RAF Base or Station?
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Sometimes even more upsetting for the railwayman, though!
https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/do...efford1950.pdf
https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/do...efford1950.pdf
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Last edited by MPN11; 17th Nov 2021 at 13:16.
LB - I understand RAF Station Honington is also the RAF Regiment Depot now?
(A role previously fulfilled by RAF Catterick - now Marne Barracks as part of Catterick Garrison)
I believe Valley was briefly RAF Rhosneigr, the eponymous railway station being closer to the aerodrome. If I recall correctly, anyone alighting there would have risked waiting for the tide to go out on their journey between the two types of station.
It was simpler idea being on one of 'HM ship's books' be it a steel, wooden, glassfibre or concrete one.

I believe Valley was briefly RAF Rhosneigr, the eponymous railway station being closer to the aerodrome. If I recall correctly, anyone alighting there would have risked waiting for the tide to go out on their journey between the two types of station.
It was simpler idea being on one of 'HM ship's books' be it a steel, wooden, glassfibre or concrete one.
Not got my copy to hand, but I'm pretty sure that AP3003 (an official history of the RAF issued in the early 2000's) covered the naming of RAF Stations and it stated normally the Station was named after the parish within which the Station HQ was located. There were exceptions like Coltishall or Lindholme, The naming of RAF Stations after Train Stations is a myth.
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Thread Starter
Sincere thanks to contributors: entertaining and informative.
I conclude that if granddaughter rock reservist rookie calls RAF Honington a base, I shall relax.
She has been warned by me about "raff" and "plane" so I think we are OK there!
I conclude that if granddaughter rock reservist rookie calls RAF Honington a base, I shall relax.
She has been warned by me about "raff" and "plane" so I think we are OK there!
VHF/DF operator in mobile DF vehicle (RV105) that provided cross bearings to Benson for aircraft on approach to Benson
for landing. I remustered as an AQM (Loadmaster) in the summer of 1959 and was posted to 99 Sqn at Lyneham in September of that year.
WT
for landing. I remustered as an AQM (Loadmaster) in the summer of 1959 and was posted to 99 Sqn at Lyneham in September of that year.
WT

Last edited by Warmtoast; 19th Nov 2021 at 15:03.
Balham, Gateway to the South - Wikipedia
The R.A.F declined to name Odiham after its nearest railway station.
The RAF also declined to fund Odiham, probably why it’s more of a state of disrepair than a base.
The RAF also declined to fund Odiham, probably why it’s more of a state of disrepair than a base.
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Always a Station! I was stationed was how I introduced my past life, never I was based!
Although most non military punters tend to ask “where was you based”.
Although most non military punters tend to ask “where was you based”.
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Ken Scott #17 & MPN11 # 22
The name of the railway station by the South East (Brittania) gate on the RAF Brize Norton airfield boundary at the time the airfield was built was "Bampton" even though Bampton is 5 miles away. Carterton at that time was merely a crossroads with a shop and a few smallholdings established by Mr Carter. Brize Norton Parish and Village were well estabished centuries before. I have a map of the area dated 1828 showing Brize Norton and Bampton, but No Carterton. The railway station was renamed "Bampton and Brize Norton"in 1944 to reflect the new importance of the RAF station.
The railway station closed in 1962.
The name of the railway station by the South East (Brittania) gate on the RAF Brize Norton airfield boundary at the time the airfield was built was "Bampton" even though Bampton is 5 miles away. Carterton at that time was merely a crossroads with a shop and a few smallholdings established by Mr Carter. Brize Norton Parish and Village were well estabished centuries before. I have a map of the area dated 1828 showing Brize Norton and Bampton, but No Carterton. The railway station was renamed "Bampton and Brize Norton"in 1944 to reflect the new importance of the RAF station.
The railway station closed in 1962.

On a slightly different tack, there was evidently a lot of confusion between HMS LEANDER and RFA OLEANDER, which was finally solved by renaming the latter as OLMEDA.
Just don't get the dark blue started on whether you serve "in" or "on" a ship. Very broadly speaking, officers tend to say "in' and sailors "on", but for some reason no one referred to being in AISNE or in OPPORTUNE!

Jack
Last edited by Union Jack; 23rd Jan 2022 at 18:07.
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Nice dit, UJ and yet another fine example of Andrew Speak! During my brief time with the RN I constantly struggled with the language and conventions. At BRNC the concept of the Liberty Boat before being allowed to Go Ashore had me silently sniggering every time!
When my father who had never left Sussex was called up to the RN in WW2 he was given a rail warrant to a training base. He suffered from a stutter, so when he got to London and said he was off to join the navy at Sss he was put on a train to Scotland, to Scapa Flow. He arrived at his true training base a week late, Butlins Skegness!