Ford prison riot
It occupies part of what was originally Yapton Airfield, re-named Ford prior to WW2. Used by the Navy (FAA) up to about 1957 I think(Wyverns). In the '70s it was reopened for a few years as a GA airfield,(hard runways when nearby Westhampnett/Goodwood was getting regularly waterlogged) but the usual NIMBY lobby backed by HM Prison Service killed that off.
After the Wyverns yes - glad you said so as I wasn't sure!
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,731
Received 360 Likes
on
199 Posts
The prison itself is on the east side of Ford Road, what's left of the airfield is on the west. I presume that the prison occupies the accommodation site?
Visited the airfield a couple of times in the late 1970s, seemed a pleasant place to go flying on a summer's day. Bloody nimbys...
Visited the airfield a couple of times in the late 1970s, seemed a pleasant place to go flying on a summer's day. Bloody nimbys...
Attacker
I recollect at my first Airshow "RAF Colerne" 1952 that the star of the show was an Attacker from RNAS Ford.
Anybody confirm this a/c did come from RNAS Ford?
Anybody confirm this a/c did come from RNAS Ford?
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: In the shadows
Age: 80
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Beachcombing near Ford......
They also had Sea Venoms at Ford in 1954. This photo shows FAW20 WM547 from 809 Squadron on the beach close to Climping. Shows what happens when you inadvertently close the HP cock on the downwind leg......
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Norfolk UK
Age: 81
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"The prison itself is on the east side of Ford Road, what's left of the airfield is on the west. I presume that the prison occupies the accommodation site?
Visited the airfield a couple of times in the late 1970s, seemed a pleasant place to go flying on a summer's day. Bloody nimbys..."
Bet they wish it was there now!
Visited the airfield a couple of times in the late 1970s, seemed a pleasant place to go flying on a summer's day. Bloody nimbys..."
Bet they wish it was there now!
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: In the shadows
Age: 80
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tomdocherty72 - the photo was taken by a Ford SAR Dragonfly pilot and was passed to me by his son. I don't have any more unfortunately. The photo apparently also appears in the third volume of Peter Campbell's "Tails of the Fifties" books. I am told the HP cock in the Sea Venom was in the same place as the airbrake lever in the Vampire. As most pilots trained on the Vampire before going onto the Sea Venom it was an accident waiting to happen...
Incidentally the Sea Venom pilot was the late John Robathan and one of his last postings in the RN was as Captain of RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk).
Incidentally the Sea Venom pilot was the late John Robathan and one of his last postings in the RN was as Captain of RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk).
Sea Venom phot
Fantastic picture! Presumably a ditching, and the aftermath is after the tide's gone out.
I doubt it; naval officers don't get "posted". They leave that to the mail.
Incidentally the Sea Venom pilot was the late John Robathan and one of his last postings in the RN was as Captain of RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk).
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Under the downwind leg
Age: 87
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RNAS Ford
700x Squadron Scimitar IFTU were resident late 1957 - May 1958 before moving to Lossiemouth to form 803 Squadron, Victorious.
On Google earth the Block next to football pitch (prison centre) was the new CPO/PO's Mess which was only a couple of years old when Ford closed.
An identical Mess was built at Abottsinch shortly before that closed.
On Google earth the Block next to football pitch (prison centre) was the new CPO/PO's Mess which was only a couple of years old when Ford closed.
An identical Mess was built at Abottsinch shortly before that closed.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: In the shadows
Age: 80
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
idlebystander - my detailed information on the incident comes from a pilot who was on the Squadron at the time and the forced landing was done on the beach, not a ditching.....and to satisfy your pedantry please read "appointments" instead of "postings".
I've a photo in my album of an RN Attacker I took at Biggin Hill in 1954.
According to my notes at the time it came into Biggin from the Royal Naval Air Station at Ford (HMS Peregrine).
According to my notes at the time it came into Biggin from the Royal Naval Air Station at Ford (HMS Peregrine).
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,731
Received 360 Likes
on
199 Posts
LEC operated an Islander out of a strip at Bognor Regis.