Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Misc. Forums > Aviation History and Nostalgia
Reload this Page >

Cold War airfields C.1970

Aviation History and Nostalgia Whether working in aviation, retired, wannabee or just plain fascinated this forum welcomes all with a love of flight.

Cold War airfields C.1970

Old 3rd Apr 2020, 09:17
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: MDH
Age: 32
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cold War airfields C.1970

Dear PPRuNe population,

I'd like some help compiling a list:

My interest is that of RAF / RN / AAC / USAF airfields (or any military), in the UK that were active and still open until circa. 1970.

I'd like to create a comprehensive list of all airfields with a concrete or asphalt runway that were in use in any way at all. It could be a training field (i.e Oakington) through to front line (Leuchars). The emphasis is on a physical in-use hard runway at this location. ATC units / Runway Caravans etc. Based units not required. This is a research project about airfields themselves not the operating units. Imagine you could make an approach, land on a perfectly useable runway.

My work so far:

bold denotes still active as a Military airfield in 2020

Aberporth
Abingdon
Acklington
Aldergrove
Alconbury
Ballkelly
Barkston heath*
Bassingbourn
Bentwaters
Benson*
Binbrook
Boscombe Down*
Bovingdon
Brawdy
Brough
Brize Norton*
Bruntingthorpe
Burtonwood
Chalgrove*
Chivenor*

Church Fenton
Colerne
Conningsby*
Coltishall
Cosford*
Cottesmore
Cranfield
Cranwell*
Culdrose*
Debden
Dishforth*
Driffield*
Dunsfold
Elvington
Fairford
Filton
Finningley
Ford
Gaydon
Greenham Common
Honnington
Hullavington
Keevil
Kemble
Kinloss*
Kirk Newton*
Lakenheath*
Lee on Solent
Leconfield
Leeming*
Leuchars*
Lindholme
Linton on Ouse*
Little Rissington
Lossiemouth*
Llanbedr
Lyneham
Machrihanish
Manby
Manston
Marham*
Merryfield*
Middleton St. George
Mildenhall
Mona*
North Luffenham
Northolt*
Oakington
Odiham*
Ouston
Pershore
Valley*
Scampton*
Sculthorpe*
Shawbury*

St Athan*
St Mawgan*

Stradishall
Strubby
Swinderby
Syerston*
Tarrant Rushton
Ternhill*
Thorney Island
Thurleigh
Topcliffe*
Upper Heyford
Upwood
Warton
Watton
Waterbeach
Waddington*
Wattisham*
West Freugh*

West Raynham
West Malling
Weston Zoyland
Wethersfield
Wittering*
Woodbridge
Woodvale
Wroughton
Wymeswold
Wyton
Yeovilton*

Have i missed any?

Last edited by Hangar_9; 3rd Apr 2020 at 10:35. Reason: Feedback from posts
Hangar_9 is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 09:28
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Greenham Common and Little Rissington were still active in 1970. I operated out of both in the mid 70s.

Llanbedr also flying Jindiviks.

West Raynham still had Hunters.
dook is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:02
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Once a Squirrel Heaven (or hell!), Shropshire UK
Posts: 831
Received 7 Likes on 4 Posts
Farnborough!! South Cerney - runway still in use in 1970. Shepherds Grove (? not sure when that closed), St Davids (? RLG for Brawdy, not sure on closure), Tangmere was still open, but Ford closed early/mid 60's (although you could say the prison was a definite improvement).

Of note, Chalgrove was (and still is) purely civilian - Martin Baker.
Shackman is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:09
  #4 (permalink)  
Gnome de PPRuNe
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,537
Received 219 Likes on 133 Posts
Predannack?
Portreath?
treadigraph is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:12
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: alton
Age: 71
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 4 Posts
Blackbushe/Hartford Bridge was used by the US Navy and RAF but when that ceased I dont know.
sandringham1 is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:16
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,222
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
I never realised South Cerney had a runway. It was a grass airfield when I was there.
Fareastdriver is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:16
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Location: Location!
Posts: 2,295
Received 33 Likes on 25 Posts
Originally Posted by Hangar_9
Dear PPRuNe population,

Have i missed any?
Yes - RAF Turnhouse - and a "y" in Ballykelly!

Jack
Union Jack is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:23
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't think South Cerney ever had a runway either.
dook is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:28
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Langar - formerly USAF, then Canadian and then AVRO carrying out majors on Shacks.
CADF is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:30
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Brexitland
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
2 runways at South Cerney. 01/19 2925ft 09/27 3225 ft - both grass.
I remember running around the peri track on OTS before we moved to Church Fenton. You could get all your kit in a TR4 then!!
Arfur Dent is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:32
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Balmullo,Scotland
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Arbroath? am sure it had a concrete runway but do not recall actually ever seeing. Ramsay in Cambs?
matkat is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:33
  #12 (permalink)  
Gnome de PPRuNe
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,537
Received 219 Likes on 133 Posts
South Cerney has a peri track but no hard runway. Sure it was just grass when I visited for the World Aeros in '86.
treadigraph is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:34
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: isle of man
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What about Watton ?
gayford is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 10:35
  #14 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: MDH
Age: 32
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by gayford
What about Watton ?
Yes! Thanks forgot that one
Hangar_9 is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 11:08
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 15,787
Received 196 Likes on 90 Posts
Originally Posted by Hangar_9
bold denotes still active as a Military airfield in 2020
And what are the asterisks intended to signify ?
DaveReidUK is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 11:10
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wildest Surrey
Age: 75
Posts: 10,799
Received 90 Likes on 63 Posts
Originally Posted by sandringham1
Blackbushe/Hartford Bridge was used by the US Navy and RAF but when that ceased I dont know.
Blackbushe closed as an MTCA airport on 31 May 1960 and the US Navy base closed with it. Some RAF and Army Air Corps visiros since then though.
chevvron is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 11:11
  #17 (permalink)  
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 80
Posts: 16,777
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
East Kirkby, it was an emergency runway, resurfaced in 1964 and has fuelled go in lights along the runway.

Spilsby, 1964, B47 recovery airfield, but closed 1958.

South Cerney, 19/01 975 yards 27/09 1075 yards steel matting (sommerfield track). Not sure if that was present in the 60s
I
Try and find Military Airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945 Omnibus Edition
May 1987. ISBN 0 907700 12 8

Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 3rd Apr 2020 at 11:28.
Pontius Navigator is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 11:11
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: uk
Posts: 951
Received 15 Likes on 9 Posts
Sleap was used as a satellite to Shawbury in the early-mid '60s; I recollect that it was some kind of approach training, and club flying was stopped during it. Was it with Piston Provosts? Jet Provosts? The word was that you could get paid for riding along as safety observer ("HCAS") while P1 was fixated on the panel. But I don't know if that continued until the '70s.
old,not bold is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 11:14
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wildest Surrey
Age: 75
Posts: 10,799
Received 90 Likes on 63 Posts
Originally Posted by Shackman
Farnborough!! South Cerney - runway still in use in 1970. Shepherds Grove (? not sure when that closed), St Davids (? RLG for Brawdy, not sure on closure), Tangmere was still open, but Ford closed early/mid 60's (although you could say the prison was a definite improvement).

Of note, Chalgrove was (and still is) purely civilian - Martin Baker.
Not just RAE Farnborough but RAE Bedford too. V-bomber dispersal at Bedford still used into the '80s at least.
Plus Kirknewton and Catterick, but not sure if they had RCVs; pretty certain Aberporth didn't.
Ford re-opened for a short while late '70s.
chevvron is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2020, 11:16
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wildest Surrey
Age: 75
Posts: 10,799
Received 90 Likes on 63 Posts
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
South Cerney, 19/01 975 yards 27/09 1075 yards steel matting (sommerfield track). Not sure if that was present in the 60s
Halton has PSP and Somerfield tracking but I wouldn't call it a 'hard' runway; Henlow might have it too.
chevvron is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.