Utter sadness. I was there in 1973 No.17 Flight. The memories came flooding back when I watched this video and I rushed off to make a bed pack! Seriously though, RAF Swinderby was the start of my roller coaster journey that took me all over the world for the next 22 years. From square bashing to RAF Cosford (Tel.23) and from there to RAF Luqa. Such a lucky Telegraphist. I am so very proud to say that the Royal Air Force was a huge part of my life. God bless all who passed through.
Swinderby was my first posting out of Boys 1962. (Cosford). Flying Training base. Vampires. Plenty of WRAFs!!! I was GW working in the old and new towers. Many happy memories. When we saw the local plod on his motorcycle after flying had finished, we sometimes put the traffic lights to red and made him wait. 😂 Very cold in the winters. I'm surprised how the buildings deteriorated so quickly.
There was more than that there when i last visited. Hangars runway peri track control tower etc. I passed out at Swinderby in Sep 84. Most of training camp had gone. One of the 'new' barrack blocks, Gibson i think was still standing along with the NAAFI (NEWCOMERS CLUB) . The lovely maingate to the airfield was all gone. Guardroom to the left, SHQ to the right with an island in the centre with a DH Vampire mounted on a pole. Marched past it many times to do drill or weapons training. Sad its all gone. Happy days
I was in Gibson block. March to April 1980. Ground floor. Not as far for bedpacks to fall when they were thrown out of the window! And I remember the Newcomers Club. NAAFI beer - who brewed that stuff? I have never had anything like it before or since. Must have been a NAAFI brewery somewhere.
My father was the district auditor for the NAAFI, period 1946/72 , with Swinderby being part of his rota. Travelling by train and walking the 3 miles up the lane in all weather's. I also remember the late night special train from Nottingham on a Sunday night rushing the weekenders back to camp.
Was there in 78. Drill Instructors Cpl Adams and Sgt Lusty aka Good cop, Bad cop. Had a hoot of a time and loved every minute. The old barrack blocks have vanished under new housing and the whole joint has been rebranded as Witham St Hughs village. It’ll always be Stalag Luft Swinditz to me though. Per Ardua Ad Cerevisias! 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
did my basic there Dec 1985 , Cpl Thornley and Sgt Kineston. Seems like yesterday (scarred for life! LOL). I did 12 years in the end . Loved my time in the RAF, met some top lads and some utter twa7s!
I was there in June '73, 17 flight. We had Corporal Highman (I don't remember the Sergeants name). Friday nights the Wafs came to the base and Sunday nights we went to Spittlegate. They were some do's. A Vulcan did the flypast when we completed the training (can't remember how long it was, six or eight weeks).
My dad Kevin Seabrook passed out from Swinderby in 1972, i grew up looking at his class pic on the wall of our living room in every house we lived in during his time in Raf Regiment. He passed away in 2019 aged only 65.
@MrJdawson87. Thank you so much for posting this video. I did my basic training at Swinderbay in September 1970 (13 Flight) and have many fond memories of my time there. Our corporal was Corporal Harvey and our Sergeant was Sergeant Blackman.
Was there Dec '72 - Jan '73, age 17, 12 Flight, instructors were Cpl Jack and Sgt Chester. Then onto RAF Cosford for trade training. Sad to see Swinderby laid to waste, but many memories came flooding back.
September 1975 , six weeks of fun 😂😂❗️ Polishing all the copper and brass fittings, using my own black boot polish on the skirting boards. Bed packs out the window 😮 Climbing ropes in the gym after having all your jabs 😢😢😢I was only 16 But I perceived and spent 14 years , got a trade , then spent 30 years on private jets😊😊 Happily early retirement . A very proud exFLM 👍
There's numerous videos of derelict Swinderby from the 90s on that show a completely different base. This must be a record of an earlier iteration, that existed before it became the place that I did my basic training in March 1980. The ghosts from my time, had ghosts from before that!. Thanks for posting.
Your service number should be embedded in your brain, I remember mine still, I am disabled now at 80, but still parade with other Military Veterans….. and proud to have served.
Such a shame MY LIFE STARTED THERE AT A YOUNG AGE OF 17 YEARS OLD. IN 1978 . AND CARRIED ON THROUGH MY YEARS IN THE R.A.F. AND NEVER REGRETED A DAY OF IT. NOW RETIRED AT A EARLY AGE . THANKS TO ALL THE N.C.O'S AND OFFICERS AT THAT TIME AS RECRUITS THOUGHT WHAT HAVE WE DONE. BUT THANK YOU ALL YOU GUY'S. I WISH YOU WERE STILL AROUND TO SHAKE YOUR HANDS. AND ITS SO SAD TO SEE HOW R.A.F SWINDERBY ENDED UP A NOTHER PLACE TO DEMOLISH TAKE GREAT MEMORIES AWAY. AND AND HISTORY FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY AND DEVELOPMENT. ALL THE BEST YOU GUY'S THAT ARE STILL AROUND IN THOSES DAY'S THAT I WAS I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST .👍
i was at RAF SWINDERBY 1971 . I believe our flight leader was a SGT PENN..As you say great memories, went on to 54 SQD Phantoms at RAF Conningsby then to RAF Wattisham 111 SQD Lightening's ,,I still tell stories to the family today ..........
@@MrJdawson87 WRAF - 1949 to 1994? So WRAF at Spitalgate until moved to Hereford - then Swinderby? I did a gliding course at Spitalgate in early seventies and the WRAF were there then.
My uncle landed here a couple of times in 1943 after being diverted from his squadron base at Syerston and later Skellingthorpe. I remember it as the venue for the world control line model aircraft championships some time in the late 1960s.
@@MrJdawson87 Thanks for the reply. I have found your excellent Skellingthorpe video. My uncle took off from Skellingthorpe at 1622 on 29th December 1943 and failed to return.
All that polishing for nothing 🙂 Was there in April 1978. 12 Flight in Ward Block with Sgt Brian Grinrod and Cpl Trevor Hill. Left in 1981 upon transfer to the RCAF where I served another 30 years.
Went there in 1963, with the ATC - Great fun refuelling Meteors, and got three flights (cannot recall the type of Airplane that was used). Thankfully "I saw the light" and joined the Senior Service! (interesting video but that bloody awful sound track, thank goodness for 'mute')
Great video. Given the state that this is in and despite it closing only 30 years ago, the "airfields of Britain conservation trust" aren't exactly doing much here are they?
We had a long weekend in between & a week off before going to Hereford. It was the coldest weeks of the year. We did our outdoor training in the woods & it was so cold the fires wouldn't stay on we had to take turns all night to try & keep them going. We were toughies back then LOL @@iancoulthard8188
When i was there in 1973 i dont remember any wafs being there ? also we were never shown where the shelters were which i find Strang as the so called cold war was in full swing ?.
this is the WW2 area which closed off before the 70's, i live here and the location is soon to be demolished, there are only 3 stanton shelters left now along with the waaf block and officers kitchen
i dont remember 'bumbering' anything at swinders! I did do some buffering!? Did it go by a different name? The bed packs things was still highly amusing in 1985 when i joined up!
@@Unity-v3f 'Bumpers' were contraptions with long, wooden handles and a heavy pad at the bottom, used for polishing the room floors. We put a duster on the bottom to bring up a nice shine. I can still remember the swish, click, swish as they went back and forth. I was at Swinderby in 1964, at the tender age of 17 years; the youngest in the Flight. And because of my youth, I was given an extra duty, at the end of the day, of cleaning & polishing the Sergeant's Office. Oh, the joys of youth!
@@Unity-v3f 'Bumpers' were contraptions with long, wooden handles and a heavy pad at the bottom, used for polishing the room floors. We put a duster on the bottom to bring up a nice shine. I can still remember the swish, click, swish as they went back and forth. I was at Swinderby in 1964, at the tender age of 17 years; the youngest in the Flight. And because of my youth, I was given an extra duty, at the end of the day, of cleaning & polishing the Sergeant's Office. Oh, the joys of youth!
Utter sadness. I was there in 1973 No.17 Flight. The memories came flooding back when I watched this video and I rushed off to make a bed pack! Seriously though, RAF Swinderby was the start of my roller coaster journey that took me all over the world for the next 22 years. From square bashing to RAF Cosford (Tel.23) and from there to RAF Luqa. Such a lucky Telegraphist. I am so very proud to say that the Royal Air Force was a huge part of my life. God bless all who passed through.
Yes. I was there in June / July 1970, 14 Flight. 14,15 & 17 Flights 1 intake. Sgt. Gosney, Cpl. Lewis & Cpl. Grimrod ( he was ).
Did my RAF basic training at Swinderby starting 20 Febuary 1968, so many memories.
Swinderby was my first posting out of Boys 1962. (Cosford). Flying Training base. Vampires. Plenty of WRAFs!!! I was GW working in the old and new towers. Many happy memories.
When we saw the local plod on his motorcycle after flying had finished, we sometimes put the traffic lights to red and made him wait. 😂 Very cold in the winters.
I'm surprised how the buildings deteriorated so quickly.
There was more than that there when i last visited. Hangars runway peri track control tower etc. I passed out at Swinderby in Sep 84. Most of training camp had gone. One of the 'new' barrack blocks, Gibson i think was still standing along with the NAAFI (NEWCOMERS CLUB) . The lovely maingate to the airfield was all gone. Guardroom to the left, SHQ to the right with an island in the centre with a DH Vampire mounted on a pole. Marched past it many times to do drill or weapons training. Sad its all gone. Happy days
I was in Gibson block. March to April 1980. Ground floor. Not as far for bedpacks to fall when they were thrown out of the window! And I remember the Newcomers Club. NAAFI beer - who brewed that stuff? I have never had anything like it before or since. Must have been a NAAFI brewery somewhere.
My father was the district auditor for the NAAFI, period 1946/72 , with Swinderby being part of his rota. Travelling by train and walking the 3 miles up the lane in all weather's. I also remember the late night special train from Nottingham on a Sunday night rushing the weekenders back to camp.
I’m one of the ghosts of Swinderby, Dec 1980 to Jan 1981. So sad to see it like this.
Was there in 78. Drill Instructors Cpl Adams and Sgt Lusty aka Good cop, Bad cop. Had a hoot of a time and loved every minute. The old barrack blocks have vanished under new housing and the whole joint has been rebranded as Witham St Hughs village. It’ll always be Stalag Luft Swinditz to me though. Per Ardua Ad Cerevisias! 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
I remember Sgt Lusty, also in 1978. My D.I.s were Sgt Rose and Cpl Weeks. Sgt Lusty was with us at Catterick for BTC.
did my basic there Dec 1985 , Cpl Thornley and Sgt Kineston. Seems like yesterday (scarred for life! LOL). I did 12 years in the end . Loved my time in the RAF, met some top lads and some utter twa7s!
87 for me and did the 22 :-) great times
Like binbrook and finningly so many airfields we have lost
Did my basic training here in september 1975 great memories made
I was there in June '73, 17 flight. We had Corporal Highman (I don't remember the Sergeants name). Friday nights the Wafs came to the base and Sunday nights we went to Spittlegate. They were some do's. A Vulcan did the flypast when we completed the training (can't remember how long it was, six or eight weeks).
Sad to see it in such a state. Did my basic training there in August 1974.
Fiat Justitia
From here in July 1967, I went on to nearly 27 years as an armourer. Happy days - all of them.
My dad Kevin Seabrook passed out from Swinderby in 1972, i grew up looking at his class pic on the wall of our living room in every house we lived in during his time in Raf Regiment. He passed away in 2019 aged only 65.
Sorry for your Loss Matt, I was Regt for 22 years left in 2009
@MrJdawson87. Thank you so much for posting this video. I did my basic training at Swinderbay in September 1970 (13 Flight) and have many fond memories of my time there. Our corporal was Corporal Harvey and our Sergeant was Sergeant Blackman.
Was there Dec '72 - Jan '73, age 17, 12 Flight, instructors were Cpl Jack and Sgt Chester. Then onto RAF Cosford for trade training. Sad to see Swinderby laid to waste, but many memories came flooding back.
September 1975 , six weeks of fun 😂😂❗️
Polishing all the copper and brass fittings, using my own black boot polish on the skirting boards.
Bed packs out the window 😮
Climbing ropes in the gym after having all your jabs 😢😢😢I was only 16
But I perceived and spent 14 years , got a trade , then spent 30 years on private jets😊😊
Happily early retirement .
A very proud exFLM 👍
@@davedrury5092 I was there at that time
Had my first flight there in a Percival provost in the early sixties!
Who remembers the “Newcomers Club” pretty sure it was on the left past the main gate/ guardhouse.
Yes, with the 2 dining rooms upstairs. 14 Flight June /July 1970.
There's numerous videos of derelict Swinderby from the 90s on that show a completely different base. This must be a record of an earlier iteration, that existed before it became the place that I did my basic training in March 1980. The ghosts from my time, had ghosts from before that!. Thanks for posting.
this is an abandoned WW2 area Jack most people would not know area 3 WAAF area not WRAF as some have suggested
Was there for basic training May 26th 1986. Can still remember by service number after all these years.
Your service number should be embedded in your brain, I remember mine still, I am disabled now at 80, but still parade with other Military Veterans….. and proud to have served.
I still remember mine. And I joined in 1980. It's burned into your brain. My Dad was in 1942 to 1946 and he remembered his till the day he died.
Great video and music, did my ‘square bashing’ there in 69. Will have to look that area up on google maps.
Such a shame MY LIFE STARTED THERE AT A YOUNG AGE OF 17 YEARS OLD. IN 1978 . AND CARRIED ON THROUGH MY YEARS IN THE R.A.F. AND NEVER REGRETED A DAY OF IT.
NOW RETIRED AT A EARLY AGE . THANKS TO ALL THE N.C.O'S AND OFFICERS AT THAT TIME AS RECRUITS THOUGHT WHAT HAVE WE DONE.
BUT THANK YOU ALL YOU GUY'S. I WISH YOU WERE STILL AROUND TO SHAKE YOUR HANDS.
AND ITS SO SAD TO SEE HOW R.A.F SWINDERBY ENDED UP A NOTHER PLACE TO DEMOLISH TAKE GREAT MEMORIES AWAY. AND AND HISTORY FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY AND DEVELOPMENT.
ALL THE BEST YOU GUY'S THAT ARE STILL AROUND IN THOSES DAY'S THAT I WAS I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST .👍
i was at RAF SWINDERBY 1971 . I believe our flight leader was a SGT PENN..As you say great memories, went on to 54 SQD Phantoms at RAF Conningsby then to RAF Wattisham 111 SQD Lightening's ,,I still tell stories to the family today ..........
i was there oct. 1973 basic training gibson block, no wrafs, they were at spitalgate.
this is area number 3 waaf area from ww2 and wouldnt have been used in the 70's, auxillary air force not Wrafs David
@@MrJdawson87 WRAF - 1949 to 1994? So WRAF at Spitalgate until moved to Hereford - then Swinderby? I did a gliding course at Spitalgate in early seventies and the WRAF were there then.
I was wraf Spitalgate 1973. Came to Swinderby every fortnight.@@clivebrealey6795
Its sad to see history left to ruin. It was my first destination in 67 after an overnight train journey from Edinburgh on joining up.
My uncle landed here a couple of times in 1943 after being diverted from his squadron base at Syerston and later Skellingthorpe.
I remember it as the venue for the world control line model aircraft championships some time in the late 1960s.
I've done a video of Skellingthorpe too, there is still a few bits left if you know where to look
@@MrJdawson87 Thanks for the reply. I have found your excellent Skellingthorpe video. My uncle took off from Skellingthorpe at 1622 on 29th December 1943 and failed to return.
your welcome, its just a hobby putting stuff on here, i'm glad some people like them
I did my first month of square bashing there in April 1964 then moved to Hemswell ex rocket base 👍
Kitted out there in 1966,then training at Hemswell.
Yes me to,I was there in November 1978
All that polishing for nothing 🙂 Was there in April 1978. 12 Flight in Ward Block with Sgt Brian Grinrod and Cpl Trevor Hill. Left in 1981 upon transfer to the RCAF where I served another 30 years.
Sgt Grinrod? He was a FS when I was there in 1980. Chief drill instructor. And with a glare that made you shit yourself!
was there in 66 did my 22 raf police
I was there October 1978. No WRAF's there. They were doing their basic training at Hereford.
Spitalgate in 1970 for WRAF. WAAF'S WW2
Dec 89 - Feb 90 here. When did it close?
Did my 6wk basic training there 13flight may 74,sgt jacks and cpl Herbert Dis
There in "1990", great times and great lassies in the NAAFI, wink wink.
"The RAF is a flying service and your bed pack shall fly!" Flt Lt Waygood Jan 1985! LOL
Last pass-out of 87, 10th Nov - 23rd Dec. 3 Sqn, 17 Flt Sgt Kelk, Cpl Finnan and FO Palmer. Done 12 years as a Painter and Finisher.
I was Oct 87 intake 😊👍🏻
Started basic training there in October 68. Cpl Topping and Sgt Haliday were out nco's. Happy days.
Went there in 1963, with the ATC - Great fun refuelling Meteors, and got three flights (cannot recall the type of Airplane that was used). Thankfully "I saw the light" and joined the Senior Service! (interesting video but that bloody awful sound track, thank goodness for 'mute')
Great video. Given the state that this is in and despite it closing only 30 years ago, the "airfields of Britain conservation trust" aren't exactly doing much here are they?
last building taken down within last month for further development of warehouses :-(
I agree.
I did my recruit training there in 1971 January 4th to March 4th
Why 2 months? only 6 weeks in 1970
We had a long weekend in between & a week off before going to Hereford. It was the coldest weeks of the year. We did our outdoor training in the woods & it was so cold the fires wouldn't stay on we had to take turns all night to try & keep them going. We were toughies back then LOL
@@iancoulthard8188
To all that were with me No 1 flight god bless you all 👍
When i was there in 1973 i dont remember any wafs being there ? also we were never shown where the shelters were which i find Strang as the so called cold war was in full swing ?.
this is the WW2 area which closed off before the 70's, i live here and the location is soon to be demolished, there are only 3 stanton shelters left now along with the waaf block and officers kitchen
@@MrJdawson87 Thanks it was 1974 November when i was there I just realized i put the wrong date ?.
They obviously didn't want us going there ?lol
There in 71 and never knew they were there.....and no WAFS .......SGT PENN was tho .......
@@1tonyboat you would have thought they would have shown us where they were though
Its listed as the Womens Auxiliary Air Force billets from WW2 :-)
I was there in 1975 opie blick so sad thay demolished it on Londons burning tv show. T8i20740 Ransey d
1964… All that bumbering of floors…scrubbing toilets…failed bed packs thrown across the room . Now, what a waste….
i dont remember 'bumbering' anything at swinders! I did do some buffering!? Did it go by a different name? The bed packs things was still highly amusing in 1985 when i joined up!
@@Unity-v3f 'Bumpers' were contraptions with long, wooden handles and a heavy pad at the bottom, used for polishing the room floors. We put a duster on the bottom to bring up a nice shine. I can still remember the swish, click, swish as they went back and forth. I was at Swinderby in 1964, at the tender age of 17 years; the youngest in the Flight. And because of my youth, I was given an extra duty, at the end of the day, of cleaning & polishing the Sergeant's Office. Oh, the joys of youth!
@@Unity-v3f 'Bumpers' were contraptions with long, wooden handles and a heavy pad at the bottom, used for polishing the room floors. We put a duster on the bottom to bring up a nice shine. I can still remember the swish, click, swish as they went back and forth. I was at Swinderby in 1964, at the tender age of 17 years; the youngest in the Flight. And because of my youth, I was given an extra duty, at the end of the day, of cleaning & polishing the Sergeant's Office. Oh, the joys of youth!
@@cecilachan7651 Ah yes now i do reacll them being called bumbers and actually using them in 1985 when i joined.
It closed 6 years after i left the RAF after 16 years service.