Visiting disused RAF bomber stations
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Visiting disused RAF bomber stations
I'm hoping to make a trip to 'bomber country' some time in the near future (spring/summer) to visit one or two disused bomber airfields. Are there any with public access that retain runways/peri tracks/dispersals/buildings? Preferably RAF and abandoned at some point not too long after the war; and within a day's drive of Kent. I'd like to plan the trip, read a bit of history of the station(s) and soak up some of the atmosphere, possibly taking a photo or two.
I appreciate that many will be ploughed back into the ground but there must be one or two, at least?
I appreciate that many will be ploughed back into the ground but there must be one or two, at least?
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Kev - there is at least one website dedicated to this topic - don't have address but it is easily found via google. You should find some ex info on there. I visited Lincolnshire last yr and visited quite a few. Invariably they have returned to farm ownership so just bear that in mind. Good luck.
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Sounds like a few good days out! - Please post a few pix after your travels.
You may find these useful as a guide to what's left of the sites..
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/av...colnshire.html
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/av...l/Norfolk.html
You may find these useful as a guide to what's left of the sites..
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/av...colnshire.html
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/av...l/Norfolk.html
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kevmusic,
And when you need a break from totally disused airfields, I can recommend Wickenby for refreshments and 12 Sqdn/626 Sqdn museum in the old control tower, plus a view out over an active airfield utilising part of the original 03/21 and 16/34 runways and T2 hangar.
And when you need a break from totally disused airfields, I can recommend Wickenby for refreshments and 12 Sqdn/626 Sqdn museum in the old control tower, plus a view out over an active airfield utilising part of the original 03/21 and 16/34 runways and T2 hangar.
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Thanks for your replies guys - some really interesting links there.
Studefather, I'd thought about Wickenby as Jack Currie ('Lancaster Target') was based there. He talks a lot about the base in the book. Thanks for the tip.
Studefather, I'd thought about Wickenby as Jack Currie ('Lancaster Target') was based there. He talks a lot about the base in the book. Thanks for the tip.
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I'm fairly certain that the Lincolnshire Tourist Information Office has an Airfield Trail leaflet available, which goes with 'Former Airfield' signs at those sites. Am 'away on business' at the moment, but you should be able to get their website / phone number easily enough.
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Can't help you with precise details. I'd just say that my wife and I regularly used to visit East Anglia as bird watchers and we've come across a number of old airfields which were totally open - driven up and down runways and around old control towers. In the opposite direction, it's possible (or was, a couple of years ago) to drive all over Davidstow Moor airfield in Cornwall.
Good luck..
Good luck..
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Have a look at this site, it lists most, if not all UK airfields.
Some are still in use, others have completely gone!
http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/0.../UK/ukmenu.htm
I've just had a look at the above site, which used to have Multimap links, these have now gone, and have been replaced with a GoogleEarth .kml file.
Some are still in use, others have completely gone!
http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/0.../UK/ukmenu.htm
I've just had a look at the above site, which used to have Multimap links, these have now gone, and have been replaced with a GoogleEarth .kml file.
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kev
If you are in the Woodhall Spa area go see the Dam Busters Memorial in the village center. Then go to the Petwood Hotel about half a mile down the road in Woodhall.
It was the Officers Mess of 617 SQD during WW2. They have a private museum which is in, what was, the SQD bar. Ask at reception if you can see it. They will unlock it for you. Lots of 617 stuff in there.
Clint.
Then nip over the road and say hello to my parents who live right opersite !!!
If you are in the Woodhall Spa area go see the Dam Busters Memorial in the village center. Then go to the Petwood Hotel about half a mile down the road in Woodhall.
It was the Officers Mess of 617 SQD during WW2. They have a private museum which is in, what was, the SQD bar. Ask at reception if you can see it. They will unlock it for you. Lots of 617 stuff in there.
Clint.
Then nip over the road and say hello to my parents who live right opersite !!!
A few more links for you kevmusic:
http://www.bomber-command.info/sitemap.htm
http://www.6group.rcaf.com/
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat..../page/2#823782
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/
http://www.rafbombercommand.com/
http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/raf_bc/
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/
http://www.controltowers.co.uk/
and last, but by no means least:
http://www.bc-heritage.org/
Good hunting!
http://www.bomber-command.info/sitemap.htm
http://www.6group.rcaf.com/
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat..../page/2#823782
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/
http://www.rafbombercommand.com/
http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/raf_bc/
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/
http://www.controltowers.co.uk/
and last, but by no means least:
http://www.bc-heritage.org/
Good hunting!
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Have you looked at content-delivery website ? It lists all airfields in the uk with google earth links to each, it's as recent as google earth can be, and with a bit of clicking you can search by county, I hope the link below works for you. Keith.
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/
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Kev,
RAF Hampstead Norreys, located just outside of the village of Hampstead Norreys on the B4009 may be worth a look.
From Wikipedia:
The village was also close to the wartime airfield of RAF Hampstead Norris, an RAF Bomber Command Operational Training Unit (OTU) station. The airfield was host to a small number of squadrons of Wellington bombers. The site was bombed on September 16, 1940 by the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. In 1945, the station was used by squadrons of Mosquito fighter bombers and became an ammunition storage depot as part of the Central Ammunition Depot at Bramley near Basingstoke after its closure in 1946. Little of the wartime station now remains. There are four remaining pillboxes around where the airfield was and a few air raid shelters in the woods. Part of the bomb storage site remains also.
Looking at Google Earth, if you get your pointer on 51o 29' 27.38N 1o 12' 55.71W you will clearly see the field with its runways and taxi ways etc
The corner of the wooded area to the SW (51 29 02 06N, 01 13 16 21W) contains a footpath that takes you through the bomb storage site and the pillboxes are also very visable in the surrounding fields.
There are still a few locals about who remember the Wellingtons. Lunchtime in the local pub would be a good time to offer beer for stories Im sure!
If you need any more info let me know
RAF Hampstead Norreys, located just outside of the village of Hampstead Norreys on the B4009 may be worth a look.
From Wikipedia:
The village was also close to the wartime airfield of RAF Hampstead Norris, an RAF Bomber Command Operational Training Unit (OTU) station. The airfield was host to a small number of squadrons of Wellington bombers. The site was bombed on September 16, 1940 by the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. In 1945, the station was used by squadrons of Mosquito fighter bombers and became an ammunition storage depot as part of the Central Ammunition Depot at Bramley near Basingstoke after its closure in 1946. Little of the wartime station now remains. There are four remaining pillboxes around where the airfield was and a few air raid shelters in the woods. Part of the bomb storage site remains also.
Looking at Google Earth, if you get your pointer on 51o 29' 27.38N 1o 12' 55.71W you will clearly see the field with its runways and taxi ways etc
The corner of the wooded area to the SW (51 29 02 06N, 01 13 16 21W) contains a footpath that takes you through the bomb storage site and the pillboxes are also very visable in the surrounding fields.
There are still a few locals about who remember the Wellingtons. Lunchtime in the local pub would be a good time to offer beer for stories Im sure!
If you need any more info let me know
A trip to Lincolnshire for an aviation enthusiast must include a trip to Scopwick (about 6 miles SE of Lincoln) to visit the grave of John Gillespie Magee the author of 'High Flight'' 'Oh I have slipped the surly bonds'. I came across this entirely by accident when I looked at the standard military gravestone and saw the opening and last line of the poem' "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth -
Put out my hand and touched the Face of God."
My first thoughts that the grieving wife/parents had chosen this as a fitting epitaph to their beloved husband/son. However, I suddenly realised that it was the author himself, made all the more poignant by the fact he was only 19 years old when he died and it appears that his parents weren't able to attend his funeral. A great place for some quiet reflection.
From Wikepdia:
Part of the official letter to his parents read: "Your son's funeral took place at Scopwick Cemetery, near Digby Aerodrome, at 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, 13 December 1941, the service being conducted by Flight Lieutenant S. K. Belton, the Canadian padre of this Station. He was accorded full Service Honours, the coffin being carried by pilots of his own Squadron."
Put out my hand and touched the Face of God."
My first thoughts that the grieving wife/parents had chosen this as a fitting epitaph to their beloved husband/son. However, I suddenly realised that it was the author himself, made all the more poignant by the fact he was only 19 years old when he died and it appears that his parents weren't able to attend his funeral. A great place for some quiet reflection.
From Wikepdia:
Part of the official letter to his parents read: "Your son's funeral took place at Scopwick Cemetery, near Digby Aerodrome, at 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, 13 December 1941, the service being conducted by Flight Lieutenant S. K. Belton, the Canadian padre of this Station. He was accorded full Service Honours, the coffin being carried by pilots of his own Squadron."
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Hemswell occurred to me as a good possibility because it features as the home base in Wg. Cmdr. Cozens's film, 'Night Bombers' and 'content-delivery' shows it to have large areas of the station still intact, including the hangars. Are they accessible, I wonder? Only trouble is, it's quite a long trip from here.
That's a nice thought about Scopwick/Magee, Matt, thanks.
Plenty of scope for more than one pilgrimage here!
That's a nice thought about Scopwick/Magee, Matt, thanks.
Plenty of scope for more than one pilgrimage here!
Hemswell's runways have been 'recycled' now but you can access directly from the main road and drive around the peri-track. Wg. Cmdr. Cozen's film shows Lanc's taxying past the watch tower and the same view can be had from this entry road which was the old runway threshold. He (or the cameraman) must have been standing near the signaller and others who always waved the crews off.
I used to fly into Hemswell in the 70's and 'Supply Command' was painted on one of the hangars, we could have a cuppa and and a chat in the watch tower which was used as a club house.
Link here
http://www.oldairfields.fotopic.net/c206144.html
I used to fly into Hemswell in the 70's and 'Supply Command' was painted on one of the hangars, we could have a cuppa and and a chat in the watch tower which was used as a club house.
Link here
http://www.oldairfields.fotopic.net/c206144.html
Last edited by OwnNav; 24th Apr 2008 at 19:48.