RAF Bovingdon - 1960s
XV490: the only Bovingdon 'Open days' I recall were when the yanks were still in situ ie prior to 1963; the 'usual' refuelling demo with a B50 'towing' an F100 and a B66, clearly visible from my home in Chesham.
HD: there was a 'standard NATO VHF frequency 142.29 which may have been used in those days.
HD: there was a 'standard NATO VHF frequency 142.29 which may have been used in those days.
I took this 8mm movie when I was on Coastal Command Communications Flight. Colonel Glenn's capsule was being loaded into a C124 for the continuation of it's world tour.
YouTube - Glenn Capsule
YouTube - Glenn Capsule
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Halifax G-AGZP incident at Bovingdon
Further to my earlier posting here are some pictures of 'GZP
The first shows 'GZP after landing (obviously) and in the words of Andre Jeziorski, the co-pilot, ' that’s actually where we taxied towards the very end of the main runway and we turned left into a large runup area we turned and stopped'. Anyone recognize the location?
The second picture shows what is left of no1 after it fell off near Dagnall, near Whipsnade. The best information I have is that it fell at '. . .Mrs Deadman's Farm . . .' The loss of the engine was caused by a piston seizure. This picture was taken professionally and signed by the crew. The underwriters were so pleased that the aircraft was not a complete loss that they gave my Father a gold cigarette case, which the Bank subsequently mislaid!
The first shows 'GZP after landing (obviously) and in the words of Andre Jeziorski, the co-pilot, ' that’s actually where we taxied towards the very end of the main runway and we turned left into a large runup area we turned and stopped'. Anyone recognize the location?
The second picture shows what is left of no1 after it fell off near Dagnall, near Whipsnade. The best information I have is that it fell at '. . .Mrs Deadman's Farm . . .' The loss of the engine was caused by a piston seizure. This picture was taken professionally and signed by the crew. The underwriters were so pleased that the aircraft was not a complete loss that they gave my Father a gold cigarette case, which the Bank subsequently mislaid!
The houses in the background of the first picture would possibly indicate it is parked near Whelpley Hill, but this is nowhere near the end of the main runway; it is however near the end of runway 28 which is shorter. On the other hand, if the fence in the background denotes the main road to Chesham rather than Whelpley Hill, then it could be the large parking area at the southern end of the disused north/south runway which if I recall, was the main USAF pan up to '62, and the main parking area for the comms sqdn aircraft after the merger of FCCS, CCCS and BCCS (which moved in from Booker when it closed as an RAF airfield).
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Bad timing! I was in the area on Thursday, checking out the Royal Oak near Bovingdon Green. I'd have had a look for the houses in the second photo if I'd known...
I'd heard the Royal Oak displayed some airfield photos etc. - alas not. It was very close to the base's WAAF site, hospital and main communal area during the war. Does anyone know when these were cleared? I know the gym/cinema building survives on the Ley Hill road near the Bovingdon Brickworks.
I'd heard the Royal Oak displayed some airfield photos etc. - alas not. It was very close to the base's WAAF site, hospital and main communal area during the war. Does anyone know when these were cleared? I know the gym/cinema building survives on the Ley Hill road near the Bovingdon Brickworks.
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A final footnote to 'GZP
By 21/4 the fitters at LAC had repaired 'GZP and my Father took it to Abadan via Malta and Cairo. At Abadan on 23/4, (TO 04:38) the hydraulics went u/s. Total airborne time for that flight was 6 minutes. Same day, TO at 15:56 from Cairo they had a no1 engine failure! They arrived back at Bovingdon on 24/4 at 19:02.
Sorry its a bit off thread. I will see if I can find some pictures from the '60s!
Sorry its a bit off thread. I will see if I can find some pictures from the '60s!
David Rayment
This photo of Bovingdon is as it was in 1956 with Rwy 22/04 running diagonally right to left.
Anyone recognize the location?
This photo of Bovingdon is as it was in 1956 with Rwy 22/04 running diagonally right to left.
Last edited by Warmtoast; 17th Aug 2010 at 22:25. Reason: Correct Runway Error
Chevvron
Having had a look at a map of Bovingdon I think you're right. Hempstead Road ran almost parallel with the main runway and according to the map Hempstead Road runs a good South-West to North-East.
I was stationed at Bovingdon in 1956 - memories obviously fade!
I believe the main runway was 04/22 running diagonally right to left
I was stationed at Bovingdon in 1956 - memories obviously fade!
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Chevvron
Bovingdon Green, where the village cricket club play, is the name of a road. Its junction with Water Lane, Middle Lane and Long Long is where the Royal Oak's situated (postcode HP3 0LZ).
I've just been sent a wartime plan photocopy of the airfield and its environs by the RAF Museum, but it's largely illegible - as, I was told, is the original. Shame.
Bovingdon Green, where the village cricket club play, is the name of a road. Its junction with Water Lane, Middle Lane and Long Long is where the Royal Oak's situated (postcode HP3 0LZ).
I've just been sent a wartime plan photocopy of the airfield and its environs by the RAF Museum, but it's largely illegible - as, I was told, is the original. Shame.
Last edited by XV490; 19th Aug 2010 at 08:40.
When I was stationed at Bovindon in the early sixties we used to wander down and stagger back from the Royal Oak! A very young Shirley Bassey and her husband Kenneth Hulme who lived nearby were regular visitors the pub.
Last edited by brakedwell; 19th Aug 2010 at 10:39. Reason: beter grammar
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This map shows the Royal Oak and the original airfield-related sites nearby.
Shirley Bassey and Kenneth Hulme presumably lived nearby?
Shirley Bassey and Kenneth Hulme presumably lived nearby?
Bovingdon Green is a road ah that explains it. I was too young and innocent to frequent the pubs in the area when 613 GS were operating there, but I'm pretty certain it's also the name of a village near Marlow - how it got that name so far from the real Bovingdon I don't know!
For years I had a copy of the Bovingdon crash map but sadly no more.
For years I had a copy of the Bovingdon crash map but sadly no more.
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As a member of the Watford Grammar School CCF I flew from Bovingdon on several occasions during 1956 -1958,usually in an Anson but also twice in a Devon.There were also two Meteors on strength,one a T7,the other a NF variety.The RAF also had a Dakota fitted out with a VIP interior although I never saw it fly,I was told the RAF had kept two on strength the other being based in Scotland.I can also remember visiting Shackletons and once a Neptune.Of course the Americans were also present with their C47s and I can remember a B26 Invader taking off.My last visit was to the Officers Mess bar in about 1963 with a school friend who was a new P2 on Vulcans.
Colin
Colin
There is a jolly good aerial shot of Bovy taken by the RAF in 1946 and reproduced in Roger Freeman's 'Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now' Quite where those houses are or were in the Halifax photo is a bit of a mystery - I've battled with Google Street and satellite photos show things like swimming pools at Whelpley Hill which were unheard of in my boyhood.
I'm inclined to agree with Chevvron that Capt Rayment parked his aircraft near to the end of the old south eastern runway. That photograph must have been taken minutes after their arrival - the tyre appears to be wet, perhaps from the fire extinguisher discharge. Keep 'em coming - super thread.
I'm inclined to agree with Chevvron that Capt Rayment parked his aircraft near to the end of the old south eastern runway. That photograph must have been taken minutes after their arrival - the tyre appears to be wet, perhaps from the fire extinguisher discharge. Keep 'em coming - super thread.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 20th Aug 2010 at 08:28.
