Anybody recognise this RAF airfield – circa 1952?

Probably for putting the grass out after the Vampire and Meteors left.

These days Henlow relies on the farmer’s baling machine to set the grass on fire!

The building on the bottom left looks like a “expansion period” crash tender shed, built out of concrete. The vehicle on the bottom right is a 500 gallon Bedford water tanker used in fire-fighting.

It looks like Henlow from the view shown.

By George I think you’ve got it! If you look at the top left of the picture, you can see what appears to be Pirton water tower, about three miles South West of Henlow.

The picture appears to have been taken from the old control tower, currently the Henlow Flying Club buildings. The retaining wall around the fuel area is in part I think, still there. The main Henlow Camp buildings are out of sight behind the photographer on the East side of the aerodrome.

It looks like Henlow from the view shown.

Worthy Down?

mystery airfield

i think its morton valance if not could be spitalgate grantham linc s , dab (dragline)

A very wild stab in the dark – Pendeford, Wolverhampton!

In my time in the RAF and Army I have been based at or near Lossie, Kinloss, Middle Wallop and Netheravon and that dosn’t look like any of them. The hills are reminiscent of Yorkshire…..but otherwise….?

Jon

BTW – are those guns butts or a rifle range in the background? Could be a clue? If they are gun butts then that would eliminate Netheravon.

I was based at both Netheravon & Middle Wallop but it doesn’t look like either of these to me…

That rolling countryside certainly ‘feels’ like Netheravon, but what amuses me are the ‘erks’ obviously being rollocked by their Flight Sergeant in the bottom right-hand corner!

Damn, wish I was at home where my records are; I could probably tell you straight away. Anyway, a wild guess – Ouston?

This is not a quiz.

I do not know what UK RAF airfield this is.

An analysis of the code letters on some of the aircraft give clues to their ‘home bases’. There is a Spitfire and a Tempest in the line.

Mark

Could it be Netheravon.

benson?

Odiham or Wallop jumped into my head

…but that looks like the sea in the distance?

Albert,

No not the sea. Just a grainy old negative taken by my uncle. He probably flew the Meteor in from Leuchars but I can’t pin it down in his logbook.

There are more clues that will help this identification but in the first instance I am looking for a cold ID.

Mark

Middle Wallop? – It looks big and grassy.
I know Vampires have operated off grass, but not quite sure about Meteors.

…but that looks like the sea in the distance?

Middle Wallop? – It looks big and grassy.
I know Vampires have operated off grass, but not quite sure about Meteors.