I did a taped interview a few months back over the phone with a bomber pilot, John Morris OBE, and I’m trying to type it up for my website. He mentions that he went to a conversion unit where he flew Stirlings, at a place near Newmarket, in Cambridgeshire. The name he says is something like ‘Redding Common’, or ‘Reading Commmon’, or perhaps ‘Radding Common’. I cannot find it on a modern map. Does anyone know the exact spelling of this station’s name, where it was in relation to Newmarket, and what the heavy conversion unit was flying Stirlings on that base please?
Also he earlier flew Wellingtons at Upper Heyford in an OTU. Does anyone know the number of the OTU please?
The time period was approximately early 1944.
By: Quinny - 22nd October 2004 at 20:27
Try this,and zoom in/out accordingly,and also look on the aerial feature.
Ken.
By: Dave Barrell - 22nd October 2004 at 12:37
Yup, I live four miles from there, still quite a bit to see from the ground and in the air….
By: dhfan - 22nd October 2004 at 11:52
OOps! Sorry DHFan. I’ll try to be a little slower off the mark next time. 😀 😀 😀
BR
Laurie
I obviously need to keep my books nearer the computer. 😀
BTW, info from Action Stations 1 & 6.
By: Dave Homewood - 22nd October 2004 at 06:33
Ah-ha! Thanks guys, that’ll be the one then I guess. I never considered a word with a W. Great, cheers. Thanks too for the other OTU answer dhfan
By: lauriebe - 22nd October 2004 at 06:26
Wratting Common – 1651 Conversion Unit.
Bah! Laurie beat me.
OOps! Sorry DHFan. I’ll try to be a little slower off the mark next time. 😀 😀 😀
BR
Laurie
By: dhfan - 22nd October 2004 at 06:21
Wratting Common – 1651 Conversion Unit.
Bah! Laurie beat me.
Upper Heyford appears to have been 16 OTU.
By: lauriebe - 22nd October 2004 at 06:18
Dave,
What about Wratting Common, also known as West Wickham, I think. This about 10 miles ESE of Cambridge.
Not sure what units were there though. Will try to get some more info.
BR
Laurie.
By: Dave Homewood - 22nd October 2004 at 04:46
Thanks Canada TD, but I don’t think this is it. The words are clear on the tape and sound like ‘Redding Common’, definately ‘something’ common. It may well have been a wartime airfield that has been turned back into farmland and disappeared from the maps. Any further ideas?
By: Canada TD - 22nd October 2004 at 04:07
Rattinghall?
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October 22, 2004 at 3:35 am