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Post by chrisj on Oct 4, 2022 12:17:22 GMT
A VERY long shot for us Oldies ! My first visit to Biggin was either 1960 or 1961 , I did not keep records in those days so can not be exact . I travelled from West London on the Green Line coach and got off by the entrance to Biggin which was just an open space and road into the airfield . I think there was a cafe opposite this entrance . We walked in and on our left were some wooden Nissen huts . Several had old aircraft crammed into them , just piled up on each other . I think one was read off as VP-BIL but not 100% on that . Does anyone recall these in-mates and have any registrations please ? I think in time they were chopped up and burnt ! In those days one could walk into Biggin and just wander about as we did . No one bothered us . The RAF were still using their part of the airfield for aircrew recruit selection . I have never found any reports of the hut in mates so would fill a big gap in the old grey cells . Thanks . Chrisj
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2022 14:08:16 GMT
A VERY long shot for us Oldies ! My first visit to Biggin was either 1960 or 1961 , I did not keep records in those days so can not be exact . I travelled from West London on the Green Line coach and got off by the entrance to Biggin which was just an open space and road into the airfield . I think there was a cafe opposite this entrance . We walked in and on our left were some wooden Nissen huts . Several had old aircraft crammed into them , just piled up on each other . I think one was read off as VP-BIL but not 100% on that . Does anyone recall these in-mates and have any registrations please ? I think in time they were chopped up and burnt ! In those days one could walk into Biggin and just wander about as we did . No one bothered us . The RAF were still using their part of the airfield for aircrew recruit selection . I have never found any reports of the hut in mates so would fill a big gap in the old grey cells . Thanks . Chrisj  Chris, I had a look on the scramble website and they have reports from Biggin Hill in 1960 and 1961- but only military aircraft maybe if you have a look- it may tie down your visit to a year. Happy Days Bob  |
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Post by chrisj on Oct 4, 2022 17:47:28 GMT
Thanks Bob , I have not looked at the Scramble website lately but I think you may refer to their show lists which do seem to only report military for the most part . My visit was a non show day . Always a pity that there were no groups or web sites in those days . Only Air Pictorial and Air Britain . Thanks for taking the trouble to reply . Chris
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2022 5:36:53 GMT
No problems Chris- apologies from myself also for not reading the post right- thought it was an airshow.  The Air Fairs I believe started about 1963- the first I went too was 1966. Anyway good luck- there must be someone out there with Biggin Hill logs who may be able to help- but as you say it was a long time ago. Happy Days Bob
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Post by chrisj on Oct 5, 2022 8:10:53 GMT
Thanks again . Yes it is a problem finding historic info . All those of a similar age have either given up or passed on . One item I thought would of been easy was from that period ( sorry not got details to hand right now ) . I was off school with broken leg and we lived at Northolt ( near to Hayes ) and one afternoon a mass formation was seen coming from sort of Reading direction . Lots of trails and about forty Vulcan , Victor and Valiants with some Canberra's among them . I managed to read off a few as in those days there were large serials on the underside of the wings . I have never found a report for this . Not even Air Britain ! Another for the history books . Thanks again . Chris
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Post by lordevanelpuss on Oct 5, 2022 10:03:00 GMT
I used to do military in the days when there were under wing serials. As well as the RAE Farnborough aircraft which were Canberra, Meteor, Shackleton & Blackburn Beverley among others which bashed the circuit, I remember the RAF At Home days which happened in September. I was never at any of them as it was still several years before I was driving. but In my location I did see some of the aircraft as they overflew Aldershot when on their way to Biggin Hill, presumably having previously been at Odiham, then a helicopter base as it is now. Based types being Westland Wessex & Puma.
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Post by dave on Oct 5, 2022 14:08:40 GMT
hi,
after reading these posts, i had a look on mil-spotters forum on groups.io, theres SEAR mags downloaded from march 1962... but from this first one there were not many airfields reported on, but there may be a ref. of Biggin Hill. Also Brummie Ians flickr logs from 1959ish civil & military.
There was another like the last one, but i can't for the life of me remember the address,(old age thingy) but if i do remember i will pass it on to you...
regards,
dave...
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Post by chrisj on Oct 5, 2022 18:07:02 GMT
Thank All for replies . I too downloaded the WLAG mags from mil-spotters but for one reason or another the quality is not good . These early group magazines were produced using Gastetna machines ( not correct spelling ) and the process did not give very clear copies . Some of the downloaded copies are unreadable . I was an early WLAG member back in the sixties but had to dispose of the copies due to moving about whilst serving with RAF . WLAG started reporting London area civil and military but not Northolt for some reason seeing as the committee and members seemed to come from there abouts . I also have the Air Britain discs but they can be a time consuming pain to troll through for one piece of information . Oh well , the long dark nights are arriving so plenty of time . Thanks again . Chris
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Post by dave on Oct 5, 2022 19:15:54 GMT
hi,
regarding the website i could not remember is/was eric chapman spotting logs but this now does not connect? whether it jogs someone else's memory, if it does can you please put it up, i'd like to go thru it again...
regards,
dave...
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Post by dave on Oct 5, 2022 20:00:00 GMT
hi,
ok, if all goes well this is it-
main@mil-spotters-forum.groups.io Files
click on 2nd down which has sub groups.
then files in the left side coloum, then its the 11th one down eric chapman spotting logs, there's 5 folders the UK one is from 1968-1987.
its abit longwinded i admit but it is worth it...
regards,
dave...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2022 8:41:02 GMT
hi, ok, if all goes well this is it- main@mil-spotters-forum.groups.io Files click on 2nd down which has sub groups. then files in the left side coloum, then its the 11th one down eric chapman spotting logs, there's 5 folders the UK one is from 1968-1987. its abit longwinded i admit but it is worth it... regards, dave... I've just joined that forum dave- thanks for the heads up on it- looks like a useful one to have in the locker.  Happy Days Bob |
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Post by chrisj on Oct 6, 2022 11:45:16 GMT
Thanks yet again to All ! As the clouds and mist role in , i shall have a look as it sounds very interesting . Chris
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Post by chrisj on Oct 7, 2022 12:27:45 GMT
Hi , I have had a look at the mil-spotters files and it does cover some years and locations which I may be able to use but unfortunately not as far back as I would like . As I say , anything is a bonus and can be of use so thanks to All for pointing the way . Chris
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Post by dave on Oct 11, 2022 11:30:43 GMT
hi chrisj,
the Brummie Ian's flickr logs have helped me the most as his visits and o/h's are from my area, both mil and civil from the early 60's, and has you say now the clouds and mist role in, and i might add nights, i will delve back in...
regards,
dave...
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Post by dave on Oct 14, 2022 16:41:10 GMT
hi chrisj, just been going through the LAA logs, and thought what about Biggin Hill Air Fairs, not found anything yet, but thought about your huts with wrecks in, and found this but then saw it was from 1951 but a good read, afterburner.com.pl/18-june-1951/also abpics might go back that far, and Croydon closed in 1959, and a number of a/c transfered to Biggin...so perhaps some spares source's went aswell... regards, dave... |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2022 6:42:06 GMT
hi chrisj, just been going through the LAA logs, and thought what about Biggin Hill Air Fairs, not found anything yet, but thought about your huts with wrecks in, and found this but then saw it was from 1951 but a good read, afterburner.com.pl/18-june-1951/also abpics might go back that far, and Croydon closed in 1959, and a number of a/c transfered to Biggin...so perhaps some spares source's went aswell... regards, dave... I remember going to Croydon in the late sixties/early seventies to view the Druine Condor production line there. This was before the production line was moved to Shoreham around 1973. Happy Days Bob |
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Post by chrisj on Nov 7, 2022 14:24:22 GMT
Hi to All contributors , I must of missed the thread ( Plot ?) as i have only just refound these pages . Sorry for not finding them sooner . I shall now have a look as we have that wonderful Devon Sunshine down here now . ( The wet sort ) . Thanks again . Chris
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The Air Fairs I believe started about 1963- the first I went too was 1966. Anyway good luck- there must be someone out there with Biggin Hill logs who may be able to help- but as you say it was a long time ago.
