I have to agree. Did my IOT at Henlow and flew in and out of there more than a few times. Not Henlow. No Brussel sprout/cabbage fields!

Looks like a rifle range in the background and the whole set up has a South Downs 'feel' to it. Is that sea in the background? My guess would be a dispersal field in that area. Nostalgic pic though.

During World War Two Henlow became one of the largest RAF maintenance units in the country assembling Hurricanes that were to prove so vital in the Battle of Britain, so there would have been a firing range for gun calibration.

The Armament Division of the Technical College moved in from Lindholme in February 1951, and was renamed Engineering and Armament Division - another reason for an outdoor firing range., which was probably demolished when no longer required.

I don't recall a range on the south east corner of Henlow (assuming we're looking east); the only one I remember was midway up the west side well north of the main hangar complex near some WW! style hangars which were not Belfast Truss type like the main ones. Looking at Flashearth they seem to have been demolished. Anyway the land in the background looks too hilly for that part of rural Bedfordshire so I still reckon it's Upavon.

If memory serves me correctly, both Upavon and Henlow are grass fields. Would the aircraft photographed be able to be operated there and if not, why were they there? Perhaps there's an "occasion" that would help us pin the airfield?

Re: Henlow. I copied the photo from another Aviation Forum. The original holder of the photo indicated the photo was taken by his uncle, who flew the Meteor in from Leuchars. The occasion for the fly-in is not known. The original poster seemed to agree that the location was Henlow. I cannot find a subsequent challenge to the location on the original Aviation Forum.
It would appear small jet fighters were regular visitors at Henlow.
According to Google Earth, the site elevation of the Stondon Tower, located 11/4 miles west of Henlow aerodrome, is approximately 100 feet higher than the aerodrome elevation.

As doubt persists, I suggest we move on, and a new aerodrome challenge posted.

In the late fifties I regularly flew staff from Lyneham to Upavon in the 99 Sqn Anson. I am certain the photo was not taken there and I also think the grass runways were too short and too uneven for a Meteor VIII.

BTW: The Vampire (VZ283) belonged to 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force, which ties up with the fly in story.

From Wapedia
In its latter RAF years the grass runways were not wholly appropriate for heavy fixed-wing aircraft, nor any kind of jet aircraft, and so the administrative control of aviation for the whole of the RAF developed in strength at Upavon. HQ No.1 Group was a major component of RAF 'life' at Upavon, controlling operations of the large fleet of transport aircraft.

To kick off a new challenge as evansb sugests, here is another snap (sorry about the quality). To help narrow it down, I can confirm it's neither Henlow or Upavon!

DH

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yYJ_r1Fv8Go/Sh...576/img031.jpg

A wild guess - Aldergrove?

Not Upavon
 

Having flown continuously from 1979 to January this year at Upavon it is certainly not that airfield. Also trained on Vampires and I doubt you would get one airborne in the 3,500 feet of undulating grass available.

ACW

Washington Dulles.

That would be my guess as well. As I've only been there a couple of thousand times. The Concorde alway parked at the south terminal complex.

Rather funny really, back then to catch the fastest airliner in the world, you had to take the slowest bus in the world across the ramp. :p

When I made Concorde flights from Dulles it was always from the Main Building [Eero Saarinen architect]

One booked in, moved to the Departure lounge which when required scissored itself downwards and driven by an FAA licenced pilot, drove out to the waiting Concorde and we all entered without having walked further than the length of the lounge [about 35/40 feet istr ]

Those really Were the days!

It's neither Aldergrove nor Washington Dulles.

aviate1138 - the only other place I think I've seen those drivable departure lounges was at Montreal Mirabel?

DH

Mobile departure lounges
 

I vaguely remember there might have been some at Edmonton International when it was first built. All jet bridges now

48 hours and nothing but silence, so time for a clue I think?

The aerodrome in question has been both civil and military in it's history (sometimes both at the same time), and still has a small military presence.

The evening before the photo was taken the two aircraft pictured, arrived within an hour of each other, both on 3 engines!

DH

How about Prestwick?

I think the other 'old girl' is a Shorts Belfast C1.

JB

Or Edinburgh Turnhouse.

Looks like the Belfast in early Heavylift colours........so Far East

Goose Bay ?

Or Aberdeen, Dyce.