Bovingdon

[Black Knight]

Thanx, don't know wot lamson tubes are & don't think anything was inside apart from trash. I only use iPhone & can't get pix uploaded from it.

[REF]

I'll see if I can dig out my photos from March 2009 and post them up to show you the Lamson tubes.

[SimonGee]

I was at Bovingdon doing an HGV training course in June 2010, and the Watch Office, the runways and peri tracks are about all that are left. A Sunday market is held there, but be warned, the landowners are a pretty belligerent pair who DON'T appreciate folk on the airfield without a very good reason - ! There are still some postwar metal landing light covers in situ if anyone is very fast with a spanner - !

[grahamluxton]

While on an ATC gliding course with the 613VGS at RAF Halton in '65/66 I did some gliding from Bovingdon on a couple of weekends due to Halton being waterlogged.
Being weekends it was a good oppertunity to see most, if not all, of the military aircraft based there and I was surprised at how many there were!

Sat 8 Jan'66 for example:
11 x Anson PH815, 858, TX154, 229, 230, VL337, VM332, 351, 394, VV297 and 958
5 x Pembroke WV701, 753, 754, XK884 and XL929
4 x Basset XS774, 775, 776, and 777
7 x Devon WB534, VP957, 960, 962, 967, 968 and 971
1 x Mosquito RS712
all were hangared except for VP968 which departed to White Waltham at approx 1130
Magister 308/TO FAF, French Air Attache London - dep approx 1115

GATBX Pacer also hangared

613VGS detachment:
2 x Sedbergh WB970(Abingdon loan?), XN149
2 x Cadet WT871, 901

hope its been of interest,
Graham

[canberra]

Those Ansons must surely have been the last ones in service?

[grahamluxton]

Those Ansons must surely have been the last ones in service?

Not quite but the writing was on the wall! I'm sure Anson experts out there will correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to remember they were still in service with the Western Comms Sqdn at Andover and the Northern Comms Sqdn at Topcliffe. Also, some RAF station flights were still operating them.

[wlindsay84]

Hi Folks,

I was wondering if anyone has any information on aircraft, Argus - 43-14485, this aircraft was assigned to the U.S. 8th Hq Squadron, at Bovingdon. At some point, it was handed over to the RAF and assigned the serial "HB612". After the war it was allocated the civilian registration G-AJSN, in the 60's or 70's, this aircraft was wrote off after breaking the main wing spar, during landing at Cork. Left in a barn for many years, this aircraft has now found it's way into the Ulster Aviation Society aircraft collection, at Long Kesh, where it awaits restoration.

I would be interested in any information on this aircraft's wartime history, many thanks.

Will

[MSgtWilliamsUSAFRet]

Charley Waitkus contacted me yesterday with a link for the making of the movie: "War Lover". I will post it below for those who are interested. The photos and narrative in the link are fascinating.


http://www.pbase.com/easystreet/notes_on_the_filming

Jack

[airfields man]

Hi Jack, Many thanks for that link, it's very good. I've got the book, War Lover, different cover to the one shown though.

[Bomber]

I agree with airfields man exollent . Must admit though i have never seen the film .
Regards ,
Bomber.