Middle Wallop is a perfect example of how the Army have strived to preserve the RAF heritage. The buildings remain preserved in the state they were in when the RAF left - even the hydraulic gun turrets remain (If you know where to look). Nothing's been touched, apart from absolutely necessary minor repairs - it's just like putting the clock back 50 years!
Mind you it's a crap environment to live and work in...

I think Upavon was allowed to decay long before the Army took over! The Army is'nt going to pay for the upkeep of disused hangars when it could be spending money on living accommodation. As for the beam in Gutersloh Officers Mess thats long gone, you're using it as a 'Chip' for your shoulder, its big enough!

sopano54
 

Have the beam and the tower bar disappeared from Gutersloh?

Any chip I have has been the product of your type's anallity matey!

But think about the original reason for this thread; surely if the current 'owners' of property which was once proudly held by others, lets that property fall into gross disrepair, then people of my pursuasion are not going to be happy with it.

It may not be entirely the Army's fault but if you're in the chair and supposedly looking after the place, then who can blame us for thinking it's down to an unsympathetic and uncaring tenant?

I heard a story recently from someone who has been to Bruggen since the Army took over. This chap saw that some kids playing football had been provided with a board with various holes cut in as a target through which to kick the ball. He though it was a great idea and went for a closer look. It turned out that the other side of the board was the roll-of-honour of the former Stn Cdrs of RAF Bruggen that had been discarded from SHQ!!

Gentlemen of the Naval Services, I seem to recall that the Royal Navy is still referred to as the 'Senior Service' not because of it's longevity in comparison to the other two fine fighting arms of Aunty Betty's finest, but because of the emergence of the east India Company and the creation of it's own navy (and Army) in the late 17 century.:E

Anyway it's all a load of hoop frankly people getting all hot under the collar over triv!:ugh:

For my part, it's a virtual impossibility to maintain all the sights of significant and historical interest. A 'C' type hanger is a 'C' type hanger regardless of where it is, similarly so is a Romney, a Nissen Hut,......................! Further I cannot agree that Scampton should be regarded as special on the basis of a single bombing raid, although THAT is important. Lovely, lovely RAF Coltishall, my home for nearly 14 years on and off, also significant in that it was the last OPERATIONAL BoB station, clearly too has served it's purpose. I suppose my point is that we must move on and look to the future, but what should be done is records made, plans drawn up, photographs taken etc so that future generations can study these places in an historical context.

Finally, I live in East Anglironshire which is quite literally groaning at the seams in historical locations, for example down the road from me is Fersfield, Airfield is still there as an agricultural site, the accommodation huts quietly rotting at the site of the roads hidden in the undergrowth, then there is Watton, the domestic site has gone and is now a building site for a housing development, Old Buckenham, Thorpe Abbotts, Snetterton, Bodney (now Army) it's bleeddin' endless.:ok:

Dundiggin you please to hear that the the beam is still there, as for the tower bar I can't answer that.

I am currently stationed in what was an SS Tank units barracks and it suits our needs very well, being a Tank regiment ourselves. So to that end all the hangars are used and kept in good order! If say a light role Infantry battalion were to occupy the lines then I daresay in a very short time the unused buildings would become neglected.

L-H hello how are you mate?

Soprano 54, I'm fabulastic matey. Things out here in civvystrasse are pretty good at the mo. You got your name down for the Stn Cdrs house at Colt yet when they come up on the market?

L-H

As much as I admire Coltishall and rue it's passing, RAF NORTHOLT is still operational and had a significant role in the BoB.

RK

No not yet, but as soon as at it comes on the market I intend to stick in a bid. Best keep stum about being a 'Pongo' as they might think I won't look after it!

AUDAX:ok:

As did some of the aircrew currently wandering the camp! :p

CC

Naaah sorry mate, Northolt's just another inner-city civi business airport that happens to have a few blue-suiters about – no operational stuff since 1945. Now Colt? That at least had fighter squadrons there until the end - or do HS125s count theses days?
so non-operational flying only
Can't find the vomit icon - sorted! :yuk: :yuk: :yuk:
oops, a little out of date, but proves a point
sources RAF Website

RK,

FYI I am more than aware of RAF Northolt's contribution during the BoB, particularly as my grandfather was stationed there as the IO on 303 Sqn in 1940. Nevertheless dear ol' Maple 01 has made my point for me rather well on Northolt's role since 1945, so nuff said!:ok:

Soprano 54, Knowing you mate you'll plump for the house with the best preserved camouflage paint so that it'll match yer natty tankie romper suit.:E

Blackcat, Audax; Roger.

Hey, this is good....a thread allowing the RN/RAF to bait each other....haven't we done this before.

This is more interesting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/5305774.stm


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5281238.stm

Nah 21 Hautbois will do just fine!

L-H

When your Grandfather was at Northolt in 1940 the Airfield had been a Fighter Base for 25 Years

L-H/Maple 01

Alright, I'll bite! My grandfather made parachutes, but that doesn't make me qualified to spout rubbish about parachuting!

If I get your argument correctly, Northolt isn't an operational airfield because it isn't a fast jet base. Wow. Does that mean that Lyneham and Odiham aren't operational becaue they don't house fast jet aircraft. If you looked at operational sorties flown in the major operational theatres, the HS125 is doing more Op work than the Jag has done in the last 10 years...And I'm not a 125 driver!

Your quote about Northolt is as out of date as Colt's!;)

Jags been anywhere near an Op theatre since the nineties? Launched any Op missions from Colt (prior to closure) ever? I think not!


Comp Charlie- Nice one;)

PS Unless I'm similarly mistaken, the Jag was never a fighter!

Back to thread though, I believe that Northolt's BoB heritage is about to be side swiped by MODeL despite it's heritage status. This isn't the Army or the Navy, it's a light blue lead who has no interest in any form of preservation. It would be a very simple move and a minor effort to transform what exists into something which would provide a useful facility. Just needs some interest from further up the command chain...

As an ex pongo that had the pleasure of serving at RAF Upavon, I can speak with some knowledge of the site in question.

Firstly, the site was only ever temporarily in RAF hands, it started as an Army camp, and has returned to being such. Like most defence sites, it is older than the RAF.

Secondly, the camp itself was an architectural disaster. There were the original buildings, (e.g. Offrs', Sgts' & Cpls' Messes, Scarf block, some MQs, and the lower two hangars (Wyvern Gliding school & MT). Then there was the 30s expansion stuff, the larger hangar (MAOTs, supply & MT overflow) and short hangar used as gym, Middleton & Nettleton blocks, Airmens' Mess. Then there was the 60s carbuncle of the HQ building, & SHQ. It was a complete hotchpotch of buildings.

Thirdly, and finally, the C Type hangar we occupied a third of, was in a terrible state of repair in 93 when I was posted out. I went back in 98 on an Army course, it had become various Army HQs by then. Our hangar was exactly the same as I left it, even down to the painted red hand on the hangar floor. As pointed out, a disgrace, though it had been in RAF hands in that state. Our block, Middleton block, had been converted into the headquarters of the Royal Army Chaplain's Department.

I suppose there is no point in investing in keeping a 70 year old hangar in pristine condition, unless you are going to keep several million pounds worth of aircraft in them. I remember the hangars at Dishforth on an exercise, not long after the AAC took over. One of them was in good order, and the Wokkas were parked in it overnight. The next hangar along was in absolute $hit state. I wouldn't have parked a bin truck in there.

Perhaps the MOD should seek to dispose of the not-so-historic sites and keep the famous ones for posterity.

RAF Driffield is pretty much a complete 30s style expansion period aerodrome, and of immense historic value for architectural reasons. But is it really as evocative as Tangmere, Scampton, etc?

Anyway, back to banter, Trenchard Lines lives once more as an Army site, celebrating one of the most famous of all Army Generals.