RAF Stations (past and Present) - Biggest, Best and Bonnieist??

[OKOC]

Does Kelly's Garden count? 1983 and 1986 memories of Larry the "lamb" and dining in nights with ladies from down town Stanley reminding us of what females were.

[L J R]

You guys obviously havent visited the RAF's little spot in Vegas recently...

[cliffnemo]

I,M.H.O must be R.A.F Deidlesdorf near Hanover circa 45/46 .The war just won. Every one was either "flak happy" or "doolally tap", or otherwise , couldn't care less
. Steinhager and schnapps two and sixpence a bottle (about thirteen new pence). Every one living on the black market, except the chaplain. No need to pay out money in the mess, the barman had a big dustbin full of marks which had been thrown in by those going on demob.
Food excellent. No one touched their pay, it all went in to a post office savings account, so no pay parades Can't tell you any more the wife has a computer.

[goudie]

You guys obviously haven't visited the RAF's little spot in Vegas recently...

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy took the opportunity to meet RAF personnel from 1115 Flt who are attached to the Combined Joint Predator Task Force.

This is it I presume. Nellis AFB

[OKOC]

I don't think it's been mentioned yet but RAF Mount Wise (ex RCC near Plymouth) had a fabulous location and superb Mess. It's now Naval offices I think-shame. It was a great nite-stop if RAF Mountbatten was full--now that was a TOP station, both my little 'uns were toddlers when I was posted there from 18(B) at Gutersloh (Kellarbar-sigh) and it was lovely seeing them play on the many beaches at Mount B. Talking of beaches does anyone remember the "Officer's Beach" at Gib, G & Ts watching the sun go down at Mess prices prior to popping round to the marina for a few. Sighhhh.

[November4]

Talking of beaches does anyone remember the "Officer's Beach" at Gib, G & Ts watching the sun go down at Mess prices prior to popping round to the marina for a few. Sighhhh.

The Officers gave the mess up and moved down town into the Navy Officers mess so that became the GOM....Gib Officers Mess. The vacant mess then became the Gib SNCO and WOs mess.

[energy2]

Best and Worst?

Best definitely Gatow
Worst Digby, without doubt!

[forget]

Seeing as this thread has been resurrected - Binbrook is now on the (ex) list at -

List of RAF stations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Question is - does Wiki now have a complete list?

[Cornish Jack]

Biggest, by a country mile, Habbaniyah - Two airfields, Main and Plateau, plus a flying boat alighting area plus a hospital plus two Sgt's Messes, two Officer's messes, two cinemas, a swimming pool, a shopping centre and, last but not least a Zoo!!!
Best - Dishforth on Valettas and Bevs, Thorney on Varsities, Marathons and, much later, S&R.
Worst - Kirton-in-Lindsey, El Adem, Khormaksar and Luqa
Best posting - Bangkok (in the 60's when it was still civilised)
First - Kirton-in-Lindsey (cold beyond belief)
Coldest - Cliffe Pypard(sp?) in January.
Last - Brize -'nuff said
Where did all the time go?

[The Oberon]

Biggest, Akers '67 - '70

Worst, Stanmore, freezing accomodation and the commute to Main Building.

Best by a country mile has to be Goose Bay, 12 months on a 18 - 30s holiday.

[goudie]

Coldest - Cliffe Pypard(sp?) in January

.

CornishJack I thought I'd heard of most RAF Sations but that was a new one on me. Some interesting stories about it on the 'net.

[Lurking123]

Question is - does Wiki now have a complete list?

Nope, a quick scan tells me that RAF Peplow isn't there. The airfield is about 5 miles east of Shawbury and was used by 83 OTU for Wellington bomber and Hurricane training in 1943-44 before the Royal Navy moved in. Some interesting stuff on Google.

[The Real Slim Shady]

Biggest: Finningley
Best: Gatow or Lossie
Worst: Turnhouse - The OM was dead!
Sleepiest: Hullavington
Bonniest: RAF Det Hickam AFB when Hawaii Holmes was in charge

[Barksdale Boy]

Best: Waddo under Des

[Bob Wyer]

Waddo

Waddo under Mike D'Arcy was very civilised.

[Lyneham Lad]

Coldest - winter night/swing shifts on E Dispersal, Scampton '64 to '66.
Best time - toss-up between Seletar ('66-'68) or Brüggen ('70-'73).
Best Detachment - Kuching '66. River trips on Tiger-laden dug-outs, football games against the locals in Dyak villages (oh, and sorting out 66 Sqn Belvederes).
Most Tyrannical CO - at sleepy Swanton Morley around '80-'81, courtesy of Little Hitler, aka Gp Cpt B**nt.
Friendliest - Valley '73-'77 (don't know what other posters have against Valley but I suppose it depends whether or not people tried to integrate - after all, it was an overseas posting
Largest - Brize (also most decrepit infrastructure and very impersonal).

[Co-Captain]

There are those who knew Changi in the '60s - and those who didn't
(Hope this is readable.)



Great post. Brings back memories - spent my early youth in Singapore. Days down at the swimming club, long evenings at the sailing club in the restaurant on the beach. Great setup - must've been quite something in its RAF days

[Pontius Navigator]

Best, tied -

Lindholme - number 2 mess at weekends, the Barnsley Witch, number one mess - stick your head round the door of the bar after a year away - go back, warn in, back in bar and pie and paint waiting.

The continuous kirkie (sic?) school - start on the hastings Sqn after met brief, move to the bar at ceas work.

And Finningley with the Vulcan OCU. Into the bar at lunchtime - midnight blue, subdued lights, exit at 1330 and sleep off the after noon in the OCU shack.

[bazzacat]

As Changi is mentioned, heres some pics from last week ive had put on the "Memories of Singapore" website. Great to see the place again!

Changi 2008 - Simon Moore.* Page one

[Echo 5]

Turnhouse

Had a drive out there one Sunday morning last month for old times sake.

The domestic site has gone, NAAFI, Messes, Barrack Blocks---------flattened, just a few piles of earth left. Bloody sad