Wattisham

If anyone is interested, I took a few photos of the site I asked about in my first post and they are here, http://www.airfields.fotopic.net/c1490911_1.html – I should add that I did ask if I could take photos and was told it was ok, there is a scaffolding firm there and someone else I think now, there was also an old caravan that looked like it was still lived in parked up behind the standby generator house.

Richard

Just to put the finishing touches to the Wattisham story. I was a National Service Airman Meteorologist there in the early 1950’s. The ATC tower was (in them days) not on ‘mains drainage’. We had Elsans on the ground floor (one for The Officers, and one for the NCOs/ORs – as one would expect!).
These were changed daily by a civilian employee who cycled out to the Tower with the “empties” hung over the handlebars of his bike. He removed the “used ones” by the same method! As he approached the Tower, early in the morning, he could be heard singing (very loudly!). He was known to all and sundry in the Tower as Elsan Neddy. Only those of you of mature years will get the play on words of the name of a crooner of (roughly) the same vintage!
Yrs Aye
Resmoroh

I had to post a comment here as Pete’s post brought back many fond memories. My father and I used to do the same in the late 80’s to early 90’s on hot summer afternoons. He used to put me on his shoulders so I could see better.

I get the same memories every time I look at the ex 74 squadron Phantom at Duxford.

Ahhhh such a shame it’s all a thing of the past.

This will make you smile.
When the great day was about to dawn and the last Phantoms were due to make a final farewell 9 ship, I phoned up the base to get some timings and was transferred to the crew room. I found myself talking to the flying CO, just back from a mission, can’t recall who it was, unfortunatley.
Lovely bloke, he suggested that if I really needed to be on base, he would meet me on the gate and give me passes, but suggested it would be better to view the whole thing from the fence, how right he was, an awesome day, never to be forgotten.

I had to post a comment here as Pete’s post brought back many fond memories. My father and I used to do the same in the late 80’s to early 90’s on hot summer afternoons. He used to put me on his shoulders so I could see better.

I get the same memories every time I look at the ex 74 squadron Phantom at Duxford.

Ahhhh such a shame it’s all a thing of the past.

Thanks for you help folks, much appreciated

Just an observation.
I used to park next to it and sit on the roof of the car when I went to watch the wind down and demise of the Phantom force in the early 90’s. I recall that this particular place was always a hive of activity in those days. If you see my videos of events from that period, there’s quite an amount of unusual interference on the pictures, which at the time I put down to the strength of the Wattisham radar, but who knows what this place had to do with it.

found it

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/w/wattisham_anglia_radar/index.html

Was at Wattisham 87-90 and I remember it. Seem to remember it was an old USAF Radar site before it went to Watton.

There is some info somewhere on the net about it and its rather basic accomdation. (Eastern Radar??) Closed down a while ago.

I think you are correct, I seem to recall the air traffic engineers going there a lot.

Hi folks

Does anyone have any idea what this area is at wattisham;
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.132259&lon=0.951827&z=18.2&r=0&src=msl
Looks like it was built on some old dispersals and must be post war.

Richard

I was based at Wattisham 1989-1990 & if memory serves me right it had somthing to do with communications at the time- but don’t quote me on it.