RAF Stations (past and Present) - Biggest, Best and Bonnieist??
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Raf Stations
Some of you haven't lived! What about RAF Westerland (not so far even mentioned) on the island of Sylt in Schleswig-Holstein? The was once upon a time the APC for RAF Germany, and a so-called punishment attachment for naughty lads (target-towing, and intensely boring) BUT Sylt had the most splendid restaurants, bars and nudist beaches in Europe! Some punishment!
Here's my tuppence worth......
Chivenor - or "RAF Butlins" as the locals called it. Small, friendly, with little night flying, and no weekend ops, plus in a great part of the world. Also, more back seat Hawk flying than a 19 year old LAC could cope with!
Gutersloh - I was there in the late 80's. A magic time, with what seemed just about every NATO aircraft seen in the Radar pattern, visual circuit, or on the flight line most weeks. Very social too, what with a pint of "wobbly" in the "Mally" club being 50p a pop!
Cheers, DH
Chivenor - or "RAF Butlins" as the locals called it. Small, friendly, with little night flying, and no weekend ops, plus in a great part of the world. Also, more back seat Hawk flying than a 19 year old LAC could cope with!
Gutersloh - I was there in the late 80's. A magic time, with what seemed just about every NATO aircraft seen in the Radar pattern, visual circuit, or on the flight line most weeks. Very social too, what with a pint of "wobbly" in the "Mally" club being 50p a pop!
Cheers, DH
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Delighted to see former Tengah guys here .. indeed, those were the days. 
I worry about the Eastern Radar supporters though ... are you REAL Eastern Radar persons? When we handled 51% of the traffic of MATO's 12 ATCRUs in the 70s? ... or one of the LATCC MASOR clones of the real thing?
ooops ... I've admitted to having been an ATC person once upon a time ...
I worry about the Eastern Radar supporters though ... are you REAL Eastern Radar persons? When we handled 51% of the traffic of MATO's 12 ATCRUs in the 70s? ... or one of the LATCC MASOR clones of the real thing?
ooops ... I've admitted to having been an ATC person once upon a time ...
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Best....Overseas,Seletar,Changi,Kai-Tak.Iwakuni
UK. Calshot, St. Mawgan
Worst..West Drayton
Quaint..Sopley.Labuan,China Bay
Best fogotton.. Ballykelly
UK. Calshot, St. Mawgan
Worst..West Drayton
Quaint..Sopley.Labuan,China Bay
Best fogotton.. Ballykelly
And another FEAF "Best location" , even though Changi and Seletar were seriously subordinate to Tengah
Still, who's going to argue about WD being awful, or Sopley being quaint!
(Sylt) was once upon a time the APC for RAF Germany, and a so-called punishment attachment for naughty lads (target-towing, and intensely boring)
Some punishment!
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What? Only one mention of RAF Eastleigh?
The very best overseas station there was, very friendly, and lots of visiting aircraft, plus the two [in 1958] resident squadrons; 21 with its four Twin Pins, and 208 with Venoms [and later Hunters]. Fantastic climate at 5000', beautifully kept gardens with manicured geraniums, and lots of flowering trees and shrubs everywhere. Ground-breaking technology from the tower when they wanted to clear the runway of the works and bricks who were constantly out there; someone simply leaned out of the window and yelled "Clear the runway" at an ancient African who then beat hell out of a CO2 cylinder suspended on a frame. It worked every time, not a single systems failure.
Then Tengah in the mid 1960s. Two squadrons of Javelins, one of Hunters, one of Wessex, three of Canberras, one of which was Kiwi, and visits of every other type imaginable. Great atmosphere, great bar in Tengah village, and the best curry sauce known to man.
The very best overseas station there was, very friendly, and lots of visiting aircraft, plus the two [in 1958] resident squadrons; 21 with its four Twin Pins, and 208 with Venoms [and later Hunters]. Fantastic climate at 5000', beautifully kept gardens with manicured geraniums, and lots of flowering trees and shrubs everywhere. Ground-breaking technology from the tower when they wanted to clear the runway of the works and bricks who were constantly out there; someone simply leaned out of the window and yelled "Clear the runway" at an ancient African who then beat hell out of a CO2 cylinder suspended on a frame. It worked every time, not a single systems failure.
Then Tengah in the mid 1960s. Two squadrons of Javelins, one of Hunters, one of Wessex, three of Canberras, one of which was Kiwi, and visits of every other type imaginable. Great atmosphere, great bar in Tengah village, and the best curry sauce known to man.
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forget
That is an amazing list; thank you for that.
However, one name that I don’t think is on the list is Penang Hill, Malaysia. My dad was stationed there between 1968 and 1971 (plus a bit of time at RAF Butterworth). It was a radar unit. We, as kids, knew it as Penang Hill, but it may have had another name. Does anybody know?
That is an amazing list; thank you for that.
However, one name that I don’t think is on the list is Penang Hill, Malaysia. My dad was stationed there between 1968 and 1971 (plus a bit of time at RAF Butterworth). It was a radar unit. We, as kids, knew it as Penang Hill, but it may have had another name. Does anybody know?
forget,
Another to add to your comprehensive list. RAF Llandwrog - former RAF Station in Wales, now Caernarfon Airport. And RAF Sealand (now closed ?) appears in both your current and former list.
You also might like to add RAF Tymbou (now Ercan International) to the list of former RAF Stations in Cyprus.
Thanks for the memories.
Another to add to your comprehensive list. RAF Llandwrog - former RAF Station in Wales, now Caernarfon Airport. And RAF Sealand (now closed ?) appears in both your current and former list.
You also might like to add RAF Tymbou (now Ercan International) to the list of former RAF Stations in Cyprus.
Thanks for the memories.
Last edited by spekesoftly; 6th Apr 2008 at 08:59.
[COLOR="Red"]....Then Tengah in the mid 1960s. Two squadrons of Javelins, one of Hunters, one of Wessex, three of Canberras, one of which was Kiwi, and visits of every other type imaginable. Great atmosphere, great bar in Tengah village, and the best curry sauce known to man.[/COLOR
Dont forget the V Bomber dets 9 and 35 Squadron. JC's Kima Roti/Macan stall opposite Charlie's clothes shop in the village.
Dont forget the V Bomber dets 9 and 35 Squadron. JC's Kima Roti/Macan stall opposite Charlie's clothes shop in the village.
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Don't forget the V Bomber dets 9 and 35 Squadron. JC's Kima Roti/Macan stall opposite Charlie's clothes shop in the village.
One had great beaches, great swimming pools, a terrific local village with lots of bars, WRAFs; ---- the other didn't. Although entertainment from the RAAF and RNZAF partly made up for the deficiencies.
A few additions in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe from when I was a kid.
A couple of FTSs. I've fogotten their Nos.
RAF Heany, Tiger Moths/Chipmunks and Harvards. now an army camp. I was there when I was a Rhodesian army squaddie.
RAF Thornhill, Ansons and RhodAF Spitfire 22s. Now ZAF.???(fuel)
RAF Kumalo. Became Bulawayo airport until they built a new one, now army.
RAF New Sarum, Now ZAF and Harare Intenational.
RAF Mount Hampden. Became a flying club but must have expired by now.
A couple of FTSs. I've fogotten their Nos.
RAF Heany, Tiger Moths/Chipmunks and Harvards. now an army camp. I was there when I was a Rhodesian army squaddie.
RAF Thornhill, Ansons and RhodAF Spitfire 22s. Now ZAF.???(fuel)
RAF Kumalo. Became Bulawayo airport until they built a new one, now army.
RAF New Sarum, Now ZAF and Harare Intenational.
RAF Mount Hampden. Became a flying club but must have expired by now.
Best: Gaydon & St Mawgan. Both made up of an assortment of temporary buildings and huts, but both in great areas.
Biggest & Smartest: Waddington late 60s
Most miserable: Kinloss by a country mile
YS
Biggest & Smartest: Waddington late 60s
Most miserable: Kinloss by a country mile
YS
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forget
Thanks for a great list. Few more to add to closed list:
RAF Hospitals Ely (Cambs) & Nocton Hall (Lincs), and RAF Freckleton (Lancs) - medical training school - remember the nurses used to come to the Weeton dances and vice, versa.
Using your list within 20 mile radius of home are 3 currently operational and 17 closed
Thanks for a great list. Few more to add to closed list:
RAF Hospitals Ely (Cambs) & Nocton Hall (Lincs), and RAF Freckleton (Lancs) - medical training school - remember the nurses used to come to the Weeton dances and vice, versa.
Using your list within 20 mile radius of home are 3 currently operational and 17 closed
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I have to confess - the list wasn't from memory 
I borrowed it from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RAF_stations
Perhap if we leave this a few weeks for more additions then someone who understands editing Wiki could do just that.
....... and I've just noticed RAF Bahrain (Muharraq) under United Arab Emirates. Not so.
I borrowed it from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RAF_stationsPerhap if we leave this a few weeks for more additions then someone who understands editing Wiki could do just that.
....... and I've just noticed RAF Bahrain (Muharraq) under United Arab Emirates. Not so.
Prettiest, Lyneham in the spring. The main drag with all the flowering cherries is awesome to behold.
Best Job, 39 Sqn Marham
Worst job, Eastern radar height finder!!
Most miserable, SCATCC Mil late seventies
Doc C
Best Job, 39 Sqn Marham
Worst job, Eastern radar height finder!!
Most miserable, SCATCC Mil late seventies
Doc C