Telling the story of RAF Watton and Bodney from 1939 to today.
Gallery: Pictures from Ralph Swift’s album
Flying Officer Ralph Swift and Flight Lieutenant Don Sleven, Taken outside the crew room of 527 Squadron on the Griston side of RAF Watton airfield December 6th 1954.This is the old 527 Squadron hangar on the Griston side of the airfield at RAF Watton. Taken in 1954/55 it shows a Meteor NF 14 inside the hangar, you can tell the difference from the NF11 as that had a glasshouse type of canopy (Small panes of Perspex) whereas the NF14 had a one piece clear cockpit canopy. If you look closely you can see the tower of Griston Church through the hangar’s open doors. This Hangar was a survivor from WWII, it was one of two built on the Griston side of the airfield for use by the USAAF 3rd Strategic Air Depot.Flight Lieutenant ‘Dick’ Ferre’. ‘B’ Flight commander (jets) 527 Squadron. RAF Watton. 1955. The flight commander of ‘A’ flight (not shown) was Flt Lt John Dean. ‘A’ flight were the piston engine flight using Varsity aircraft.This is the 527 Squadron dispersal on the Griston, side you will note the Varsity’s and also what must have been one of our first Canberra B2’s. I think this was taken in the early fifty fives just after Christmas and still snowy. I converted onto the Canberra at Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire in May of 1955 and was probably still flying the Meteors when this photo was taken.Flying Officer Dave Williams temporarily attached as co-pilot on the Varsity flight (‘A’ flight) of 527 Squadron, RAF Watton during a time when the airforce was having trouble placing all it’s recently trained pilots onto active squadron duty. By this time I (Ralph Swift) had already done a fighter tour on Vampire jets on 213 squadron, Deversoir, Egypt
10 thoughts on “Gallery: Pictures from Ralph Swift’s album”
I have just come upon this site whilst putting in a tentative search for John Page at RAF Watton. John Page is my father and was killed in a Varsity crash on 20 th September 1957at Foulston in Northumberland. My Grandfather was George Alfred & Grandmother Dorothy Ellen who together with my father are laid to rest at Merton church. My father originally joined The Royal Navy as A Midshipman leaving as a Sub Leftenant and subsequently transferring to The RAF, although I am unaware of any teacher training. As my fathers time at RAF Watton is virtually unknown to me any information that you may be able to would be much appreciated.
I regret Keith that I have nothing more to offer you at this time. If anyone reads this who can fill in some details I hope they will comment here.
Best regards
Julian Horn – RAFWatton.info
Keith your Father was the son of George Page jnr my Fathers cousin . George Page snr and my Grandfather were Brothers .
I can remember the Crash it envolved a number of ATC cadets ..
Thank you John for your kind reply. I have a family photograph of my Great Grandparents & 10 children Frank,,Dan,Milly,,George jnr,Jack, Walter,David, Gwen,Kathleen,Eve & terrier dog. Great Grandmother was expecting Geoffrey at the time which was February 1925. I can recall visiting my Great Grandparents at a bungalow in Carisbrooke when I was about twelve with My Grandfather George. I was interested to note that your Grandfather & my Great Grandfather were brothers. Returning to R A F Watton, my younger brother seems to recall that my father wasn’t stationed there for very long. Thanks again for taking the time to reply which was much appreciated.
Keith Page
I was stationed at RAF WATTOM NT Section 1949
FT lt Moore was our Officer in command .
Are there any guys still around from that time .
ACSimberg elivan284@gmail.com
I have the site map of RAF WATTON and also Station 505 ( Neaton) Griston site map . The hangar depicted in Ralph Swifts photos is that the one that was adjacent too the Main Runwat half way down on the right hand side lookingEastwards
I am fairly certain John that it was the one of 3rd Sad Hangars built on the Griston loop nearest the peri track. But Ralph wasn’t clear on that. Would have stood just about where Coughtreys was.
My namesake John Page was killed flying in a Varsity with a number of ATC cadets . His father was George Page Jnr of Merton my late Fathers cousin . John had been in the Airforce was demobbed tried civy life training to be a teacher couldn’t hack it . Reenlisted back into RAF after basics was sent to WATTON just down the road from his fathers farm at Merton .
Hi John, thanks for your input.I was at Watton as previously noted, in 1954 through to 57, However, do not remember that squadron.
Regarding the air cadet loss in a Varsity, one of our cadets was killed in a collision between a Meteor and a Wellington at our summer camp. The cadet in the Wellington was tossed out by the navigator after putting a chute on!. The navigator was awarded a posthumous George Cross
192 squadron based in the Watton side had 2 Canberra B2, and two B6,s.
The B2,s were colourfully blue and the 6,s silver.Was not the Fleet Air Arm based over at Grinston too?
I have just come upon this site whilst putting in a tentative search for John Page at RAF Watton. John Page is my father and was killed in a Varsity crash on 20 th September 1957at Foulston in Northumberland. My Grandfather was George Alfred & Grandmother Dorothy Ellen who together with my father are laid to rest at Merton church. My father originally joined The Royal Navy as A Midshipman leaving as a Sub Leftenant and subsequently transferring to The RAF, although I am unaware of any teacher training. As my fathers time at RAF Watton is virtually unknown to me any information that you may be able to would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Keith R Page.
I regret Keith that I have nothing more to offer you at this time. If anyone reads this who can fill in some details I hope they will comment here.
Best regards
Julian Horn – RAFWatton.info
Keith your Father was the son of George Page jnr my Fathers cousin . George Page snr and my Grandfather were Brothers .
I can remember the Crash it envolved a number of ATC cadets ..
Thank you John for your kind reply. I have a family photograph of my Great Grandparents & 10 children Frank,,Dan,Milly,,George jnr,Jack, Walter,David, Gwen,Kathleen,Eve & terrier dog. Great Grandmother was expecting Geoffrey at the time which was February 1925. I can recall visiting my Great Grandparents at a bungalow in Carisbrooke when I was about twelve with My Grandfather George. I was interested to note that your Grandfather & my Great Grandfather were brothers. Returning to R A F Watton, my younger brother seems to recall that my father wasn’t stationed there for very long. Thanks again for taking the time to reply which was much appreciated.
Keith Page
I was stationed at RAF WATTOM NT Section 1949
FT lt Moore was our Officer in command .
Are there any guys still around from that time .
ACSimberg elivan284@gmail.com
I have the site map of RAF WATTON and also Station 505 ( Neaton) Griston site map . The hangar depicted in Ralph Swifts photos is that the one that was adjacent too the Main Runwat half way down on the right hand side lookingEastwards
I am fairly certain John that it was the one of 3rd Sad Hangars built on the Griston loop nearest the peri track. But Ralph wasn’t clear on that. Would have stood just about where Coughtreys was.
My namesake John Page was killed flying in a Varsity with a number of ATC cadets . His father was George Page Jnr of Merton my late Fathers cousin . John had been in the Airforce was demobbed tried civy life training to be a teacher couldn’t hack it . Reenlisted back into RAF after basics was sent to WATTON just down the road from his fathers farm at Merton .
Hi John, thanks for your input.I was at Watton as previously noted, in 1954 through to 57, However, do not remember that squadron.
Regarding the air cadet loss in a Varsity, one of our cadets was killed in a collision between a Meteor and a Wellington at our summer camp. The cadet in the Wellington was tossed out by the navigator after putting a chute on!. The navigator was awarded a posthumous George Cross
192 squadron based in the Watton side had 2 Canberra B2, and two B6,s.
The B2,s were colourfully blue and the 6,s silver.Was not the Fleet Air Arm based over at Grinston too?