RAF Bovingdon - 1960s
[quote=LTNman;9454371]I took these photos not long after the the film Hanover Street was made there or maybe it was before?
Well before I would say. The earlier photos of the parked B25s filming Hanover Street (posting #57) show the apron in the second picture has been partially dug up leaving just the taxiway on the left.
Well before I would say. The earlier photos of the parked B25s filming Hanover Street (posting #57) show the apron in the second picture has been partially dug up leaving just the taxiway on the left.
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I can see where you are coming from but I am 99% certain that actually the apron was still there but just covered in a light covering of earth held in place by thin strips of wood for the film set, as this was the location of the Nissen huts that were erected as part of the film set.
I bunked off work to take these.
When the film was made the tower was given a makeover with glass being put back into the window frames but it didn't take long after the site was vacated for the vandals to pay a visit to the tower once again.
Last edited by LTNman; 6th Aug 2016 at 06:08.
See what you mean; I never realised they did that, although having recently seen 'Reunion at Fairborough', in the sequences filmed at Fairoaks there are some Nissen huts behind what is actually London Transport Flying Club which were erected in what is now undergrowth purely for the film.
As I was working at Farnborough when Hanover Street was filmed, I was no longer living at my parents' place in Chesham hence I was unaware of the B25s at Bovingdon until it was mentioned by my dear old ATC Warrant Officer at Chesham Squadron. He had worked at Bovingdon for Shorts who provided handling services for the RAF aircraft until the day it was 'closed' by the RAF.
There was another short sequence filmed there in the early '70s involving a replica of a Mizar Aircar (Ford Pinto with wings) for 'The Man with the Golden Gun'.
As I was working at Farnborough when Hanover Street was filmed, I was no longer living at my parents' place in Chesham hence I was unaware of the B25s at Bovingdon until it was mentioned by my dear old ATC Warrant Officer at Chesham Squadron. He had worked at Bovingdon for Shorts who provided handling services for the RAF aircraft until the day it was 'closed' by the RAF.
There was another short sequence filmed there in the early '70s involving a replica of a Mizar Aircar (Ford Pinto with wings) for 'The Man with the Golden Gun'.
Nav Rad, your first trip was with me! My logbook shows: April 25th 1962, Anson 195, Bovingdon-St Mawgan-Bovingdon - 1.30 Day each way. I left CCCF for Argosies in Sept 1962. My last Anson flight was to Leuchars- Stornoway-Prestwick-Bovingdon on Sept 19/20 in 815, a Fighter Comm Sqn Anson. P/O Piper, the Nav, was filling in time on FCS, so I must have helping them out. While I was on CCCF the fleet consisted of 3 Anson 19's, 195,858,859 and a Mk21, 981. Our Valletta was 504. I do regret not entering full serial numbers in my log book.
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Searching for Richard Cushing
Hoping someone from the 7531st USAF squadron stationed at Bovingdon at around the time of 1954 to 1956/7 can help me trace my father, Richard Cushing. I believe he was an engineer and came from New Hampshire, USA.
He may have come from Concord NH, but I'm not sure on that detail. He would have been about 20/21 years old at the time. He met my mother, Jean Amor (maiden name) from Shenley/Watford area. They had a child...me. I was born in 1956. Sadly, my father went back to the States and I have never met him. Research, as far as I can go, informs me that he may have passed away, but I cannot confirm whether this is the correct Richard Cushing.
Thank you in advance
He may have come from Concord NH, but I'm not sure on that detail. He would have been about 20/21 years old at the time. He met my mother, Jean Amor (maiden name) from Shenley/Watford area. They had a child...me. I was born in 1956. Sadly, my father went back to the States and I have never met him. Research, as far as I can go, informs me that he may have passed away, but I cannot confirm whether this is the correct Richard Cushing.
Thank you in advance
Amazing co-incidence. I switched on the telly last evening (20 Oct) and there was an episode of 'The Persuaders' (Roger Moore/Tony Curtis) showing. Only saw the last 10 min but a car and a minibus drove along a road and turned into an airfield, small guardroom at the gate and newish looking T2 hangar in the background.
There were one or two other shots amongst the hangars and then some out on the airfield which was pretty obviously Bovingdon. All 4 T2s were re-clad with new unpainted corrugated iron in the mid to late '60s just before the airfield closed so that gives a rough date. This reminded me that I'd also seen a scene at Bovingdon (only 10 or 15 seconds) in one episode of 'The Prisoner'.
I dare say the studio shots for both these series were filmed at Elstree which isn't too far away from Bovingdon.
There were one or two other shots amongst the hangars and then some out on the airfield which was pretty obviously Bovingdon. All 4 T2s were re-clad with new unpainted corrugated iron in the mid to late '60s just before the airfield closed so that gives a rough date. This reminded me that I'd also seen a scene at Bovingdon (only 10 or 15 seconds) in one episode of 'The Prisoner'.
I dare say the studio shots for both these series were filmed at Elstree which isn't too far away from Bovingdon.
According to Wikipedia, in 2012, Dacorum Borough Council confirmed that the remaining 650m of runway 08/26 'remains a legal active airfield for light aircraft operation'.
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Some splendid photos here, supplied by one of the USAF team resident at Bovingdon (notwithstanding the misidentified Lincoln and Swift).
Herb's other videos are very nostalgic too.
Herb's other videos are very nostalgic too.
When I was at Bovingdon (FCCS) in 1956, apart from regular twice-a-day USAF Dakotas flying in from Paris Orly (NATO HQ was in Paris at that time) there was a daily USAF C-123 that flew in from Wiesbaden. C-123 take-offs were remarkably short compared with other aircraft visiting or based at Bovingdon.
When I was at Bovingdon (FCCS) in 1956, apart from regular twice-a-day USAF Dakotas flying in from Paris Orly (NATO HQ was in Paris at that time) there was a daily USAF C-123 that flew in from Wiesbaden. C-123 take-offs were remarkably short compared with other aircraft visiting or based at Bovingdon.
Last edited by chevvron; 6th Dec 2017 at 22:08.
A couple of us, having failed to scrounge at Bovingdon, the other guy said 'come on let's try Booker' so we hitch hiked there in time to see the last flight of the day land. Bomber Command Communication Squadron were based there (BC HQ being at Naphill a short distance away) until it closed as an RAF station the following year ('63) flying Ansons and possibly Pembrokes.
Funny that the nearest HQ Station, Signals Command at Medmenham (just outside Marlow) didn't operate from Booker because the used a Valleta which was presumably too big.
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I too used to go to Bovingdon as an Air Cadet, I was in 1187 sdn in Hemel Hempstead and the school i went to was right under the final approach flight path, which made for an interesting day. Yes I used to bunk off school to get trips up in the Ansons and also got in to see The War Lover being filmed. Also used to hitch hike to Booker to get trips too .
Many years ago I had a map with all RAF airfields on it but lost over the years . Used to stand on the Chesham -Hemel road right under the flight path as the B-17,s were landing. So in Jan 63 I became a Boy Entrant, 48th entry at RAF Hereford and many years later worked at Gatwick Airport as a head loader.
Many years ago I had a map with all RAF airfields on it but lost over the years . Used to stand on the Chesham -Hemel road right under the flight path as the B-17,s were landing. So in Jan 63 I became a Boy Entrant, 48th entry at RAF Hereford and many years later worked at Gatwick Airport as a head loader.