Name: Eddy Edwards . . . e-mail seletar5644@tiscali.co.uk
Service Number: 1935644, Rank: B/E, LAC, SAC, Section: DEV B
Comments: Arrived at Watton in September 1959; one of 3 Boy Entrants posted to Dev Sqn. I went to DEV B aged 16 and got all the jobs that didn't require a signature until I was 17 1/2. We had to live in the Transit Room separated from the men for some reason, and were excused all station duties. My trade was Airframes and worked with Sgt Pete Fox, Andrews, Pepper, Atkinson?, Ken France (with the S Type Jaguar), Keggy Cousins (who liked cornish pasties and lived in Carbrooke) and those two reprobates Rafferty and Riley (who led me astray and taught me how to drink). DEV B was a radical change after Boy Entrant training; the SWO exasperated with us in our Hairy Bear jackets, seaboot socks and wellingtons. Most of the time we had the 3-tonner ride from the block to sqn but sometimes he would catch us walking through camp in the DEV B uniform. Was still a Boy Entrant as one of the ground crew on that Dec 59 incident when we were forced down in Algeria. The Air Engineer signed all the airframe paperwork. 3 Lincolns were scrapped during 1960/61 and only one replacement came from storage at RAF Aldergrove. It was RF398 and is now masquerading as a Lancaster in Cosford Museum. Other memories are of the regular trips to the bomb dump to change the air and oxygen trolley bottles and Saturday afternoons sweeping the runway and peritrack as the Duty Crew tractor driver. One Saturday I hadn't checked the control tower to look for a warning light for some time. When I did it was flashing and a Beverley was looming large on final approach. Had to race to other end of runway, the brushes bouncing and banging behind me.
- Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 20:24:22 (BST)
Name: JOHN ALLAN . . . e-mail john.allan4@ntlworld.com
Service Number: 5078192, Rank: LAC, Section: DEV B
Comments: Having had some very recent success with contacts who supplied names and photos and a disaster with lose of web master access to old web site I have posted a NEW WEB SITE to give some credit to old comrades input. Please look here http://www.fionaandjohnallan.com/LINCOLN_2006/index.html
- Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 12:55:58 (BST)
Name: JOHN ALLAN . . . e-mail john.allan4@ntlworld.com
Service Number: 5078192, Rank: LAC, Section: DEV B
Comments: Have just been down to the old Watton RAF Camp and added some Photos to my web site watton page http://www.fionaandjohnallan.com/raf/R.A.F/WATTON.html still want to hear from old friends
- Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 19:17:28 (BST)
Name: Gerald Robinson . . . e-mail margrobinson@tiscali.co.uk
Service Number: 5077991, Rank: LAC, Section: Dev B
Comments: Andy,Cpl.Charlie Sgt.Fox 2 great years.What great pilots they were.Robbie.
- Saturday, July 15, 2006 at 16:22:58 (BST)
Name: Richard M Howard . . . e-mail rmartinhoward@tiscali.co.uk
Service Number: 3258679, Rank: AC1 Chippy 1,
Comments: I was there when Air Commodore Dalton Morris was CO. I as also onfier picket when the Mosquito went up all hell was let loose.Iseem to remember there was a lady of the night who was known as the Watton witch.I also recall a skymaster calling in & having a tour of the hanger,then watching a Mosquito taking off & the pilot showing the yanks what it could do.I also recall having MAGGOTS in my porridge.
- Saturday, June 03, 2006 at 12:00:26 (BST)
Name: Ian Hogg . . . e-mail ian.hogg6@btinternet.com
Service Number: D1936746, Rank: B/E, LAC, SAC, Section: DEV B
Comments: My first posting out of boys service. I arrived in Dec.59 and was there until Nov 61.
- Friday, January 20, 2006 at 14:15:09 (GMT)
Name: David Jefferson . . . e-mail David@djassoc.f9.co.uk
Service Number: 4259396, Rank: LAC/SAC, Section: 263 Squadron
Comments: I was at the squadron in the office with Chief Tech Hammersley during 1960/61. I was a 'clerk progress' and the office I was in held the keys to all the other sections.I remember taking it in turns to run the coffee bar which was next to the admin. office.
I drove a Vespa 150 tangerine in colour and used this for quite some time before a colleague who was a part-time taxi driver eventually got his promised Ford Consul 375 - a black one - and he used to lift me and a couple of others at weekends. I lived in Leicester at the time. He worked in the MTU as a driver. I think his father owned the taxi company in Leicester.
The other name I recall well is Sgt Smith who worked in the armoury with Bloodhound Missile warheads. He used to sign out the keys to the shed and one day was so distracted that he signed 'Sgt Jefferson-Smith'by mistake - it was a laugh for some time. He had a great sense of humour. There was also a guy with a Ford V8 Pilot which he painted blue and cream with Dulux! It looked like an ice-cream wagon and was pretty lethal on the road. He came from Derbyshire? Ilkeston maybe. Rigley I think his name was.
I enjoyed my 14 or so months at Watton and agree with all the comments about the restaurant. The food was superb and there was lots of it too.
- Saturday, January 14, 2006 at 16:39:01 (GMT)
Name: John Allan . . . e-mail jra_507@hotmail.com
Service Number: 5078192, Rank: LAC, Section: DEV B
Comments: DEV B Coffee Bar. Gerald (ROBBIE) Robinson and myself John Allan ran the Coffee Bar out on Dev B. The other lads let us run it and keep the profit to supplement our N.S. pay we will always be grateful to them, we were the only national service men on there. We really had a great time and are continueing it since we met up again recently. To help you remember us have a look at this site www.fionaandjohnallan.com/raf we will be pleased to hear from ,we were there 1961-1962 aircraft elec on the Lincolns happy days
- Sunday, October 09, 2005 at 10:47:15 (BST)
Name: Graham (Ginger) Brown . . . e-mail martin.brown22@btopenworld.com
Service Number: 2509412, Rank: a/c 1,
Comments: I was stationed at RAF Watton 1951-1953.I spent a short time in the bedding store.Most of my time was spent in the picket-post Watton Green.One of my duties was to meet the train at Watton and take the new arrivals to the concrete huts at Watton Green.Would be nice to chat to anyone who was there at the same time as myself.
Thanks,A/C1 (Ginger) Brown.
- Saturday, February 19, 2005 at 09:19:35 (GMT)
Name: DAVE HAWKINS . . . e-mail dchiow1250@aol.com
Service Number: J4279314, Rank: SAC, Section: FIRE
Comments: Seeking any RAF Firemen who were at Watton 1965 until October 1966
- Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 19:52:39 (GMT)
Name: Bill Lamb . . . e-mail lamb74@aol.com
Service Number: 2752330, Rank: SAC, Section: 192 Sqdn B Flt
Comments: I was stationed at Watton 1955-1957 as a air electrican. Our line chief was Ft/Sgt Peart aour cpl was Paul Richardson Known as Sailor. my two best friends were Harry Waite & Ray Harbor
- Monday, December 27, 2004 at 18:50:55 (GMT)
Name: Ron. varo . . . e-mail varor@blueyonder.co.uk
Service Number: 2746396, Rank: SAC, Section: 527
Comments: I am 2746396, SAC Ron.Varo, National Service Air Radar Mechanic. I served at RAF Watton, mostly with 527 Squadron, between 1955 and 56. Since that time I have not had the motivation to record my experiences and to try to renew old acquaintances. However, I am now retired and my interests have changed and I get a great deal of pleasure in researching my RAF days.
I am a member of an ex servicemens association, Fellowship of the Services 209 Mess and recently wrote an article for our newsletter describing one of my experiences with 527 Squadron. I can send this to anyone who may be interested. The more I looked into my service days the more interesting it became especially with the power of the internet. In this way I came across the fascinating articles written by Ralph Swift and I have since corresponded with him. He has given me a great deal of help and permission to reproduce one of his articles within the above. If this transmission is successful, I will follow it with more memories. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me.
- Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 23:25:16 (GMT)
Name: Roy Whiting . . . e-mail rwhiting1@blueyonder.co.uk
Service Number: 4075936, Rank: ac1 to cpl, Section: 192 /srs
Comments: was at Watton 1952 to 1954 in the special radio servicing section also used to co-operate and sevice the camp radio system (evenings) radio 2 luxemberg and record requests. Was also on short detachments to Germany and Cyprus with washingtons of 192. Anyone remmber me
- Thursday, August 12, 2004 at 20:39:42 (BST)
Name: John Crabbe . . . e-mail g3wfm@yahoo.co.uk
Service Number: 3124209, Rank: SAC, Section: 192 RCM section
Comments: Served from June 1950 to Nov 1951. Worked on Lincolns and flew as special operator in exercises in autumn 1950. Also sailed on HMS Indefatigable at request of Navy men working with us in March 1951, Anyone remember that? Note have changed my email address.
- Sunday, June 27, 2004 at 19:23:09 (BST)
Name: Gerry . . . e-mail gerrycrabbe@lineone.net
Service Number: 4029361, Rank: Corporal, Section: 192 Sqdn AFlt
Comments: I was on 192 Sqdn from Jan 1954 to Jan 1956. I have very happy memories of my time there under Wing Cmdr Norman Hoad as C/o, Chiefy Lark as i/c A flight.Gained access via hole in fence on holiday two weeks ago, side door to No1 Hanger was open, had a look around the semi derelict old place and took a bit of video film. Such a shame to see the state that it is in now, but memories came flooding back.
- Monday, June 14, 2004 at 20:24:57 (BST)
Name: Gerry . . . e-mail gerrycrabbe@lineone.net
Service Number: 4029361, Rank: Corporal, Section: 192 Sqdn AFlt
Comments: I
- Monday, June 14, 2004 at 20:17:44 (BST)
Name: Rycroft . . . e-mail bellapais@bigpond.com
Service Number: 3507179, Rank: JT, Section: Inst' Section
Comments: Served at Watton 1966-64/65 Involved with Dev.B and Comet project.
- Friday, May 14, 2004 at 06:21:12 (BST)
Name: Rob Haywood . . . e-mail rhaywood@rhaywood.karoo.co.uk
Rank: SAC/Cpl, Section: wireless/radar
Comments: Father: Norman Haywood, of Leicestershire. Came to RAF Watton from Malta, late '52, early 53. Then posted to Wellesbourne Mountford by early 54. I was about 3 years old, and we lived in a green double-decker trolley bus in a wired compound with boiler ashes for footpaths! Very cold, and note from a photo I have there was at least one other bus on the site, but it was mostly caravans. Dad was a wireless/radar mechanic or fitter. Can anyone give a clue as to what he may have worked on, aircraft, or what was happening at that time. Great site, thanks for info so far.
Rob H.
now in Hull, E.Yorks
- Monday, May 10, 2004 at 22:31:48 (BST)
Name: Bob Manton . . . e-mail cygnet7@optusnet.com.au
Service Number: 1925366, Rank: LAC to JT, Section: RSS
Comments: I arrived in about 53, still a Boy Entrant because of my age. Mostly attached to RSS but did a stint in Research ( I think it was called) and a 3 months attachment to 192. Rose to JT eventually ( only because of my getting older) and I suppose my sole claim to fame was to be a projectionist at the "ASTRA". The Managers were a Mr Camidge and then CPL "Chick" Fowler. He was one of the "characters" who stood out and was from a radar section at Griston that was a bit hush hush, can't remember the designation.
Finaly posted away in about56 or could have been 57.I am now in Australia and have been since 69.
I am in touch with a few of my compatriots of the time and interested in "those" days.
- Sunday, December 21, 2003 at 22:52:32 (GMT)
Name: Ralph S. Swift . . . e-mail rsswift@stny.rr.com
Service Number: 4071861, Rank: F/O and Flt Lt, Section: 527 Sqn
Comments: I served as a pilot on 527 Squadron flying Meteor NF11, NF14 and Canberra B2 from 1954 until September 1956. My regular navigator was Flight Seargent Mike Thomson but I have many others in my log book ie F/Sgts Lupton, Payne, Banks and F/Os Jefferies, Syme, F/Ls Heather and Sleven. The C/Os were Sqn/Ldr Conquer and Sqn/Ldr Taylor and the Station Boss was Air Commodore Miller.
We were housed on the Griston side of the airfield and my wife and I rented a cottage on Watton Green owned by Steve Carpenter who drove a refuelling bowser and whose son in law was Les Cambridge the Officers mess secretary. Air Commodore Miller was a party animal and enjoyed nothing more than a dining in night or mess celebration of any sort.
I have a few photographs of that era and remember quite a number of my unit companions of that time.
On coming out of the service in 1958 I returned to Watton to live, bought a bungalow on the Dereham Road and remained there until 1981. I also owned "The Chequers" at Thompson at one time and finally removed to join family in the USA. Between times I flew in the Nigerian civil war and then with the Sultan Of Omans Air Force in Oman for many years. The flying job at Watton, radar calibration, was immensely boring after having been on a fighter tour in Egypt but I fell in love with the area and the many characters I was destined to meet there and have many fond memories of the place.
Ralph Swift.
- Tuesday, May 13, 2003 at 21:02:28 (BST)
Name: Geoff Cox . . . e-mail geffcox@aol.com
Service Number: 5043999, Rank: SAC, Section: Dev B Squadron
Comments: Block 23 Room 3, 43 years ago, seems like yesterday. Was there 1957/59 as an instrument mech
(Nav)working on the old "LINCOLNS". Johnny Field,
Jock Mckenzie, both SACs and Corporal Spencer
were others on instruments. Anyone, any trade, who
was there at that time please get in touch.
- Wednesday, December 25, 2002 at 21:26:39 (GMT)
Name: Dave Hawkins . . . e-mail dchiow1250@aol.com
Service Number: J4279314, Rank: SAC, Section: FIRE SECTION
Comments: I was on the Fire Section from August 65 until October 66 when i went out to Khormaksar My memories of Watton are good it was my first posting after Catterick and what a change Would like to meet any of the old boys again. I understand the Flying Fish is not anymore
- Tuesday, November 26, 2002 at 19:52:15 (GMT)
Name: brian lewis . . . e-mail brian.lewis310@ntlworld.com
Service Number: 5052774, Rank: jt, Section: elect 3 hangar
Comments: 1957 to 1962 worked on at least one a/c but mainly played football.tug of war.fishing.tennis.any skive.section run by sgt mike plumb.spent alot of time withflt lt colin batchelor playing for 90 group/signals command.lots of great memories of watton will put on board soon.
- Thursday, November 21, 2002 at 23:12:58 (GMT)
Name: Brian Paling . . . e-mail brian.paling@btopenworld.com
Service Number: 5057146, Rank: SAC, Section: Station Signals
Comments: I was a National Service erk stationed at Watton from August 1958 until February 1960 and was a Ground Wireless Mechanic servicing the HF & VHF transmitters & receivers plus CRDF etc.
My abiding memory of Watton is of the wonderful food!
- Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at 20:29:31 (BST)
Name: John Crabbe . . . e-mail g3wfm@hotmail.com
Service Number: 3124209, Rank: SAC, Section: RCM Flight
Comments: Served from June 1950 to Nov 1951 Nat Service worked on Mandrel Dinah carpet and Green salad. flew as special operator in Lincoln RF337 "V" Victor on excercise "Emperor" nov 1950?
- Thursday, September 19, 2002 at 21:11:05 (BST)
Name: Gordon Hopewell . . . e-mail gordon@hopewellg.fsnet.co.uk
Service Number: 5023272, Rank: SAC, Section: 116/527
Comments: I was an Air Wireless Mech 6-12-56 until demob 24-6-58 Anyone around ? Any 116 or 527 Squadron
contacts ? Squadron memorabilia or badges ?
- Thursday, August 29, 2002 at 18:26:29 (BST)
Name: Ken Godfrey . . . e-mail jan.godfrey@btinternet.com
Comments: Ken is the contact for the two American groups based at Watton during WWII. Anyone wanting information about the 3rd Strategic Air Depot or the 25th Bomb Group is welcome to contact him.
- Saturday, June 08, 2002 at 17:57:53 (BST)
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