Was there in 1973..like most Airfields now. They are closed down and built on. Nearly all the RAF camp/airfields I served in are gone. All that is left are memories.
Went through Swinderby April - May 1990. We were in Manser block and I think our instructors were Sgt Kelk and Cpl Wilkinson. Remember bed packs and shoes going through windows. Happy days.
Was there in 1968 for basic training, I'll never forget Sgt Hyrons he had a big handlebar moustache, could hear him from one side of the parade to the other. Our barrack block was the shape of a letter H and the floor, goodness know how much floor polish we must have used on that, everything shined, we used metal polish on the window panes and cloth pads for our feet. Went from there to RAF Catterick for training into the RAF Regiment.
I walked through the gates of RAF Swinderby almost exactly 30 years ago today. To be honest I enjoyed it. Our Sergeant dicip was called Dave Grainger but we called him Grave Danger 😀.
I was there in 1979 for basic training and then 10 years later living in the Officers Mess. Amazing how similar most camps were back in those days. H blocks, Sgt's Mess and Officers mess all built to the same plan. I understand that there is now a village where the residential site was.
All familiar. Was there from July 84. You have a mix of the origonal War time bomber base and across the road what became the recruit training accomodation. We used both sides during the 6 week basic training. Would march from accomomodation side to airfield side for drill and weapons training with the Rock Apes. Great days. An England long gone. 1980s great times. UK now a crock of shit by comparison
124th Entry apprentices arrived there mid October 1974. After a couple of nights in one of the H blocks they were transferred to the first of the 'new blocks' to be completed. I believe there were two at that time and it was the one furthest from the NAAFI ( I think that was the one you show first). It seems sad that it has all gone as it was the place of so many memories, good and bad, for so many people. Thank you for this record Graham.
I am Ex Army and i joined at dover in 1975 Old Park Barracks I visited in 1991 when it was closed down there is something special about the empty old places stories lives who have served empty rooms which will hold lots of secrets its all very sad
Graham….. Thank you for the memories, I started my basic training 20th Febuary 1968, and was billited in the green Nissan huts….. I became a Supplier2 and served for nine years…… I still parade with other veterans(I am now 78) Proud to have served…… Per Ardua Ad Astra!
Hello Peter…. All of my service was in the Uk, after basic and trade training I was posted to RAF Hullavington in Wiltshire, where I met and married my wife…. I was ordered to go see a Gp Capt Bannister at RAF Wroughton hospital, he told me that because my wife had had a brain operation before I met her(I knew about it) He was restricting my postings to U.K. only….. no overseas tours. After serving three years at Hullavington, I served six years at RAF Brize Norton, where I was demobbed in Feb 1977(9 years service) Australia…. Eleven hours ahead of U.K. time….. My elder brother married and Australian girl and settled in Tasmania in 1951…. He died in March this year from Covid, he was 92. Take care Peter, stay safe. Don.🙂
I was there in October/November 1974 11 flight did my pass out parade in one of those hangers due to it being a rather wet day, pictures bring back many great memories
Joined in March 80. Got told I was too deaf to stay in, let alone be assistant air traffic as my trade. Spent 2 weeks of utter misery, waiting to be discharged. Long story short, they saw something in me and I finally left the mob 11 years later as a cpl p and a clerk. Very mixed feelings about Swinderby but sad it went by the wayside like so much of the RAF. Thanks for posting.
I joined in March 80 too. The 19th. 6 flight Cpl Cato (who later turned up at Henlow as a Sgt while I was there) and Sgt Jackson. Did you incur the wrath of FS Grindrod? He was enough to make anyone soil themselves! Ah memories!
I did my basic here in 1976 it breaks my heart that this place has been bulldozed to build MORE homes for immigrants to live it up! I hated it at the time but I joined up as a 16 year old wimp and it made a man of me! I miss my time in the RAF and have lost so many mates as we get older - I would do it all again in a heartbeat 'for Queen and Country' I signed up. But I cant stand Charlie boy king🤬 But if it all kicked off into WW3 I would still step up for my country even though im an old git now! So many of the bases I served at are now fields or bloody houses.
My Lord what a reminder of my 8 weeks stuck there from the 4th Jan to March 1971. It was a cold wet & snowy winter. The H blocks where we stayed had highly polished floors & I think 18 man rooms. Nisan hats were used for classroom training & we paraded outside the hangers unless it was really wet then we got to go inside them. Med centre for jabs, mess for eating some really crap food. BUT we survived & I moved on to RAF Hereford for Supply training, got married at the easter brake & moved my wife to Tweksbury to stay for a few weeks with my sister & Army hubby before getting posted to RAF Kinloss. Next posting was RAF Oakington (5 FTS) Cambridge for a year where we lived at RAF Duxford. 3 years at RAF Laarbruch then a return to Scotland & RAF Lossiemouth until 4th Janh 1986. While there I had the n"privilege" of getting posted to RAF Gibraltar for 5 weeks with 226OCU when they took their turn at "guarding" the place with 2 Jaguars supplied by RAF Coltishall.
Started recruit training there in December 1972, Cpl Jack and Sgt Chester were our instructors. Remember it being cold and foggy most of the time. Went to RAF Cosford for trade training, was a doddle after Swinderby!
Many thanks for the slideshow. Commenced my basic training there in December 79 was in the modern barracks . Great to have all those memories especially camp in two feet of snow in Lincolnshire in the middle of January
Did basic in 1972 at Swinders. Then 4 S of TT St Athan (Squiper). After that, Hullavington Parachute Servicing Flight, (bag bay), lived in Westland Block and had an old Suzuki 250. Then to Lossiemouth Brake Parachute Bay (Jaguar OTU), and then over to 202 Sqd Search and Rescue with the old Whirlwind. Every weekend at the RAFGSA Gliding Club at Milltown and then Kinloss. Did my Silver C Gliding Certificate at Milltown and Aboyne. Loved the K8 and the Pilatus B4. Nickname 'Braindamage'. I'm now a retired pensioner with a bus pass living in Carlisle....back where I started.
Hello MM , my first permanent station was Hullavington, 68-71, as a supplier, married a local girl from Hullavinton Village, her Mum(Pat Baron) worked behind the bar in the NAAFI, I think it was called the WYVERN club, between the airmen’s mess and the cinema, private cars were parked outside the Wyvern on the edge of the parade square…..so many unforgettable memories…. I’m 78 now!
I was there 49 years ago (1972)! Went back yesterday for a look and there is just one building left on the tech site-in front of the entrance with SHQ on the right and the guardroom on the left-not sure what it was. Everything has been demolished and many large warehouses have gone up. As for the domestic site, everything has gone and a new village, Witham St Hughes, built in its place. The airfield is also being dug up for gravel extraction. All a bit sad, but inevitable I guess.
I reported there for basic training on February 1st, 1972, got back flighted (can’t remember why) for two weeks, then it was off to St Athan for trade training.
@@blackboardbloke i got back flighted too .. despite my best efforts to keep my swinderby basic training together it kept comming apart .i hope the PT instructors who wiped out any chance of me ever getting to a passing out parade are buried there ..kudos bro .
Hi and thanks for sharing! I was there in March 1977! I really enjoyed your pictures but sad at the dereliction. Just think of the memories that remain there! So sad to see it as it is now! I was hoping to see the old gas chamber building but saw my old accommodation block ( Tedder ). Thanks again, I have subscribed and look forward to seeing others!
Went through in 77, then straight to Halton. Sad to see it like this, but thank you so much for triggering so many memories. Like the guy sez: “They were the best of times and the worst of times…” I would do it again like a shot, I suspect many of us would.
Wish this was still open when I joined in 2000 was about a 45 minute drive from my house. Ended up at halton train to London underground tube to Marylebone Station and train to Aylesbury nightmare first day loved it after that though.
Was there Nov 84.Cpl Rowe and Sgt Harris.18Flight.Hated it from start to finish.Then to Hereford Holiday Camp for Supplier training then 9 years at Kinloss.Easiest shift of my life!.
my great uncle took off from this base at 2320 on the 25th of June 1942 he was the radio operator in L7289 a 50 squadron avro manchester part of the 3rd of the 1000 bomber raids, it was a raid on the focke wulf works at Bremen. After bombing the target they were shot down by flack and crashed at Grambe north west of Bremen at 0225/0227, there were no survivors. I suppose Swinderbys claim to fame was it was home to the last avro manchester lost on operations.
@@moodyguymick he was a snowdrop sgt , had a to do with an officer type , fistys, dropped to cpl. he kept on till 22,just everyone hated hime but couldnt get rid . i missed his intake by one week .
March to April 1980. I was fortunate enough to be in one of the newer barrack blocks. Carpets. Luxury! As to the mess, I remember the terrible food. They had contract caterers who served up the cheapest food they could to make the most profit. For some reason there was ravioli included with every other meal. I think they must have bought a load of tins cheap. I never touched ravioli again! The hangars - all I remember was drill in wet weather. Despite all this I have many happy memories of the place.
We had to watch all those movies about "nuclear warfare", "R&I" etc. That's what it was used for when I did my bashing there. The building was built as the "Station workshops", not sure when it was converted.
I was there in September 1983. Being ex Army they made me deputy senior man, had my own room. I was a runner in those days so had an afternoon off to run in RAF road relays. Had the recruits up about 0500 every morning, don't they were too impressed. I'm 62 now but still recall happy days especially at BZN and JOC Maastricht.
Don't you mean REVALLY, REVALLY THE TIME IS O6.15 HOURS EACH MORNING THAT CAME ACROSS THE TANNOY. AND LIGHTS OUT AT 11.PM APART FROM WEEK ENDS. I WAS 18 FLIGHT BACK IN 1978. R.A.F. SWINDERBY.
I was there in October - December 1990. So sad to see it all gone now, replaced by houses on one side, and what look to be various warehouses and industrial units on the Guardroom side of the road. Can't believe it was 31 years ago...I clearly remember my first night there!
I know, criminal really. Shame they could not have saved perhaps one building and had it as a heritage site with perhaps a small archive. However, these building schemes seem to get away with organising a small memorial. This has hapened at countless sites throughout the country. Quite pathetc in some ways when you think of the amazing history. Trouble is, there are just so many abandoned airfields and other stations.
Nice video and memories from 52 years ago. Baker Carr Block 12 Flight. Glad I’m at this end of my life, what a shit hole this country is now compared then. “Wheels down and flaps down coming in to land, can’t see the runway for all the effing sand........can’t remember the rest🙄. Blessings to all ex RAF.
Started my six weeks basic training here in October 1973...(5 Flight)...was with a great bunch of lads and we all managed to put a positive to anything or just make a joke of it...(not even the gas chamber could dampen our enthusiasm!...lol)...and before we knew it the six weeks was up and we were passing out...I only have good memories of the old place...That was the beginning of what eventually turned into an eleven year career as an RAF Firefighter.....
Favourite memory from weapon training, " McConnell what is the purpose of the flash eliminator"... "Gets rid of the smoke Corporal " December 1978.Cheshire block.
November 17, 1976 we drove through the gates of Swinditz in a RAF 37 seater coach. I had a reasonable time there, looking through the comments I remember the name of Sgt Skinner. We were billeted in No 3 block, it's in the photos, thank you Graham, would have liked to see the dreaded gas chamber and the tree, which we had to run to afterwards, to rid ourselves of as much CS gas as possible. The food was good as I recall, mind you at the end of a days training, I'd have eaten a scabby dog.
No, I can't say I do, we had Sgt Kelk and Cpl Wilkinson, who were brilliant, but she had a bite like an Alsation if you pissed her off . My time at Swinderby was a blur, to be honest. I remember the Aero runs and that cold wind in your face as everywhere was flat, getting kit and uniform ready for inspections thinking yes, that looks great only seeing them thrown through the air along with several others in our room, the joys 😂 I left the RAF in 2007, loved my time, and met some crazy characters on the way, but I wouldn't change a thing
I’m sure that the morale of today’s airforce personnel will be lifted by that. All together now...”It’s time for national service, lads, so get some in...Dee dum Dee dum Dee dum dum Dee dum, so get some in....”
I had a long think about your comment. You are of course quite correct. There is so much to be proud of today in our military. However timescale does play a part in the way we perceive it. When I was in the RAF in the 70's, it could not have been the same as it was in the 40's or 50's. Still so proud of our history etc. Nearly all our planes were designed and made here. Even in the 70's this was still the case. I can only think of the F4 that was not british. Now, it is a struggle to think of modern "British" aircraft, save for the colaborations. I think also in the 70's we had well over 120,000 in the RAF. This has dwindled significantly. We now only have 3 dedicated fighter stations. Squadrons disbanded, stations closed and a massive shrinkage all round. I think there is less to be proud of but it is all relative in time. I still think our Air Force is the best in the world but you have to take into account the size of the force. Foreign equipment being bought at the expense of indiginous projects, politics. All these things play a part in it. I think our history is incomparable but our present day and future are both up for debate. You are still correct, lots to be proud of!
@@GrahamInnes1 Thanks for your comment and yes I agree the RAF had to change and evolve with the times. With modern technology etc and most if not all our planes pointing east to Russia. We now have no major threat except the middle east and that is almost finished. I just reflect back when bases where full of people and planes great days Naffi bop etc. Just wonder what its like today. I'm sure there are still some great people in the RAF. Yes we must adapt and evolve with an ever changing world. Thanks.
Was there in 1988. Remember the sick bay building. A bad strain of flu swept RAF Swinderby. Missed my passing out parade was too ill. Still passed out but in a bed lol
Also there in June 75 - in Gibson Block, one of the new ones. Luckily I dont remember much of the place other then the block, the NAAFI and some of the blokes. I was stunned, though to see how old the place was and that most of the buildings were still camouflaged from WW2. The real pity, to me, would have been demolishing the still functioning WW2 Control Tower :-(
March 1979 for 8 weeks ? Gibson block . Sgt lusty was our SNOC .spent 1 week running round at a camp near Catterick as part of recruit training . Then St Athan , Newton , Scampton, Aldergrove . All passed into history.
I did basic training there in November 1974 . I would love to know what happened to the Canberra bomber that was in the drill hanger ?. When they closed the base ?.
Great video. It seems to me that at Swinderby and perhaps at other dsiused RAF stations there is a wealtH of potential good living accomoation which could be refurbished to house our homeless who sleep in the streets. With such places as this, FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER MY ORIGINAL COMMENT HAS BEEN CHOPPED TO JUST WHAT IS SHOWN ABOVE.
Many old stations have indeed been used as temporary housing. Also many quarters have been sold on to the public. Unfortunately, in many cases the old camp is worth more as building land. So more money can be made by bulldozing and building new houses or industry or a mix.
Know where you are coming from mate, I was there in 79 and like Scampton it was good enough for our boys but not good enough for some of the arrivals ???
I worked in HQ 1961-63 my office the bit on the left was the general office and my desk was in front left ground floor. The other windows on the ground floor were mainly the officers offices with the station adjutant last right and the CO next to him. The civilian gardeners had a little outhouse behind this building and one young lad was found dead in there having suffered brain injury from boxing the night before, quite a shock. I loved my time there. I was chosen by the CO'S wife to sing for the officer' s passing out church service after she heard me singing with a group singing carols around married quarters collecting for Oxfam, she invited us into her house for a drink and snacks and unfortunately I dropped tomato dip on the upholstery of her bar stool, I did'nt have the nerve to own up. Group cpt & Mrs Bretherton, lovely people long since gone. Is it possible to obtain stills of some of these images?
Pat, email me on gijock@btinternet.com I will then have your email address to send you the jpegs for you to print. Let me know the shots you want. I am on holiday and will be able to sort it in a couple of weeks.
Hi Graham, I thought your name looked familiar. I was at Swinderby in 1975 too and went to Shawbury afterwards , I have a feeling we were on the same AATC course? Got a course photo somewhere..
A couple of small points. The two storey ‘Armoury’ building shown was the RAF Regiment headquarters and the Armoury was the single storey part of the building. The cinema (I believe) was built as a cinema. The smaller part of the building to the left were the general workshops. I started my career there and ended it there 12 years later.
Yes, as a historian and taking the details from the original site plan, I have only shown the original design use.The workshops building was originaly built and designed as the station workshops. It was a fairly standard design used at many expansion period stations. The Armoury is a standard building of the period and often had a photographic section incorporated. The buildings in some cases were used for various purposes over the years. This is explained in the description.
Was there in 1974 no.1 flight, sad to see this, it's a crying shame our governments of all spectrums have depleted our Air force, when I was in it was quite large now it's history
Yes apart from a couple of hangars down by the main road and the Battle HQ. There may be a handful of smaller ruins. Shame, its all house and industrial now.
I walked through the gates of R.A.F Swinderby in October 1976 into Gibson block and left 3years later from R.A.F Hullavington it was the biggest mistake i made in my life and i have never lived down that mistake as it was discharge by purchase [ broken promise ] i support the R.A.F now through R,A,F,A & R.A.F. B/FUND.
It is definately not for everyone but I personally loved it. I only left because I could earn more, doing the same job for the Civil Aviation Authority.
Hi John, i was at Swindy Sept- Oct 1980, 15 flight number 1 block, Manser, cpl weeks & sgt lillywhite, they were good days, hard but we all passed, i left from RAF Lossiemouth 8 years later, and have regretted that decision every single day since then. I thought the grass was greener on the outside, how wrong i was. If there ever is a magical way to go back in time, i would & sign on for the entire 22 years, that would be fine by me.
@TheCaptain64 2 Flight, Ground Floor, Gibson Block next to the Mess and the Naffi. Flight Commander was a Flying Officer Short if memory serves. 9 Flight on the middle floor and 3 Flight on the top. Rock instructors of note who did those 3 flights were a Cpl Irving and Cpl Andy "You horrible Individual" Taylor. I was there on the 83/84 intake,
@@GrahamInnes1 As with all the expansion period airfields it will have had a specific use, if I can find out which letter identifier the build from Laing's had I'd probably be able to find out..
did my six weeks there, jc smith and sgnt skinner, sgnt skinner ended up disip on X1 his face hit the floor when he saw me , the way we dressed on the line was not exactly R A F standard. Date i was swindids 1/7 75
I was there in 1982 I think. A very depressing place, even though can remember little of it. I can remember Cpl Grey (at least he didn't punch us and make us eat soap like some of the other new recruits). I think it was assumed then that unless you were commissioned you were judged to be sub-human scum! I really hope things have changed now. It's also a little known fact that some of the scenes in Full Metal Jacket were filmed there.
Was there in 1973..like most Airfields now. They are closed down and built on. Nearly all the RAF camp/airfields I served in are gone. All that is left are memories.
I know the feeling! Same for me.
And everything you worked on is in a museum, don't half make you feel old!
Roly ex balloonie, lives in Folkstone?, Steve Boniface here, Bones, married Shell Hullavington
There is only two camps left that i served at one is RAF High Wycome and the other is RAF Brize Norton and that is UK and overseas. 😔
All of Mine are re purposed or closed,
St Mawgan,Kinloss, Wainfleet range,Lyneham.
Always used to fall asleep in the cinema during Padres hour, being the good chap and knowing how tired we were he was never bothered by it.
Went through Swinderby April - May 1990.
We were in Manser block and I think our instructors were Sgt Kelk and Cpl Wilkinson. Remember bed packs and shoes going through windows.
Happy days.
You started as I finished, I was there late Feb to early April 1990. Do you remember Sgt Amanda Farrah? Fearsome woman!! I
Was there in 1968 for basic training, I'll never forget Sgt Hyrons he had a big handlebar moustache, could hear him from one side of the parade to the other.
Our barrack block was the shape of a letter H and the floor, goodness know how much floor polish we must have used on that, everything shined, we used metal polish on the window panes and cloth pads for our feet. Went from there to RAF Catterick for training into the RAF Regiment.
Sgt Hyrons was our DI in 72.
@@tonyb2614 wow sure is a small world.
I walked through the gates of RAF Swinderby almost exactly 30 years ago today. To be honest I enjoyed it. Our Sergeant dicip was called Dave Grainger but we called him Grave Danger 😀.
I love that!
I walked the gates in 1978. and RETIRED 30 years later and Never looked back.
Just wish I could do it again.
@@maljohn6584 ... '78 for me too ... 28th March through until 10th May ... 18Flt/2 Sqn.
@@maljohn6584 i do not think i could get through swinderby basic training again at my age .. love to have the uniform back
Dave Grainger was my Sgt too, in 87.
I was there September,1970 for basic training 8 weeks in total then on to Coningsby and finally Waddington great times and great memories.
I was there in 1979 for basic training and then 10 years later living in the Officers Mess. Amazing how similar most camps were back in those days. H blocks, Sgt's Mess and Officers mess all built to the same plan. I understand that there is now a village where the residential site was.
All familiar. Was there from July 84. You have a mix of the origonal War time bomber base and across the road what became the recruit training accomodation. We used both sides during the 6 week basic training. Would march from accomomodation side to airfield side for drill and weapons training with the Rock Apes. Great days. An England long gone. 1980s great times. UK now a crock of shit by comparison
I was there on 2nd January 1968 for my 6 weeks basic training-What memories this video brought back.
124th Entry apprentices arrived there mid October 1974. After a couple of nights in one of the H blocks they were transferred to the first of the 'new blocks' to be completed. I believe there were two at that time and it was the one furthest from the NAAFI ( I think that was the one you show first). It seems sad that it has all gone as it was the place of so many memories, good and bad, for so many people. Thank you for this record Graham.
I am Ex Army and i joined at dover in 1975 Old Park Barracks I visited in 1991 when it was closed down there is something special about the empty old places stories lives who have served empty rooms which will hold lots of secrets its all very sad
Graham….. Thank you for the memories, I started my basic training 20th Febuary 1968, and was billited in the green Nissan huts….. I became a Supplier2 and served for nine years…… I still parade with other veterans(I am now 78)
Proud to have served…… Per Ardua Ad Astra!
I salute you my friend. Keep up the good work!
October 1969. Baker Carr and 12 Flt with Sgt Wilson and Cpl Sievwright. It never leaves you does it?👍
Hello Peter…. All of my service was in the Uk, after basic and trade training I was posted to RAF Hullavington in Wiltshire, where I met and married my wife…. I was ordered to go see a Gp Capt Bannister at RAF Wroughton hospital, he told me that because my wife had had a brain operation before I met her(I knew about it)
He was restricting my postings to U.K. only….. no overseas tours.
After serving three years at Hullavington, I served six years at RAF Brize Norton, where I was demobbed in Feb 1977(9 years service)
Australia…. Eleven hours ahead of U.K. time….. My elder brother married and Australian girl and settled in Tasmania in 1951…. He died in March this year from Covid, he was 92.
Take care Peter, stay safe.
Don.🙂
My father was a Regiment instructor at this time, fortunately he'd left by the time I joined but still met people who knew him.
I was there in October/November 1974 11 flight did my pass out parade in one of those hangers due to it being a rather wet day, pictures bring back many great memories
Joined in March 80. Got told I was too deaf to stay in, let alone be assistant air traffic as my trade. Spent 2 weeks of utter misery, waiting to be discharged. Long story short, they saw something in me and I finally left the mob 11 years later as a cpl p and a clerk. Very mixed feelings about Swinderby but sad it went by the wayside like so much of the RAF. Thanks for posting.
Yes, I was AATC (1975) after Shawbury, Leeming then Border Radar, then CAA/NATS
I joined in March 80 too. The 19th. 6 flight Cpl Cato (who later turned up at Henlow as a Sgt while I was there) and Sgt Jackson. Did you incur the wrath of FS Grindrod? He was enough to make anyone soil themselves! Ah memories!
I did my basic here in 1976 it breaks my heart that this place has been bulldozed to build MORE homes for immigrants to live it up! I hated it at the time but I joined up as a 16 year old wimp and it made a man of me! I miss my time in the RAF and have lost so many mates as we get older - I would do it all again in a heartbeat 'for Queen and Country' I signed up. But I cant stand Charlie boy king🤬 But if it all kicked off into WW3 I would still step up for my country even though im an old git now! So many of the bases I served at are now fields or bloody houses.
I'm with you, mate 👍
My Lord what a reminder of my 8 weeks stuck there from the 4th Jan to March 1971. It was a cold wet & snowy winter. The H blocks where we stayed had highly polished floors & I think 18 man rooms. Nisan hats were used for classroom training & we paraded outside the hangers unless it was really wet then we got to go inside them. Med centre for jabs, mess for eating some really crap food. BUT we survived & I moved on to RAF Hereford for Supply training, got married at the easter brake & moved my wife to Tweksbury to stay for a few weeks with my sister & Army hubby before getting posted to RAF Kinloss. Next posting was RAF Oakington (5 FTS) Cambridge for a year where we lived at RAF Duxford. 3 years at RAF Laarbruch then a return to Scotland & RAF Lossiemouth until 4th Janh 1986. While there I had the n"privilege" of getting posted to RAF Gibraltar for 5 weeks with 226OCU when they took their turn at "guarding" the place with 2 Jaguars supplied by RAF Coltishall.
Did my basic 1978 and spent 35 happy years with the Raf Reg
Started recruit training there in December 1972, Cpl Jack and Sgt Chester were our instructors. Remember it being cold and foggy most of the time. Went to RAF Cosford for trade training, was a doddle after Swinderby!
Many thanks for the slideshow. Commenced my basic training there in December 79 was in the modern barracks . Great to have all those memories especially camp in two feet of snow in Lincolnshire in the middle of January
Me too, Hello. (The Canook)
So much history just demolished a lot of pissed of ghosts there.
Had a look at Brugge a couple of years ago, and thought, nothing but ghosts now,a crying shame, that was a great posting back in the seventies
Did basic in 1972 at Swinders. Then 4 S of TT St Athan (Squiper). After that, Hullavington Parachute Servicing Flight, (bag bay), lived in Westland Block and had an old Suzuki 250. Then to Lossiemouth Brake Parachute Bay (Jaguar OTU), and then over to 202 Sqd Search and Rescue with the old Whirlwind. Every weekend at the RAFGSA Gliding Club at Milltown and then Kinloss. Did my Silver C Gliding Certificate at Milltown and Aboyne. Loved the K8 and the Pilatus B4. Nickname 'Braindamage'. I'm now a retired pensioner with a bus pass living in Carlisle....back where I started.
Great story. Sounds like you had fun! Have not heard of "Squippers Bay"
Thanks for info.
Hello MM , my first permanent station was Hullavington, 68-71, as a supplier, married a local girl from Hullavinton Village, her Mum(Pat Baron) worked behind the bar in the NAAFI, I think it was called the WYVERN club, between the airmen’s mess and the cinema, private cars were parked outside the Wyvern on the edge of the parade square…..so many unforgettable memories…. I’m 78 now!
@@GrahamInnes1Survival Equipment Section. ‘Squipper’ who works in many different sections with in the Survival Equipment Trade.
@@Kristiana-mb9lk ah!
@@GrahamInnes1 myself, Chinook Flying Clothing and associated electronics and stuff.
I was there 49 years ago (1972)! Went back yesterday for a look and there is just one building left on the tech site-in front of the entrance with SHQ on the right and the guardroom on the left-not sure what it was. Everything has been demolished and many large warehouses have gone up. As for the domestic site, everything has gone and a new village, Witham St Hughes, built in its place. The airfield is also being dug up for gravel extraction. All a bit sad, but inevitable I guess.
Everything changes! Unfortunately.
I reported there for basic training on February 1st, 1972, got back flighted (can’t remember why) for two weeks, then it was off to St Athan for trade training.
@@blackboardbloke i got back flighted too .. despite my best efforts to keep my swinderby basic training together it kept comming apart .i hope the PT instructors who wiped out any chance of me ever getting to a passing out parade are buried there ..kudos bro .
Loved my time there September 1977, Cheshire block. Wish I could go back and do it all again, better this time!
Thanks for the slide show brought back some great memories when i walked through those gates, way back in June 1990.
Did my training there in 1980 ....long ago !!
Basic Training, August 1982... brings back some memories, thank you Graham.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was there too ..Dave Miller.
i was there in the mid eighties . and got back flighted ..
Hi and thanks for sharing! I was there in March 1977! I really enjoyed your pictures but sad at the dereliction. Just think of the memories that remain there! So sad to see it as it is now! I was hoping to see the old gas chamber building but saw my old accommodation block ( Tedder ). Thanks again, I have subscribed and look forward to seeing others!
I was at Swinderby in 1987! Sgt Davis and Cpl Sweeney. Looking back, some great memories.
i wonder if anyone like ,me got back flighted
Went through in 77, then straight to Halton. Sad to see it like this, but thank you so much for triggering so many memories. Like the guy sez: “They were the best of times and the worst of times…” I would do it again like a shot, I suspect many of us would.
There in 1971 , we were billited in the wooden huts ....great times
Wish this was still open when I joined in 2000 was about a 45 minute drive from my house. Ended up at halton train to London underground tube to Marylebone Station and train to Aylesbury nightmare first day loved it after that though.
I was in the " more modern recruit block" named REID in 1983. Happy days indeed 😊
Was there Nov 84.Cpl Rowe and Sgt Harris.18Flight.Hated it from start to finish.Then to Hereford Holiday Camp for Supplier training then 9 years at Kinloss.Easiest shift of my life!.
Did my 6 weeks at Swinderby in September 1980. Cpl Wolfe with his handlebar moustache, great days.
passed out Dec 27th or 28th Dec 1974. the worst part was the food naafi contractors
wasnt there some comely wenches turned up at the disco, i snogged a few ,thats all tho.
my great uncle took off from this base at 2320 on the 25th of June 1942 he was the radio operator in L7289 a 50 squadron avro manchester part of the 3rd of the 1000 bomber raids, it was a raid on the focke wulf works at Bremen. After bombing the target they were shot down by flack and crashed at Grambe north west of Bremen at 0225/0227, there were no survivors. I suppose Swinderbys claim to fame was it was home to the last avro manchester lost on operations.
@@garrythompson210 fascinating story. Thankyou!
Did my basic here in April / May 75. Hannah block. D.i. Cpl "JC" Smith. Happy days !
That JC Smith, was he a scotsman with glasses?
@@GrahamInnes1 He was a Scotsman alright. Didn't see him with glasses though mate.
@@moodyguymick Yes he ended up at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland in 1977. I was stationed there for a couple of years to 1979.
@@GrahamInnes1 Hope he's keeping well.
@@moodyguymick he was a snowdrop sgt , had a to do with an officer type , fistys, dropped to cpl. he kept on till 22,just everyone hated hime but couldnt get rid . i missed his intake by one week .
I was there Feb-Mar 1983. Our dicips were Sgt Woolloff and Cpl Grey. They threw my bedpack out of the 2nd floor window several times.
Cpl Grey through my shoes out the window! I had to laugh!!
Nove -Dec 1986 for me. I remember some of these buildings. I was on 13 Flt but cant remember what block I was in. My DI was CPL Mitchel
i know i was in nettleton block well at first i was back flighted .. (groan )..that was during the 1980s too
March to April 1980. I was fortunate enough to be in one of the newer barrack blocks. Carpets. Luxury! As to the mess, I remember the terrible food. They had contract caterers who served up the cheapest food they could to make the most profit. For some reason there was ravioli included with every other meal. I think they must have bought a load of tins cheap. I never touched ravioli again! The hangars - all I remember was drill in wet weather. Despite all this I have many happy memories of the place.
My wife was a civilian accountant there in the early 1980s
Why did they have a cinema , the only thing I saw there was an introduction to the regiment and a film about STDs
We had to watch all those movies about "nuclear warfare", "R&I" etc. That's what it was used for when I did my bashing there. The building was built as the "Station workshops", not sure when it was converted.
@@GrahamInnes1 I was there in 86 , the regiment always whacked the heating up in the hope someone would nod off and they could beast them
@@GrahamInnes1 It was the Astra cinema in ‘69
@@GrahamInnes1 Was standing outside of that place in December 1983 when I saw the most impressive Vulcan flypast by a K Mk 2 Tanker directly overhead.
@@goc1842 Rocks had a mega long pole that that they poked airmen with who had fallen asleep when I went through there in 83/84
I stayed here for a week in 1982 (if I remember exactly) when I was an Air Cadet at Saxilby detachment near Lincoln.
I was there may / june 1980, remember a couple of the buildings.
Did my 6 weeks basic training there in May 1978 in Hannah block.Instructor Cpl Brian Sutherland.Good times....
I was in Hannah block too. April 75'
I was there in September 1983. Being ex Army they made me deputy senior man, had my own room. I was a runner in those days so had an afternoon off to run in RAF road relays. Had the recruits up about 0500 every morning, don't they were too impressed. I'm 62 now but still recall happy days especially at BZN and JOC Maastricht.
When were you at JOC?
Don't you mean REVALLY, REVALLY THE TIME IS O6.15 HOURS EACH MORNING THAT CAME ACROSS THE TANNOY. AND LIGHTS OUT AT 11.PM APART FROM WEEK ENDS.
I WAS 18 FLIGHT BACK IN 1978. R.A.F. SWINDERBY.
@@maljohn6584 yep i remember that i was in 8 flight afore getting back flighted
I was there in 1993... good times - The Newcomers Club lol and the dreaded aero-run....
I was there in October - December 1990. So sad to see it all gone now, replaced by houses on one side, and what look to be various warehouses and industrial units on the Guardroom side of the road. Can't believe it was 31 years ago...I clearly remember my first night there!
I know, criminal really. Shame they could not have saved perhaps one building and had it as a heritage site with perhaps a small archive. However, these building schemes seem to get away with organising a small memorial. This has hapened at countless sites throughout the country. Quite pathetc in some ways when you think of the amazing history. Trouble is, there are just so many abandoned airfields and other stations.
I wonder how many people like me got back flighted
I was there from Nov 1990 until Mar 1991. Got back flighted for fighting with someone from another flight.
Nice video and memories from 52 years ago. Baker Carr Block 12 Flight. Glad I’m at this end of my life, what a shit hole this country is now compared then. “Wheels down and flaps down coming in to land, can’t see the runway for all the effing sand........can’t remember the rest🙄. Blessings to all ex RAF.
Nothing left now at all!
Yup, a crying shame!
Arrived there Nov 22nd 1977, sad to see everything that I once knew long gone!
Started my six weeks basic training here in October 1973...(5 Flight)...was with a great bunch of lads and we all managed to put a positive to anything or just make a joke of it...(not even the gas chamber could dampen our enthusiasm!...lol)...and before we knew it the six weeks was up and we were passing out...I only have good memories of the old place...That was the beginning of what eventually turned into an eleven year career as an RAF Firefighter.....
Thanks went there 29 March 1977.
Favourite memory from weapon training, " McConnell what is the purpose of the flash eliminator"... "Gets rid of the smoke Corporal " December 1978.Cheshire block.
I was there in 1979. Often wondered what happened to the place.
It is a shame but heyho, things and people move on. I hope it stirred a few good memories for you.
@@GrahamInnes1 I was also there in March 1979. I quite enjoyed it. Then went onto St Athens for trade training.
November 17, 1976 we drove through the gates of Swinditz in a RAF 37 seater coach. I had a reasonable time there, looking through the comments I remember the name of Sgt Skinner. We were billeted in No 3 block, it's in the photos, thank you Graham, would have liked to see the dreaded gas chamber and the tree, which we had to run to afterwards, to rid ourselves of as much CS gas as possible. The food was good as I recall, mind you at the end of a days training, I'd have eaten a scabby dog.
Gas gas gas 😂😂😂
i was there October 76!
Basic training November 1978. Sgt Blyth.
June-August 1984. Very tiring days for a 16 year old.
Sad to see such history destroyed......all the wartime crews trained there.
Did my bit there in January/February 1966
No, I can't say I do, we had Sgt Kelk and Cpl Wilkinson, who were brilliant, but she had a bite like an Alsation if you pissed her off .
My time at Swinderby was a blur, to be honest.
I remember the Aero runs and that cold wind in your face as everywhere was flat, getting kit and uniform ready for inspections thinking yes, that looks great only seeing them thrown through the air along with several others in our room, the joys 😂
I left the RAF in 2007, loved my time, and met some crazy characters on the way, but I wouldn't change a thing
Did my basic training in 1978 when we had an Air Force to be proud of not anymore
I’m sure that the morale of today’s airforce personnel will be lifted by that. All together now...”It’s time for national service, lads, so get some in...Dee dum Dee dum Dee dum dum Dee dum, so get some in....”
I had a long think about your comment. You are of course quite correct. There is so much to be proud of today in our military. However timescale does play a part in the way we perceive it. When I was in the RAF in the 70's, it could not have been the same as it was in the 40's or 50's. Still so proud of our history etc. Nearly all our planes were designed and made here. Even in the 70's this was still the case. I can only think of the F4 that was not british.
Now, it is a struggle to think of modern "British" aircraft, save for the colaborations. I think also in the 70's we had well over 120,000 in the RAF. This has dwindled significantly. We now only have 3 dedicated fighter stations. Squadrons disbanded, stations closed and a massive shrinkage all round.
I think there is less to be proud of but it is all relative in time.
I still think our Air Force is the best in the world but you have to take into account the size of the force. Foreign equipment being bought at the expense of indiginous projects, politics. All these things play a part in it.
I think our history is incomparable but our present day and future are both up for debate.
You are still correct, lots to be proud of!
@@GrahamInnes1 Thanks for your comment and yes I agree the RAF had to change and evolve with the times. With modern technology etc and most if not all our planes pointing east to Russia. We now have no major threat except the middle east and that is almost finished. I just reflect back when bases where full of people and planes great days Naffi bop etc. Just wonder what its like today. I'm sure there are still some great people in the RAF. Yes we must adapt and evolve with an ever changing world. Thanks.
@@andykettley5519 Why do you think the Middle Eastern threat is "almost finished"? I can`t agree with that.
Was there in 1988. Remember the sick bay building. A bad strain of flu swept RAF Swinderby. Missed my passing out parade was too ill. Still passed out but in a bed lol
Also there in June 75 - in Gibson Block, one of the new ones. Luckily I dont remember much of the place other then the block, the NAAFI and some of the blokes. I was stunned, though to see how old the place was and that most of the buildings were still camouflaged from WW2. The real pity, to me, would have been demolishing the still functioning WW2 Control Tower :-(
Yes, I agree, especially as I worked in Air Traffic.
I was in Baker Carr in 1969, still an old H block though.
@@GrahamInnes1😂air tragic !
App/tech a/f and propulsion '78. Glad to see the back of the place.😅
My goodness I was there in March 1964 then was detached to finish my square bashing at RAF hemswell happy days (tsr2)
Started basic training there in Oct 68. Cpl Topping and Sgt Haliday were our nco's. Greatly times.
Took my first ever flight there in 1962, in a Percival provost!
March 1979 for 8 weeks ? Gibson block . Sgt lusty was our SNOC .spent 1 week running round at a camp near Catterick as part of recruit training .
Then St Athan , Newton , Scampton, Aldergrove . All passed into history.
Did my basic training here in 1966 - interesting days!!
I was there back in August 1971 and the week before passing out i got German Measles and was put in quarantine so i missed my passing out parade :(
Tonsillitis in ‘69🤔😉. No parade for me either!
Influenza 78, 3 accommodation blocks used for quarantine.
I did basic training there in November 1974 . I would love to know what happened to the Canberra bomber that was in the drill hanger ?. When they closed the base ?.
i was there in 1971.
Did my basic there dec 1970, happy days!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was there 1979... it was different then, would not have missed the experience.
Great video. It seems to me that at Swinderby and perhaps at other dsiused RAF stations there is a wealtH of potential good living accomoation which could be refurbished to house our homeless who sleep in the streets. With such places as this,
FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER MY ORIGINAL COMMENT HAS BEEN CHOPPED TO JUST WHAT IS SHOWN ABOVE.
Many old stations have indeed been used as temporary housing. Also many quarters have been sold on to the public. Unfortunately, in many cases the old camp is worth more as building land. So more money can be made by bulldozing and building new houses or industry or a mix.
Filling up Linton On Ouse with 'asylum' seekers.
Not sure what hapened there?
Know where you are coming from mate, I was there in 79 and like Scampton it was good enough for our boys but not good enough for some of the arrivals ???
Thank you I enjoyed that ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yes great to look back at but sad that its all gone now!
I worked in HQ 1961-63 my office the bit on the left was the general office and my desk was in front left ground floor. The other windows on the ground floor were mainly the officers offices with the station adjutant last right and the CO next to him. The civilian gardeners had a little outhouse behind this building and one young lad was found dead in there having suffered brain injury from boxing the night before, quite a shock. I loved my time there. I was chosen by the CO'S wife to sing for the officer' s passing out church service after she heard me singing with a group singing carols around married quarters collecting for Oxfam, she invited us into her house for a drink and snacks and unfortunately I dropped tomato dip on the upholstery of her bar stool, I did'nt have the nerve to own up. Group cpt & Mrs Bretherton, lovely people long since gone. Is it possible to obtain stills of some of these images?
Pat, email me on gijock@btinternet.com
I will then have your email address to send you the jpegs for you to print. Let me know the shots you want. I am on holiday and will be able to sort it in a couple of weeks.
What is the music ,and why ?
Its called " Voices in my head". It is supposed to be thought provoking. Perhaps not for everyone!
Must admit there 1980 , do not remember much of that place . Hope they save RAF Halton tho enjoyed there.
Halton looks safe, for now!
Isn't recruit training school moving to Cranwell? Looked on Google earth other day think half of Halton has gone for housing now.
Hi Graham, I thought your name looked familiar. I was at Swinderby in 1975 too and went to Shawbury afterwards , I have a feeling we were on the same AATC course? Got a course photo somewhere..
Hi Hugh, yup its me. Talk on FB.
I was there in 1966 doing my basic training my name is Gerry Fairchild went on to Catterick for my regiment training
July/August 1988. 7 Flt. Nettleton block. Don’t recognise any of it in the video!
i was in 7 flight nettleton block the same year sadly i got back flighted
I was there in 16th February 1970.
A couple of small points. The two storey ‘Armoury’ building shown was the RAF Regiment headquarters and the Armoury was the single storey part of the building. The cinema (I believe) was built as a cinema. The smaller part of the building to the left were the general workshops. I started my career there and ended it there 12 years later.
Yes, as a historian and taking the details from the original site plan, I have only shown the original design use.The workshops building was originaly built and designed as the station workshops. It was a fairly standard design used at many expansion period stations. The Armoury is a standard building of the period and often had a photographic section incorporated. The buildings in some cases were used for various purposes over the years. This is explained in the description.
@@GrahamInnes1 You are quite correct I’m sure. I failed to point out that I was commenting with regard to the 70’s to 90’s.
Was there in 1974 no.1 flight, sad to see this, it's a crying shame our governments of all spectrums have depleted our Air force, when I was in it was quite large now it's history
has it all been demolished ?
Yes apart from a couple of hangars down by the main road and the Battle HQ. There may be a handful of smaller ruins. Shame, its all house and industrial now.
I walked through the gates of R.A.F Swinderby in October 1976 into Gibson block and left 3years later from R.A.F Hullavington it was the biggest mistake i made in my life and i have never lived down that mistake as it was discharge by purchase [ broken promise ] i support the R.A.F now through R,A,F,A & R.A.F. B/FUND.
It is definately not for everyone but I personally loved it. I only left because I could earn more, doing the same job for the Civil Aviation Authority.
Hi John, i was at Swindy Sept- Oct 1980, 15 flight number 1 block, Manser, cpl weeks & sgt lillywhite, they were good days, hard but we all passed, i left from RAF Lossiemouth 8 years later, and have regretted that decision every single day since then. I thought the grass was greener on the outside, how wrong i was. If there ever is a magical way to go back in time, i would & sign on for the entire 22 years, that would be fine by me.
@@davidmcqueen5759 i remember johny weeks,a real bundle of joy. i was staff 1980,
I did my time and had my pension stolen by MOD! Too young at 55 Years of age! Now have to wait to 60, if I live! The RAF always lies!
Was there in 84 Gibson block , Sgt Adams, Cpl Fosbury .
@TheCaptain64 2 Flight, Ground Floor, Gibson Block next to the Mess and the Naffi. Flight Commander was a Flying Officer Short if memory serves. 9 Flight on the middle floor and 3 Flight on the top. Rock instructors of note who did those 3 flights were a Cpl Irving and Cpl Andy "You horrible Individual" Taylor. I was there on the 83/84 intake,
To be honest I can't remember any off it! 6 weeks in January 1977 and my fading memory has erased everything. :-(
I arrived Jan 11th 1977 :)
“🎵🎵🎵YOU’RE ON JUST BEGINNERS”🎵🎵🎵” Loved Swinderby, hated Cosford.
Last "Unknown" building was used by the Regiment for Small Arms training in the 80's..
Yes, they were using it for that when i was there in the 70s. Just trying to find its "original" use. Thanks for info. Happy Christmas 🎄
@@GrahamInnes1 As with all the expansion period airfields it will have had a specific use, if I can find out which letter identifier the build from Laing's had I'd probably be able to find out..
@@Fosh192 Ta
did my six weeks there, jc smith and sgnt skinner, sgnt skinner ended up disip on X1 his face hit the floor when he saw me , the way we dressed on the line was not exactly R A F standard. Date i was swindids 1/7 75
I think I may have been there then. Cant remember my flight number or who the instructor was. All I remember is Gibson Block and that I loved it!
i went in there 15/01/75 , 14 flight. cpl hyde / sgt gargvin , ex snowdrop.
JC was my D.I. also. April/May 75 Hannah block.
did my basic there in Nov 87 then off to Catterick
Nice video pal
I think the unknown building is the old Sqippers Bay.
Could well be. I was looking out for the hanging well for the parachutes.
Blimey, I have just watched another video showing what remains of this base and it`s almost nothing!
That is why it is so important to record images of what is at these locations now. Cause it probs wont be, in the future.
@@GrahamInnes1 Totally agree.
What's with the unsettling music, my Cat bloody hated it!
I dont really like cats, so .. RESULT! Next time I will try to do a feline version just for you!
In fact i am reporting you to the RSPCA for forcing yr cat to watch airfield architecture slideshows.
I was there in 1982 I think. A very depressing place, even though can remember little of it. I can remember Cpl Grey (at least he didn't punch us and make us eat soap like some of the other new recruits). I think it was assumed then that unless you were commissioned you were judged to be sub-human scum! I really hope things have changed now. It's also a little known fact that some of the scenes in Full Metal Jacket were filmed there.
This is definitely NOT how I remember it.
I enjoyed every bit of it!
Ken Grey was my DI too. I was there in December 1981. Definitely a, 'character'.
anyone else own up to getting back flighted ?
There in 1980