Former RAF Aerodrome Norton Woodseats

[Winfield]

Can anyone out there remember the former RAF station, RAF Norton at Gledless the sqnds or units that where based there .and what year did this station close down.

 

I have a programme for RAF Norton Open Day dated 17th September 1960.At this time it was No.3 Ground Radio Servicing Squadron.The commanding officer is given as Wing Commander J.H.I.Stirling.There is a squadron badge which consists of two gauntlets with a lightning flash passing between them.The station motto is 'Test and Prove'.In the open day programme is a plan of the station giving locations for the cinema,hangars,lost children post,workshops etc.Attractions given are.......Raf Police Dog Team...Raf regional band...cinema showing aviation films....bars...hangars with displays of jet engines....survival equipment...armament...radio and radar equipment..the list goes on.I was there on the day aged about 14yrs.I vividly remember the flying display with Meteors ,Vampires Canberras and the like.Any one else remember these open day displays???????

[hollyrose]

I remember my dad taking me and my friend Jacqui to one of the open days sometime in the mid 50s. The Vulcan bomber had recently become operational and to everyones delight one flew over the base. My friends brother was in the A.T.C. He went on to join the R.A.F., became a pilot and reached the rank of Squadron Leader and I believe he flew Vulcans at one time.He was David Aston, does anyone remember him?

[trophyman]

I believe one of the buildings is reputed to be haunted!

 

I think the main South Yorkshire aircraft museum is at Doncaster, although there was a great small one at Firbeck between Maltby and Oldcotes. Does anyone know if it is still there and open?

 

i have pictures of this aerodrome took around 3 years ago but cant access them as they are on an old hard drive. they are supposedly spooky ones of a man walking his dog etc and there is a rope noose hanging from the roof inside the hangar

[trophyman]

Hackenthorpe was in Derbyshire as I had to attend a derbyshire school, Ridgeway Junior school when we moved out there in the 50's.

One spot where the county borders met was down the bottom of Intake where a stream ran under the main road. There was a sign there so you could have one foot in each County! Anyone remember ?

 

have you been under the road through the stream?. we walked under there and had almost got across when a barrage of water fell down from the grates in the road

[alex3659]

Recently heard that part of the old runway of the Norton aerodrome was exposed when they were digging the foundations for the new Meadowhead school.

 

the old air raid shelter is still there in the woods at the top of hazlebarrow drive.the mormon church there used to be ex servicemans club site an old tin hut ,it closed in the seventys.

[Beesa rider]

I remember being taken to Norton to see an RAF air display circa '58, the only planes I can recall were Fairey Deltas mainly 'cause I subsequently got the airfix kit (droop snoot nose like the much later Concord)

Coal Aston airfield is still very much live and kicking on the hill upside of Apperknowle, regular light aircraft traffic particularly at weekends - there were also stories of a Cobham Flying Circus performance at Coal Aston proper ??

My Mother taught at Birley Spa, Frechville, which was in Derbyshire when she started there, maybe 1962, and in South Yorkshire when she retired 1970

[Mark B]

I was stationed as R A F Norton with the RAF Police for 2 years

from 1952 to 1953 along with Corporals Peter Lowe from Liverpool,Cpl John Baines from Inverness, and Cpl Alf Seddon from Lancashire looking after the Guardroom and Station Security until being demobbed from there in Sept 1953 (after the Coronation.)

The Station Adjutant at that time was a Flying Officer Terry who was in overall charge.

During that time it was No. 3 GRSS ( Ground Radar Service )

and also a Motor Pool. I would be interested to hear from anyone

else who was stationed there around that time.

[hazel]

I'm sure I went to the RAF Norton dances held on a Saturday night. Would be late 50's.

hazel

[Gerry]

A friend of mine did his N.S. there, talk about luck.

[little malc]

I was in the ATC in 1958, we did "duty" there at the summer display, i remember the fly over was a Shackleton, Lincoln bomber, Canberra, Valiant, Varsity, and aerobatic display from Chipmunks. A hanger display of engines and RAF bits n bobs, and the great thrill of being allowed to sit in the cockpit of the mk 24 Spitfire which was the gate guardian.

This is now in the RAF museum at Hendon.