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More old WWII Airfields


Ratch

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:closedeyes:

Hello Miduppergunner

Have you seen this site "http://actionstations. @ fotopic.net/" it should be right up your street! Something to pass away the years.

Cheers

Jeff

Edited by jeffclark7
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Hi Ratch

They seem to have cleaned up Grafton Underwood since I was last there, nice memorial!

Many thanks

Jeff

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Hi Jeff

It was my first visit to all but Harrington. I was a little sad for the King's Cliffe memorial - the wall on the right had been toppled and a few paving slabs were un-seated :oops:

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It is funny I am based at Leconfield and they demolished one of the hangers, but have kept one of the suport struts as memorial. On this strut they have added in steel (from the hanger doors) the outline of all the aircraft that flew from here over the years. Its not completed yet but when it is I will post some pics..

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On my way home from work on Friday, I thought I'd have a look for Denton airfield. I didn't expect to find much as it was a grass Relief Landing Ground for Sywell. I did find these buildings, although I'm not dure whether they were anything to do with the airfield :undecided:

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:goodjob:

Hiya Ratch

Nice to see a site that is well kept and not derelict like so many of the W.W.II sites.

Cheers for now

Jeff

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  • 2 weeks later...

Today I found Husband's Bosworth, 14 OTU were stationed there with Wellingtons

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The active part of the airfield is actually in Leicestershire, (the part in Northamptonshire was returned to farming) and is the home of the Coventry Gliding Club.

I then went to Desborough, wartime home of 84 OTU

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Again, mainly Wellingtons flew from here. I was surprised at how much had survived considering it has returned to agriculture :o Most of the perimeter taxiway remains and sections of the three Class A runways are easily discernable.

From there I went to Deenethorpe

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The 401st BG were based here and have erected a suitable memorial. In the third picture we are looking down runway 05 (the longest one) which is still used by visitors to the Corus Steel Works at Corby. Runway 10 goes off to the right (unfortunately it's been lifted) to form a V. The third part of the A formation has also gone :(

My last stop was at Sywell, where No. 7 EFTS were stationed

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The Aerodrome has been in continual use since 1927, and the original tower remains in use. I also popped into the Museum

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The last picture is of a 1:72 C-47 Skytrain in the markings of the 309th Troop Carrier Squadron, 315th Troop Carrier Group based at Spanhoe

Edited by Ratch
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Some interesting and very thought provoking shots. Its hard to believe that the UK was basically a major airbase for WW2. If you are heading down to Waterbeach for a look there, take some ID and if you ask nicely at the guardroom they have a key to a museum on camp :) You should be able to gain access. There is also a Hunter in 56 Sqn colours as the Gate guard. There used to be a Hurricane a long time ago but the RAF took it back.

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Its a pity that so many of them are hidden, unadvertised or have restricted access :weep:

I'm sure that the people who want to visit sites like these would treat them with the respect they warrant, but do they know about them, often their location is ambiguously described and the landowners seem to discourage 'trespass' :( I'm sure that if todays youngsters discovered the history of these sites (without necessarily gloriying the war), they might be more inspired of what can be done, the sacrifices that were made, and the true meaning of respect B)

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:analintruder:

Ratch

Just what is that pilot trying to do? Is he trying to fly the thing or is he fiddling about with himself?

As usual, great. Tell me who is that woman that seems to follow you on all your 'Shoots', your fan club may be?

Cheers

Jeff

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Just what is that pilot trying to do? Is he trying to fly the thing or is he fiddling about with himself?

He looks a bit of a dummy to me :giles:

Tell me who is that woman that seems to follow you on all your 'Shoots', your fan club may be?

That is SWMBO :pig: and she likes pigs :D

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  • 8 months later...

A few snaps of the disused Thor missile launch emplacements at Harrington

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The last pic shows the taxi-way at the eastern end of runway 12/30.

Harrington was built in 1943 by American Engineer Battalions. The Thor missile site was finished early in 1960, but with a change in policy, closed in September 1963.

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Thanks for the piccies...so much history...so much sacrifice..so much to be remembered

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thanks ratch for showing us all the old bases :speak_cool: have you guys ever looked on 'google earth' and looked for the old bomber bases ? you'll be suprized how much there is left and it gives you a good idea what to look for some buildings maybe hidden behind trees and from 'googles' point of view it's amazing :wicked: i've found all the RAF bases in lincolnshire/nottinghamshire all down to google and the odd website, have a deck and don't forget 'google earth'.......

http://actionstations.fotopic.net/

http://airfieldspast.fotopic.net/

http://aviationpages.fotopic.net/

http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/

http://lincolnshireairfields.fotopic.net/

http://www.oldairfields.fotopic.net/

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/

http://www.controltowers.co.uk/

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/ukmus-home.htm

ian. :worthy:

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  • 2 weeks later...
The Thor missile site was finished early in 1960, but with a change in policy, closed in September 1963.

Not so much a change in policy, but world politics intervened - the Thors were removed from the UK and Jupiter IRBM's removed from Turkey and Italy as part of the Cuban Missile deal that saw the Soviet missiles withdrawn from Cuba, although the Soviets had not originally included UK based Thors as part of dealings but were thrown by the UK Government as a basis for possible independent action to break the diplomatic deadlock . Although this was perhaps slight of hand by the neogiators as the first phase of programme was due to finish at the end of 1964 and given the weapon had limited capability with a range of not much more than a 1500 nautical miles and depending on where the warheads were stored it took between 57 and 24 hours to get them operationally ready, when ready Thor was limited to 2 hours in in this state of readiness before the LOX froze the avionics and the weapon then had to be drained and the process started again. Even when operationally ready the launch sequence took a further 15 mins. Moreover the weapon was considered a soft target and US ICBM's were about ready for service in 1962 -- despite having RAF roundels and RAF crews [each station had a US major on site that authorised the launch and armed the warhead] therefore they were an American weapon. Even though discussions were held between the respective Governments about extending the tenure of Thor on UK soil, given the foregoing it is unlikely that the programme would have gone much beyond the 1964 date set out in the original agreement with the US Government particulary as the Thor bases were starting to become a huge drain on RAF finances and were diverting funds from other projects. The 'intervention' of the Cuban crisis only shortened the programme by a year/18 months. There is information to suggest that the Soviets were aware of limitations of Thor.

Most Thor bases particulary those in Lincolnshire were operational from 1959 not 1960. An intereresting paper exercise and perhaps kite flying by the US and UK Governments, was the Hartwell group was deemed operational in 1958, even though it had no missiles!

There is an interesting archive clip of a RAF Thor being readied at North Pickenham, Norfolk:

There is an interesting account by one of the Harrington Thor station commanders here:

http://harringtonmuseum.org.uk/CBurchMem.htm

Harrington was [effectively a satellite base] part of the North Luffenham group, this group was the last to be decommisioned in early August 1963.

Growing up in the '60s I can distinctly remember the bases at Coleby Grange and Bardney [less so because it was further from public gaze] and in the age of the 'space race' having rockets on ones doorstep was 'exciting' but without understanding the real consequence of why they were there.

Marty...

Edited by marty_hopkirk
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