RAF Watton closed in 1991 and sold in 1998. The residential areas were sold for residential use; and most of the technical buildings have been demolished, ie control towers, water towers, boiler rooms etc.
Not much remains of the base when I visited – most of it had been demolished.
There were four hangars concrete C-Type hangars at Watton…
Hangar 1
This has been partly demolished. Just the roof remains…
Hangar 2
This is still complete, and full of dirt.
Hangar 3
This has been totally gutted, and the doors taken off. The offices on the airfield side have been demolished. Half of the ones on the other side are gone too. There are lots of red crosses painted on the side – I can only assume for drilling and filling with explosives…
Hangar 4
This hangar was full of diggers – presumably owned by the demolition contractors. The offices on the side are relatively un-interesting. But colourful.
The little building
The armoury was once here.
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Hi,i was in the mt section in the late 60s,loved the camp.made lots of friends,it was a great shame to see the old camp recently.i now live on the island of jersey,but do return to the uk,i do try and visit RAF watton when i can.i do intend to visit the camp. [ what is left of it ] can anyone please advise.do i need permission to take photographs inside the camp,and the runway.if so,from whom.many thanks.frankie dowse, [ scouse ] ex mtd;;;
Was at watton when the radar site was opened as a Tactrical Control Centre for 3 Bllodhound Mark 1 squadrons longe before it became Eatern Radar. Arrived in early 1960 finally left on wat to Lindholme via Locking in 1964.5. I do Remenber food in mess was about as good as you could get was fabulous and the Flying Fish was a must.
When I was in the CUOTC between 1997 and 2000, in the RAC Wing, was deployed to Watton airfield for SPringEx in 1999. All arms, and support from Royal Anglians, instructors from STANTA etc etc. Remember there was an NBC practise facility there and battle damaged Scout used for practise.
The airfield I believe is still owned by the MoD and under the control of the STANTA command staff as of today and used by Herky birds for touch and go as well as Joint Helicopter Command.
Cheers
Ian
I am 69 years old now and over my working career the best years of my life were spent at Watton, great shame to see its demise.
I go onto RAF at least one a week to explore what remains of it. Still trying to find a way into the underground hospital as it is known (probobly wasn’t a hospital). Anybody know how?
Went to raf watton in 1962 just before i left school at age of 16 as a cadet with 1860 sqd of atc hardly a day goes by, that i think of that very happy week i spent there at watton what a vibrant pace it was at height of cold war, with bloodhound missile in abundance plus link trainer etc and o f course flying in a varsity i think, memory not as good as it was.
We also did rifle shooting with .303 short lee enfield .
if anyone has photos of watton around that time i would be extremely gratefull for them.
happy days !
Lived at RAF Watton in ’69-71 on Trenchard Cresent. My dad was in the USAF attached to Eastern Radar. I have very fond memories of the place. Learning to drive on the runway. Went back in ’07. Caught up with old school friends and relived good times at the Thompson Chequers! Didn’t make it to the Flying Fish- is it still there?
Saw comment above from Richard Dunn. Your father replaced mine as the Liason Officer at Eastern Radar. Small world.
Was on exchange to 751 Radio Warfare Squadron from March 1956 until Sqdn. left for RNAS Culdrose. Returned to Canada in December 1957 & joined HMCS Bonaventure. Always remember the good times at Watton and the pleasure of riding a bike across the tarmac in the snow at Christmas 1956. Sorry to hear of station closure.
remember doing duty airman at Watton in the SHQ building in 87, a pimply 18 year old a/c mechanic sat on the pbx trying to patch calls through on an old switchboard, never got it right but you got free calls home to the folks at night when you were on your own and papping yourself in the dark on your own!!!!!!!.
My Dad Klaus Peter Twyford was stationed in RAF Watton for 8 years and he was an Air Traffic Controller. He passed away in March this year, if anyone has any memories of photos of him, please get in touch. My Dad loved working there.
Sorry I didn’t leave my details properly. I knew your dad and he was a good friend of mine
I have good and bad memories of Watton, my dad was based here late 70′s to early 80′s untill he took his own life on airfield, I used to visit as part of a memorial for him but now it feels i’ve lost him again :0( but it’s nice to see alot of pics of how it used to be on net still and that alot of people still have fond memories of RAF Watton
I was stationed there 1986/87 in the Airmans Mess as a cook.it was probably my happiest time in the RAF.it was far more relaxed than being at Honnington,where i was on detachment from.really great days.
I knew it was closed down,but wasn’t aware of what was left.Spent the weekend (26/27 sept 09) in Norwich (where we would often go to let it all hang out!)and was shocked to not really recognise anything of the old station…I was,and still am, upset. I was perked up later on though when we travelled down to RAF Barnham,where i also spent time there-she looked like i’d only just walked through the gates! Happy times there too,but RAF watton is the memory I always cherish.
I was stationed at the satalite for Watton Sheperds Grove as a group 2 aircraft electrician during 1949 and posted to Watton in1950 We mostly prefered the Grove being a smaller station with much less bull and a friendly atmosphere, but the permanent billets
were a nice change from the old nissen huts and outside wash places.we had there In charge
of the flight section[Lancs & Lincolns] were Chiefy Binns and Sgnt
Barnard. Corperal Patience i/c Electrical section Sheperds Grove is about to suffer an even worse fate with plans to turn part of it it to a waste disposal for the local council What a shame, I would be pleased to hear from anyone left who was around at that time.
I lived at 5 Northholt Road, RAF Watton, in the mid fifties. It was one of the most happiest times of my childhood. I was just 7 years old, when we moved into the quarters, which was originally named 192 AMQ. We had lived in the centre of Watton for a year, pior to moving onto the quarters. I was very sad to see what has happened to the camp.
I have just moved into one of the houses next to air field used to play up here when i was a child..
alot of people are having strange happnings in there house seems RAF watton will live on ………
Interesting and sometimes challenging times as a BT faultsman on RAF Watton in the late eighties,trying to maintain telephone service to the bomb dump,control tower and watch tower.Dave,the Warden always made a good cup of tea! Most of the cable network was original lead sheathed/paper insulated copper cable and past its best.On opening the junction cabinet near hanger 2,the contents would spill out at your feet! Happy days!
I used to live at Watton in the early 80′s.Was shocked to read the comment from Debbie(nee Heyes).Think I used to live a few doors up and remember the day a man flew out of the house,got in the car and drove up the airfield and committed suicide.I was only 6 at the time.My dad was in the Raf and worked at the camp.He passed away in 1988 but we always loved living there.
Fond memories of watton.my husband john sills worked at eastern radar during early eighties.love to hear from anybody there at the same time.
Lived there from August ’92 til Jan 94. Always remenber the day I met some American veterans who came back. Very interesting station, well haunted, and some fitting memorials to the Falklands in the middle of the Airfield were the small woods were planted. Ran round the peri track many a time. Shame to see it gone!
I lived at Watton from Nov 1971 till May 1973 then again in May 1974 till Oct 1974.. I spent my early married life there! we lived at 3 Cranwell Road where my eldest son was born in the front bedroom then we moved to 1 Hendon Avenue.. I loved Watton and made so many friends amongst the other wives and spent many a lovely evening in The Flying Fish.. If anyone remembers me pls get in touch.. My ex husbands Name was Alan Wickson and was stationed at the time at Honington as a ground electrician but we lived at Watton… my email is msgigi53@hotmail.com
i was a young airman on piston line (115sqd) from ’65 to 69 then onto cottesmore .i knew dave marshall, ref. november 2008 this scroll, all 6 and a half feet of him and if my memory serves me well he married carol, of carol and tina fame (best looking pair of wrafs for miles). great times and some great people.
would love to hear from anyone who knew me .
Lived at Boscombe road from about ’58 to ’61. My father was in the fire section. I remember the Christmas parties, very good.
I currently live in Watton. Im on the RAF a lot of the time and can get any pictures you require, not that there is much left. I know a lot of information about what is left of it and know where everything is/ was on there. Email me on g_pitt@hotmail.co.uk if you wish to know anything about its current status.
I spent 3 years National service at Watton. I was lucky enough to be housed on the HF transmitter site from 1950 until 1953.
There were just 3 of us living there. My duties were to service each day the VHF, Homer site (2 miles or so from the camp on the main road) plus also the control tower.
These were indeed very happy & friendly times. We were under the supervision pf Sgt. Frank Braithwaite
Working from this site meant that we had no daily work parades. This was limited to only a monthly toil!!
So sad to see the changes in the area. I was posted to RAF Watton in the mid 80′s as the clerk to the CO. I also moved into my first AMQ down Akrotiri Square. Remember Maid Marion shop. Loadsa fond memories.
My dad was posted there in the fifties.I was a 5-6 year old and lived in Hendon Ave.( I think)!
Posted to Kenya next but still remember the Beverley transport planes and going mushroom picking early morning.
I was stationed at Watton from April 55 till Feb 57 in the radio and telephone dept, nice memories,played cricket for the station , nice people and a great education about living. I have lived in Australia for last 35 years. Great memories. Still Flying Aircraft.
I was on 115 sqn 1967 to 1969, had a great time, probably the best Sqn I was on. Does anyone remember ‘greasy lils’ in Watton, late night drinking,gambling & steak & chips.
Worked on Argosy, Varsity & “IRIS” Hastings. Always remember Hastings farewell, when it low levelled right along Canberra line. Also the day when the fire engine had a brake fire attending a brake fire on a 115 aircraft. There was also a nice little shop that did bacon rolls outside the bak gate at 115 site.