2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
My Father tells me that there was an airfield at Watchford and that the Paras used it as a drop zone in the 1950's. Taking off from Abindon, they would drop at Watchfield. My Father did his night drop here and said that the staff on the ground would leave the hanger doors open with the lights on so that the young paras could just see enough to assess how much the wind was making them drift. Does anyone have photos of this aspect of lift in Watchfield. There is no mention of Watchfield in current aeronautical charts. Your Watchfield, NAAFI Corner photograph suggests some military ties. I would be interested to learn more.
Memories Links
Other memories of NAAFI Corner c1955
See more memories of Watchfield
Add a Memory for another place
Tips & Ideas
How has this scene changed?
Do you know who lived or worked here?
Why is this photo significant to you?
Particular points of interest - transport, architecture, fashions etc.
Comments
2 comments have been shared so far in response to the memory "2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment".
Why not get involved and post your comments using the comment form below.
Comments
RE: RE: 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
Hi Alan, I can confirm that there was a military airodrome at Watchfield. I remember watching from a distance as learner paras jumped from a baloon basket.
Tony Stayne
Comment from Name withheld on Tuesday, 12th August 2008.
RE: RE: 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
During the early 1960s I was an air cadet. I often went to RAF Abingdon to cadge a flight, usually from the Blacburn Beverly squadron (No. 47 squadron, I think). If nothing else was on, one could guarantee a trip or two to Watchfield to drop either paratroops of ordinance. As Abingdon was the RAF No.1 parachute training school, many trips went from there to Watchfield to drop the trainees. When a class was on their first drop from a 'plane, there would often be refusees, and I remember one trip when a lad refused. We had the RAF freefall team on board for a high level drop at Weston-on-the-Green. We chugged our way there, climbing to our maximum height of about 16,000 feet and let the freefall chaps out of the rear doors. The pilot dropped the nose and started to lose height rapidly. ab Abingdon was not far away. At this point, the very noisy plane - more so as the rear doors had been removed to allow the freefaller to exit - was filled with howls of agony. The refusee was experiencing acute pains in his ears which were blocked by wax. Until the Air Quartermaster could shift the wax, we circled.
Comment from Tim Jones on Wednesday, 18th August 2010.