The airfield is next to the hq of 450 kenley air cadets. Syerston is currently a station in its own right, having previously been a satellite airfield of raf college cranwell. A group of males who all love lincolnshires aviation history. Anecdote from don henderson, one of the three crew involved. During the second world war, nearby syerston airfield was used for training raf bomber crews and as a base for wellington and lancaster bombers.
The print run ended in 1985 with many editions being donated to local town libraries in the waveney area. Initial plan was to do raf honiley, but we want to do that in winter. A few days later i got an email from a guy in the netherlands who was interested in ww2 crashes and he told me that a book existed about the former german airfield near venlo and in this book i could read more about the plane. Syerston is a small nottinghamshire parish about six miles southwest of newarkontrent, which is bisected by the a46 trunk road. Aircraft at syerston this website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. Raf stradishall in the second world war 19391945 the. Jim bentleys memoirs part 4 world war 2 thurgarton history.
Mess closed in 1970, and was used as an islamic school until 2007. Raf syerston is a royal air force station in the parish of flintham, near newark. Never in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few winston churchill 1942. Raf syerston flying club, raf syerston flying group in the 1957 the aeroplane directory, the r. Since january 2014, raf syerston has been the home to 2 fts hq, the raf central gliding. Initially wellington bombers used the airfield for flying practice, but occasionally supplying aircraft and crew for operational bombing raids. Keith sturt vulcan accident syerston 1958 page 2 pprune. The history of manston airfield site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916 it is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Origin of the name the domesday book of 1086 is the first record that mentions the village by name, where it is called elvestone, but soon afterwards there are other spellings, including eyieston. The airfield is situated between hoton, wymeswold and burton on the wolds, lying in the current district of charnwood. Rare gibson picture from raf syerston dambusters blog.
Within it you will find advice on their conservation and how you can contribute your knowledge to a growing body of knowledge on first and second world airfields. Shocking video shows avro vulcan vx770 disintegrating during. Airfield history with the outbreak of war in september 1939, one of the first priorities of the british high command was to secure the country against any invasion plans that hitler might already have. If you would like to send us a present, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. It contains 179 inhabitants in seventythree households 2011 which are almost all in a settlement to the east of the road. Years after swinderby and syerston and many of the fts were closed and sold, syerston is still active. History of raf madley madley communications centre. Raf syerston in the second world war, the wartime memories project. For statistics about syerston itself, go to units and statistics.
It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Raf syerston was an expansion scheme airfield located ten miles northeast of nottingham. This was the technical site of the airfield where essential maintenance was carried out. Readers can immerse themselves into a period of history that changed the world, a nation and a village. Raf syerston in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Whilst up in nottingham, me and a few friends decided to check out the old officers mess at syerston. This section is about the study and conservation of modern military airfields. One of the greatest changes in warfare during 20th century was the growth of military aviation. Airfield by jeanette ingold meet your next favorite book. Syerston airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Welcome to forces reunited the place where you can find information and friends from raf syerston we are the largest and fastest growing community of uk forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members.
The 1958 syerston avro vulcan crash was a military aviation accident that occurred in england on 20 september 1958 during an air show at raf syerston, nottinghamshire when a prototype avro vulcan bomber crashed. Media in category raf syerston the following 11 files are in this category, out of 11 total. At the foot of the memorial is inscribed the wartime quote commemorating the battle of britain. It seems that the pilot lost control after experiencing engine problems whilst trying to land in a strong crosswind the wellington crashed at 17.
Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of syerston airfield. Both aircraft operate at the same time using mirror circuits. True like many stations that closed its quarters fell into disuse and despair but latterly one could see creeping privatisation with. Mesc, raf book co bt madley madley, hereford, hr2 9nh. The book is entitled raf winthorpe the story of an airfield 1939 1959 and it is the story of raf winthorpe from its. The book is entitled raf winthorpe the story of an airfield 1939 1959 and it is the story of raf winthorpe from its beginnings to its demise as an raf station. Nov 29, 2015 raf syerston, newark upon trent, nottingham, united kingdom. Airfield explorers lincolnshire, gainsborough, united kingdom. Promoting the amateur sport of flying, we provide social facilities for our members, visitors and guests, as well as flying experiences and training operated. Egxy is a royal air force station in the parish of flintham, near newark, nottinghamshire. True like many stations that closed its quarters fell into disuse and despair but latterly one could see creeping privatisation with extensions, conservatories, gardens etc.
This will then be handed over, along with the digital files to russell strong, a freelance book layout designer i used on last post who used to work for midland publishing for years and still works on. Raf syerston newark upon trent, nottingham, united. Airfield is used by the air cadets central gliding school monday to friday operating the vigilant grob109 motor glider and the viking grob103 conventional glider. The shocking video in this post shows the tragic loss of avro vulcan vx770 at raf syerston in september 1958. Initially opened as a bomber command station in 1940 operating wellington, manchester and lancaster bombers. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. The briefing was for the pilot to fly over the airfield twice at 200300 ft 6090 m, flying at a speed of 250300 knots 460560 kmh. Flying started from the site in 1941 as raf edgehill. If you would like to buy the book the history of the madley airfield, written by fiona macklin, it is available from mesc for. Syerston was put on under care and maintenance from 1971 until it reopened in january 1975 for light aircraft and gliding operations. Raf kenley tribute in honour of all personnel who served here 19171959. Jul 09, 2019 the shocking video in this post shows the tragic loss of avro vulcan vx770 at raf syerston in september 1958.
After the germans had ringed nottingham with marker flares two raf planes from hucknall laid decoy flares over the vale of belvoir and so the main. Gb historical gis university of portsmouth, history of syerston, in newark and sherwood and nottinghamshire map and description, a vision of britain through time. The kart club shares the airfield with the present shenington gliding club. I was flying xp631 and was team leader of the raf syerston formation aerobatic team. All four crew on board and three people on the ground were killed. Each stations development, construction and operational history is detailed with war and contemporary aerial photographs. The watch office or control tower was demolished in 1946, the airfields runways were all taken up in the same year to clear the land back to agriculture. Apr 04, 2016 aircraft at syerston this website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. Raf wymeswold is a former royal air force station located 3. Raf syerston, newark upon trent, nottingham, united kingdom. The club and atc shared a good working relationship, but it would be this sharing arrangement that would eventually see the end of four counties at syerston. Raf air cadets, 2 flying training school, central gliding school, 644 volunteer gliding squadron. It was here that the watch office, t2 hangar, stores, armoury and many other buildings were situated.
The first post to mark the boundary of the building was positioned by the rafs air marshal stu atha on wednesday, august 23 rd. The 1st of september 2019 is the wartime memories projects 20th birthday. There was only one blitz on nottingham and that partially failed. It is undated, but must have been taken before 8 december 1942 as the central figure is gp capt augustus walker, co of raf syerston, who lost his right arm that day on his own airfield, trying to rake burning incendiaries from an aircraft which had somehow ignited. On 20 september 1958, a rolls royce test pilot was authorized to fly vx770 on an engine performance sortie with a fly past at raf syerston battle of britain at home display. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country.
Fenland aero club is the general aviation heartland of the lincolnshire fens, 10 miles to the south west of the wash, between peterborough and boston, close to the market town of spalding. Reforming in 1937 from b flight of 218 squadron as a heavy bomber squadron, it was redesignated as a group pool training squadron. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british flying. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. Screveton one and a half miles south of syerston airfield. It was used as a bomber base during the second world war. Egsg is an operational general aviation aerodrome in the epping forest district of essex, england, near the village of abridge. The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 01092011. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Noteworthy the vulcan had proved to be a very reliable aircraft, enjoying an excellent safety record, probably as a direct result of avros adherence to design simplicity and reliability. A memorial stone is situated near the entrance to the kart circuit. Raf syerston newark upon trent, nottingham, united kingdom. In 1933, beatty hangs out at the airport where her pilot father flies mail.