RAF West Raynham is in Norfolk, near a town called Swaffham. It is seriously in the middle of nowhere, and was quite hard to find. It closed in 1994, and at the end of 2005 was put up for auction. There are loads of houses there and the local MP wants them to be used as residential housing again. This will be quite a task – 11 years of non-use have taken their toll.
I didn’t really look round the housing areas, instead concentrating my trip on the cool military stuff. That said, I didn’t manage to explore everything in the time I was there. There is a Bloodhound Missile launch site here (it was over the other side of the airfield) but I decided to leave when a scary dog started following me…
Control Towers
Two control towers are at RAF West Raynham. One is small…
The other one is a “Very Heavy Bomber Station Control Tower” (that means it’s quite big). It was one of only four built in the UK. One has been demolished, and the other two are at active RAF bases.
The windows in the observation area all had (place) names printed on them – presumably to identify directions. Or maybe the glazier was bored.
This control tower also has a fire station.
And some other bits in the building..
Hangars
There were four huge C-type hangars here. I didn’t go into any of them..
… but I did climb onto one though 
I must admit that it wasn’t the brightest thing I’ve ever done. Heights I can tolerate, but it’s the getting to the heights which is the problem – I’m not particularly good with ladders. Also, the walkways on the roof were stupidly rotten. Oh well, I’ve now been on the roof of a hanger. And the views were fantastic…
Missile Training Simulator
This a Rapier Missile Training Simulator. Thanks everyone who has told me this
This was a treat. I’ve never really seen one of these before, let alone been inside one. I thought it would just be a big round room inside. It was. But the thing that struck me was how echo-ey it was – a tiny crack of my knee joint reverberated around the room many times. Turn on my camera – click click click click click….. Awesome.
Water Towers
There are three water towers here, along with boiler rooms and stuff. It would’ve been possible to climb at least one, but I didn’t fancy it as the ladder was covered in pigeon crap.
Accomodation
I mentioned that I didn’t look at the housing areas – that is true. But there were a few accomodation/mess blocks – I had a quick look at these (not in them though).
Other buildings & bits
I had a look at a few other buildings, but couldn’t really get into many.
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Eric,
Is this a recording.
Oh alright then..I,ll talk about you then
There was this bloke called Pilcher Dundee who fought off 6 great whites with his billabong after his dingy capsized.He managed to throw his boomerang shoreward and it picked up a rope on the beach and brought it out to him………..After sitting on the beach boring a 100 surfers to death with his tale he set off with his faithful dingo to climb Ayers Rock before he had his barbie
A good tale is always hearing twice
**good**
With reference to Vic Tyrrell’s comments of 3rd January.
I was stationed at West Raynham as a national serviceman between 1958 to 1960 working on GCA. Therefore I saw many of the aircraft during that period.
I think the aerobatic pilot you refer to was FLT LT Goodwin, prior to arriving at Raynham he had been the top aerobatic pilot in 2nd TAF Germany.
Do you also remember the hunter pilot who didn’t take off and ending up in the mud at the end of the runway. When the recovery team tried to extract it, they pulled off the wings.
Regards,
Roy Briggs
Eric,
A billabong is not a man’s appendage. It is a water hole, swimming hole. Keep on taking what ever you are on.
Ken Tyrrell,
Just a little up date of my previous note to you.
The aerobatic pilot you referred to was FLT LT Ken Goodwin, he was apparently an excellent pilot and his career was very successful in that his final rank in the RAF was Air Commodore. I am reasonably sure that he wrote a book of his RAF experiences, but as yet, I haven’t discovered the title. I hope this helps with your memories.
Regards,
Roy Briggs
Hello Roy,I was stationed at West Raynham 1959-62,your name rings a bell,were you billeted with GEF and safety equipment bods.
Hello Bob,
Sorry I missed your note of July 9th. I was in billet number 37 which housed most of the signals section. The only way I got to know some of the other trades was through the station football team which I enjoyed from 1958 to 1960. I particularly recall a tall lad from the cookhouse who played during that time named Smith, he also played for Norwich City.
The other player I recall as I should do as he also came from Kettering His name was Barry Underwood and he worked in the Air Traffic Control . To be honest after over fifty years it is very difficult to remember names, if you have names that you think I may also know, I would be pleased to hear from you.
Regards,
Roy Briggs
Hi Roy,
I think I got it wrong, I wasn’t billeted with signals guys,
as you say remembering names from over 50 years ago
isn’t easy!Anyway all the best to you
Regards,
Bob Baxter.
Hi I was stationed @ W/R 1960-1962 and am reminded by Vic Tyrrells contribution that I was on duty (CRASH 3) on the day that “the fitter” sent the ejection seat through the javelin cockpit, the fitters name was Willdig, in S.S.Q we all heard the bang, and leapt to action stations expecting to be directed to an aircaft prang, but were directed to the hanger. I and Sgt Armes (did Whisky One mis-spell his name), along with medic Doug Aspel, arrived to find the casualty lying by the aircraft, with shocked “erks” standing around in dazed disbelief, the seat had sheared his face off completely. We took him to S.S.Q where he was attended by Flt Lt Ian Hourston, and then Sgt Armes and I took him to R.A.F.Ely hopital, hard to believe he survived, but he did, however I never saw him again and assumed he had been medically discharged.By the way Whiskyone, do you remember how the sarge dealt with boils?.We had good times, great memories, keep up the good work chaps Tony.
Dear Tony, I had left WR in 1958 and only knew Sgt Armes for some six months so I guess that the Grey Matter is deteriorating a bit by now. Never did need Sgt Armes services to cure a boil but I guess his method induced some pain. Vic Tyrrells mention of Bullards and Steward and Pattison and the Old Sampson and Hercules in Norwich brought back some splendid memories of carefree days when you could go out with a couple of Pounds in your pocket and have a great night. Fitter Willdig must have needed the skills of the surgeon at East Grinstead hospital, Sir Archibald MacIndo the WW2 skin graft specialist who saved many a pilot who had come down in a blazing aircraft cockpit. Although you never heard from him after the event I hope he was able to live an almost normal life despite such appalling injuries.
Best Wishes Cheers JOHN
Hello Whiskyone, Some revolutioary medical services were administered during my time at W/R. the treatment for boils( one never hears of or sees them anymore) was to wait for them to “ripen”, at which point Sgt Armes would imerse a whisky bottle in the sterilising bath, when judged hot enough the neck of the bottle was placed over the boil which then sucked it out cleanly amidst a lot of screaming and cussing. The other important medical attention, which was administered by S.M.O.Flt Lt Hourston, was the cure for demob party hangovers of which there were many, due to national service, The next morning we would stand in an orderly queue outside the operating theatre, and recieve a single gulp of neat oxygen -
it seemed to work!!! They were good times. Tony.
Dear Tony, Thanks for that. Certainly revolutionary.
As I expected it did involve pain but I have never heard of a hot whiskey bottle being used to such good effect. During square bashing in 1956 whilst at Bridgnorth I had a boil develop in my left stomach, right underneath my webbing belt. The Medical Officer used what was then a relatively new procedure, Sterile water into a sealed bottle containing an antibiotic. Resultant solution sucked into the syringe and , having a long, rather thick needle, threw it into my thigh, like a dart and then pumped in the solution to do its work. I had another two days of agony but after that it diminished quickly.
Had the oxygen treatment myself so can vouch for its success.
As you rightly say, Good Times which seemed carefree
and very happy unless you got posted to either Korea, Malaysia or Cyprus.
Keep your pecker up. Cheers JOHN
Whiskyone,Hi John,No I was posted to Gan in the Maldive Islands(well someone had to do it!!!) If interested go to Phil Smalls” R.A.F. Gan Remembered” site clic on photo galleries on the left hand side then scroll down to 1962 where you will find a contribution by me, and you my friend ,cheers Tony.
Dear Tony, Gan was a bit of a Gravy posting. You had good fortune to get there… well done. I, on the other hand, never left the U.K. Obviously no call for MTDH in Gan. Such is life. I’ll now have a peep at Phil Smalls site details and see what wall to wall sunshine is like. All the best and Cheers
JOHN
Dear Tony, Excellent photo’s. Liked the sunset one as I know how difficult it can be to get the right combination of time and aperture. Did you manage to get onto the reunion too in 2010? Had a peek too at some of the other contributions on the RAF GAN website.. Excellent archive to look back on. Notice too that there was a significant MT presence in the island. Perhaps there may have been a place for me had I stayed longer. All the best. JOHN
PS. You had a similar build to me when I joined the RAF in 1956. At 9 stone 10 lbs I was the original Charles Atlas weakling. After about the first year my mother did not recognise me when I got home for the first time, for I had put on a couple of stone.
Hello again Whiskyone,John, Yes Gan did turn out to be a “gravy” posting, but at the time everyone dreaded it. As it turned out, it was the experience of a lifetime,and one I have never forgotten. Although called up for N/S, I signed on for five years whilst at W/R., never regretted either of those, yeah it did make a man of me I took an aircraft refueller course ,and wound up refuelling Comets, Britannia`s etc., on “The Island”. I was 6ft-1 and weighed ten stone seven so don`t talk to me about having sand kicked in your face!!! You spoke about h/d , well the nicest wheeled vehicle I ever had the pleasure of driving ,was a “Tugmaster” aircraft towing tug. and the most difficult, a ten ton Leyland Hippo with a ten ton Hands trailer hooked up behind(no assisted steering or braking, and a crash gearbox, so double declutching only) . There would have been a place for you in “paradise” if good fortune had smiled upon you,of course we were there at the pioneering stage , so everything was very relaxed, I didn`t make the re-union last year `cos I am a relative newcomer to computers and did`nt know about it `till late on at approaching 72 I doubt I will make the next one in 2020 B.R.Tony
Dear Tony, Sorry to hear that you missed the 2010 reunion on Gan. Judging by the trip itinerary everyone had a great time. Never had the benefit of driving a Tugmaster always used the Land Rover as I recall, even for the Javelins. The contract to build Gan and its infrastructure must have been a superb deal for Costain. The pictures of the accommodation blocks look good and a great improvement of the old ‘H’ Blocks at WR. Although I never had any complaints with my billet in 101, I think.
Alll the best Cheers JOHN
my ol chap Ted ‘Hank’ Potton was stationed at Raynham in the late fifties early sixties as an Air Frame Fitter, well the old bugger turns 75 next year and i was wondering if there is any publication or memoirs or even anyone from that era who remembers him so i could surprise the ol sod.
There is a book called ‘Raynham Reflections’ by Wing Commander Taylor, which gives a brief history of the station. You need to keep checking ebay as they sell a copy now and again. There is also a thriving Facebook page (not allowed to do links) which contains quite a few photographs and a few memories. There are a series of photos on this page depicting an AOCs inspection from 1961(ish) He may be on it. email me for a link on apaullloyd at hotmail dot com
There currently a copy of Raynham Reflections for sale on ebay – 4 days left – £1.25
The camp was visited by the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret about 1948/1949.
I was about 7 and didnt really have the understanding at that time that the war had only just ended……I was more focussed on when I would go collect another parcel from my aunt and grandparents in Scotland.I can remember the Walls ice cream from the NAFFI and as i,ve said before,the small bakers van coming in each day with the lovely smell of fresh bread………….those things were a big deal for me at the time
Hi All
Sorry it’s been some time since I have posted on here.
Sadly Jo & I no longer live at WR.
We signed contracts at the beginning of March on a new house and a fresh start in Norwich.
Should anyone wish to contact us please feel free to call 01603 74 74 75 or email treetunnel at bt internet dot com (email addresses don’t work on here!).
Best Regards
Stuart May
never served at West Raynham in my 12 years in the RAF, left in 96, just wondering whats the situation with the camp now as i do a lot of photography and fancy getting up there to take some shots if there are still buildings to photograph
Adrian
adrian
the main camp is pretty much intact, you can get on the housing developments but the main camp is out of bounds unless you find nice man to have a chat with, even then they dont like you straying from the main road from parade sq to HQ, there are some private business’s using parts of the camp like stores
had a ride past the missile site today, all the buildings now gone and just piles of crushed bricks, most of the HAS shelters gone too bar one or two, fence is still there though (to keep the sheep in?)
plenty of sheep about and straw storage, I guess its good that some use is being made of it
Hello all and a very Happy Easter. Eric, hope the Hot Cross Buns smell nice.
Regards,
Robert Pilcher
Australia
hello all i was doing a bit of rerserch on the wr base and found this site
being only 17 i cannot remember and was not around when the base was in use but it has uterly fasinated me since i have lived near it since just after i was born.
would it be possible for some who were around when it was in use to get in touch as i would be fasinated to lern more about it and maybe evan get some photos of it in its prime of life rather than riding past on my bike looking at sheep haha
any help would be much apresheated
thankyou
jamie
There is a Facebook page Jamie with quite a few photos on – email me for a link, there is an address further up the page