Just got back from Bircham Newton (ex Coastal Command base, now C.I.T.B. college) where a good many of the wartime & pre-war buildings still exist.
Sadly, as leaving, noticed that one of the originals is newly 2/3rds demolished (between the hangars, & ‘A’, ‘B’ & ‘C’ block, that run adjacent to the road, alongside the B.1155.
It’ll obviously be gone by middle of next week.
Anyone know what it’s original purpose in life was ???
&/or why it’s demolition is deemed necessary ? 🙁
By: Hornchurch - 2nd October 2006 at 02:35
BTW is the Old Control Tower at Docking still standing by any chance? I got in there in the early 60’s. The original Ops board with the last day’s operations still chalked upon it was lying face down under a load of bird guano.
Nobody was interested in those days of course.
Hi Pete,
didn’t bother taking a camera, as it was the last day of (this) year that the ‘Heritage Room’ was opened to ‘Joe Public’ – as it’s run on a volunteer basis only & the old boys don’t envisage visitors after autumn/fall.
Plus, I only live just down the road – only found out on a local village noticeboard after leaving the pub, worse for wear (Ruddles Smooth, on tap).
It’s still (essentially speaking) well preserved, as W.W.II bases go, & a fantastic array of R.A.F. stuff flew from here, but obviously given it’s current usage (& C.C.T.V. coverage), I wouldn’t wanna take liberties wandering round.
25degSth – Yes, suprisingly the Control Tower at Docking is still standing, albeit in shell like form.
I was chuffed & interested to hear your tale of the ‘Ops’ board & it’s markings.
Reminded me of a (chronologically) much later visit (early ‘Nineties) to my (then) local U.S.A.A.F. airfield – the 387th/B.26 base at Willingale/Chipping Ongar.
My son & I, with a mate of mine, went inside the old Ops block, still painted up in the original mid-blue & white (& most fixtures & fittings intact).
In a dark corner, two old rusted churn looking thingy’s – transpired it’s (2 of )the original containers the ground crews used to use, in order to top-up the P&W R.2800’s with oil !!!
Said mate returned (around ’94) & found one of the exhaust tail-pipe sections (that end under the nacelle) whilst rummaging round the 557th’s dispersal area/foliage (jammy ******).
At the time, I had access/entry into North Weald, so I drove him over to the ‘Aces High’ Dak’s that stood outside (1x Camo, 1x Sky-Blue marked ‘Ian Drury’) & showed him the (slightly larger/similar) matched up component.
By: 25deg south - 30th September 2006 at 15:58
Obviously not the famous haunted Squash Courts! (Closed by the Station commander because of repeated sightings and, I believe, well documented in the unit’s F540.)
BTW is the Old Control Tower at Docking still standing by any chance? I got in there in the early 60’s. The original Ops board with the last day’s operations still chalked upon it was lying face down under a load of bird guano.
Nobody was interested in those days of course.
By: Peter - 30th September 2006 at 14:34
Did you snap any pics Hornchurch?
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September 10, 2006 at 6:02 pm