Abingdon
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Abingdon airfield (ex RAF Abingdon)
Hi all, haven't posted on here for ages but any tales from RAF days would be nice to hear (& if allowed by the poster, to copy off and put in our archive book of the old days! - but please let me know via a PM).
Also, any photos / tales from past BofB Airshows etc would be welcome.
The airfield today is still very much active, RAF Benson still using the airfield for Helo's (Merlin / Puma) during the weekdays frequently, and resident 612VGS at weekends mainly,aswell as the odd Apache etc.
The airfield itself is still in reasonable shape, and we meet quite a number of ex RAF guys / women who were stationed at Abingdon over the years at our annual airshow held early May which that has grown somewhat. we have via our website a Facebook page to which we are going to start adding some photos from the past.
Two questions: I hear rumours when the C130 move to Brize, that a few C130s may end up at Abingdon for storage due to possible lack of space at Brize..???
Does anybody have any recollections of the display team (possibly 'Green March', or Royal Jordanian Falcons prior to an Air Tattoo at Abbo(?) mid 80s, of a Lightning attending a POW renunion 87ish? And of the multiple Hawk detachment for a flypast mid 80s?
Thanks for reading
Also, any photos / tales from past BofB Airshows etc would be welcome.
The airfield today is still very much active, RAF Benson still using the airfield for Helo's (Merlin / Puma) during the weekdays frequently, and resident 612VGS at weekends mainly,aswell as the odd Apache etc.
The airfield itself is still in reasonable shape, and we meet quite a number of ex RAF guys / women who were stationed at Abingdon over the years at our annual airshow held early May which that has grown somewhat. we have via our website a Facebook page to which we are going to start adding some photos from the past.
Two questions: I hear rumours when the C130 move to Brize, that a few C130s may end up at Abingdon for storage due to possible lack of space at Brize..???
Does anybody have any recollections of the display team (possibly 'Green March', or Royal Jordanian Falcons prior to an Air Tattoo at Abbo(?) mid 80s, of a Lightning attending a POW renunion 87ish? And of the multiple Hawk detachment for a flypast mid 80s?
Thanks for reading
Last edited by Neil Porter; 1st Jan 2011 at 08:35.
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Don't know about the questions but Abingdon had that feeling of going back in time. I was there when we took the Buccaneer Major there from St. Athan. It was like a time shift. You could almost expect Nigger the dog to appear, expecting the dambusters to appear any minute.
The airtest of the Bucc scarred the living daylights out of Nodds Hill as squadron pilots air tested the aircraft instead of the resident test pilot. Very low under the VC10 tails and then over Nobbs was quite a sight. Shame OCOps took a dislike to that:-(
The airtest of the Bucc scarred the living daylights out of Nodds Hill as squadron pilots air tested the aircraft instead of the resident test pilot. Very low under the VC10 tails and then over Nobbs was quite a sight. Shame OCOps took a dislike to that:-(
In 1973, just before I drove up to Cranwell to start IOT with 14GE, I had a most enjoyable Summer Camp at RAF Abingdon, just after ULAS had been told to leave our happy little site at White Waltham.
"Well, at least we'll be OK here, chaps!" said the Boss, "They'll never close Abingdon...."
19 years later, 26 Jun 1992 and, as a Bulldog QFI, I flew the last ULAS trip from RAF Abingdon before the Army took over and, as they always seem to do, ruined the place by building on RW26 and ostructing the taxiways.
Why does the RAF always have to hand over its better places to others....Abingdon, Thorney Island, Chivenor etc etc
"Well, at least we'll be OK here, chaps!" said the Boss, "They'll never close Abingdon...."
19 years later, 26 Jun 1992 and, as a Bulldog QFI, I flew the last ULAS trip from RAF Abingdon before the Army took over and, as they always seem to do, ruined the place by building on RW26 and ostructing the taxiways.
Why does the RAF always have to hand over its better places to others....Abingdon, Thorney Island, Chivenor etc etc
Last edited by BEagle; 21st Jun 2010 at 05:59.
"Any photos / tales from past B of B Airshows etc would be welcome
Abingdon Families Day air display 29 August 1959. 111 Sqn Hunter display team.
I was stationed at Abingdon in 1959 and have other photos taken whilst I was there, including of Brigitte Bardot when when scenes for the film "Babette Goes to War" were shot at Abingdon.
Abingdon Families Day air display 29 August 1959. 111 Sqn Hunter display team.
I was stationed at Abingdon in 1959 and have other photos taken whilst I was there, including of Brigitte Bardot when when scenes for the film "Babette Goes to War" were shot at Abingdon.
Last edited by Warmtoast; 4th Jan 2011 at 21:34. Reason: To restore deleted photos
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'Held' at Abingdon in the early 70s. BEagles time, I think. All a bit of a haze now.
JATE Albert dropping stuff that skidded and bounced across the airfield nearly taking out the UK MAMS HQ.
Nurses at various places in Oxford including one with retractable nipples. "Two greens!"
Foggy and a certain Princess of the Realm and votes at the General Mess Committee that were emabarassing to the CO. (Something to do with porcelain for the 'Love Shack')
The Polish guy in stores who let me fly the RAFSPA Rapide.
Air Day when a flight of USAF F4s did a neat display over Didcot.
Sunday at the bar and the afternoon racing IIRCI an ex works Healy 3000, MGA twin cam and a Tiger roud the peritrack.
Warnings to mess members concerning behaviour when another lady was a guest of the mess.
Great station! I think.
JATE Albert dropping stuff that skidded and bounced across the airfield nearly taking out the UK MAMS HQ.
Nurses at various places in Oxford including one with retractable nipples. "Two greens!"
Foggy and a certain Princess of the Realm and votes at the General Mess Committee that were emabarassing to the CO. (Something to do with porcelain for the 'Love Shack')
The Polish guy in stores who let me fly the RAFSPA Rapide.
Air Day when a flight of USAF F4s did a neat display over Didcot.
Sunday at the bar and the afternoon racing IIRCI an ex works Healy 3000, MGA twin cam and a Tiger roud the peritrack.
Warnings to mess members concerning behaviour when another lady was a guest of the mess.
Great station! I think.
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Beagle,
I think Kinloss has had enough "poor journalistic" comments elsewhere. Why give it a bashing again? Most up here are very fond of the place. Give us a rest...
I think Kinloss has had enough "poor journalistic" comments elsewhere. Why give it a bashing again? Most up here are very fond of the place. Give us a rest...
Fair enough - post amended.
Sorry - I wnet back to Abingdon not long after the Army had taken over and was outraged to see what they'd done to the place.....
Sorry - I wnet back to Abingdon not long after the Army had taken over and was outraged to see what they'd done to the place.....
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Thank you.
Part of the issue is that the RAF moved from operating comparatively simple machines (ie piston engined, mechanically controlled) aircraft to enormously complex and expensive ones in the space of only 10-20 years directly after the war. More stations or better aircraft?
When the RAF elects the obvious choice, (or it is elected for them), the Army or RM get the opportunity to take over the camp. Mostly not needing the airfield, the Army gets a 1930s build camp with some very large sheds for vehicles and stores. Often, these are already on their way to decay. I remember about 18 years ago, I was on an exercise in the Catterick area. One of the exercise locations was in a C-Type hangar at Dishforth, which had itself relatively recently been taken over by the AAC. It was in absolute rag order. Unlike the one directly adjacent, where the Lynxes and Gazelles were put to bed. I've no idea what it's like now, I suspect demolished or renovated.
Some stations retain their airfield though (Dishforth, Topcliffe, Wattisham, Gutersloh, Colerne, Tern Hill etc), while others are repurposed (Leconfield, Thorney Island, Brawdy etc). Still could be worse, they could end up like West Malling or Tangmere. Basically houses. Or worse still, just derelict (Driffield, Watton etc).
Part of the issue is that the RAF moved from operating comparatively simple machines (ie piston engined, mechanically controlled) aircraft to enormously complex and expensive ones in the space of only 10-20 years directly after the war. More stations or better aircraft?
When the RAF elects the obvious choice, (or it is elected for them), the Army or RM get the opportunity to take over the camp. Mostly not needing the airfield, the Army gets a 1930s build camp with some very large sheds for vehicles and stores. Often, these are already on their way to decay. I remember about 18 years ago, I was on an exercise in the Catterick area. One of the exercise locations was in a C-Type hangar at Dishforth, which had itself relatively recently been taken over by the AAC. It was in absolute rag order. Unlike the one directly adjacent, where the Lynxes and Gazelles were put to bed. I've no idea what it's like now, I suspect demolished or renovated.
Some stations retain their airfield though (Dishforth, Topcliffe, Wattisham, Gutersloh, Colerne, Tern Hill etc), while others are repurposed (Leconfield, Thorney Island, Brawdy etc). Still could be worse, they could end up like West Malling or Tangmere. Basically houses. Or worse still, just derelict (Driffield, Watton etc).
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Spent a very pleasant few months in '74 holding at Abingdon on 6 AEF, whilst waiting for an OCU course. Ken Knott was the boss, a scholar and a gentleman of the first water. Great flying (2 trips a day), a clientele composed of fascinating RAF and RAFVR characters and one of the most handsome messes in the service.
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A few images from the regular flyers that use Abingdon today ..
Puma
Merlin
And heres a few from its past;
Last Jag to leave under the UTP S/L Mike Lawrance - Feb 92
One of the last Buccaneers to leave - Feb 92
Following the BBMF Lancaster in, taken from a USAF Minnesota ANG C130 , one of a number on det in 89.
One from our annual air & country show - 2005, Polish Navy M28 Bryza
An aerial pic from the 2009 air & country show
And the 2008 display Hawk after the 2008 air & country show
Puma
Merlin
And heres a few from its past;
Last Jag to leave under the UTP S/L Mike Lawrance - Feb 92
One of the last Buccaneers to leave - Feb 92
Following the BBMF Lancaster in, taken from a USAF Minnesota ANG C130 , one of a number on det in 89.
One from our annual air & country show - 2005, Polish Navy M28 Bryza
An aerial pic from the 2009 air & country show
And the 2008 display Hawk after the 2008 air & country show
Last edited by Neil Porter; 21st Jun 2010 at 21:49.
27mm
...and in 1959 probably one of the snootist. So much so that they refused to allow Brigitte Bardot dressed probably not to Officer's Mess standards, to have a drink in their Mess. However the Sergeant's Mess obliged as seen in this contemporary press cutting of her drinking in the Sergeant's mess:
and one of the most handsome messes in the service
Last edited by Warmtoast; 3rd Jan 2011 at 21:22. Reason: To restore deleted photo
My new book "The Royal Air Force At Home" contains details of participation at some of the Abingdon Battle of Britain "At Homes" among others. Including 1965!
FB
FB
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Czech TU154 landing after the donated Czech Mig 21 arrived.. a week prior to the 1990 BofB airshow
Sequence showing a Jag outside F hangar prior to being towed to the Engine test house on the western side - December 1988.
RAF Merlins new side door gunner - at our 2008 Air & Country Show!
Sequence showing a Jag outside F hangar prior to being towed to the Engine test house on the western side - December 1988.
RAF Merlins new side door gunner - at our 2008 Air & Country Show!
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The Jag v Jag race of 1990.. Martin Brundle raced his TWR Le Mans winning XJR-12 against a GR1A off a starting start 1 mile race.. The car won. I've got some decent piccies of the car aand aircraft pre race.. However I didn't have enough film to get photos of the race (because nobody knew about it until that morning!) Will try and dig them up..
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Heres one taken in 1992, of the remainder of staff from both Supply Sqn and MT section, before they all dissapeared to other stations etc to oversee the final months under RAF control.
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Does anybody have any recollections of the display team (possibly 'Green March', or Royal Jordanian Falcons prior to an Air Tattoo at Abbo(?) mid 80s
Neil
IIRC these were the Chilean AF "Los Halcones" team of Pitts bi-planes which were air-freighted in to Abbo by Chilean AF Herc and re-assembled and flown from there to Fairford
Looking forward to planning the next Abingdon Air 7 Country Charity Show next May
Colin
Abingdon Air & Country Show 2011
Neil
IIRC these were the Chilean AF "Los Halcones" team of Pitts bi-planes which were air-freighted in to Abbo by Chilean AF Herc and re-assembled and flown from there to Fairford
Looking forward to planning the next Abingdon Air 7 Country Charity Show next May
Colin
Abingdon Air & Country Show 2011
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My first posting in1972 after 2 years at Trenchard's training establishment. My second choice after Brize but quite pleased as in those days I was into sport para and could hitch a ride (no car) to Weston in the Rapide. Seem to remember the pilot as Jerry Shelong but probably something unpronouncable, and thought he was Czech, but it was a lifetime ago.
Remember ULAS arriving and managed to blag a couple of flights on the JATE Herc. The only actual flying units.
2 1/2 very happy years servicing Belfasts before moving to Brize on their demise.Remember well the 9 flight AOCs parades,Battle of Britain at Home days, and the return of Tutankhamen(sp) - or was it the decoy?
Great camp and great people.
Remember ULAS arriving and managed to blag a couple of flights on the JATE Herc. The only actual flying units.
2 1/2 very happy years servicing Belfasts before moving to Brize on their demise.Remember well the 9 flight AOCs parades,Battle of Britain at Home days, and the return of Tutankhamen(sp) - or was it the decoy?
Great camp and great people.
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Hi all, Happy New Year!
Well have rec'd some photos from Abbo's past so thank you for this, we have an offshoot website from our main Air & Country Show website which wil be up & running soon, and i would like to add pics from its past.
So, am looking for pictures from: No.1 AMS (Jags either inside F Hangar, or outside on test, 2AMS - same thing but with Hawks, Buccaneers in D hangar, RSS,AS&TF , JATE, 1 PTS, No.1 Overseas Ferry Unit, Airdays, AOC parades, Ab Town march thru's & any aerial pics from over the years over the airfield or specific building pics (like a ****, i photographed most of the buildings for archive purposes in the RAF / Army handover in late 92, to any loose the roll of film - Doh!) - all of course will be credited to the owner.. so please send them to me as soon as you can. Please either pm me for my email or to neil_porter at hotmail dot com
I am also looking at doing something within Ab Town museum to have a permanent display of the RAF s past in their too..
Look forward to hearing from you.. oh and the 2011 show is advancing well
Well have rec'd some photos from Abbo's past so thank you for this, we have an offshoot website from our main Air & Country Show website which wil be up & running soon, and i would like to add pics from its past.
So, am looking for pictures from: No.1 AMS (Jags either inside F Hangar, or outside on test, 2AMS - same thing but with Hawks, Buccaneers in D hangar, RSS,AS&TF , JATE, 1 PTS, No.1 Overseas Ferry Unit, Airdays, AOC parades, Ab Town march thru's & any aerial pics from over the years over the airfield or specific building pics (like a ****, i photographed most of the buildings for archive purposes in the RAF / Army handover in late 92, to any loose the roll of film - Doh!) - all of course will be credited to the owner.. so please send them to me as soon as you can. Please either pm me for my email or to neil_porter at hotmail dot com
I am also looking at doing something within Ab Town museum to have a permanent display of the RAF s past in their too..
Look forward to hearing from you.. oh and the 2011 show is advancing
well