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Report - - RAF West Raynham..Norfolk 2014-2019 | Military Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - RAF West Raynham..Norfolk 2014-2019

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Mikeymutt🐶

28DL Regular User
Regular User
I have made many visits to Raynham over the years. I have shown friends around, and made quite a few solo visits. I have tried to cover it as much as I can. There a few bits I ain't been too including the bomb dump as it's full off sheep and sealed. I have not seen the church either. I have missed some bits on this report like the dome as was just full of wood when I went. Also the small ATC tower as never really took any photos in it.
West Raynham was built in 1938/1939. It was an expansion airfield and was to be used by British bomber command. Two support airfields were built in 1940 two support Raynham. This was common with a lot of airfields. The two airfields were Great Massingham, which was to help with space for the Bristol Blenheim's. But it ended up having it's own squadron and was expanded to host these. The other satellite one was RAF Sculthorpe which would then go on to become an even bigger and busier station after the war. It was used by the Americans during the cold war. Raynham survived quite a while after the war and was expanded heavily during 1946 with many additional buildings added. The VHB watch office was added as well. Many squadrons were based at Raynham. The site was used as a bloodhound base as well. The base was closed in 1994 but was retained by the military for ten years as a strategic reserve. What I can gather was that it was just basically left without much work going on. The houses were left to deteriorate. A local MP kicked off about this, that the fact they had been left when there was a housing shortage. The MOD eventually sold the housing in 2004 and the rest of the site in 2005. The main base has quite a few industrial let's in it, Norfolk oak company owns two of the big hangars. In the last few years occupation on the site has grown considerably, a solar farm has been constructed in the old runways. The tower is now under ownership and slowly being converted to accomodation. The work they are doing is superb and such a lovely couple. I can't wait to go see what they have done with the tower. Excuse some of the earlier photos when I was into high contrast and saturation.

The Naffi is a place I ain't seen much of. I think a lot don't realise this is here. A place for the staff to relax and have a drink. Their is a bar area and a place for snacks and food with kitchen in the rear. Upstairs is a hall what had either a pool or snooker table in it. Their is also some accomodation rooms.

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The airman's restaurant is prob the most visited part of Raynham along with the officers mess. The shot everyone wants is the foyer with its doors and staircases. This was the first and last time I used a fisheye. I was showing a friend around and he had a fisheye for his Fuji. So I borrowed it for the foyer shot as I always struggled to get it all in.

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Mikeymutt🐶

28DL Regular User
Regular User
The station HQ which is situated near the main gates would be were the exchange would be, and administration, etc.

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The gymnasium is quite a nice example, the main hall is in perfect condition. With pull out gym apparatus and a sports court. But get around the sides to the gym and changing rooms it's a total contrast with heavy decay.

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In the middle of the site is a sports and social club. Was not a great deal to see here.

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Mikeymutt🐶

28DL Regular User
Regular User
On the site are several boiler sites. I have visited three of them. The first is the popular one near the accomodation blocks. It's an older style boiler house. It's cakes in pigeon poo.

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The second boiler house is in the middle of the main site. It's not n a similar style to the first one.

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Virtually next to the last boiler house is another boiler house. This is a newer addition and a lot cleaner.

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Next to the runways and taxiways is the tower. This is one of only four built. A fire engine building is built next to it. As said before it's now under renovation and their is a cracking FB page following progress.

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Mikeymutt🐶

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Near the gymnasium is the medical block. With treatment rooms for the sick. Last time I went, this and the gym was being used for Airsoft.

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Backing on to the medical block is a decontamination block. A corridor leads of the of the medical to a massive red metal door. This could be sealed shut in the event of an emergency. With the threat of a Russian attack in the cold war and the real threat of chemical weapons. The block was built, it had various stages that someone would go through. With showers and treatment beds. A control cell would keep track of things. The decontamination block had its own electric supply. Each chamber could be sealed separately.

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Near the restaurant is several accomodation blocks. These are quite respective. With communal shower and bathrooms. I liked the emergency bunkers under them and wished I had got photos of them. The ironing boards what folders into the wall were rather nice.

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Continued...
 

Mikeymutt🐶

28DL Regular User
Regular User
The officers mess which as standard is situated further away from the main site. It's of a standard design to many other airfields. Most RAF accommodation was of a basic standard design. With mess halls, bar area and function room. The H blocks which had wings on with end offered two levels of accomodation. Since precious visits they had boarded all the front windows.

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This was the last visit I made to see the old bloodhound training school. The colours in here were quite lovely.

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Last year I was so tempted to go back and get this toilet roll when the toilet roll riots kicked in and the toilet roll situation looked bleak

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I have been into two of the hangars. Their are four in total. The large type 3 hangars are always impressive to stand in. You cannot get a scale of the size till on one. The massive hangar doors are impressive alone

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Cheers for having a little look.
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Great to see all the bits most people miss. I agree about the hangars, I've stood in very similar ones at RAF Bicester and they are enormous.
 
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