RAF North Luffenham

[AJI]

Just casually browsing google satallite view and noticed that one of our airfields has been bombed! Quick alert the MOD! Send up the spitfires!
Seriously though, I couldn't find out why there are bomb craters still on the runways. A quick check on google search didn't give me a result.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=52.631...

[clarkey]

Looks like a Hawker Hunter is parked there still as well!

I believe it is used for bomb disposal training now.

[AJI]

Ah that would explain it well enough.
But any reason why they'd chose this training on concrete/tarmac surface rather than simple earth next to the runway?

[Marlin45]

Note the two LWB mil Land Rovers and the temporary container encampment to the East of the map location. Site is still active for training so I would guess live munitions are still used from time to time?

[MikeGTi]

clarkey said:

Looks like a Hawker Hunter is parked there still as well!

I believe it is used for bomb disposal training now.

There's a Phantom, too.. and something on the south side but my Google won't zoom in on it!

Just got it to work - It's a Harrier on the south side.

[DamienB]

Yes, EOD training site - the Hunter is long gone, now returning to her former glory as one of the Black Arrows team at Wattisham. The poor Phantom and Harrier are still there I think.

[ninja-lewis]

North Luffenham is now used by the Army as St George's Barracks, home to 16th Regiment Royal Artillery (Rapier).

No 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron at nearby RAF Wittering, use North Luffenhum as a satellite site for training. The craters visible on aerial photos were dug and dummy bombs placed in them so they can practice defusing bombs (their war role is to clear airfields of ordnance). They also use some of the old aircraft to practice dealing with bombs still attached to an aircraft.

http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/communi...

[AJI]

Thanks Lewis, good knowledge.

[Burrow01]

The ex Thor missile sites have also just been granted Grade 2* Listed status as well

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19957466

You hear quite a few random explosions from the airfield, hopefully not buried nukes

[civicduty]

AJI said:

Ah that would explain it well enough.
But any reason why they'd chose this training on concrete/tarmac surface rather than simple earth next to the runway?

Lets just say you would be suprised at the speed of tarmac layers in Afghanistan, especially after they have been burying presents.

[BruceV8]

ninja-lewis said:

North Luffenham is now used by the Army as St George's Barracks, home to 16th Regiment Royal Artillery (Rapier).

No 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron at nearby RAF Wittering, use North Luffenhum as a satellite site for training. The craters visible on aerial photos were dug and dummy bombs placed in them so they can practice defusing bombs (their war role is to clear airfields of ordnance). They also use some of the old aircraft to practice dealing with bombs still attached to an aircraft.

http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/communi...

Not for long, sadly. 5131 is due to be disbanded and the RAF will lose its EOD responsibilities.

[anonymous-user]

Digging bomb craters sounds like hard work compared to making them with the real thing............ ;-)

[yellowjack]

Max_Torque said:

Digging bomb craters sounds like hard work compared to making them with the real thing............ ;-)

Do you mean air dropped, and in the wrong place, or the ones that go exactly where you want them to.........

http://www.mondial-defence.com/2011/Products/Rapid...


Me likee very much. Dig um big hole very quick.

[steve j]

BruceV8 said:

Not for long, sadly. 5131 is due to be disbanded and the RAF will lose its EOD responsibilities.

As a former 5131 member I`m saddened by that news, the peacetime roles were mainly range clearance and clearing up after trials.

[SirTainly]

at one point there used to be a "MiG" on the runway there too (it was a Hunter that has been chopped about IIRC).