Waterbeach

[REF]

Hunter gate guard at Waterbeach - 7 October 2010

[WJT]

Some detail about the closure timescales is now being posted on the Key site:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=35758

Also information about disposal of the Hunter (owned by the IWM).

[REF]

I saw this on the ABCT website here:
http://www.abct.org.uk/news/fight-to...raf-waterbeach

Famous WW2 bomber airfield, RAF Waterbeach, near Cambridge, is scheduled to close with the transfer of a Royal Engineers' unit to Kinloss in northern Scotland. Following the move, there are plans for the creation of vast number of houses on the land. Locals are opposed both to the closure of the base, as well as the proposed housing scheme. The former airfield is still very visible with all types of buildings, which could easily have alternative uses. ABCT is doing everything possible to save this historic site.

Anyone know exactly what ABCT is doing???

[OliverM]

Hello all,

Hi there. So I finally got round to joining....

I've been a volunteer at RAF Waterbeach Museum at the Barracks since 2006. Shortly after I became the Hon Curator, taking over from a civilian member of 12 Engineer Group (Air Support) who are the brigade level RE unit running Waterbeach Station. He continued as OiC (officer in charge). I have no armed forces background, but I have worked in libraries and archives in Cambridge University, Middlesex University and local industry. Originally I trained in plant biology at university!

As you can imagine I had a steep learning curve, but had the advantage of access to the University Library in Cambridge. Soon after I met John Hamlin who lives locally. Together we published an updated version of John's 1987 booklet:

Hamlin, John F., with Oliver J. Merrington
At the 'Beach: the story of Royal Air Force Waterbeach and Waterbeach Barracks.
Peterborough: GMS Enterprises, 2011.
ISBN 1904514634
£9.95 from me, John or Graham.

And the year after the government announced that Waterbeach Barracks was to close in 2013 - see subsequent messages from me.
The Museum is closing too, at the end of September. If you would like to visit before then, see
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver....museum2012.pdf
Or you can get my email address & phone number from Richard F, Paul F or John H.

Richard & I are planning an article in a future issue of Airfield Review.

See also http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1866026

Best wishes,

Oliver

[OliverM]

End of an era....
Our Gate Guardian (Hunter WN 904) is to be removed by its owner, the IWM, on Thursday morning, 2 Aug.
Spectators welcome, please park on Waterbeach village green and walk up to the barracks. Myself & John Hamlin should be around.

WN 904 was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Coventry and delivered to the RAF in September 1954. Until sustaining severe damage in January 1956 it served with No 257 Squadron at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk. After repair by the manufacturer, it was stored until 1958. With maintenance number 7544M it then served as an instructional airframe at the RAF Melksham School of Technical Training. In 1974 the Ministry of Defence transferred the aircraft to the Imperial War Museum.
It not known where the IWM will display or store the aircraft after removal (and repainting, presumeably).

Oliver

[REF]

Some phtoos of the Hunter, taken yesterday, 1 August 2012.

[REF]

In addition to the phtoos of the Hunter above, tjis might be of interest.

Taken from the Cambridge News paper
Tuesday 10 July 2012

[OliverM]

Yes, I'm afraid I've switched off IM - I just don't have time at present.
As I said before you can get my email address from REF - or see the attached - not clickable to reduce spam. Attachment 9609

Visting the Museum is free of charge, please give at least 48hrs notice - however there may not always be someone available.

We are currently fundraising as the Museum has no money at all!
If you wish to see Hangars & Technical buildings a tour in my car will cost £10 per person and the visit must be on a weekday in the morning. Interiors might also be possible. Maximum of two people in each tour.
If you want see the runway or memorial garden (outside the fence) a tour in my car will also cost £10 per person and the visit must be at a weekend. Maximum of two people in each tour.
It is no longer possible to combine these two tours on the same day, as I have health problems.
Please bring cash as the museum has no bank account.
These tours are only possible in August or September 2012.

REF, Jason H & I will be posting photographs once these have been cleared by the Army.

Oliver

[OliverM]

Yes, the Hunter was removed today by IWM staff and taken by road with wings removed on a low loader to Sywell Aviation Museum. Photos to follow. It has been donated to Sywell so is no longer owned by IWM - it will be their first complete airframe. It should have been re-assembled at Sywell by the time you read this.

Oliver
RAF Waterbeach Museum

[REF]

For those interested in fighter pens, these links to the EH website shows photos of the cold war blast wall fighter pens that were built when the base was in use by fighter command;


EH ViewFinder records - blast walls

All Photographer: Steve Cole
Date Taken: 10 April 2000
Cold War project: a survey by RCHME/EH of the defence installations built in Britain between 1946 and 1989.

The blast walls of Pen 1, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the west.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113040

Blast walls of Pen 1, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the north-west.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113041

Blast walls of Pen 1, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the south-east.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113042

Blast wall of Pen 2, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the south-west.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113043

The west blast wall of Pen 3, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the north-west.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113044

Blast walls of Pen 3, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the north-west.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113045

The west blast wall of Pen 3, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the south-west.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113046

The east blast wall of Pen 3, an early 1950s fighter pen, from the north-west.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.o...spx?uid=113047