I remember it well, I think it traded under a couple of names in the 80’s. It was the only place that had a ‘rumours board’. the net and flight radar would have blown our minds back then. This was not related to the West Drayton shop, which is still there. I think ‘C5’ was buzdozed to build the current visitors centre area and offices?

I am heading to a customers of my work in Battersea then walk up to the river. I’m more interested in seeing it rather than photos. Shame the formation splits up early, would been much easier to go to Northolt or somewhere nearby.

Personally I would use it to portray the RAF from 1918-40. We have the WW1 exhibition so lets have the interwar period and the BofB? I would move over DH9a, Bulldog, Wallace, Hart’s, Gladiator, Tiger Moth, Lysander and Anson (fully assembled) to join the Sunderland. The other end would be ‘BofB lite’ with Mk1 Spit, Hurricane, Bolingbroke, BF109, JU87, He111, CR42 and JU88 . I think that might just fit in, if I had room I would bring back the vimy.

And there I was hopin g to see a fully restored, or atleast painted aircraft. They will have their hands full with that restoration .

The thing with ORB’s in general is that they are as only as good as the enthusiasm of the compiler. Some that I have read are meticulous in their recordings, and an amazing source of information. Others, particularly I find the RAF Regiment, and non operational squadrons, seemed to be filled out because they had to, rather than wanting to record history. I must way I do miss the microfilm files at the TNA as it was much easier to photograph the entire ORB.

Yes the Alcock & Brown statue is still at the visitors center. Never likes that extra deck in Longshots photo. It was built as extra capacity but you were out of luck with anything on 27R/09L as the newer T1 stands got in the way. By that time I had graduated to driving, and the delights of the perimeter roads like Cairns lane.

Great photo, assume it is 1955 as the Queens Building is still being finished? Spent so much of my youth on those roofs. Was so gutted then the QB roof closed in 1986, was just left with the T2 roof until that was also closed. Difficult to imagine today just how popular the QB was in the 70’s and 80’s.