Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields
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chevvron:
West Malling isn't "totally obliterated", it still had its control tower when I last visited, plus some large brick-built WW2 messes, now converted to office and store accommodation.
Also there is a splendid "scrambling airman" memorial to all who flew from there, who included Guy Gibson (in his Beaufighter night-fighter period before the Dambuster raid), John ("Cats Eyes") Cunningham, and Peter Townsend.
The control tower looked sad and neglected when I saw it last, despite I believe having some sort of protected status. This was the building which featured in a famous picture of one of the FW190's which landed in error at the station, and had "Do not turn" marked in chalk on its cowling.
West Malling isn't "totally obliterated", it still had its control tower when I last visited, plus some large brick-built WW2 messes, now converted to office and store accommodation.
Also there is a splendid "scrambling airman" memorial to all who flew from there, who included Guy Gibson (in his Beaufighter night-fighter period before the Dambuster raid), John ("Cats Eyes") Cunningham, and Peter Townsend.
The control tower looked sad and neglected when I saw it last, despite I believe having some sort of protected status. This was the building which featured in a famous picture of one of the FW190's which landed in error at the station, and had "Do not turn" marked in chalk on its cowling.
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I found myself at RAF Witchford, the other day, in the building where there is a little museum of the WWII Australian Lancasters with Hercules engines, something that until then I did not know existed.
2 or 3 superb models, photos, documents, memorabilia, just fascinating and a lovely memorial to the Aussies.
It's a mile or two South West of Ely close to the A142, and the runway pattern can just be picked out on Google Earth, especially the NE/SW runway.
2 or 3 superb models, photos, documents, memorabilia, just fascinating and a lovely memorial to the Aussies.
It's a mile or two South West of Ely close to the A142, and the runway pattern can just be picked out on Google Earth, especially the NE/SW runway.
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RAF Intelligence School - RAF Highgate 1942-48
I am currently reserching RAF Highgate as a project for the RAF Intelligence Officers Association (RAFIOA).
I am very keen to hear from anyone who has any information, memories or even pictures of the place.
RAF Highgate was opened in Sep 1942, as the home to the RAF Intelligence School. The school was officially badged with a crest depicting a sphinx and sun, however the unit was publically shrouded with a cover story of being a convelesence hospital and nurses training unit. The School itself sat in the grand mansion that was known as Caen Wood Towers (renamed Athlone House in 1972) that sits on the North edge of Hampstead Heath. This building is currently still in place, although in poor condition. It is under threat from building development, despite the local Highgate Society and a number of other loacal groups fighting to have the building preserved and restored. It is currently NOT listed but sits in a conservation area and is subject to Camden Councils planning ruling that the building should be restored. This does not appear to be being honoured by the current land owner. The RAFIOA, is currently working with the Highgate Society to apply for listed status to this important part of wartime history that has been almost forgotten.
7000+ personnel were trained in Air Intelligence and Escape and Evasion (MI9) during the war years alone. The School remained at Highgate until 1948 when it moved to the Air Ministry in central London. It eventually closed in 1969 when Int training became joint at Ashford.
Anyone with any memories of the School, especially at Highgate, would be most welcome.
I am very keen to hear from anyone who has any information, memories or even pictures of the place.
RAF Highgate was opened in Sep 1942, as the home to the RAF Intelligence School. The school was officially badged with a crest depicting a sphinx and sun, however the unit was publically shrouded with a cover story of being a convelesence hospital and nurses training unit. The School itself sat in the grand mansion that was known as Caen Wood Towers (renamed Athlone House in 1972) that sits on the North edge of Hampstead Heath. This building is currently still in place, although in poor condition. It is under threat from building development, despite the local Highgate Society and a number of other loacal groups fighting to have the building preserved and restored. It is currently NOT listed but sits in a conservation area and is subject to Camden Councils planning ruling that the building should be restored. This does not appear to be being honoured by the current land owner. The RAFIOA, is currently working with the Highgate Society to apply for listed status to this important part of wartime history that has been almost forgotten.
7000+ personnel were trained in Air Intelligence and Escape and Evasion (MI9) during the war years alone. The School remained at Highgate until 1948 when it moved to the Air Ministry in central London. It eventually closed in 1969 when Int training became joint at Ashford.
Anyone with any memories of the School, especially at Highgate, would be most welcome.
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Ginger Tom wrote
As someone who went to school in the town is was a pleasure years later when I used the strip as a regular. I had to send a telex (remember them) every time before I flew in.This was back in the 1980's.
McAlpines owned the quarry,they also built the airfield in WW2, and Jimmy McAlpine was a regular in the companies twin. He lived just down the road at Marchwiel Hall.
Wrexham comes to mind (OK, there was about 150m of runway left last time I flew over there; I get students to find it if they can).
McAlpines owned the quarry,they also built the airfield in WW2, and Jimmy McAlpine was a regular in the companies twin. He lived just down the road at Marchwiel Hall.
What about the former RFC Leadenham (nr Cranwell)? It closed in 1919. There are no obvious signs of occupation other than the historical sign at the side of the road at the junction of Long Lane and Pottergate Road. It was created for 38 Sqn who were providing air defence for Zeppelin threat.
RM
RM
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RAF Worksop almost completely gone now, unless you search the undergrowth for some foundations;
The Airfields Of Nottinghamshire Worksop
RAF Thornaby completely gone!
The Airfields Of North Yorkshire Thornaby
RAF Warboys to name another;
The Airfields Of Cambridgeshire Warboys
The Airfields Of Nottinghamshire Worksop
RAF Thornaby completely gone!
The Airfields Of North Yorkshire Thornaby
RAF Warboys to name another;
The Airfields Of Cambridgeshire Warboys
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Poulton
Since nobody has come up with a more substantial answer, here is what little I have. It was a WW2 construction and its main tenant was 41 OTU with Mustangs . Post war it reverted to the Duke of Westminster's Eaton Estate and all buildings were demolished. The runway had some use up to the 70s, including the Duke's Turbo-Goose amphibian G-ASXG and Cessna 150 G-BAYO landed there to be an exhibit when the Cheshire Show was held on site in 1973. There is more in "Cheshire Airfields of the Second World War" which can be found in bookshops - sorry i don't have the author or publisher.
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At the risk of further thread drift from Poulton to the Duke of Westminster's air force, in the coach-house at Eaton hall there was, and may still be , the Goose's pilots uniform displayed on a dummy, along with those of other ground based flunkeys of various trades.
On the south coast, between Chichester and Portsmouth, is a Navy research establishment called Funtington. This was an ALG during 1944 and like most ALG's was quickly returned to farmland after D - day, although in this case farmland seems to be a misnomer. Having said that, one of the controllers at Farnborough when I arrived in '74 was an ex Mustang pilot who flew from there, and he told me the ALG was actually sited south of the local road rather than north of it like the present site.