I served on 5 Squadron at RAF Binbrook from 1971 to 1973. Very happy memories of working on the Lightnings at Binbrook. I went on to continue working on 56 Squadron at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus from 1973 to 1975.
Binbrook was one of my best tours (1976-79), but having visited a couple of times in more recent years much of it is in a very sad state and I found the experience somewhat depressing.
My dad works at one of the hangers at raf Binbrook, we are currently trying to restore the SHQ, Guardroom, and soon the medical centre, we have 1 lightnings undercover and a gloster javelin but it’s really interesting, I’m upset that raf Binbrook has shut down now after all the history it has but I’m sure 1 day it will look better
Thanks for the video. My father flew with RAAF 460 Squadron out of Binbrook in 1944. While they flew Wellington's early in the war, they were flying Avro Lancasters there from October 1942 to the end of the war. It flew the most raids of any Australian squadron and, sadly, incurred the most fatal casualties.
The ammo storage area along with the hangar are a firework company. The mounds next to the magazines are to protect against potential explosions i believe
I was there with (261 Guildford ATC) in 1975, aged14 yrs . Still have a few photos that were taken at the time.We stayed in one of the old H blocks . Also l noticed the old hanger behind the new ones was where I waited for my first every flight in a chipmunk aircraft. Happy days.
I'm not sure about Binbrook, but part of RAF Faldingworth is still used by Rolls Royce and the RAF for jet engine testing and repairs. There was also high security storage for nuclear bombs and trigger fuses. It was a sad day when the BAC Lightenings left Lincolnshire forever.
My father was the first Adjutant at Binbrook when the MOD, then the War Ministry, took it over from the contractors. Two months with no paperwork! Heaven! But the paper pushers got there eventually.
Was stationed at RAF Binbrook 1975 /6.. was a Painter and Finisher in 1975 we painted the first Lighting in camaflauge colours ...not a lot health and safety in those days....😀
My ATC squadron had its Easter 1965 camp at Binbrook. We were billeted in the H Block recently vacated by some WRAFs (and you should have seen some of the "personal" belongings they'd left behind!) That week the (F3?) Lightnings were doing night exercises - don't think we slept a wink, bloody noisy things. Lord knows what the neighbours thought. Those munitions stores housed Red Top and Firestreak missiles. We were taken inside for a tour and the Flt Sgt looking after us produced a cardboard box as we entered and said "Right, all fags, matches and lighters in the box!" We were a school squadron aged from 13 1/2 through to 17 . . . The two of our officers (also our school teachers) did a snappy about turn and went outside for a couple of minutes. We even got them back as we left!
My last (final) posting. ATC Supervisor. I retired in 1982. It is sad to see what was once a meticulously maintained RAF Base (5 & 11 Sqdns, Lightnings) turned into a shambles of a waste dump.
There is a Lightning T5 still flying in Thunder City in South Africa with 11 Squadron markings I believe and also two F6 variants in taxying condition in the UK both are 5 Squadron and 11 Squadron markings.
@@ednammansfield8553 Thankyou, the black Lightning in South Africa was the other one I've seen. I've grown up on RAF bases and I'm old enough to remember seeing the Lightning, Phantom, Vulcan, Tornado, Harrier and even the Jaguar fly from bases...all lost in time now.
If any of your viewers every made Airfix modles back in the 70's or 80's, Roy Cross's art work on the boxes featured G for George coming in to land with one engine on fire into RAF Binbrooke.
When I visited a few years back my old room in one of the blocks still had curtains in the windows, and I'm pretty sure they were the same ones as when I lived there about 30 years earlier!
In the IAF our sleeping barraks were old RAF Air crew, built by the British in the 1940's or 30's during the mandate. The roofing was really old and the window frames looked period original. I don't recall any H-blocks on our base, but there were 2 storie H-blocks on another larger base, they looked like 1960's.
The "secret " area was for checking /storing firestreak and red top missiles of the lightnings .,The area you skipped over was the actual bomb dump which was beside it ,this was in a ravine which during WW2 had camo net covering the entire area ,the latching points can still be seen if you look closer at ground level
The "secret" area was called MSF which stood for missile service flight ,the bomb dump was called explosive storage area ,this was on the left hand side of the MSF entrance but in a ravine cut .@@trevorsmith1995
No it's not accessible as you will get into trouble for trespass. The guy on the video invited me onto the property and was in agreement for to film the video.
My father was stationed at Binbrook for a couple of years in the 1950s. The site was host to the famous 617 Dambusters squadron for a brief period while my dad was there. They were still flying Lancs at the time, and he lost a friend to a tragic accident involving the cartridge start mechanism on the Lancaster.
@@trevorsmith1995 You sound like my uncles in the video. He and his brothers were born in Wolverhampton, but the family moved to Canada in 1967, when I was 4 years old.
The ammo dump probably used for storing demolition charges and the like. Unlikely used for military weapons as there is no MOD presence there anymore. My Dad worked at Binbrook and was posted there 3 times, the last time was during 1978 to 1980 where my Mum and I also lived on Camp. My Data was responsible for maintaining the Lightnings. The engines were leased from GE. We also attended the closing down celebration. This was before Health and Safety as we stood along side the runway while they took off meters away. First aircraft to vertical take off, point the nose to the sky and give it the beans while the tarmac blisters from the afterburners.
We did some aborted landings there in the 80's when I was in the air cadets. It was a training base at that time for the fire service. A full line of lightnings were being set on fire and put out for training. Crying shame.
It looks a bit sad, but things could be worse it could be full of migrants. The munitions stores are all set out like this so if one is hit and explodes it doesn't set the others off.
I served on 5 Squadron at RAF Binbrook from 1971 to 1973. Very happy memories of working on the Lightnings at Binbrook. I went on to continue working on 56 Squadron at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus from 1973 to 1975.
Binbrook was one of my best tours (1976-79), but having visited a couple of times in more recent years much of it is in a very sad state and I found the experience somewhat depressing.
My dad works at one of the hangers at raf Binbrook, we are currently trying to restore the SHQ, Guardroom, and soon the medical centre, we have 1 lightnings undercover and a gloster javelin but it’s really interesting, I’m upset that raf Binbrook has shut down now after all the history it has but I’m sure 1 day it will look better
That's really good that people are restoring this fantastic places. So much history behind them
Good stuff, definitely a station worth preserving.
Would be interested in having a walk round and doing another video when it's all completed
It’s sad to see such a wonderful aircraft in this sorrowful state. EE Lightning is by far my most favourite Cold War aircraft.
Nah VC10
My favourite too.
Agree. I’m old enough to have witnessed loads of Cold War jets flying at airshows. The Lightning was always the star of the show.👍🏻
Thanks for the video. My father flew with RAAF 460 Squadron out of Binbrook in 1944. While they flew Wellington's early in the war, they were flying Avro Lancasters there from October 1942 to the end of the war. It flew the most raids of any Australian squadron and, sadly, incurred the most fatal casualties.
Pleased you enjoyed the video, thanks for the info too 👍
My first ever Air Training Corps summer camp was RAF Binbrook in 1986. Very fond memories raised from the drone video. Epic!
Thanks, really pleased that you enjoyed the video 👍
Thanks, really pleased that you enjoyed the video 👍
"A bit of work". A Briish understatement.
Just needs a bit of weekend work 😜👍🏻🇬🇧
The ammo storage area along with the hangar are a firework company. The mounds next to the magazines are to protect against potential explosions i believe
Nice one, thanks for the info buddy 👍
My favourite camp, I worked in ASSF with great team.
I was there with (261 Guildford ATC) in 1975, aged14 yrs . Still have a few photos that were taken at the time.We stayed in one of the old H blocks . Also l noticed the old hanger behind the new ones was where I waited for my first every flight in a chipmunk aircraft. Happy days.
I'm not sure about Binbrook, but part of RAF Faldingworth is still used by Rolls Royce and the RAF for jet engine testing and repairs. There was also high security storage for nuclear bombs and trigger fuses. It was a sad day when the BAC Lightenings left Lincolnshire forever.
Yay…. 5 Squadron rules!!! Frangas non Flectas!
My father was the first Adjutant at Binbrook when the MOD, then the War Ministry, took it over from the contractors. Two months with no paperwork! Heaven! But the paper pushers got there eventually.
Normally, areas with built up earth surrounds are the magazines (weapons storage).
Was stationed at RAF Binbrook 1975 /6.. was a Painter and Finisher in 1975 we painted the first Lighting in camaflauge colours ...not a lot health and safety in those days....😀
My ATC squadron had its Easter 1965 camp at Binbrook. We were billeted in the H Block recently vacated by some WRAFs (and you should have seen some of the "personal" belongings they'd left behind!)
That week the (F3?) Lightnings were doing night exercises - don't think we slept a wink, bloody noisy things. Lord knows what the neighbours thought.
Those munitions stores housed Red Top and Firestreak missiles. We were taken inside for a tour and the Flt Sgt looking after us produced a cardboard box as we entered and said "Right, all fags, matches and lighters in the box!"
We were a school squadron aged from 13 1/2 through to 17 . . .
The two of our officers (also our school teachers) did a snappy about turn and went outside for a couple of minutes.
We even got them back as we left!
RAF Binbrook could certainly tell some tales by the sounds of it 👍
My last (final) posting. ATC Supervisor. I retired in 1982. It is sad to see what was once a meticulously maintained RAF Base (5 & 11 Sqdns, Lightnings) turned into a shambles of a waste dump.
Yes such a shame to see what these military bases turn into.
This is the second two seater lightning I've seen this week, didn't even know they existed.
There is a Lightning T5 still flying in Thunder City in South Africa with 11 Squadron markings I believe and also two F6 variants in taxying condition in the UK both are 5 Squadron and 11 Squadron markings.
@@ednammansfield8553 Thankyou, the black Lightning in South Africa was the other one I've seen. I've grown up on RAF bases and I'm old enough to remember seeing the Lightning, Phantom, Vulcan, Tornado, Harrier and even the Jaguar fly from bases...all lost in time now.
@@ednammansfield8553 There is a fast taxying t5 lightning at Cranfield Airport
If any of your viewers every made Airfix modles back in the 70's or 80's, Roy Cross's art work on the boxes featured G for George coming in to land with one engine on fire into RAF Binbrooke.
The storage area @ 5mins used to store Firestreak and Red Top missiles for the lightnings
Nice one thanks for the info, much appreciated 👍
nice to se the H blocks still standing
When I visited a few years back my old room in one of the blocks still had curtains in the windows, and I'm pretty sure they were the same ones as when I lived there about 30 years earlier!
In the IAF our sleeping barraks were old RAF Air crew, built by the British in the 1940's or 30's during the mandate. The roofing was really old and the window frames looked period original.
I don't recall any H-blocks on our base, but there were 2 storie H-blocks on another larger base, they looked like 1960's.
If you go on google maps you can still see the ghostly outlines of runways, perimeter track and dispersal pans despite all being dug up.
That sounds interesting,will have a look.
Thanks for the info 👍
The "secret " area was for checking /storing firestreak and red top missiles of the lightnings .,The area you skipped over was the actual bomb dump which was beside it ,this was in a ravine which during WW2 had camo net covering the entire area ,the latching points can still be seen if you look closer at ground level
Thanks for the info, that's very interesting.
Will have to Pop back up there and have another look 👍
The "secret" area was called MSF which stood for missile service flight ,the bomb dump was called explosive storage area ,this was on the left hand side of the MSF entrance but in a ravine cut .@@trevorsmith1995
Hi Trevor,
is this legally open for exploring if I were to go in with my friends or will that be an issue?
Really want to explore places like these!
No it's not accessible as you will get into trouble for trespass.
The guy on the video invited me onto the property and was in agreement for to film the video.
@@trevorsmith1995 Oh okay, thank you so much!!
The bunkers are full of fireworks
Oh nice one, thanks for letting me know.
Someone else told me that there's a fireworks manufacturer in one of the hangers so It all tally's up 👍
My father was stationed at Binbrook for a couple of years in the 1950s. The site was host to the famous 617 Dambusters squadron for a brief period while my dad was there. They were still flying Lancs at the time, and he lost a friend to a tragic accident involving the cartridge start mechanism on the Lancaster.
That's really interesting buddy 👍
@@trevorsmith1995 You sound like my uncles in the video. He and his brothers were born in Wolverhampton, but the family moved to Canada in 1967, when I was 4 years old.
The ammo dump probably used for storing demolition charges and the like. Unlikely used for military weapons as there is no MOD presence there anymore. My Dad worked at Binbrook and was posted there 3 times, the last time was during 1978 to 1980 where my Mum and I also lived on Camp. My Data was responsible for maintaining the Lightnings. The engines were leased from GE. We also attended the closing down celebration. This was before Health and Safety as we stood along side the runway while they took off meters away. First aircraft to vertical take off, point the nose to the sky and give it the beans while the tarmac blisters from the afterburners.
Sounds awesome 👍
I was at binbrook 1978/9 to 1981 that was the second time for my parents my dad was survival equipment
Fireworks are stored there
I went to Binbrook for an engine run. Is this lightning still there, or has it moved to another location
I haven't been up there for a few months but it was still up there this summer
In the 90s, Lincolnshire Police used to use the Bomb Dump for Riot Training
Very interesting how the police use ex MOD sites for there training. The armed response units used RAF Swinderby many years ago too.
I used to work in flight systems the underground bunkers were for service redtop / sidewinder missiles. Not the most desirable place to be!!
Wow sounds quite interesting.
I imagine it was quite a site to see 👍
I worked for EE Bae
The ex munitions bunkers are now used to store spiders and fireworks from TNT Fireworks Limited.
Sad!
The ammo dump is used to store fireworks used to go there all the time tue containers are owned buy sports direct thats whatI used to take up there
Thanks for the info buddy 👍
COSMIC FIREWORKS LTD
Thanks pal for the update 👍
Imagine how many illegal immigrants you could cram into those hangers 😂
We did some aborted landings there in the 80's when I was in the air cadets. It was a training base at that time for the fire service. A full line of lightnings were being set on fire and put out for training. Crying shame.
It's a fantastic place for flying your drone around, great footage to get
its noy it's
It looks a bit sad, but things could be worse it could be full of migrants.
The munitions stores are all set out like this so if one is hit and explodes it doesn't set the others off.
Of course nobody minded about having "foreigners" at Binbrook when they were bombing the crap out of the Reich did they?