RAF BRIDGNORTH-Mystery Base!
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RAF BRIDGNORTH-Mystery Base!
Apart from what is on the internet, anyone know anything about this mystery RAF base?
It is said that Hitler was intending to use it as his flying base after capturing England.
It is said that the RAF brought damaged aircraft in,(one presumes by road) from Spitfires to Lancasters, and parked then around the base to make it look like an active airfield.
Can anyone shed any light on this training base that apparently never had any active runway(s)
It is said that Hitler was intending to use it as his flying base after capturing England.
It is said that the RAF brought damaged aircraft in,(one presumes by road) from Spitfires to Lancasters, and parked then around the base to make it look like an active airfield.
Can anyone shed any light on this training base that apparently never had any active runway(s)
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RAF Bridgenorth
Not very secret in 1957 when I did my "square bashing "there. It was at that time one of the stations you did your initial training at.
Long since closed and demolished.
Harbourm
Long since closed and demolished.
Harbourm
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ATC at Bridgnorth
My only memory of Bridgnorth was being taken there in September 1956 while we were on ATC camp at Shawbury. The aim of the exercise: to use their 303 rifle range.
There are some photos of the range on RAF Bridgnorth modernstation
Don't recall anything secret or mysterious.
Laurence
There are some photos of the range on RAF Bridgnorth modernstation
Don't recall anything secret or mysterious.
Laurence
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I was there in May 1959. National Service -get some in son - and the only thing we did apart from square bashing and peeling spuds/washing up etc was to count the days until our first leave. There were lots of talks about avoiding the "Wolverhampton Wanderers". At my tender age and a beautiful girl in Windsor I could not understand why anyone would want to dally with a Wanderer. Surely the dregs of the Hooker fraternity in that area. 
The best thing was a cup of tea and a wad in the Salvation Army. Ever since I have gladly put money into their hands. They made us feel human, never pushed religion and made us all feel like a family member.
Compton Basset and Locking were 5 star by comparison to Bridgenorth.
Then Benson and Sylt - better still.
National Service - Bring it back Now!
The best thing was a cup of tea and a wad in the Salvation Army. Ever since I have gladly put money into their hands. They made us feel human, never pushed religion and made us all feel like a family member.
Compton Basset and Locking were 5 star by comparison to Bridgenorth.
Then Benson and Sylt - better still.
National Service - Bring it back Now!
Going back to the original question 
, what is the source of this info that Hitler intended to use a non-airfield site as his flying base?! Sounds like total rubbish to me ...
, what is the source of this info that Hitler intended to use a non-airfield site as his flying base?! Sounds like total rubbish to me ...
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True.
Hitler wanted sleepy Bridgnorth to be Nazi HQ after the invasion of Britain - Telegraph
Takes me back a bit - 1961, bottom right.
Looking like an orang utan.
Hitler wanted sleepy Bridgnorth to be Nazi HQ after the invasion of Britain - Telegraph
Takes me back a bit - 1961, bottom right.
Looking like an orang utan.
Last edited by forget; 12th Mar 2010 at 08:22.
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Going back to the original question , what is the source of this info that Hitler intended to use a non-airfield site as his flying base?! Sounds like total rubbish to me ...
What fascinates me is why they went to the bother of putting damaged aircraft on the base to make it look like it was an active airfield.
PS
Ronnie Corbett and Des O'Connor trained there!
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Bridgnorth
I was posted there from the Aircrew Reception Centre at St John's Wood to carry out my initial training (ITW) in 1943. No airfield then, as far as I can remember.
It's nonsense to suggest that there was anything mysterious about RAF Bridgnorth. There was no airfield there. It was always a training station. There just might have been a few unserviceable airframes there for instructional purposes but that's all.A Google search [ which I haven't bothered to do ] will,surely, give details.
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It's nonsense to suggest that there was anything mysterious about RAF Bridgnorth. There was no airfield there. It was always a training station. There just might have been a few unserviceable airframes there for instructional purposes but that's all.A Google search [ which I haven't bothered to do ] will,surely, give details.
It is said that Hitler was intending to use it as his flying base after capturing England.
It is said that the RAF brought damaged aircraft in,(one presumes by road) from Spitfires to Lancasters, and parked then around the base to make it look like an active airfield.
It is said that the RAF brought damaged aircraft in,(one presumes by road) from Spitfires to Lancasters, and parked then around the base to make it look like an active airfield.
However Google isnt the best source of information for many things, books and peoples memories are-that's why I posted on here.
The locals still know the site as Bridgnorth Airfield which may lend to the story or not, that is what I am trying to find out?
Yes, they may well have been instructional airframes but until someone says that with some authority, rather than speculation, we won't know, will we?
As Bridgnorth was a training station most personel would have only spent a short time there, so no one person is going to probably come up with a definitive answer.
PS -FORGET-Thank you very much for that information and picture.
Last edited by Pull what; 12th Mar 2010 at 15:30.
What a very strange response Pull what.
Try and obtain the book "Memories of Royal Air Force Bridgnorth by C.F.Gwilt published by Bridgnorth Publications & Design in 1998. That'll tell you all you want to know.
Try and obtain the book "Memories of Royal Air Force Bridgnorth by C.F.Gwilt published by Bridgnorth Publications & Design in 1998. That'll tell you all you want to know.
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Thanks for that-see its nice to be nice isnt it?
This is from a site on Google--
RAF Bridgnorth
This is from a site on Google--
RAF Bridgnorth
The W.A.A.F. training ended in September 1942 and the camp started in training the R.A.F. again in September 25, 1942. Because Stanmore didn’t have any runways and yet wanted to project the idea that they were an air force station, they would bring in disabled planes on flatbed lorries to set about the grounds, thus making it appear as if they were really an airfield.
That Telegraph report makes the assumption that Bridgnorth had an "air base" nearby, rather than a RAF ground training camp. Halfpenny Green, only a few miles further away, was and still is the nearest proper airfield. Put in that context, the choice of Bridgnorth town as an HQ was not unreasonable.
Nothing mysterious at all about Bridgenorth in October 1960. (apart from why they might have let me loose with a Lee-Enfield, as well as a Bren. I would be hard pressed to field strip a Bren now without a bit of guidance.
The only aircraft in evidence was a rather sad looking Spitfire on the edge of the parade ground to remind us which service we were in. The last few RAF National Service entry were mixed in with those of us silly enough (too young for the call-up) to want to be there.
Air Radar at Yatesbury was much more entertaining, although the wooden huts were equally draughty, and not quite so well polished.
The only aircraft in evidence was a rather sad looking Spitfire on the edge of the parade ground to remind us which service we were in. The last few RAF National Service entry were mixed in with those of us silly enough (too young for the call-up) to want to be there.
Air Radar at Yatesbury was much more entertaining, although the wooden huts were equally draughty, and not quite so well polished.
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RAF Bridgnorth
My only visit to this station was at 2000 ft as a turning point on a cross country in a Chipmunk in 1952. I did manage a stall turn as a means of turning around to retrace, but I do not think anyone noticed.