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 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).
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! 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
@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.
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 ..........
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.
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.
@@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.
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')
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
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?
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.
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
