Church Fenton
 

Does anyone know the status of RAF Church Fenton? They don't seem to be putting out METARs anymore. There was a parade announced in the local newsletter but this was cancelled. Where has YUAS gone? What will become of the airfield? Any rumours gratefully received.

Read

Former RAF fighter base to be closed (From The Northern Echo)


And weep

Archived Report - RAF Church Fenton - Church Fenton - December 2012

Archived Report - RAF Church Fenton, December 2012

The ATC Tower, Radios and Navaids are going the be ripped out in the very near future (if it hasn't started already).

Another classic RAF station gone forever, what a huge shame.

I carried out my first jet solo from there in 1977 and ten years later I lived in the Officers' Mess for a while whilst with Refresher Squadron. I hold some very happy memories of those times.

Think the Met Office closed the Church Fenton met station a couple of weeks ago in advance of the main station shutdown.

From the Northern Echo ..

"The five RAF personnel at the base ..... will be redeployed"

Says it all really

Anyone know what will happen to the airfield? Will we be losing yet another runway?

I instructed there, on Chipmunks, c 1969. On reflection, one of the happiest tours of my career. Two of my students made 3* so I must have done something right!

Visited Church Fenton several times with the ATC. First was on 20 April 1969 when I flew in Chipmunks WK624 and WP845. Happy days!

Matz deactivated on 1 Jan. At least getting in and out of Sherburn will be a tad easier. Sad to see a great airfield go though. By the way the Fenton Flyer is still open and a splendid CAMRA pub.

Which brings the total of RAF flying stations closed in the UK since I joined the RAF to....64 :sad:

Why the heck anyone would wish to join the RAF these days is frankly beyond me...

Only problem with Church Fenton was the proximity of the main road parallel to the runway. On a foggy day it could be confusing. Had a look myself once in a Vampire.

Aug 15, 1973. Church Fenton.

I was the First RN student to solo in the Bulldog.

I remember it well!!!!:ok:

Never served there but did fly in with the UAS. Lots of history, seeing the old Spitfire blast pens and dispersal - overgrown but intact - was a massive surprise. Not something you expect to see on an airfield active into the jet age.

Think there still there?

The Spitfires? :E

God alone knows. I haven't set foot in the place in almost 18 years.

Lots of Memories!


First every flight in an aeroplane (AEF); first RAF Solo (Bulldog on YUAS); first jet solo (1FTS); but perhaps more significant - my mother was born in a farm under the downwind leg (for those who used it as a marker, it used to have a yellow roof).

Did a thing called the Short Academic Refresher Course there in 1969 prior to transferring to Nav training. In addition to lots of sums we did interesting things like going on the bang-seat trainer which was great fun and the nearest I ever got to ejecting.

Great camp, and some good runs ashore in York.

I agree with Beagle - I have no comprehension of what the present day RAF must be like to serve in, but I have no real wish to find out :(

Real shame the place will be no more. I went to one of the last Air Displays there as a kid, in the final year of the RAF Vulcan display (when it had "FAREWELL" written inside the bomb bay doors). My dad used to go in the 60/70s an had fond memories of the EE Lightning.
Spent some time there as a cadet while 642VGS were temporarily based there, and also flew twice from there in a Bulldog years back during "Air Experience" sorties as a cadet with a fantastic bloke (ex Jaguars) called Sqn Ldr T Steen. I was chuffed to bits when I climbed in the bulldog for my second trip (about 6 months later) and he remembered who I was from the previous trip without me saying anything more than "hello Sir". I was doing my PPL out of Leeds Bradford at the time, aged 15, and asked if we could go and look at Holme on Spalding Moor as it would be a turning point on an upcoming Nav trip (I couldn't solo yet so had jumped ahead a little with the PPL training to doing some Navexs) and I wanted to have a cheeky look to easily identify it in future. So off we went, first flight of the day, giving his wife a wave as we flew over their house in Cawood, then onto H-S-M.
Then in more recent years, flying for leisure, and instructing locally, it was always nice to work with the Fenton controllers and get the odd (freebie) ILS approach to 2 miles.
Many happy memories of the place.

Small world isn't it, I had my jag trip with him in Gib on 14 Sqn :)