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-   -   Is this Lyneham? (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/637225-lyneham.html)

goldox 4th Dec 2020 20:50

Is this Lyneham?
 
Long shot I know, but my wife found these photos of her late uncle and wondered when and where they were taken.
She knows he did National Service in RAF as a radar technician, probably in the late 50s, and thinks he might have been at RAF Lyneham?
Much obliged for any info.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e1fc8eb1f1.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0d96404240.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....97a6cf4d77.jpg


Quemerford 4th Dec 2020 22:57

Could be Yatesbury?

RetiredBA/BY 5th Dec 2020 09:17

Locking, possibly?

Arthur Bellcrank 5th Dec 2020 10:41

The working blue uniform doesn't appear to have eagle badges on the sleeves, I think that these were worn in the 50s and 60s, any thoughts on this?

Fitter2 5th Dec 2020 13:15

The first picture (complete with Lee-Enfield 303), and the 3rd with the 2 central discip. Corporals would almost certainly have been taken during basic training; cap badge is King's Crown, so late 40s of very early 50s. Padgate? The photo in the control tower could have been anywhere....


Arthur Bellcrank 5th Dec 2020 16:49

The wartime wooden buildings shown could be Padgate, these types of buildings were also at Kirkham, old photos of Kirkham show a layout similar to this, technical training was carried out here from 1950 to the end of 1957 at No 10 School of Technical Training, but I can't find which trade(s) were taught here.

goldox 5th Dec 2020 16:59

Would his hometown have any bearing on where his basic training was done?
He came from West London.

Krystal n chips 5th Dec 2020 17:19


Originally Posted by goldox (Post 10941067)
Would his hometown have any bearing on where his basic training was done?
He came from West London.

To be fair, probably not as he would have been sent to whichever basic training camp needed to fill their quota .....Hednesford is another possibility. Would it be at all possible to offer any further information about him and his time in the RAF at all please ?

Duchess_Driver 5th Dec 2020 19:32

Duchess Sr. went through Yatesbury early 50’s after basic training at Cosford - he was a boy entrant but whether that’s relevant or not I don’t know. It doesn’t look like Cosford that I know/can recall. AFAIK, Locking didn’t become radar and wireless until the late fifties/early sixties so unlikely there.

goldox 5th Dec 2020 20:04


Originally Posted by Krystal n chips (Post 10941077)
To be fair, probably not as he would have been sent to whichever basic training camp needed to fill their quota .....Hednesford is another possibility. Would it be at all possible to offer any further information about him and his time in the RAF at all please ?

My wife remembers him talking about taking long walks from RAF Lyneham into Swindon, and he was a radio/radar operator there.
His service ended around late 50s, National Service not regular.
After he passed away some years ago, she recalls he had lots of maps and charts of Calne and Frome on his wall. Not really sure if that's relevant?
He became a Packet Radio Ham in later years and had quite a setup in his bedroom. (Shack he called it).

Quemerford 5th Dec 2020 22:09

I'd still go for Yatesbury. Have you requested his service record?

Krystal n chips 6th Dec 2020 10:41


Originally Posted by goldox (Post 10941174)
My wife remembers him talking about taking long walks from RAF Lyneham into Swindon, and he was a radio/radar operator there.
His service ended around late 50s, National Service not regular.
After he passed away some years ago, she recalls he had lots of maps and charts of Calne and Frome on his wall. Not really sure if that's relevant?
He became a Packet Radio Ham in later years and had quite a setup in his bedroom. (Shack he called it).

Thank you for that and yes, it would be a long walk from Lyneham to the towns you mention. However, as other have said, the photo's are unlikely to be Lyneham as they are from his basic training days, apart from the one in the tower as another contributor mentioned. Interesting post however and hopefully, you can find the answer to your questions.

Fitter2 6th Dec 2020 13:18

National Service being 2 years, finishing late 50s would mean entry mid 50s. Basic training for RAF National Service then was either Hednesford, Padgate, Wilmslow, West Kirby or Bridgenorth, so the 1st and 3rd pics were probably taken at one of those. after trade training, he would normally have served at only one station in the remaining 14 months of so, so if part of his service was at Lyneham, it was likely all there. As an LAC walking (or likely hitch hiking) would save the bus fare, and more of his £1 8s. 0d weeks pay (although beer was only about 1s 8d a pint than.)

TEEEJ 6th Dec 2020 17:21

Thanks for the all the base suggestions. I wondered if the location of the group photo would have been a regular photo spot? I struck lucky on the following RAF West Kirby Association website. You can see the various match-ups which includes the camouflage outlines on the hut.

RAF West Kirby Association website page link.

1954 - 55.

From

R.A.F.WEST KIRBY ASSOCIATION.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d5f0aa69d7.jpg

The image from the website taken during 1954.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ef0d6d48e7.jpg

goldox 6th Dec 2020 20:13

Thank you all so much for the fantastic information.
And TEEEJ for cracking the location without doubt!

Cheers.

TEEEJ 6th Dec 2020 20:50


Originally Posted by goldox (Post 10941849)
Thank you all so much for the fantastic information.
And TEEEJ for cracking the location without doubt!

Cheers.

Thanks, no problem. The other image can also be matched up to RAF West Kirby.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d70b9ccafa.jpg

Insert images from following link.

1956 - 57.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cc10f98b1a.jpg


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