RAF Whirlwind British Guiana
Yes - the grass field is all I remember except for a few low walls by the gate where Bowsers used to park.
Nice to know it's an asset not yet sold by MOD...unlike Tern Hill
Nice to know it's an asset not yet sold by MOD...unlike Tern Hill
Gentleman Aviator
Rigga
It's only the domestic site, hangars etc - aka "Clive Barracks" - that's being sold off. The airfield - still technically RAF Ternhill - will still be used by DHFS and - I understand - by an expanded and very wonderful (sic) Air Cadet Glider Squadron/School.........
Most of the quarters were sold off ages ago by Allington Homes (sp?) at great profit - to them!
unlike Tern Hill
Most of the quarters were sold off ages ago by Allington Homes (sp?) at great profit - to them!
Visit to Guyana in 1964
I few in to Atkinson Field in what was then British Guiana on the 24th of June 1964 acting in the capacity of co-pilot of a No 24 Squadron Hastings. We had been tasked to fly around that area visiting various airfields lest we should be called upon at some future date to support an airbridge resupplying our British Army colleagues who were stationed there.
We had flown in from Nassau and the intention was that we should spend a couple of days with the army as our hosts at Atkinson before buying beers and spirits from the NAAFi to 'fuel' a party hosted by veterans at our next stop, Barbados.
However, no sooner had we joined our army colleagues in their Mess bar, which was on the first floor of a building, then some dissident with a sten or machine gun opened up from the adjacent jungle! The soldiers promptly hit the floor followed by us a nano-second later, whilst the intrusion was sorted out. The welcome drinks then continued until, in the dark, we found our beds in rooms on the ground floor and attempted to sleep, with difficulty despite the alcohol - not having previously encountered such a hiatus!
At dawn, just after I think we had all fallen asleep with exhaustion, a most almighty BANG startled us from just outside the building! Of course the first explanation that entered our minds was a renewed attack, but when we looked through the windows we saw a Whirlwind starting up (a starter cartridge I think it might have been).
Given the situation in the area and an approaching storm, we amended our plans, bought the booze and hurried off to Barbados where from the comfort of the bar we watched the storm whip up vast waves and bend the palm trees low.
We had flown in from Nassau and the intention was that we should spend a couple of days with the army as our hosts at Atkinson before buying beers and spirits from the NAAFi to 'fuel' a party hosted by veterans at our next stop, Barbados.
However, no sooner had we joined our army colleagues in their Mess bar, which was on the first floor of a building, then some dissident with a sten or machine gun opened up from the adjacent jungle! The soldiers promptly hit the floor followed by us a nano-second later, whilst the intrusion was sorted out. The welcome drinks then continued until, in the dark, we found our beds in rooms on the ground floor and attempted to sleep, with difficulty despite the alcohol - not having previously encountered such a hiatus!
At dawn, just after I think we had all fallen asleep with exhaustion, a most almighty BANG startled us from just outside the building! Of course the first explanation that entered our minds was a renewed attack, but when we looked through the windows we saw a Whirlwind starting up (a starter cartridge I think it might have been).
Given the situation in the area and an approaching storm, we amended our plans, bought the booze and hurried off to Barbados where from the comfort of the bar we watched the storm whip up vast waves and bend the palm trees low.
