RAF Oakington closed many years ago – in 1999 to be precise. A year later the domestic areas were turned into a high security immigration reception centre.
The good news is that technical buildings such as boiler-rooms and hangars aren’t on the IRC site. The even better news is that there’s a car boot sale on this part of the site every weekend, making access really easy.
But now for some bad news. The whole site is to go to make way for a new Cambridge commuter town…
Hangars
There are four hangars on site – two J-types with curved rooves, and two T2 metal hangars.
I managed to get inside one of them. Despite being really empty, I was awestruck by it’s size. Things banging on the roof made it ever-so-slightly scary in there (pigeons? expanding metal in the heat?).
Water Tower / Boilers
There was a delightful brick water tower attatched to a boiler house. As with most places, the ladder had been cut off 
Inside the boiler house were, er, boilers…
A metal water tower was also there.
An office
A lot of the buildings were sealed up, but I managed to get into a few. The first seemed to be some sort of office/records building.
A stores building
The other seemed to be a stores building. It had ramps & bays for (un)loading vans
Other buildings etc
All locked up.
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Hi Ray. I do remember Stan Mc Cabe, I believe he was an eng man & I think I have a picture of us two standing in front of a T11 outside AFS.
I could have meet you when I collected a parachute to go on a meteor mk7 air test.
Rgrds John.
NO JOHN . WE WOULDNT HAVE MET THEN ,BECAUSE WHEN I ARRIVED THE STATION WAS ON STAND DOWN AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF VAMPIRE T 5s and T 11s THE STATION WOULD THEN BECOME No 5 FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL INSTEAD OF No 204 ADVANCED FLYING SCHOOL.REGARDS RAY.
HI JOHN , CORRECTION N0 206, ADVANCED FLYING SCHOOL,CHEERS.
May I wish DAB and all ex R.A.F. Oakington personnel and their families that have contributed to this great site, and a big Thank You to DAB for making it all possible.
A MERY CHRISTMAS !
Geordie
CHEERS GEORDIE.. HAVE A GOOD ONE .THE SITE WILL GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.TO ALL OAKS MEN ,A MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR ….. RAY
I came across the above excellent RAF Oakington features, in fact, I got John Bates to send an entry.
I was a Nat.Serviceman at RAF Waterbeach 1953/54 but cannot trace any similar ‘old comrades’ details for RAF Waterbeach. Can any ex Oakington serviceman advise me please if an identical site exists for RAF Waterbeach?
HI MICHAEL .IB WAS AT OAKINGTON IN 1954. I PLAYED RUGBY A FEW TIMES AT WATERBEACH .IT WAS WHILST PLAYING I MET A LAD FROM MY HOME TOWN. HIS NAME WAS TOM FOSTER . ALSO A LAD CALLED dinger BELL IN THE WATERBEACH SIDE WAS A FLIGHT LT SANDSTROM WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE GREAT BRITAIN HUNDRED METERS RELAY TEAM . NICKNAMED ..THE FLYING SQUAD ..THERE WAS ALSO A SOUTH AFRICAN .FLIGHT LT BERG. WHO PLAYED AT CENTRE, WE HAD MANY A ROUGH AND TUMBLE / HE WAS AS HARD AS NAILES BUT A GREAT CHAP . GREAT MEMORIES CHEERS RAY.
HI MICHAEL TYPE IN RAF WATERBEACH INFO. …
Ray,
A few very brief details :- in 1953 the Stn. Cdr. at RAF Waterbeach was Gp. Cptn. A.H. Donaldson; then Gp Cptn Bernard Chacksfield (later Air Vice Marshal Sir Bernard Chacksfield); Wg. Cdr. Flying – P.P.C. Barthropp (ex B of B hero); succeeded by Wg Cdr Giddings (Air Marshal Sir Michael Giddings); W/C George Morris, O.C.Tech. Wing. All the above officers have subsequently died. S/L ‘Twinkle’ Storey 56 Sqdn (Swift F1); Sqn. Ldr. ‘Fred’ Doherty (63 Sqn); Sqdn. Ldr. J.M. Dickie O.C. ATC. etc., etc.
Many more names events etc can be written about.
Whilst scanning, I came across your personal e-mail address.
Regards,
Michael McDonnell
INTERESTING MAIL MICHAEL.. CHEERS ..RAY
Hi, just found this site. My Dad – William D MacMonagle – was one of the many Americans who enlisted in the RCAF early 1941. He was posted to No. 7 Squadron, Oakington in July 1942. Several missions as second pilot. Sergeant MacMonagle became became first pilot/captain in August. Flew ~30 missions from there. He died many years ago, and my oldest brother and I are wondering if any archival still or motion pics around of the squadron? We have his flight logs and diaries. These guys were all such heroes! Pat patrick.macmonagle@ge.com
Pat
My grandfather would tell of a US pilot in 7 sqd who wore (his words) a six shooter and was known to carry out maouveres with the aircraft more suited to fighters. Not sure if that was your dad or someone he knew. Unfortunately my grandaftaher has passed away but I have a vague memory that the pilot was from texas.
Hi Ray – I was a pilot trainee on 104 course during the period you were at Oakington – you mentioned rugby – I also played for the station – whatever day was sports day we used to play other RAF stations – including Waterbeach but also the various colleges at Cambridge University. I remember once we went to RAF Halton for a game where their players looked and acted like giants – absolutely slaughtering us. I was a front row forward – they seemed to play rugby league rules while we were tamer RU players! wyder@dccnet.com
HI IAIN ,LOOK UP SOME OF MY POST ABOUT RUGBY AT OAKINGTON. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER NAMES .TALKING ABOUT PLAYING THE COLLEGES IN MY TIME WE PLAYED CORPUS CHRISTI,,QUEENS.EMANUEL CLARE,,JESUS AND ST JOHNS,.THE BEST WAS AFTER THE GAME WEDINED IN THE COLLEGE. THEN WE SPLIT UP TWO OR THREE OF US WOULD GO WITH ONE OFTHIER PLAYERS TO ONE OF THIER CLUBS FOR A FEW DRINKS ALL FREE. ONE OF THIER SPECIAL PUBS WAS ,,THE BUN SHOP..IN DOWNING ST . MANY GOOD MEMORIES OF THOSE MATCHES. BY THE WAY WE HAD FIVE RUGBY LEAGUE LADS IN THE SIDE SO WE ENGINEERED OUR PLAY AND MOVES ON THOSE LINES AND IT WORKED WELL FOR US. CHEERS RAY
HI RAY I READ YOUR COMMENTS WITH INTEREST AS I WAS AT OAKINGTON DURING 53/54 WHEN THEY CHANGED FROM METEORS TO VAMPIRES AND WAS IN G.BLOCK ROOM 7.I WAS AN ENGINEER IN THE WORKSHOPS WORKING WITH GROUND EQUIPMENT .I HAD A PAL CALLED [BUNNY] PALMER WHO WAS IN THE RUGBY TEAM I WONDER IF YOU MIGHT HAVE KNOWN HIM ,I WAS IN THE CAMPS TUG OF WAR TEAM.CHEERS PHIL.
HI PHIL. CANT BRING THAT NAME TO MIND .BEAR IN MIND I ONLY ARRIVED AT OAKINGTON IN MID FEBRUARY SO I ONLY WENT INTO THE TEAM AT THE LATTER END OF THE SEASON.IN ONE OFMY EARLIER POSTS I MENTIONED THE OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF THE RUGBY TEAM .THE RUGBY LEAGUE LADS IN THE TEAM WERE .MYSELF FROM ST HELENS,,BOB SHAW FROM SALFORD PTI.JOHN SCOTT FROM HULL .MICKSTEWART FROM LEEDS AND REG STEELE FROM BRADFORD,,. REGARDS .RAY
brings back a lot of happy times, at R.A.F.Oakington..I was there 1970-1975.jock from Edinburgh. I was rects/2line A Mech E..
Did we do an exchange posting. Were you on 111 Squadron at Wattisham but living in married quarters at Bassingbourne ?
Sorry Kevin my mistake, I remember you now. It was another Scots lad I did an exchange posting with from Wattisham.
HI KEVIN. NICE TO KNOW ANOTHER SATISFIED OAKINGTON RESIDENT . CHEERS RAY
Ray and Ramon – I was glad to see your posts – my Dad’s Jack Westwell, and he’s talked over the years about his time at Oakington – I’ll mention it to him, see if he remembers you.
Great site, but quite sad at the decay and impending development plans. Dad was based at Oak in the late sixties at the avionics bay and I have fond memories of snow white winters and long blue sky summers along with the late night drone of the Varsitys night flying, I also remember Mum coming back from RAFH Ely with a little bundle called brother Pete for my sister and I ! Also had great fun playing at the mushroom roofed Pillbox and learning to swim at the primary school outdoor pool. Good luck to the locals in documenting the military history of a once fine and freindly station.
Re Diana Post of 9/2/2010. Master Pilot Jack Westwell was my Meteor Instructor at RAF Strubby.in the mid-sixties. Tremendous character, marvellous QFI and great to know that he still around. Please give him my best wishes.
I spent 3 years at Oakington from 1967 to 1970, as a Cpl Airframe Fitter on Rects Flight. It was my best posting of all, a very happy Station. I remember Ed Walter, Engine Chief on Rects Flight, sad to hear of his passing, a very nice guy. “Idle Ed”, his nickname!
Ref the photo showing two hangars. The nearest, from the Varsity days was the SSF hangar (Scheduled Servicing Flight), the further one was Rectification Flight. Incidentally, the Varsity was never referred to as “The Pig”. That term applied to the Vickers Valletta navigation trainer, which had a row of astrodomes on top, resembling nipples. Looking at Oakington on Google Earth, the site looks substantially as I remember it, except that the runway has been torn up, and one of the tin hangars has gone, although it’s footprint is still visible. The image is dated March 2003, but all the trees visible seem to be in full leaf. Global warming?
Hi Ray, Back online, have recalled a few more names, Clerk of Works was Mr. Few could aways find him in the boiler room, Ivan ? (a scoucer) did a few 6pm parades and just laughed,great lad. another 2 camp boxers from the Equip/sect.Don&Roy,who I’m sure you will remember, Sporting Sammy from the Officers mess (my brother talks to horses) knew his racing, NAFFI wagon, Jeff & Irene correct me if I’m wrong, Longstanton stn. office Ken & Joyce, I think the Stn master was a Mr. Clarke.
HI GEORDIE.WANDERED WHWERE YOU HAD BEEN . .THOUGHT YOU HAD BEEN. POSTED TO AN RAF .STATION IN SOME FAR FLUNG AREA OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE . BUT GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE BACK WITH US ,RIGHT .DON AND ROY LONSDALE WERE TWO VERY GOOD LIGHT WEIGHT AND LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT BOXERS .GOOD MATES OF MINE YOU ARE SPOT ON WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE. INCIDENTLY GEORDIE .WHERE ARE YOU LIVING .?
My first posting from training as a Boy Entrant ( 49th Entry, RAF Cosford ) in late 1964 when it was 5FTS . I worked in GRSF in the tower and remember a civvie from Willingham, Stan Chamberlain. Stan helped me get my first motorbike, from a dealer in Huntingdon and I often wonder what became of him at cease of RAF flying operations. Does the ‘Black Bull’ pub still exist in Lonstanton? Fond memories, one day I hope to drive over to the area to relive part of my ‘Youf’!
Hi, I left a message a few months back and unfortunately I have not had any further feed back about my Dad Flt Ltd Colin Curtis who was stationed at Oakington from 1954 to 1956. I was born at the RAF Hospital in Ely in 1955. I wonder if anyone could tell me where the Officers Caravan Site was situated? I now live in Swavesey and often drive through Longstanton and Oakington and would love to be able to pin point exactly where we used to live. Fingers crossed someone will be able to give me some direction! I love reading the site.
Noticed the reference to Peter McCorkingdale. His son played Harry in the BBC series Casualty
HI, what a fascinating site. I am coming over from New Zealand in August to look at any WWII airfields and Oakington was used I understand as part of the photographic section in the the early 1940s. Can anyone tell me if there is any group or association that has information about that time?I want to go to the airfield and wander around I hope Ican do that. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Hi Ray, Living on Tynesides 1950/60s Costa del Sol the Scotchmans holiday resort.another name Mr Hardcastle a Geordie,No not the camp barber you were never in his chair long enough to get his name,Mr.Hardcastle used a pair of scissors mind you. Black Bull pub now a Chinese restaurant.I was only in two or three times.We would go to the Astra a few times but the only film that comes to mind is From Here to Eternity. Geordie
hi gerrdie good to here from you
HI GEORDIE YOU MENTION THE BLACK BULL .WELL I WAS IN THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES .BUT MOSTLY THE HOOPS OR THE GEORGE IN OAKINGTON VILLAGE WAS MY WATERING HOLE. HARDCASTLE DOESNT RING A BELL .DO YOU RECALL A SQD LDR TUNSTALL ;HE WAS DEPUTY CHIEF INSTRUCTOR ON N0 2 SQDN..THE FILM YOU TALK ABOUT .I SAW AT THE ODEON IN BLACKPOOL WHEN I WAS AT RAF WEETON ON TRADE TRAINING . BY THE WAY GEORDIE DID YOU MARRY A GIRL FROM LONG STANTON ? ANYWAY MATE KEEP POSTING CHEERS FOR NOW RAY
My Uncle, 171282 F/L William Ford Watson Porteous, DSO, DFM & Bar, took off from Oakington in Lancaster III JB653 (MG-R) on the night of 19 May 1944. He was the bomb aimer and the crew was tasked with bombing the marshalling yards at Le Mans, Sarthe, France. The pilot was S/L J.M. Dennis, DSO, DFC, who was the Deputy Master Bomber. My uncle and all the crew were lost. It was his 60th sortie. Also lost that night was the crew of ND845 (MG-C) piloted by the squadron commander W/C James Fraser Barron, DSO & Bar, DFC, DFM. Barron was on his 79th sortie and was flying as Master Bomber. All his crew were also lost. It is said by some that the two aircraft collided over the target, but I have yet to find a definitive primary source for this claim – that aircraft loss reports do not make any mention of a collision and the two aircraft came to rest separated by about two miles.
Hi, Ray, Mr.H (Fairly old as was a lot of the civillians)was the camp tailor came from W/Bay, didn’t like sewing your arm badges on,I didn’t know there were girls in Longstanton Ray,never went there on a nightime never got to Oakington village,my name always seemed to appear on a duty rosta to often,didn’t know any Officers in the Flying wing, Equip/sect. officers were Sq/ldr Scofield,F/Lt. Chapman P/o Lim, then P/o. Holliss,shortly before I Ieft we got a WRAF Officer no idea of her name or rank,often wondered if there were more followed after I left, Three weeks before demob the sect W/O Clarke came running Geordie you have got a posting to Washington,I thought the President wanted to have a chat and offer me a job in civvy street, Washington Hall Chorley C/Defence 2 weeks firefighting course,then back to Oakington for demob, recalled a year later to Morton in Marsh for a course on the Green Goddess’s. Then on standby for 10 years. Cheers for now Ray, Geordie
HI GEORDIE. NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU . THERE WAS A COUPLE OF GEORDIES THAT WERE MATES . GEORDIE HARKNESS AND GEORDIE CLIFF HOLIDAY, THERE WAS ANOTHER THAT I USED TO HAVE A DRINK DOWN THE HOOPS WITH JUST CANT REMEMBER HIS NAME,.HE WAS GOING OUT WITH A GIRL FROM THE VILLAGE CALLED KATH . PO ‘HOLLIS WAS OUR HOOKER IN THE RUGBY TEAM . I HAVE A TEAM PHOTO WITH HIM ON . THERE IS A COINCIDENCE I WENT TO THE LANCASHIRE FIRE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING BASE AT CHORLEY IN TH 1980s.. CHEERS FOR NOW .RAY.
hi, the guy you drank with, could have been geordie donnely went with a girl called kath who he married and still lives in longstanton knew him when i lived there still likes his pint/s
THINK YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD GEORDIE THE NAME RUNG A BELL .CHEERS, KEEP WELL .. RAY
I was stationed at Oakington in 1958, remaining there until posted in late 1959 to Christman Island. Station Commander at the time was Group Capt. Kirk and the Adjutant was a Wing Commander Worthington. Very happy memories of journeys in a Standard Vangard accompanied by attractive WRAF officer from accounts to collect weekly wages from bank in Cambridge armed only with pickaxe handle. Those were the days!
correction to former comment: Adjutant was not Worthington (then Provost Marshall) but Wg. Commander Lord.
Bought my first car from a member of the fire section while at Oakington – a Standard Flying 12. Many a trip into Cambridge and occasionally even as far as London via the old A10. If only on 48 hr pass, barely time for a pint before one had to start back. Only flying instructer I remember was an ex. 2nd ww Polish pilot Flt.Lt. Gratzigmuch revered by student pilots on Vampires then referred to as ‘flying coffins’ a reputation probably undeserved but derived from the fact that they were reputedly very unforgiving if you made an error.
HI JOHN WELCOME TO A GREAT SITE.NICE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH CHAPS FROM OAKINGTON. GOOD STORIES AND NOSTALGA. CHEERS RAY .
I remember dear old Oakington so well having spent 8 very happy years there, mainly in the Rectification Flight and the Hydraulic Bay. Should anyone wish to contact me I will be very pleased to hear from you. My regards and best wishes to you all
HI DAVE NICE TO HEAR ANOTHER OAKINGTON MAN WHEN WHERE YOU THERE ?
i was at Oakington as a engine mechanic on Vampires from1954 to 1955.Had my first flight ever in a T11 a night flight too.Had a great time at Oakington.Have fond memories of Cambridge.Got posted to Aden from Oakington,demobed in 1958.If anyone remembers me please get in touch. Brian (Joe) Seares.
i was at Oakington as a engine mechanic on Vampires from1954 to 1955.Had my first flight ever in a T11 a night flight too.Had a great time at Oakington.Have fond memories of Cambridge.Got posted to Aden from Oakington,demobed in 1958.If anyone remembers me please get in touch. Brian (Joe) Seares.
hi,my dad was in 206AFS, A flight,From 1951 sept to1953 june. he had a Flt/Sag Ginger later Master pilot my name is Ray Howe from Maidenhead does anyone, remember
Wow what memories. I was based at Oakington from Oct 1971 til 73. (SAC Paul (Alec) Buxton) It was a great station and as I remember it, the food in the airmens mess was the best of any station I was on. Loved the old Varsity’s. Real aeroplanes always have propellors ! Mind you it was a right pain cleaning off the oil and exhaust stains off the nacelles on the AF servicing as mentioned elsewhere !!
Names I remember,
Tony Dalby, Jim Gibbons, Nigel Hall, John Foster (Always had nice cars like Ford Capri’s !) Sgt John Bignall (met up with him again at Bae Hatfield) Sgt Mick Crier (A true gent) Identical twin JT’s from Scotland whose names I forget at the moment (gave me a lift to Northumberland once) I shall probably remember so many more after this.
Memories :-
Thursday night disco in the NAAFI (Remember seeing Eddystone Lighthouse once)
Drinking Guiness and Cider at the pub in Longstanton !
Duty Electrician (switching on the green flashing light by the bomb dump)
When the steak bar opened in the airmens mess !
Thats it for now, my brain will go into overdrive now trying to remember more names and memories !!!
Hi guys i was stationed at oakington 1952_1954 i was medic in station sick quarters
have left a couple of comments but as yet no one from s.s.q. has posted replies
as there so many bodies medics orderlies etc plus ambulance drivers one being zeke hosego ,am surprised not seen postings from any of the guys