Bitteswell

[Dave Smith]

I remember back in the 1970s when I was in ATC at Coventry Airport, visiting the tower at Bitteswell. The controllers were not exactly overworked and there were tomato plants growing in the windows!

Back in the 1950s, I can also remember seeing Lancaster testbed SW342, a Gannet etc parked by the road crossing from hangars to the airfield.

[MSgtWilliamsUSAFRet]

I was stationed at RAF Brungtingthorpe from 1959 thru 1962 when we returned the base to the RAF. I worked on the NW side of the Runway at B-thorpe and was frequently outside or in the USAF Control Tower. I often could see the Argosys taking off or landing at Bitteswell. The Argosys were such large aircraft, they appeared to be standing still at times.

The air traffic at Bitteswell and Bruntingthorpe were conflicting south of RAF Bruntingthorpe. The two control towers had a direct telephone line between them to cordinate all approaches and departures. Jack W

[Stuart Woodby Lodge]

Afternoon Steve,
I don'nt know if you can help me but the map you have shown of RAF Bitteswell is of interest to me, I own a small field next to the old airfield and it still has several Nissan hut bases on it, I would be intersted in any old photos that you might have of the area and any infomation on were I could get a copy of the Map,

Thanks Stuart

[stevie]

Here's a pic i took in 1999 of the last surviving Hangar complex to survive for some time after the rest of the site was basically wiped off the map. There were several other buildings surviving at the time including a water tower and i'll dig out the few pics i have and post them soon. Within the next couple of years these where also demolished and absolutely no trace survives today -


cheers
Steve

[norwichpaul]

Here are a few I took in the early 80s sorry they are very poor.

[norwichpaul]

Another

[stevie]

Here's a few more of my old Bitteswell pics. Excuse the picture quality as they were taken on a very cheap camera as the sun was setting. The colour ones were taken around 1999/2000 not too long before the last few remaining buildings were demolished. -



Peri track??, Hardstanding??? I can't remember now. All i do know is that it's defitnetly gone now! -






Cheers
Steve

[RICH5671]

Hi Stevie
My father was a fireman for British Aerospace at Bitteswell till it closed in the eighties. Certain ive seen some pics lying around of the airfield at mums house , will try and dig them out and post them on here , Also there is a small lane runs around airfield on thewest side, there are some kind of shelters in a farmers field along there
Rich

[woodstock]

I worked at Bitteswell from 1970 to 1976. I recently started to search for info on the Aerodrome and that is what brought me here. I have been harvesting images and info ( not for profit ) and have put a fair bit on a Facebook page called " Bitteswell " . Can I invite members to view this Facebook page and if you can add any images or further info , I would be most greatful. Having found so very little on the net , I felt there was real need to record this historic aerodrome, particularly as it has now perished for ever. My Father also worked for AWA at Baginton and at Bitteswell and I have a very interesting photgraphic archive of the days when he was based at RAF Sealand in Flintshire. There are some unique images, including the occasion when American transatlantic flyer, Wiley Post landed there. Paul.

[stevie]

Here's a few shots of Bitteswell sent to me by ARG member Nigel Bailey Underwood. Taken in the days when the place still looked like an airfield, which certainly couldn't be said of the site today -







Cheers
Steve