Comments on: HMS Osprey / RNAS Portland – Dorset

By: Peter Neal

Peter Neal — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:07:55 +0000

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.

By: Alan Renwick

Alan Renwick — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:05:00 +0000

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.

By: Bruce Fawcett

Bruce Fawcett — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:43:12 +0000

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

By: James ATTENBOROUGH

James ATTENBOROUGH — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:45:30 +0000

Gutted to see this place in such a bad state, 87-89 in the airfield sickbay

By: Richard W. Fyfe

Richard W. Fyfe — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:40:51 +0000

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…

By: Steve McClements (Clem)

Steve McClements (Clem) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:04:22 +0000

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….

By: Jim Shine

Jim Shine — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:49:38 +0000

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

By: Stephen Charles Bethell

Stephen Charles Bethell — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:46:40 +0000

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 : -)

By: a castell

a castell — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:15:07 +0000

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!

By: hamilton rice lam a/e l/f/976154

hamilton rice lam a/e l/f/976154 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:43:10 +0000

great times with various mates too many to mention in the Mid Sixties Travellers Rest drink on the slate until payday