RAF Seighford.
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RAF Seighford opened in 1943 as a Satelite Bomber Airfield and was home to RAF 30 Operational Training Unit until it closed in 1947.
Nine years later in 1956 Boulton Paul Aircraft took over the site as a flight test centre, this is where the Tay-Viscount jet airliner was first fitted with Fly-By-Wire controls, the first aircraft in the world to boast this technology.
In 1961 the airfield also became home to Canberra Jet Bombers and Lightning Jet Fighter aircraft until the company ceased it operations from Seighford and vacated the site in 1965.
An interesting fact about RAF Seighford, In December 1945 and Airspeed Oxford MK1 training aircraft based here, crashed whilst on a routine flight in Edale Derbyshire.
One of the pilots on board was Ted Croker, who after the war went on to play football for Charlton Athletic and later became chairman of the F.A.
Seighford has always maintained its use as an airfield through out the years in one form or another and is now home of The Staffordshire Gliding Club who moved here in 1992 and have been here ever since.
A nice surprise was finding an electrical sub station still present on the site, something none of us have encountered before.
The majority of the buildings are empty as expected but some are still used by the local farmer as storage.
It was also nice too see how many of the original WWII buildings are still standing and spread out over such a wide distance.
This section of the base is totally derelict and has been for some years, the other side of the field is now occupied by the Staffordshire Glider Club.
We visited this place whilst on the way to RAF Cosford as its been on our to do list for quite some time, finding the place couldnt of been easier as it sits right on the main road.
The buildings are spread out more than some of WWII airfields we have visited and they are all in exceptionally good condition too.
Sadly the watch office has had the front part of the building demolished at some point, as with most of these sites, they are stripped bare with exception of some wiring and switches scattered about.
All in all an enjoyable explore and worth the trip.
Date : August 2007 : Location : Staffordshire : Explorers : Havoc : Storm
