Bounced Biggin Spotter, 1940s-50s

Re photographing gate guardians, a couple of years ago I asked the guards if I could photograph the Harrier at Wittering, and was told yes, as long as there are no buildings in the picture. I wonder why.

Because it is illegal to take photographs of military property/buildings. Such buildings are listed as ‘prohibited places’. I think they are covered by the Military Lands Act (1892) and the Official Secrets Act. Obviously there is some degree of flexibility nowadays, with visitors to airshows in particular being given specific permission to take photographs (within limitations) usually detailed on the ticket.

Sorry, this is not actually directly beneficial to the subject of the thread.

Rather frustrating not to know what that aircraft was, but i can imagine that being detained at the guardroom and made to hand over his film and notes was probably a rather traumatic experience for a young boy at that time.

Last call! Bump…

Thanks as ever Ken.

Bringing this thread up if anyone has further thoughts – or further diversions!

Regards,
James

RAF CAS started talking to US about Sabres as soon as the Korean balloon went up. Likely to have been a show-off visitor for Whitehall brass. I’ll offer:
– from 7/50, USAFE F-84D at Manston; or:
– from 17/8/51, USAFE F-86A at Shepherds Grove.
F-80As visited Odiham, 21/7/48; F-80Bs were based at Furstenfeldbruck from 13/8/48.
One of those. Unlikely to have been a bomber.

Thanks for the responses. Is this something that the ‘Scramble’ people might have an angle on?

It no doubt boils down to “jobsworth” security guards, having absolutely no idea of what it is they are supposed to be guarding.

This thread is drifting, but some interesting comments are coming up.
Re photographing gate guardians, a couple of years ago I asked the guards if I could photograph the Harrier at Wittering, and was told yes, as long as there are no buildings in the picture. I wonder why.

B-45s were operated by the RAF on reconnaissance missions over the Warsaw Pact countries.

I can remember just after the Falklands War asking at RAF Northolt if I could take a picture of their Spitfire gate guardian and was told no because it was secret!

Regards

Gaurdroom staff back then were poorly informed about what was and was not secret,many notices still forbade sketching and photography,it was easier just to stick to the rule that all was covered by the Official secrets act. When a press visit happened then it was pre cleared.

I visited Acklington the first Saturday after 29 Sqn received their new Javelins and presented myself at the guardroom (in part ATC uniform -, i.e. my beret) to ask if I could see them. The guy on duty said he thought some civilian workmen had been in 29 Sqn’s hangar but should have left the doors open. So, off I toddled but only got a few steps before he called me back. “I don’t know about the camera”, he said, “Are the Javelins secret?”. I assured him they weren’t which reassured him and off I went!

Gaurdroom staff back then were poorly informed about what was and was not secret,many notices still forbade sketching and photography,it was easier just to stick to the rule that all was covered by the Official secrets act. When a press visit happened then it was pre cleared.

Visible security was common at RAF airfields at one time, and may be still for all I know. For instance at one time if you lurked by the perimeter fence, a Land Rover would come up on the other side of the fence and the occupants would look in your direction. If that was not enough to make you shift, you got told to go away. I suspect they were mainly worried about protestors cutting the fence to gain access and weren’t too worried about genuine spotters.

A B-45 was not exactly secret. They were on display at various Open Days, including, I recall, at Alconbury. Unless it was one of the VERY secret RAF B-45s.

The ROC held annual recognition days at Biggin and one list shows a Sculthorpe based USAF B45 Tornado attending..this would fit the idea .

Gary

Thanks folks, it did seem a long shot.

Broadening the question in a way, is there any info of ‘secret’ types coming into Biggin in that era? My impression was the area was a bit populous, and Biggin Not That Sort of RAF Station, but stranger things have happened.

Thanks again,

Sorry I can’t identify the aircraft for you, but it did remind me of when 11-year-old Laurence was busy spotting at Martlesham in 1952, when a Land Rover pulled up and the friendly RAF policemen made it quite clear to me that I had better get out of there sharpish. I didn’t even have a camera (regrettably as I see it now), but I still have my original log book with such pearls as Mosquitos PF564, RK949 and VX861, various gliders including Grunau Baby VT921, 3 Martinets, and Viking VX141 (among others). I suppose I lost the anorak sometime since ….

There’s just not enough information to go on in my view, but I do know that that sort of thing did used to happen!