Hi. On a recent flight back from Germany to Stansted i got this picture of the airfield from above. Wethersfield was where 9 Para and other 3 Bde elements took off for Varsity ( I think without looking it up! ) Alex.
I recall drinking there as a guest before the US finally left, my CO was rather put out about being given a can of beer without a glass.
USAFE used it as an alternative landing ground, recall passing it and the F111 were flying from there.
F84s and F100s were based there from the early 50s through to about 1970, but apart from occasional deployments, little further use was made until the site was formally handed back in (IIRC) 1990.
Going to Denmark from Stansted gives the view of a first class layout of Wethersfield showing clearly the dispersal pans and runways. At one time during its now non flying role,I believe RAF police dogs were trained at Wethersfield. Aerial Views Of U.K. Airfields - Wethersfield Essex Blutto......regarding drinking from beer cans,I always joke with my sons if offered a can of beer in the garden....."officers do not drink out of cans".
What do you mean 'joke'! It had a very good runway, just a touch over 9000'. It was the MoD Police that took over the place, not RAF. I'm not sure what happened to the RAF dog school after it left RAF Debden some time before the pongos took the place over.
Not sure what happened to the RAF dog depot after they left Debden.I would think that they probably ended up at Halton. Adrift from Wethersfield.... talking about the serving of alcohol takes me back to a holiday in North Devon in 1975 when we went on holiday with my parents.My father had been on trips to Lundy when young and we decided to have a day there....the ship operator from Ilfracombe as I recollect,was the same company as my father remembered. On the way out we had a pint in the saloon while the ladies had port,both served in plastic.Returning to Ilfracombe,I asked for the same drinks,the same lady bar attendant served the drinks this time using real glasses and handed them to me adding "glasses for gentlemen" I never was assessed on how I ate peas on that trip which apparently in the past was regarded as one of the tests for being recognised as a gentleman.