Raf oakington oakington will always be the spiritual home of 7 squadron yet the squadron was based there only from october 1940 to july 1945 but being unique in bomber command having been based at the same station throughout its world war ii operational career. A vital part was played by the royal air force and their other support establishments during the second world war, especially those fighter and bomber bases located throughout norfolk. A 52 page document detailing the history of john blairs raf service from 1942 to 1963, and his childhood in jamaica. Just 38 minutes later the lancaster appeared through cloud and entered a high speed dive crashing into the ground at 11. Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. Texel 626 raf bomber squadron at raf wickenby during world. Explore this photo album by chris england on flickr.
You are reading an archived forum thread from the old dcboard software titled. I had been with the flight only fortysix days but already three out of the other seven crews had perished. This page was last edited on february 2019, at 07. I am looking for information on the mission which 7 squadron would have participated in on 26 may 1943. The wartime memories project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Raf mildenhall was established in 1934, however people living in the area had long been accustomed to the sight of aircraft in the skies overhead. After the war, the base became home to a variety of training and transport facilities before becoming an army barracks for the royal anglia regiment. Ap2782d raf radio vehicles in use from 1956 approx ap2782e book 1 raf mt prime movers in use post 1973 approx ap2782e book 2 raf mt trailers in use post 1973 approx marine craft. To use this banner, please see the full instructions. Aug 23, 2006 raf oakington closed many years ago in 1999 to be precise.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. He was shipped to england and joined 7 squadron pathfinders raf bomber command based at oakington, 4 miles north of cambridge, england. This article has been rated as startclass on the quality assessment scale. Most of them date from the second world war but there are some from the 1920s and 1930s and a few from the first world war. Raf oakington project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Word processed history by barry blunt 321pp, privately published of no 571 squadron, no 8 group bomber command april 1944 september 1945 while they were based at raf oakington, cambridgeshire flying mosquito mk xvi bomber aircraft, including monthly details of the squadrons activities, anecdotes about the air crews and ground crew, a list of squadron commanders, descriptions of the minelayi. What follows is only a representative selection of the available reading on the subject of cambridgeshire and its aviation heritage. May 10, 2005 raf commands the place for raf researchers. Having miraculously survived their first tour of duty, during which dad and charlie sergeant were awarded the dfm, most of the crew volunteered to go directly on to a second tour, this time in the elite pathfinder force. An updated short history of the raf regiment from 1942 to 1982 with a brief account of the approach to the problems of airfield defence in the royal air force from 1918 until the formation of its own defence corps in 1942. No 62 operational training unit 15 jul 1943 6 jun 1945 durham university air sqn 25 mar 31 dec 1944, sep 1946 2 feb 1949, 15 oct 1957 1 aug 1963 no 1508 gee training flt 24 jun 8 aug 1944 no 80 french operational training unit jul 1945 8 mar 1946 no 22 service flying training school 31 may 1946 feb 1948. This is a book that must be read by anybody seriously interested in our aviation history he really does spill the beans and then some. H dring for allowing me to use material from his fathers mr. Raf oakington was a bomber command base during ww2, sited 5 miles nw of cambridge and housing blenheims, stirlings and lancasters, plus a few spitfires.
After reforming in september, the squadron moved to france in april 1915 immediately joining the second battle of ypres. The vulcans were hastily modified for airtoair refuelling duties for these raids. There is also a book containing the war stories behind the tombstones of many of the graves. At oakington 7 squadron, which was being reequipped with lancasters to replace the stirling, was joined by 627 squadron formed with the mosquito. Former fighter pilot michael napiers the royal air force, a centenary of operations shows how aircraft became a formidable part of uk defences. He reported to 101 squadron at raf oakington near cambridge. As joe patient dfc quotes in his most excellent book pilot. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. Ap3036 raf plant equipment used by the raf airfield construction service and for airfield maintenance. Today, waddington is one of the rafs busiest operational airfields and its squadrons and personnel are involved in supporting operations all around the world. The orbs, in series air 27, were created to provide a complete record of a unit from the time of its formation.
Although we have not yet confirmed that 7 squadron was in. Back to albums list raf oakington 1967 show more 2 photos 49 views. First flew on operations with 90 squadron before being selected for pathfinder training on the stirling bomber with 7 squadron. During the 1950s raf oakington was an advanced flying training school, no. Courtesy of new zealand bomber command associationcraw the newly installed jet clock in the control tower at oakington, 1957. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our po box as packages are not accepted. Raf oakington was an expansion period aerodrome constructed in 1939 and placed under bomber command during world war ii. From 1950 it was part of training command before being transferred to the army in 1975 and then used as an immigration reception centre between 1999 and 2010.
Raf marham the operational history by delve ken abebooks. The crew had recently returned from a 3 week leave having completed 35 operations. Royal air force oakington or more simply raf oakington is a royal air force station located north of. Welcome to forces reunited the place where you can find information and friends from raf oakington we are the largest and fastest growing community of uk forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members. Raf marham the operational history of britains frontline base from 1916 to the presnt day by delve, ken and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jul 08, 2014 raf oakington, cambridge, cambridgeshire. June 23 1942 saw them posted to 7 sqn, at raf oakington. Operational use started in july 1940 when it was used for 218 squadron 2 group, which had recently returned from france, with the first offensive operation in august 1940. Members of no 7 squadron at oakington during the second world war. Many people new to the subject have become interested because of a family connection they are researching. In september 1940 oakington became part of 3 group when it was chosen as the base for the first stirling squadron 7 squadron. Cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail further reading. Raf oakington, in 1942 written by emden operation dad wrote a book of stirlings and stalags. Operational history 1916 to 2019 published by the marham aviation heritage centre with all profits going to support the work of the ahc.
The crew with johnny boden, the pilot, in the centre, at 7 squadron, flying for the pathfinders. Raf regiment books raf regiment association official. This grainy image from wartime footage shows churchill at oakington in 1942. Taking off from raf oakington in cambridgeshire at about 10. Raf oakington in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. The base contracted after the war, and much evidence of its former presence is visible in farmland surrounding the current. He was stationed at raf penhold, raf hatfield, raf prestwick, raf dishforth, raf. Courtesy of new zealand bomber command associationcraw the newly installed jet clock in the control tower at oakington. Oakington immigration reception centre was a uk home office immigration detention centre located in cambridgeshire, england. Introductory note says it was based on a taped interview with john blair by his nephew in 1997. Raf airfields in norfolk during the second world war. The following comes from the air britain series of books.
No sooner had no 7 squadron formed at farnborough on 1 may 1914, when it was disbanded to bring other squadrons up to strength. Raf waddington provided the vulcans for the black buck raids that bombed port stanley. In 1943 archies plane, an avro lancaster serial no jb 303, nickname freddie, was on a bombing raid targeting berlin, germany. No 7 was the first squadron to received the first of the rafs fourengined heavy bombers, the stirling in 1940, but serious problems meant that operational sorties could not be carried out until february 1941 when the squadron attacked oil storage tanks at rotterdam. A year later the domestic areas were turned into a high security immigration reception centre. On his third mission on the evening of 20th january 1942, the wellington in which he was the second pilot was shot down.
Pilots flying log book for a e edmunds, covering the period from 18 august 1941 to 4 october 1945. Oakington airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Oakington mt 1960 barry lafberry royal land rover 55 aa 89 1960 barry lafberry sick quarters 1960 barry lafberry. There were one passenger and five crew members on board. On arrival they were al billeted in rooms big enough for three crews. Raf oakington cambridge, cambridgeshire military base.
This article is within the scope of the military history wikiproject. Each book includes an accurate record of operations carried out by the unit. X9752 214sqn crashed 1m sw of oakington, engine cut on ferry flight and crashed in forced landing. A brief history of raf mildenhall i am indebted to mr. Record details for robert george thorne raf oakington. The design was derived from the avro lancaster heavy bomber, several sections of the york and lancaster being identical. The crew had formed whilst training with 12 otu operational training unit based at chipping norden, england. Raf oakington in the second world war 19391945 the. Eight cantilevered pillboxes at the former raf oakington. Dring book entitled a history of raf mildenhall in this account. The stirling taxiing in the background has a 7 squadron identification code of mg. Churchill at oakington, 1942 raf pathfinders archive. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Originally a world war ii airfield, raf oakington, during the war it was used for short stirling bomber forces, as well as other assorted units.
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