Veterans Visit by The Cosford Royal Aeronautical Society

from Insight - Winter 2022

Scotty's Little Soliders

Way back in the Autumn of 2021 the Waddington Veterans Committee received a veterans visit request from the Cosford Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

The country was still recovering from post COVID restrictions so we hoped we could, at the very least, host a visit to allow 20 veterans to enjoy a memorable day and leave with a big smile. So, a plan was put in place for December 21. Unfortunately, the day before their visit, restrictions were back in place and all the hard work had to be cancelled…. ahem, I mean, postponed….

Late morning on 31 August 22, after their 3-hour, roadwork infested journey, when the members arrived at the Guardroom, we met them and hoped we could raise their spirits a little higher.

RAF Waddington Heritage Centre

The Heritage Centre was the first port of call, hosted by one of the HC guides Mr Phil Doorbar. Phil as usual gave a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guided tour throughout, taking them from the very start of Waddington’s beginning in 1916 with the RFC, right up to the present day.

The Heritage Centre exists to promote and preserve the remarkable and continuing heritage of RAF Waddington, its units and its personnel. Over the years it has gained a vast collection of documents, images, artefacts, and anecdotes which are housed within the former WW2 NAAFI building. It provides a facility to educate both Service personnel and civilians, to allow further research and to publicise the history of the Station. It is also the final resting place to the remains of PD259, a Lancaster Bomber which crashed on a training sortie in Scotland after getting airborne from RAF Waddington in 1944.

Lunch was now beckoning....

Our thanks go to the Warrant Officers and Sgts Mess for

51 Sqn

In the afternoon, 51 Sqn were kind enough to host a limited, yet informative, tour of the Rivet Joint aircraft. The group appreciated being up close and personal to such an iconic and mysterious aircraft.

The Old Control Tower

Luckily, next door was the old control tower, so not far to walk. Built just after the Second World War and used in one form or another until 1996, it has sadly fallen into disrepair. It is still bears the recognisable outlines of when it was in its former glory.

Vulcan Bomber XM607

The sight of the Vulcan Bomber still causes a stir by those who remember Operation BLACK BUCK, flown by Flt Lt Martin Withers on the successful bombing raid of Port Stanley airfield in the Falkland Islands in 1982. Whilst still awaiting a new paint job, she still casts an impressive and powerful sight as she stands on the edge of the taxiway stripped to the bare metal. The Cosford group were enthused throughout the day, often asking many questions, not only of the history of RAF Waddington, but also of present day RAF working practices, ethos and lifestyles, which the veterans committee were only too happy to answer. One of the oldest gentlemen present was an ex-engine fitter, now in his 80s, he could have easily put most of us to shame with his stamina after a full, yet rewarding day. They all left with smiles on their faces… well worth the effort.

The Cosford Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society was initially formed in 1944 as the Birmingham Branch, and in 1994 became the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Cosford Branch in recognition of the closure of RAF Halton No.1 School of Technical Training.

The organisation is made up of members from the aerospace industries and also ex RAF personnel, so a visit of this kind is not only especially useful to showcase what RAF Waddington represents but also allows veterans to keep in touch with former units.