RAF Bovingdon - 1960s
As you say,BNN VOR was like bees round a honeypot
Last edited by Warmtoast; 22nd Oct 2012 at 10:41. Reason: To reinstall moved photos.
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Heathhurn - might that mean inmates from Bovingdon's Mount Prison claim finders' rights when they're trying to tunnel their way out?
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Try this: Air Traffic Engineering
This thread invoked memories of when Radlett/Hatfield/Leavesden had runways and aprons with aircraft parked on them.
I can still recall the idents GAR and WAT piping away in my headset too.
This thread invoked memories of when Radlett/Hatfield/Leavesden had runways and aprons with aircraft parked on them.
I can still recall the idents GAR and WAT piping away in my headset too.
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Bovingdon memorial
The local village hall is dedicated to the memory of the USAF C-47 unit that flew from Bovingdon and has a plaque depicting the unit's number etc. Someone local would know more. If your into conspiracy theories, Glen Miller is supposed to have landed here and picked up another passenger on his ill-fated flight. Going back many years, during renovation work on a local pub, a false wall was found behind which was a German WW2 radio (or wiireless receiver/transmitter) and which is/was put on display. Would be grateful for more details if anyone has them.
I was on Coastal Command Communications Flight at Bovingdon in 1961/2.
CCCF was the smallest unit with four Ansons (3 Mk19 and a 21) plus the AOC Coastal Command's VIP Valetta (VX504).
Fighter Comm Sqn was larger with about ten Ansons, 1 Varsity, 1 Devon, 2 Meteor T7's and a Meteor NF14 equipped for air to air photography. The French Embassy's Fouga Magister lived in our hangar and rarely flew.
The Engineers from Short Brothers, who maintained the RAF aircraft, kept them all in pristine condition.
The USAF operated half a dozen C47's, but we didn't have much contact.
You are right, Bovingdon was a very happy station and a close knit community.
Columbia Pictures filmed The War Lover at Bovingdon in 1962 using 3 B17's, with Robert Wagner, Steve McQueen and Shirley Ann Fields to add interest for the film buffs.
BTW. The north side of the airfield was a great place to pick mushrooms.
This photo of a CCCF Anson was taken during an open day after I left.
CCCF was the smallest unit with four Ansons (3 Mk19 and a 21) plus the AOC Coastal Command's VIP Valetta (VX504).
Fighter Comm Sqn was larger with about ten Ansons, 1 Varsity, 1 Devon, 2 Meteor T7's and a Meteor NF14 equipped for air to air photography. The French Embassy's Fouga Magister lived in our hangar and rarely flew.
The Engineers from Short Brothers, who maintained the RAF aircraft, kept them all in pristine condition.
The USAF operated half a dozen C47's, but we didn't have much contact.
You are right, Bovingdon was a very happy station and a close knit community.
Columbia Pictures filmed The War Lover at Bovingdon in 1962 using 3 B17's, with Robert Wagner, Steve McQueen and Shirley Ann Fields to add interest for the film buffs.
BTW. The north side of the airfield was a great place to pick mushrooms.
This photo of a CCCF Anson was taken during an open day after I left.
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bovingdon boy
To XV 490
regarding your request for photos etc. of Bovingdon during it's Operational days, perhaps I could help you.
I used to go flying from there regularly as a cadet in the ATC with several other pals. It is with great happiness that I look back on those days which I count as some of the happiest of my life.
My first flight was in an Anson navigational trainer and the pilot was an unforgettable character, Flight Sergeant Bob Sloane. He treated us all - I was 14 at the time - as "his boys". As well as the photographs I have many anecdotes of that halcyon period of my life.
Pics. include Hastings, Shackleton, Gemini, Lockheed T-33, Meteor T7, Hawker "Sea Hawk" which took off from there to break the London-Amsterdam speed record, Mosquito, Fairchild C-119 "Packet" and what I believe is the only Gruman Albatross to land at Bovingdon. There is also an American 'plane of which I'm not sure of it's type.
Several stories, such as the Wing Commander who crashed a Percival "Provost" which was I think a high speed conversion aircraft. The T-33 which ran out of runway and ended up with it's nose wheel between the main undercarrage legs. I could go on - it really was afabulous time and it saddens me deeply to see that state of the dear old place now.
regarding your request for photos etc. of Bovingdon during it's Operational days, perhaps I could help you.
I used to go flying from there regularly as a cadet in the ATC with several other pals. It is with great happiness that I look back on those days which I count as some of the happiest of my life.
My first flight was in an Anson navigational trainer and the pilot was an unforgettable character, Flight Sergeant Bob Sloane. He treated us all - I was 14 at the time - as "his boys". As well as the photographs I have many anecdotes of that halcyon period of my life.
Pics. include Hastings, Shackleton, Gemini, Lockheed T-33, Meteor T7, Hawker "Sea Hawk" which took off from there to break the London-Amsterdam speed record, Mosquito, Fairchild C-119 "Packet" and what I believe is the only Gruman Albatross to land at Bovingdon. There is also an American 'plane of which I'm not sure of it's type.
Several stories, such as the Wing Commander who crashed a Percival "Provost" which was I think a high speed conversion aircraft. The T-33 which ran out of runway and ended up with it's nose wheel between the main undercarrage legs. I could go on - it really was afabulous time and it saddens me deeply to see that state of the dear old place now.
Thread Starter
Thanks for the fascinating replies.
Brakedwell - I remember cycling up to the airfield one afternoon after a Spitfire had done a few circuits over my village. I recall talking about it to a sergeant, who was just inside the fence. He said he was picking mushrooms! I thought my memory was playing tricks, so thanks for the confirmation they grew there!
Brakedwell - I remember cycling up to the airfield one afternoon after a Spitfire had done a few circuits over my village. I recall talking about it to a sergeant, who was just inside the fence. He said he was picking mushrooms! I thought my memory was playing tricks, so thanks for the confirmation they grew there!
Thread Starter
BovingdonBoy - are you by any chance connected with the planned book about Bovingdon I've read about elsewhere? If so, I'd be fascinated to know when it's published, as I'll doubtless be among the first buyers.
Prior to 617 GS arriving from Hendon in the late '60s, 613 GS from Halton operated detachments there at various times, mostly (but not always) when Halton was waterlogged in winter. I did the very first launch there on the first detachment in a Mk 3 with Mike Duncombe (he'd been aerotowed in from Halton) and I also got the first Air Cadet Soaring Certificate there about a year later.
I found a great collection of photos during the RAF's tenure of Bovingdon at: http://www.bovingdon-airfield.co.uk/
..... including a very fine contender, on the fifth page of the USAAAF/USAF gallery, for the Four-engined Class in the Low Pass Stakes! I think even Alain de Cadenet might spotted that one coming ....
Jack
..... including a very fine contender, on the fifth page of the USAAAF/USAF gallery, for the Four-engined Class in the Low Pass Stakes! I think even Alain de Cadenet might spotted that one coming ....
Jack
Ben Newman retired shortly before I started my training ; Phil Plows was CFI. To avoid thread creep, I flew with Mike on my introductory lessons and with Paul just pre solo (Jacko did the solo checks on Pauls recommendation).
My log book reveals the first det to Bovingdon was on 21 Jun '65 and my soaring took place on the next det (we took the aircraft by road this time) on 19 Sep '65. My log book records the day before I'd flown an aerobatic trip with Paul at Bovingdon in Sedbergh XN150!!
My log book reveals the first det to Bovingdon was on 21 Jun '65 and my soaring took place on the next det (we took the aircraft by road this time) on 19 Sep '65. My log book records the day before I'd flown an aerobatic trip with Paul at Bovingdon in Sedbergh XN150!!
Two other films at Bovingdon but both early 70s: Hanover Street with B25s and a scene from The man with the Golden Gun involving a car with detatchable wings (Ford Pinto I think)
During one detachment (65 or 66) we did evening AEF for local squadrons. On one evening, we arrived to find a Devon in 'our' hangar on the back of a large trailer. Apparently, there was a slight 'hump' in the main runway (22) close to the threshold, and the Devon pilots usually touched down after this hump in order to avoid the embarassment of the hump launching them back into the air. Inevitably on this occasion, the pilot had touched down after the hump, only to find he had no brakes, and ended up on the Chesham - Hemel Hempstead road having taken off the undercarriage on the boundary fence. But on another evening, the SDO turned up just as we were preparing to start gliding operations; he mentioned he was taking a Devon up for some C/T, so we volunteered ourselves and the AEG cadets as 'cargo'. Honey Monster was also a staff cadet on 613, and he noticed an empty seat on the last trip, so quickly leapt back on board for his second ride of the evening!!
I have downloaded a 8mm film clip of Col John Glenn's space capsule leaving Bovingdon in 1962 after being on show in the Science Museum. The C124 Globemaster was carrying it on a world tour.