Report - RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire - Nov 14

[1nk4]

This was a very short journey indeed, had the misfortune of opening a door as a copper was walking his dogs lol.

Either way the building we did check out was pretty interesting!

shouts to the copper, he woulda given us a a guided tour if it weren't for the jobs worth security gate man

_________

At least it wasn't a complete wasted journey, got to spend the day with 2 lovely ladies!

 

[The Kwan]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

Some of that equipment looks right interesting, shame about your jobsworth secca.
gotta love those lights

 

[Ordnance]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

A report always benefits from a bit of history:

The Rocket Propulsion Establishment at Westcott, Buckinghamshire on the site of the former RAF Westcott has made a number of notable contributions in the field of rocket propulsion, including input on the rocket design for the Blue Streak missile and the propulsion systems on Chevaline. It was also known as the Guided Projectiles Establishment and PERME Westcott (Propellants, Explosives and Rocket Motor Establishment, Westcott).

For many years this establishment was regarded as so secret it was not marked on Ordnance Survey maps, although it was marked, from necessity, on maps for the use of pilots.

History

The establishment was set up in April 1946 under the Ministry of Supply. In the initial years a team of German scientists worked at the site, and examples of German weapons were onsite for study. These included the V-1 flying bomb; V-2; Feuerlilie F-55 subsonic missile; Messerschmitt Me-163B rocket-propelled interceptor; Rheintochter-1 anti-aircraft missile; Ruhrstahl X-4 air-to-air wire-controlled missile; Enzian E-1 3,150-lb missile; Henschel Hs 298 anti-aircraft missile; Hs 293 anti-shipping weapon; and Schmetterling and Wasserfall anti-aircraft missiles.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s Westcott undertook the design and development of rocket motors, and was responsible for most of the rocket motors used in British guided missiles and research vehicles. The design of these whole missile systems was undertaken by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at its facilities in Farnborough and Bedford.

In 1984 the Rocket Propulsion Establishment came under the control of the Royal Ordnance Factories, and in 1987 control passed to the private sector when British Aerospace took over Royal Ordnance.

Most of the site is now a Venture Park, for light industry

https://ubp.buckscc.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid='MBC22153'

 

[1nk4]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

yer sorry i forgot to add history, was 1am when i uploaded these! thanks though

 

[PCWOX]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

This fantastic place does permission visits. Check mine and ELS reports for more details of what you can see. The chap is very knowledgable

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums...Buckinghamshire-April-2013?highlight=westcott

 

[A man called Martyn]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

Another thing of note about the history of Westcott is the ground breaking research undertaken on the underground launcher for Blue Streak. The term 'Silo' was not in usage in the UK, at the time.
The remains of the 1/6th scale undeground launcher constructed at Westcott to validate the concept, can be seen in pictures on the linked threads iirc.

 

[tigger]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

Another thing of note about the history of Westcott is the ground breaking research undertaken on the underground launcher for Blue Streak. The term 'Silo' was not in usage in the UK, at the time.
The remains of the 1/6th scale undeground launcher constructed at Westcott to validate the concept, can be seen in pictures on the linked threads iirc.

The remaining sections of the 1/6th scale concrete 'silo' are visible in the first photo of the linked thread. Only a few remain (and they aren't protected...but the P2 site around them in the photo is), not in their original location (which was near to the centrifugal test bed). The design was never tested in the ground, rather they were mounted in a horizontal 'U'-shape. Westcott is still a centre for cutting edge rocket motor research.

 

[A man called Martyn]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

@Tigger
I do have a copy of "A vertical empire" in my possession, so i'm very aware of how the model Blue streak ' silo ' looked at Westcott. The book has a single period photograph of the model silo.

 

[1nk4]

Re: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire (Nov 14)

Some nice bits there, gutted about the cop!

to be fair he was sound as fuck, i asked him if he'd give us a guided tour, he just asked if the gate guard had given permission, im sure if i had said yes he woulda let us walk around with him and hi killer dogs, the cop even admitted to going in the buildings, he asked to see all my photos too, it was quite nice actually lol