Visit: RAF Linton On Ouse

[Jimbuna]

Took a trip down with a few friends (Boris, Concorde, Squadron Wings) having booked in advance and once through the usual security checks (two docs, one to include a photo) we were escorted to the Halifax Block to be shown around the Memorial Room by Wing Commander (retired) Alan Mawby.

RAF Linton On Ouse mission statement is simple: To train tommorow's fast-jet aircrew.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflintononouse/

http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflintononous...memorialrm.cfm

We all had a great visit and a thoroughly enjoyable day out.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Good stuff. Never been to Linton, unless I went as a cadet from a camp at Leeming, I'll check later.

Jealous.

[Jimbuna]

I honestly wasn't sure if it was my kind of visit what with there being no fast jets or Hawks even but the Wing Commander had been there since 1977 and certainly knew his stuff.

Another plus was seeing original photos of the 4 Group RAF aircrews as well as some of the famouse senior officers such as Harris and Cheshire, not to mention the large array of different bomber types.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

the Wing Commander had been there since 1977 and certainly knew his stuff.

More than that, I do believe he's been mentioned on these boards before...let me rummage...can't find it but I'm sure it was brought up.

In early November 2008 Wing Commander Paul Gerrard, who is based at the station, was involved in an unusual mid-air rescue. Sixty-five-year-old Jim O'Neill was flying a four seater Cessna 182 from Scotland to Essex after a family holiday, when he had a stroke which caused temporary blindness. Gerrard was on a training flight, and after being alerted to the situation, located O'Neill's aircraft and over a 45 minute period, guided O'Neill to a safe landing at Linton

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

More than that, I do believe he's been mentioned on these boards before...let me rummage...can't find it but I'm sure it was brought up.

I was referring to another Wing Commander.....Wing Commander (retired) Alan Mawby

Heard today that Linton and Leeming may be closed next year

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I was referring to another Wing Commander.....Wing Commander (retired) Alan Mawby

Heard today that Linton and Leeming may be closed next year

And that's what I get for being distracted by the pictures and missing your introductory paragraph... Either which way, good to hear that he's in charge of the collection there, it helps to have someone who has a vested interest in the matter to look after a museum. Makes it more interesting when you get nattering to them too. When I went to the Cold War Museum at Bentwaters Nagys dad was explaining the ins and outs of some of the systems there since he used to do jobs on the base back in the 1980s. You pick up some interesting tidbits of info that aren't on display, and there was also a pretty cool American chap who used to work at Bentwaters around the same time. I once thought I saw a F-117 at Bentwaters back in the same timeframe and he denied seeing any, so either it's classified (not likely) or my ID was incorrect (more likely, it was getting dark and I was young).

Shame about Leeming and Linton, bases are dropping like flies now. Got to feel sorry for 100 Squadron, they've been shunted from pillar to post since Finningley folded.