Linton on Ouse : The end of an era
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Idle stop
John Cocks was my Brother-in Law. He left the RAF, not having pursed a career. He worked in the Middle East for some time and latterly ran a small hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand, he passed away in 2019. RIP.
Jerry Gegg
John Cocks was my Brother-in Law. He left the RAF, not having pursed a career. He worked in the Middle East for some time and latterly ran a small hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand, he passed away in 2019. RIP.
Jerry Gegg
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Thanks. It would be mid to late '84 to early to mid '85 I'm thinking of. I had a memory of thinking 'oh - Spitfire' on arrival for the first time, but at this distance and advancing age it could easily be a false memory or somewhere else !!
Ah, Rick
Just before RH arrived on 72 Sqn at Aldergrove, one of the trainer's came into the crewroom with a list of new joiner's.
"You will never believe it, we have a guy coming called Rick Head"!
So, like you do, we got all the jests ready for his arrival.
RH arrives (I can still see him framed in the crewroom door) and announces loudly (always with RH!):
"Good morning gentlemen, my name is Richard Head".
"Also known as..............................." Reeling off every combination possible.
Happy Days!
lsh
"You will never believe it, we have a guy coming called Rick Head"!
So, like you do, we got all the jests ready for his arrival.
RH arrives (I can still see him framed in the crewroom door) and announces loudly (always with RH!):
"Good morning gentlemen, my name is Richard Head".
"Also known as..............................." Reeling off every combination possible.
Happy Days!
lsh
Same day her dress got a subtle hint of green courtesy of the role demo smoke grenades...
Heuymeister - I remember it well 
Thread Starter
The future of RAF Linton On Ouse was discussed in the Houses Of Parliament today during a question raised by the local MP Kevin Hollinrake and at the moment "no long term military requirement has been identified for the airfield" as set out by the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace ;
I am deeply saddened that efforts to find a last minute reprieve for RAF Linton on Ouse have failed. I have held a number of meetings with the Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace and senior Defence staff to try to explore other military options for the site. However, in response to my question about its future in the House of Commons, the Defence Secretary said “We did look at exploring other military uses for the base. At the moment no long term military requirements have been identified. Therefore we are completing final assessments, with disposal details being announced in due course.”
I am very disappointed. I had had a number of discussions about how the site could be used. Local people are rightly proud of the role RAF Linton on Ouse has played in the defence of the realm since the end of the second world war until recently. During World War 2 its planes, pilots and air crew took off for highly dangerous long-distance bombing raids on Germany, Norway and other Axis military bases in Europe. I will continue to work with the local authority to try to find alternative employment for those who are still looking for work.
RAF Linton on Ouse has been situated in the Hambleton village for 80 years, opening in 1937 as a bomber airfield. Fast jet training, which had been conducted at Linton on Ouse has already been transferred to RAF Valley on Anglesey in North Wales.
The MP's question to the Minister appears on his Facebook page , link here ; https://www.facebook.com/kevin.hollinrake .
I am deeply saddened that efforts to find a last minute reprieve for RAF Linton on Ouse have failed. I have held a number of meetings with the Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace and senior Defence staff to try to explore other military options for the site. However, in response to my question about its future in the House of Commons, the Defence Secretary said “We did look at exploring other military uses for the base. At the moment no long term military requirements have been identified. Therefore we are completing final assessments, with disposal details being announced in due course.”
I am very disappointed. I had had a number of discussions about how the site could be used. Local people are rightly proud of the role RAF Linton on Ouse has played in the defence of the realm since the end of the second world war until recently. During World War 2 its planes, pilots and air crew took off for highly dangerous long-distance bombing raids on Germany, Norway and other Axis military bases in Europe. I will continue to work with the local authority to try to find alternative employment for those who are still looking for work.
RAF Linton on Ouse has been situated in the Hambleton village for 80 years, opening in 1937 as a bomber airfield. Fast jet training, which had been conducted at Linton on Ouse has already been transferred to RAF Valley on Anglesey in North Wales.
The MP's question to the Minister appears on his Facebook page , link here ; https://www.facebook.com/kevin.hollinrake .
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Golden Oldies
Living as I do on the nearest thing to the dark side of the moon, Northern Scotland, I am saddened to hear of the imminent closure of Linton. I QFI'd at Leeming from Jun 73 until they closed the FTS in Sept 74 when I moved to Linton. Happy days, wonderful people and a thoroughly enjoyable time up to the time in Dec 76 when I left Mr Whippy to return to Air Support Command's Global Pub crawl on Fat Albert in Wiltshire. Are there any other pensioners out there still above ground who can recall 45 years ago. Time for war stories.
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After a bit of research it seems the Spitfire (MkVb BM597, now at Duxford) was there '75 to '79, and must have been replaced by the Provost (XF545) as that was there in '81 and appears to have been replaced by JP3 XN589 in '92.
Thanks, Threeputt. Very sorry to hear about John. RIP indeed.
Aeroid...you may even have been one of the QFIs on our squadron?
Another memory of Linton...the wooden toll bridge I was in OMQ at Dishforth, convenient, as whilst holding for BFTS, I had latterly been at Leeming on AOITS*. Sometimes the bridge was manned, sometimes not. Always had a 2p handy in case there was somebody there to take it. Funnily enough the two flight commanders on AOITS, both QFIs, arrived with me as my course-mates on my Whirlwind course at Tern Hill. One of them later worked for the same off-shore helicopter company as me!
* AOITS...Aircrew Officers Interim Training Squadron, IIRC.
Aeroid...you may even have been one of the QFIs on our squadron?
Another memory of Linton...the wooden toll bridge I was in OMQ at Dishforth, convenient, as whilst holding for BFTS, I had latterly been at Leeming on AOITS*. Sometimes the bridge was manned, sometimes not. Always had a 2p handy in case there was somebody there to take it. Funnily enough the two flight commanders on AOITS, both QFIs, arrived with me as my course-mates on my Whirlwind course at Tern Hill. One of them later worked for the same off-shore helicopter company as me!
* AOITS...Aircrew Officers Interim Training Squadron, IIRC.
idle stop,
What is "interim training,'' and how does it differ from 'training?'
What is "interim training,'' and how does it differ from 'training?'
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Thanks Idle Stop. I was on 1 Sqn. The bridge was still there when I visited Yorkshire a year or so ago. I lived at 46 The Green Dishforth whilst at Leeming. I know it is a small world but in 1980's I was operating from Aberdeen to Shetland on oil work, Were you with Bristows?
aeroid...suggest you pm me!
proone....for interim, read temporary! There was a big pool of holding would-be pilots 75-76 and after some of us had been scattered around various bases and squadrons we were gathered into AOITS at Leeming until our BFTS courses started.
Edit...autocorrect seems to change pr00ne to Pprune! Ah...zeros.
proone....for interim, read temporary! There was a big pool of holding would-be pilots 75-76 and after some of us had been scattered around various bases and squadrons we were gathered into AOITS at Leeming until our BFTS courses started.
Edit...autocorrect seems to change pr00ne to Pprune! Ah...zeros.
Last edited by idle stop; 2nd Feb 2021 at 21:12.
Another memory of Linton...the wooden toll bridge I was in OMQ at Dishforth, convenient, as whilst holding for BFTS, I had latterly been at Leeming on AOITS*. Sometimes the bridge was manned, sometimes not. Always had a 2p handy in case there was somebody there to take it..
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I was a QFI on 2 Sqn from 74-77, very happy times. We were blessed by 2 very good CFIs who sheltered us from the strange ideas of a non QFI Stn Cdr during that time. In later years, it was always gratifying to meet ex studes who were mostly very appreciative of the instruction and general attitude of Linton.
The infamous hold for studes in 75 was caused by a 6 month halt to new courses starting as the MoD went through one of it’s periodic crises. At the time, we had 2 studes per course from an African nation, these guys should have done 2 years at their equivalent of Cranwell, 40 hours in the Bulldog, proficiency in English etc. The MoD offered to said nation we can do a lot more in the next 6 months, send what you’ve got. Absolute carnage, no adherence to the qualifications at all, as it transpired some of the guys were signed on into the Air Force on the plane into the UK, hence the creation of a Bulldog training set up based at Dishforth. The ‘ladies of the night’ in York have never had such a profitable time, the guardroom had a slush fund to call for taxis in the early hours at weekends. Every month, a man from the Embassy appeared with a shed load of cash for the guys. Entertaining to say the least.
Two of my most exciting moments were courtesy of the remnants of these guys. Doing an Intermediate Handling Test on one, as he raised the nose to get airborne, he managed to apply a considerable amount of brake via the toe pedal to the left wheel, I just managed to take it and lift off before we took to the grass. On airborne examination, the tyre looked like an old style three penny bit but stayed in one piece on landing a few minutes later. As we rolled to a very shakey full stop, his only question was ‘oh Sir, did I pass’.
At one time, the main runway was closed for resurfacing so we used the short whatever the wind. On a final landing, my stude smacked it on the numbers and bounced ( not easy in a JP). He then jammed both feet hard on the brake pedals which fortunately I could see on the brake pressure gauge. In a JP 3, going downhill at below touchdown speed and throttle closed was not comfortable, a few well chosen, rapidly delivered words of advice just worked, I watched the brake pressure dribble off just before we hit the ground the second time. It was all good for soul.
The infamous hold for studes in 75 was caused by a 6 month halt to new courses starting as the MoD went through one of it’s periodic crises. At the time, we had 2 studes per course from an African nation, these guys should have done 2 years at their equivalent of Cranwell, 40 hours in the Bulldog, proficiency in English etc. The MoD offered to said nation we can do a lot more in the next 6 months, send what you’ve got. Absolute carnage, no adherence to the qualifications at all, as it transpired some of the guys were signed on into the Air Force on the plane into the UK, hence the creation of a Bulldog training set up based at Dishforth. The ‘ladies of the night’ in York have never had such a profitable time, the guardroom had a slush fund to call for taxis in the early hours at weekends. Every month, a man from the Embassy appeared with a shed load of cash for the guys. Entertaining to say the least.
Two of my most exciting moments were courtesy of the remnants of these guys. Doing an Intermediate Handling Test on one, as he raised the nose to get airborne, he managed to apply a considerable amount of brake via the toe pedal to the left wheel, I just managed to take it and lift off before we took to the grass. On airborne examination, the tyre looked like an old style three penny bit but stayed in one piece on landing a few minutes later. As we rolled to a very shakey full stop, his only question was ‘oh Sir, did I pass’.
At one time, the main runway was closed for resurfacing so we used the short whatever the wind. On a final landing, my stude smacked it on the numbers and bounced ( not easy in a JP). He then jammed both feet hard on the brake pedals which fortunately I could see on the brake pressure gauge. In a JP 3, going downhill at below touchdown speed and throttle closed was not comfortable, a few well chosen, rapidly delivered words of advice just worked, I watched the brake pressure dribble off just before we hit the ground the second time. It was all good for soul.
My memories of Linton are all happy ones. Such a good atmosphere; having only one Officers’ Mess helped...staff and studes in the bar in flying suits in the bar until 1900...the honesty/chits barrel on the mess patio late afternoon in the summer. Comparing notes with Cranwell contemporaries it was chalk and cheese...and we had the cheese!
First (jet) Solo at Elvington. Hoping to fly in there later this year, once COVID GA restrictions lifted.
And did anybody ever unearth the cases of cockpit clocks rumoured buried on the airfield since Stirling days?!!
First (jet) Solo at Elvington. Hoping to fly in there later this year, once COVID GA restrictions lifted.
And did anybody ever unearth the cases of cockpit clocks rumoured buried on the airfield since Stirling days?!!
aeroid...suggest you pm me!
proone....for interim, read temporary! There was a big pool of holding would-be pilots 75-76 and after some of us had been scattered around various bases and squadrons we were gathered into AOITS at Leeming until our BFTS courses started.
Edit...autocorrect seems to change pr00ne to Pprune! Ah...zeros.
proone....for interim, read temporary! There was a big pool of holding would-be pilots 75-76 and after some of us had been scattered around various bases and squadrons we were gathered into AOITS at Leeming until our BFTS courses started.
Edit...autocorrect seems to change pr00ne to Pprune! Ah...zeros.
Initially instructing on Chippies with RN HSP courses, then 2 Sqn. (JP3&4) flt.cdr. late 60's - lived in OMQ at Dishforth (not on the Square!), Last RN course (at the time) and couple of RAF courses, one of my happiest and fulfilling tours in the Royal Air Force! The Aldwark toll bridge in those days cost (I think!) a halfpenny (to be claimed each month! on home to duty!) Living in the past - why not?
Bill
Bill