Welford

[NJD]

MEMORIALS AT WELFORD. Dug these photos out. What is known as the Welford memorial, to theTroop Carrier Group that flew from here in WW2. Also the Parachute Regiment Association, West Berkshire branch, to all those Airborne Forces who left the Newbury area in 1944. The Association wanted their memorial in a central park in Newbury but Newbury Council said no as the park was a dedicated "Peace" park !! Probably wouldn't have been if it hadn't have been for the brave para's from the US and GB. Political correctness, I hate it !
The other memorial is to the crew of a 101 Sqn. Lancaster that crashed at Welford after being badly shot up over enemy territory. They made it home but the A/C fell out of the sky on approach and the entire crew died. It was an "ABC" Lanc with eight on board.
101 Sqn. attend the memorial each year. Photo is of the 101 Sqn. Colour Party followed by the USAF Honor Guard and of the ceremony. We did have a low flypast by a 101Sqn. VC10 on one occasion. It came across the valley and over the memorial site pulled the nose up and gave it full welly ! Those four Conways certainly loosened the ear wax ! Wonderful !

There is another memorial here but I can't find the photo just yet. They are all situated in the Welford Memorial Garden adjacent to "Ammo Alley", close to the road that runs past the base. Easy to climb over the wooden fence for photographs but it would be prudent to inform the security police at the main gate first.

[Another Number]

Anyone know which buildings this article is referring to? Be good if they were recorded properly before demolition starts.....

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2013/d...t-raf-welford?

[tigger]

Anyone know which buildings this article is referring to? Be good if they were recorded properly before demolition starts.....

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2013/d...t-raf-welford?

Planning application is online but doesn't give much information:
http://publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk...=MF6MXORD0E700

[StuartBr]

Full details are here
http://planning.westberks.gov.uk/rpp...=12/03051/DEMO

EDIT: Tigger replied while I was researching an answer
The plan is not that revealing, but the PDF "Note from Sarah Orr re site" has some interesting general context

[superplum]

Planning application is online but doesn't give much information:
http://publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk...=MF6MXORD0E700

Perhaps I can add a little. The bldgs listed do not (my opinion) appear to be significant as such. The Nissen huts are of various dimensions with some being used for minor explosives storage up until the late 90s. Others were used for general storage etc. These are easily seen on GE Bldgs 523-529 are “standard 2-bay pyrotechnic stores and, were similarly used for minor explosives again until the late 90s. Bdg 912 is a USAF constructed Entry Control point, which also contained a small arms store, and is immediately adjacent to explosives storage (not good!) – it has been out of use for a few decades and is in a very dilapidated condition. Bldg 530 (“T-Type Hangar”) is the northern hangar and has been modified to provide dual-door access for transportation trucks for blocking and bracing of loads (largely redundant thro’ containerisation. Bldg 769 (BRP) is a USAF-built facility for automated refurbishment of iron bombs and is redundant. Its effluent was considered to be an environmental no-no and it was taken out of use c20 yrs ago.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Where is the Squash Court (Raquet Ball) building. The original WW2 structure or a USAF construction?

[superplum]

Where is the Squash Court (Raquet Ball) building. The original WW2 structure or a USAF construction?

Squash.jpg

Not your typical Squash Court and unsure of age.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks, looks like a WW2 original.

[tigger]

Thanks, looks like a WW2 original.

According to the notes in the planning application it's "post war generic type"

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks, I can't seem to get GE for Android on my tablet so had to look at WTP that zooms up fuzzy.