Report - RAF Coltishall..Norfolk 2018

[Mikeymutt]

This is my first post on here so be gentle.I have sat on this one for a fair while.earlier in the year I made quite a lot of trips here trying to find various bits of it.I had been on a visit here years ago and saw some bits,but I knew there was so much more to it.being near to me it was essy to go regularly to check it out.there is security on the site and cameras.so you just have to be a bit careful.Coltishall is now used as an industrial estate with many old buildings in use.it started off as battle of Britain fighter base during the second world war.fighter planes off various sorts were flown from here including hurricanes and spitfires.after the war it was used heavily in the cold war and was designated as a V bomber dispersal site.basically a back up airfield if the aircrafts hme airfield was damaged.the last planes to be based here was the jaguar jets.these saw service in the first gulf war.with the introduction of the euro fighter Coltishall was deemed none essential and so the station closed in 2006.it was a big question what was going to happen to the site.then Norfolk county council stepped in and bought it and this raised a few eyebrows.there track record is not great.

SERGEANTS MESS

The more modern block consisted of simple single bedrooms.

RECREATION

As usual with the armed forces recreation is a big factor.on coltishall there was a pool,gym and five aside football plus fields for grass sports.sadly the gym is a no go now.

 

[Mikeymutt]

BATTERY MAINTENANCE

This building was for storage off batteries for planes and veichles.jet planes carry some hefty batteries so a place was needed to store them safely,also there was a bit at the front for testing and draining the batteries.it had a morgue feel to it and now known as the battery morgue.

HANGAR

AS per standard there are four hangars here.several are in use.most of the maintenance work on the planes went on in here.to the sides there is offices and canteen areas.there was seriously nice airmans graffiti in here.

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[Mikeymutt]

BOMB STORES AND FUEL

A different way in was needed to do these as they are a fair way from the main site.and with CCTV covering the way down I did not want to get caught in the open.like most airfields the bomb stores are located a fair way from the main base for safety.and near to where they would take off.here there was a large building for testing the bombs and making sure they were safe.nearby is the fuel stores.not sure if these were for the planes or not.

 

[Mikeymutt]

JET TESTING

With the advancement of jet engines on planes there was a need to test the engines.coltishall had two testing parts,an indoor and an outdoor one.the out door one allowed the planes to back up to the exhaust duct and fire up its engines which would then be passed through the exhaust duct and through the chambers.the test bay is surrounded by thick concrete blast walls.

The indoor one was a similar style to the other.but this was used for engines unattached to the plane.acroos the way is another building,this was were they would repair the engines,they would then be transported to the tester.clamps on a rail would move across and grab the engine.it would then be moved to the exhaust duct for testing.note the array of cameras around the clamping system to monitior the testing process.

 

[Mikeymutt]

MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE

With the advancement off new technology on planes,radar,cameras,etc/, new block was built to house the maintenance squadron.the building is quite stripped,but I still enjoyed this block a lot.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT

The jaguars were use a lot in photo reconnaissance.here the photos what they took would be bought back and handled here ready for developing.the bar area had some nice graffiti inside it.

 

[Giymo85]

Jesus fella you sure got round that! I had no idea that there was this much left, bloody good job!

 

[Ferox]

Brilliant that mate. Looks massive. Love the pool

 

[MrDevla]

That’s a great report and those photos are brilliant, what camera do you use?

 

[mookster]

Never thought I'd see you on here mikey!

 

[Brewtal]

Nice to see you posting on here Mikey! You’ve done a cracking job of covering the place, seriously good work man!

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Ticks all the boxes for me, great first report and some cracking photos

 

[Oxygen Thief]

Very nicely done mate

 

[Mikeymutt]

Jesus fella you sure got round that! I had no idea that there was this much left, bloody good job!

Thank you..Yeah there is so much more here than just the officers mess.which I did last year

 

[Mikeymutt]

That’s a great report and those photos are brilliant, what camera do you use?

Thank you.i use a fuji xt10

 

[Mikeymutt]

Nice to see you posting on here Mikey! You’ve done a cracking job of covering the place, seriously good work man!

Thank you mate.thought I would give it a look.