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? |
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. |
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. |
Predannack?
Portreath? |
Blackbushe/Hartford Bridge was used by the US Navy and RAF but when that ceased I dont know.
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I never realised South Cerney had a runway. It was a grass airfield when I was there.
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Originally Posted by Hangar_9
(Post 10737894)
Dear PPRuNe population,
Have i missed any? Jack |
I don't think South Cerney ever had a runway either.
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Langar - formerly USAF, then Canadian and then AVRO carrying out majors on Shacks.
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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!! |
Arbroath? am sure it had a concrete runway but do not recall actually ever seeing. Ramsay in Cambs?
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South Cerney has a peri track but no hard runway. Sure it was just grass when I visited for the World Aeros in '86.
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What about Watton ?
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Originally Posted by gayford
(Post 10738014)
What about Watton ?
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Originally Posted by Hangar_9
(Post 10737894)
bold denotes still active as a Military airfield in 2020
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Originally Posted by sandringham1
(Post 10737982)
Blackbushe/Hartford Bridge was used by the US Navy and RAF but when that ceased I dont know.
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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 |
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.
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Originally Posted by Shackman
(Post 10737963)
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. 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. |
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
(Post 10738071)
South Cerney, 19/01 975 yards 27/09 1075 yards steel matting (sommerfield track). Not sure if that was present in the 60s
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