HMS Osprey was one of the Navy’s helicopter airfields. It closed in 1999. Most of the base has been demolished. An HM Coastguard heliport remains, as does the old main building. This contained the control tower, operations room, met office and communications centre. There are plans to turn this building into a hotel.
More info can be found on Wikipedia.
Inside was completely trashed – nothing much remains. Wires have been stripped and things have been smashed by vandals.
The main draw to visiting the building was the control tower at the top. The tower would’ve given marvellous views of the base.
This was the most interesting thing in the building – a map/diagram of the base as it was. You can see the helicopter landing pads, and one of shortest runways in England (229m apparently).
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great times with various mates too many to mention in the Mid Sixties Travellers Rest drink on the slate until payday
gutted to see the place in such a state. many fantastic memories of portland. days in the simulators, nights down the green shutters, vicky lodge and greasy spoon for mushroom burgers!
Made me smile. I could never get the knack of working the switchboard in thecontrol tower correctly, I know it resulted in a lot of frustrated callers : -)
As an aviation entheusiast I went to one Navy Air Day at Portland c 1994/6 with my wife and son in a buggy. Always thought it would be a bit small as an airshow but felt I had to make 1 visit to se at th helicopters. It was the best airshow I went to that year, highly enjoyable and I regretted not having been before.
I think I logged around 40 helicopters parked on th base, in maintenance hangers and in the flying display. Also sea harriers flew by and Navy helicopter and commando demo teams.
Prince Andrew was visiting and toured the stands and chatted to the Navy personnel and families. I got within 3 feet of him by accident next to some stall. plus there was a couple of RN Gun runs like at the Royal Tournament carrying Boer War guns over ‘brick’walls etc in a race.
I was astonished how much was packed into such a small space and how diferent and enjoyable the whole day was. I literally felt like someone invited to a [navy] family garden fete albeit with c 50 aircraft!
Shame the navy base had to close and that it’s now in such a state of disrepair.
[Basically ] All Navy Helicopters are now [shore] based at Culdrose in Cornwall.
Best wishes
Spent quite a few hours in the tower training to be a Local Controller.Hated every minute of it,hated the ATC side of being an AC.
Its still as shame looking at the state its in now….
Sorry to see yet another RNAS base go without anything being held for posterity.
The exception is memories, photos and stories of those who served.
Well done the NGO’s who attempt to save somthing of our proud heritage when it was a Great Britain…
Gutted to see this place in such a bad state, 87-89 in the airfield sickbay
I was at Portland from 1971 to 74 and worked in the AED. I could cry seeing all my memories of the Navy being destroyed. One consolation though, I have the lifebelt and stand “CAPTAIN OF THE BASE-PORTLAND which stood outside the captains house. Now sits proudly in my garden.Best wishes to all my old shipmates
based in HMS Osprey in the seventies working on FMG,Spent a month in barracks then B&B in Weymouth. As has been said,only memories left now.Happy Days lads and lassies.
AEW (bombhead) 1979 worked on wasps, very sad to see the base like this, happy memories including B&B weymouth, went back this year and all that remains is the new SAR building, old control tower and faded spots for 737 (Wessex 3), 703 829, difficult to believe how busy the station was looking at it now.
LAEM(M) 1983 Worked on Wasps (829) and Wessex 5 (772)
Had many happy days and nights here (Little Ship, Green Shutters)
Very sad that it is now gone.
I served at Osprey for 2 stints from 1966-1968 & 1970-71 as a Met observer. Fond memories. Its a crying shame to see it now.
I had a wonderful time when I visited Portland for 6 weeks at BOST in the late 80´s and early 90´s on the FGS “Rheinland-Pfalz” (4 times). I can still remember our shore leaves to HMS “Osprey”, The Green Shutter, Jolly Sailer, Little Ship, Victoria Hotel (Dorset Bikers) and of course The Greasy Spoon. Not to forget the Chinese Food salesman at the Q-Pier. We had a lot of fun together with our friends from the British Navy, drinking beer and playing darts or pool.
Yours sincerely
Ronny
SCPO GN (retired)
first draft after aircraft handler training at culdrose feb 1976, long hot summer , long walk to airfield from barracks if no bus , even longer going up incline rd,great time many memories .
Had a brill time at Portland, 829 Squad and SE section, happy days. Sad to see the place run down……