the area between the main two hangars as it is in dead ground about 50ft lower.
In fact looking at multi map is still there nowdays with its own strip.
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Swanton Morley
Swanton is closed to GA. Now the home of Robertson Barracks. All you'll see there are TANKS. I doubt that the hangars have any civilian use.
It is a shame that it closed to GA as before the runway was defined in the
1990's by Jim Avis of Eastern Stearman fame it was one of the few grass airfields where you could land in any direction and always be into wind.
I went to the closing down ceremony and the highlight of that day was the fantastic "wire up" carried out by Tornadoes from Marham. Once seen---never forgotten.
It is a shame that it closed to GA as before the runway was defined in the
1990's by Jim Avis of Eastern Stearman fame it was one of the few grass airfields where you could land in any direction and always be into wind.
I went to the closing down ceremony and the highlight of that day was the fantastic "wire up" carried out by Tornadoes from Marham. Once seen---never forgotten.
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Used to be the largest grass airfield in Europe (so I was told!) Even though the Army have moved in, there's still a strip on the far side of the airfield - and it certainly WAS open a couple of years ago. I'm pretty sure that there was amongst others a Strearman hangared there (maybe even the same one as was there in 1990-ish in the Gliding school hangar when I was a mere sprog on a BGT course!)
edited for sepllnig
edited for sepllnig
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Swanton
The ex-51 Sqn Canberra was used by the NDT Squadron as a training aid - the Canberra seemed to illustrate most of metalurgical failure modes likely to be found in a military aicraft.
Today the grunts have demolished the T2 and the J-Type hangars and replaced them with modern, large and presumably insulated buildings to house their tanks. This has done nothing for the environment in which the newly-listed 'Villa-Type' control tower finds itself.
There is a remaining T2 Hangar on the Worthing-village side of the airfield which is outside the old perimeter track and in private ownership. This is where Jim Avis et al operated from and where there was a small grass strip used by the aircraft after the Army arrived and banned aircraft from the airfield, which they made into a tank testing ground. All civil flying activity has now ceased and I understand that the strip may have been ploughed up.
Today the grunts have demolished the T2 and the J-Type hangars and replaced them with modern, large and presumably insulated buildings to house their tanks. This has done nothing for the environment in which the newly-listed 'Villa-Type' control tower finds itself.
There is a remaining T2 Hangar on the Worthing-village side of the airfield which is outside the old perimeter track and in private ownership. This is where Jim Avis et al operated from and where there was a small grass strip used by the aircraft after the Army arrived and banned aircraft from the airfield, which they made into a tank testing ground. All civil flying activity has now ceased and I understand that the strip may have been ploughed up.
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Thanks to all who replied. Never fails this forum, the knowledge here is awesome.
Certainly seems like ex-51 Sqn's WJ775 is the mystery Canberra. Must admit I didn't think it could be a T.17. Strangely, I know WJ775, used to work on it when I was on 51 Sqn centuries ago. Also, it gives you a funny feeling when someone - PaperTiger - quotes your own web site back at you. Thanks for that PT.
I'll inform the bloke that 51 Sqn's beast is the best possible fit.
Unless anyone else knows different.
Again, thanks all.
Certainly seems like ex-51 Sqn's WJ775 is the mystery Canberra. Must admit I didn't think it could be a T.17. Strangely, I know WJ775, used to work on it when I was on 51 Sqn centuries ago. Also, it gives you a funny feeling when someone - PaperTiger - quotes your own web site back at you. Thanks for that PT.
I'll inform the bloke that 51 Sqn's beast is the best possible fit.
Unless anyone else knows different.
Again, thanks all.
Swanton wasn't the biggest grass airfield, I think you'll find that honour goes to Middle Wallop.
As to landing a Canberra there; if the surface was underlaid with steel mesh as were other grass airfields like Halton, there should be no problems. No less than three Vulcans were landed at Halton in the 60's; I believe they may also have landed an Argosy there too.
As to landing a Canberra there; if the surface was underlaid with steel mesh as were other grass airfields like Halton, there should be no problems. No less than three Vulcans were landed at Halton in the 60's; I believe they may also have landed an Argosy there too.
Last edited by chevvron; 26th Feb 2006 at 07:46.
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Underlaid with steel mesh or not I do not believe there would be any problem landing a Canberra there in the summer at normal landing weight when the ground would be reasonably hard.
The aircraft had large tyres with fairly low pressure by modern standards.
I have a recollection of the Canberras at Coningsby occasionally using the grass on the north side of the main runway.
Some years later at another airfield I used to watch a T-bird doing rollers and landing on a grass strip about 4500ft long.
The aircraft had large tyres with fairly low pressure by modern standards.
I have a recollection of the Canberras at Coningsby occasionally using the grass on the north side of the main runway.
Some years later at another airfield I used to watch a T-bird doing rollers and landing on a grass strip about 4500ft long.
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Originally Posted by Beeayeate
Also, it gives you a funny feeling when someone - PaperTiger - quotes your own web site back at you. Thanks for that PT.
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Swanton Morley
For any interested in the airfield itself here's a web link http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s29.html
The field was used by Bostons, Mitchells and Mosquitos during WW2.
Having spent a number of evenings in close proximity to the grass on night exercises with the ATC and RAF police I don't recall that it was underlain with PSP matting or mesh but although well drained, some areas were liable to waterlogging after rain and light aircraft were advised to keep well clear! Neither was it billiard table flat having a pronounced brow which made landings from the NW "interesting" (even in Venture T1) as the CT and hangers suddendly appeared FROM "nowhere"!
Thanks to Beeayeate (alias bywat) for starting this thread on WJ775 and for other PRUNERS for their recollections - curiosity satisfied!
Now, lets GOOGLE Bodney.........
The field was used by Bostons, Mitchells and Mosquitos during WW2.
Having spent a number of evenings in close proximity to the grass on night exercises with the ATC and RAF police I don't recall that it was underlain with PSP matting or mesh but although well drained, some areas were liable to waterlogging after rain and light aircraft were advised to keep well clear! Neither was it billiard table flat having a pronounced brow which made landings from the NW "interesting" (even in Venture T1) as the CT and hangers suddendly appeared FROM "nowhere"!
Thanks to Beeayeate (alias bywat) for starting this thread on WJ775 and for other PRUNERS for their recollections - curiosity satisfied!
Now, lets GOOGLE Bodney.........
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Well, you pays your money and you takes your choice!
The
is on Google as White Waltham on the one hand and Middle Wallop on the other.
My money is on WW. I have flown at both and I reckon WW gets my vote.
PPP
The
The largest grass airfield
My money is on WW. I have flown at both and I reckon WW gets my vote.
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I don't recal there being any mesh under the grass either, although I was last there 10 years ago and wasn't looking for any!
I do recall an area on the N? side of the field where the grass wouldn't gorw properly and was told that it was contaminated ground from a Mosquito crash, but 50-odd years of 'Chinese Whispers' may have a bearing on the veracity of that one - no doubt aircraft DID crash, but several other crash sites have returned to normal in a lot less time.
I do recall an area on the N? side of the field where the grass wouldn't gorw properly and was told that it was contaminated ground from a Mosquito crash, but 50-odd years of 'Chinese Whispers' may have a bearing on the veracity of that one - no doubt aircraft DID crash, but several other crash sites have returned to normal in a lot less time.
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Originally Posted by chevvron
Swanton wasn't the biggest grass airfield, I think you'll find that honour goes to Middle Wallop.
As to landing a Canberra there; if the surface was underlaid with steel mesh as were other grass airfields like Halton, there should be no problems. No less than three Vulcans were landed at Halton in the 70's; I believe they may also have landed an Argosy there too.
As to landing a Canberra there; if the surface was underlaid with steel mesh as were other grass airfields like Halton, there should be no problems. No less than three Vulcans were landed at Halton in the 70's; I believe they may also have landed an Argosy there too.
Most certainly was an Argosy there when I was there 85 or 86 can't remember exactly. Don't know if they flew it in.
Also had some gnats that they used for training but I guess they came in by road.
Cheers
Guern
Yes the Argosy was at Halton up until they wound down No 1 S.O.T.T., as were the Gnats and a load of JP's. The two latter types must have been trucked in; the JP's were sometimes taxied across the grass, but the Gnats were mostly used to teach the apprenti and trainee FLM's about ground running, and used the paved surfaces only, including the road from the main pan to the engine running bay near where the old control tower was.
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Yep the Gnats were definatley used for ground runs at Halton. Used to give us something to watch while waiting our go at the VGS in the Ventures.
Some nice chap landed his Harvard one day and let us climb all over it.
What happened to the Argosy, Gnats etc?
Some nice chap landed his Harvard one day and let us climb all over it.
What happened to the Argosy, Gnats etc?
Not sure about the Argosy, but Gnats and JP's were sold off; they were there in '93, but there were frequently people there in about '94 or '95 dismantling them when I was flying with the Ridgerunners. There were also a couple of Harriers parked further down the airfield midway between the old tower and 26 threshold.
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Originally Posted by chevvron
As to landing a Canberra there; if the surface was underlaid with steel mesh as were other grass airfields like Halton, there should be no problems. No less than three Vulcans were landed at Halton in the 70's; I believe they may also have landed an Argosy there too.