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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I was posted there twice. 1983 to 1989 on Electronic Servicing Flight (known in the Raynham News as Eminently Superior Flight) in No3 Hangar. After a short stint on 25Sqn at Wyton came back onto 85Sqn A flt in 1990 and was on Orange section until the demise of Bloodhound. I remember plenty of parties in the SAS club (I was a barman and club comitte member too) as well as the Kesterel Club. I also remember returning the Gp Cpt’s hat, star plate and flag the morning after the 85Sqn all ranks dining out night only to sneak back after dark with Cath Kelly (now Gillespie) and re-aquire the plate and Flag.
1988-1990,raynham was a bit of a dumping ground for fmn waiting to finnish thier time,high light of the week fire picket training,high light of the year,atc camp bringing some airplanes,all in all,a good posting,everyone know everyone and the rocks kept to themselfs.
greyhound every wednesday nite,manhattons everyweekend, the joy of wages being beer chits,and not mortage payments!
I was stationed here for 3 years 1963-66, Technical Wing, Photographer.
During this time # 1 and 54 Sqns, Hawker Hunters, were there. Also the tripartate Kestrel Sqn, P1127
RAF, West Germany and USA interests.
I have many happy memories of the area.
Regards,
Rob Pilcher,
South Australia
I arrived at Raynham in 65, air traffic control, the picture of the desk in the tower very nearly brought a tear , I spent 5 yrs sitting at it ,getting more paranoid of the crash phone by the day. The places on the windows were for crash directions, the picture of buttons is the airfield lighting board,which I used on a daily bases. What memoirs thanks. I was also on the full bore rifle team, the bos was Ron Mahendran(FT/L) I’d like to hear from anyone who was in air traffic with me
I was there from 1966 to 1969 on 41 sqdn (Bloodhound) after spending 6 years at Northcotes on 17JSTU. I lived at Sculthorpe in one of the American bungalows. So sad to see what has become of the place, it was a great posting.
I’d really like to use the dome for a fashion photoshoot- does anyone know who I would need to get in touch with? Can you email me at cat@cat-watson.com if anyone knows. Thank you
Cat xxx
After 55 years it was nice to see someone else who was stationed at WR at the same time, 51-54.I worked in R&I(later ASF)as AF Mech. Don’t remember John Weatherley or Albert Salter, but recall all the aircraft and events mentioned by John.Remember Prince Phillip learning to fly,the Fighter Command Convention.The blue Meteor that held the world speed record now resides at Tangmere in their museum.Also had wonderful time filling sandbags in Kings Lynn during 53 floods. Now live Wales and have thought of going back for a look but would probably saddened.
Nice to hear, keep the memories coming.
Regards. Tony Bates. basher@994.eclipse.co.uk
Just back from a visit to Norfolk, where a visit to Raynham had to be made. Posted there from basic training at Hereford April 61. The old contol tower was our office, Technical Contol Section. I can remember having to change the runway number boards on the roof, very pleasant in the middle of a Norfolk winter. The hut beside the tower was built in 1962 and became our new office. The Central Fighter Establishment was based there, DFCS, AWFCS, IRS, with their Hunter Mk 6 & 7 Javelin Mk 5 and 3. The unit was commanded by an Air Commodore. 85 Squadron aslo resided there with Javelin Mk8. The village pubs in Hellhoughton and Raynham are no more, have become private dwellings. The old place is in sad repair, nothing stays the same for ever, but iam glad i have been back after 47 years, left for Cyprus May 63, another story.
the missile training dome i recall driving around some backroads in Norfolk and coming across one just at the side of the road, had me baffled ever since so good to find out what it actually was
RAF Newton (Nottinghamshire) has a near identical water tower i climbed earlier in the week, at the top is a large air raid siren would be intresting to see if the one here still has the siren intact
Re last comment, Dr Watts [Prof]
You are correct. The Luftwaffe pilot who could be responsible for this came to West Raynham as a senior officer with the tripartite P1127 Kestrel Squadron, later called the Harrier. See my comments, stationed there 1963-66, submitted 29 May 2008. I think that he was in command of the West German Luftwaffe contingent, the other two being the RAF and the USA, USAF, US Navy and Marine Corp. When he arrived he addressed the Squadron and said how nice it was to be back at West Raynham on the ground as the last time in WW2 he attacked the airfield.This hanger # 1 was actually used by the tripartite squadron.
I was stationed at West Rayham 1970 to 1972. Worked in the PBX Telephone exchange.with Gerry Elwood, Dave Troddin, and others names escape me sorry. My JNCO was CPL Tony Chappel, Visited W,R, two years ago but security guy would’nt let me in. Funny I used to be on guard duty guarding the place myself once. I may take another look in 2009. 100 and 85 Canberra Squadrons arrived in 71 bringing the station back to an operational state. whilst there made loads of mates one sticks out a guy called Ken Faulkner we went on the pop one weekend in Fanenham and drove back to camp in a borrowed mini sadly Ken lost control as we approached the Airmens Restaurant and we mounted the steps and demolished a large plant pot on the left hand side of the steps. A lot of investigating went on by the SNCO I/C the mess but we were never found out untill now.
Confession is good for the soul.
anyone reading this and recognises me do give me a ring on 07831610363.
does anyone remember vernon john gridley
known as john gridley.would have been 75
if alive today
Just revisited the site. To maurice saltmarsh (awfcs) I was on dfcs and think the pub was called “The Bull”,this was the small one round the corner from the main square that the Yanks didn’t use.I found it was a chinese takaway last time I visited Fakenham. I used to walk back to camp after many ales from there.Never realised it was 6 miles!! Used to go to dances in Dereham on Saturdays.Boxed for Fighter Command at Sculthorpe and beay the Yanks.
Happy days.
i was at raynham from 1955 to 1956 a/f mech working on hunters dfls hanger 4, while i was there we had 8 planes take off the fog came down so could not land 6 landed at marham and 2 ran out of fuel and crashed one of the pilots lost his life very sad,but still have happy memories,i met my wife at one of the camp dances sadly she died in 1996, it would be nice to hear from any one from that time,
Arrived at WR late 1954 until Sept 1955 . One of several Armourers with nobody to shoot , bomb or blow up . Spent most of the time announcing for Radio CFE , playing in the station band (Drum , bugle and bagpipes , don’t ask) and running the cub scout group.One mate built a car in the armoury.
Other layabouts were Stan “Max” Bacon , Jock Brown , Cpl.Alex Cuthbert , Denis “Hutch” Hutchinson , Jim Jose , “Lofty Lister”,Dave Longley ,
“Swede” Mason , Roland “Met” Metcalfe , Pat Nightingale , Jack Stone and Des Tanner .Fellow presenters at Radio CFE were Dave Russell and Tony Gorner. We lived in block 100 .Tony is the only one who I am still in contact with . Anybody out there ? Where did all the years go .
Ben Chamley J/T and Acting Corporal (Unpaid) , Mum always said I would go far !