RAF Sibson, Huntingdonshire, May 2016

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HughieD

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I really do like my RAF bases. They often get overlooked by explorers but for me hunting around the undergrowth for Stanton shelters is real fun. RAF Sibson does get overlooked (this is its debut appearance on DP) as a lot of the interesting stuff has gone (hangers, watch office etc). That said, there was still enough to make this an enjoyable morning explore in the countryside of Huntingdonshire. Or is that Cambridgeshire or Northants, as there are conflicting reports here! The site of the WWII airfield is south-west of the modern airfield.

There's not a lot of history about this place. Six miles west of Peterborough, the airfield opened in July 1940. It had only grass runways (two - one running NE-SW and another N/S) but boasted six hangers (one double blister, three single blisters and a T1) and temporary accommodation for 603 male and 37 female personnel. Initially it was used by 21 Group as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for naval pilots training for flying Hawker Audaxes and Hart bi-planes. This was to relieve the pressure on RAF Cranfield. The airfield was bombed in August 1940 by the Luftwaffe. It later saw Tiger Moths before being put under care and maintenance in mid-1945. It finally closed in October 1946. Unfortunately the new airfield at Sibson was in the news for the wrong reasons when a skydiver died in 2012 after a mid-air collision with another skydiver. Two years later it was in the news for the right reasons, again sky-diving related, when a 92-year-old Peter Proctor, an ex-Spitfire pilot (who ironically never had to use his parachute during the second world war), made a charity jump at Sibson airfield.

Here are the pictures.

The most striking building here is the former water-tower on the hill:

26178664803_8caed22d35_b.jpgimg5179panbw by HughieDW, on Flickr

It's quite rare as there things tend to fall down!

26781575305_7067a174ea_b.jpgimg5175 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26177229674_efd7d3c800_b.jpgimg5121 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26509767580_9ddc17a908_b.jpgimg5122 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Inside it's still pretty pristine:

26177178134_07765d8b97_b.jpgimg5123 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Up the hill there's an ensemble of former RAF buildings:

26715289241_b57e22fa2b_b.jpgimg5125 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Used by the farmer when the base was returned back to agricultural use:

26715240631_26c86fa1a4_b.jpgimg5129 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26509473430_aaaa2e9b77_b.jpgimg5134 by HughieDW, on Flickr

There's a second water-tower here:

26178338373_02e159821f_b.jpgimg5135 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26688528072_0921f1986b_b.jpgimg5130 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Inside it's like new!

26715010171_bfd81cdc4f_b.jpgimg5136 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And the odd other building remains:

26176966254_4a98ee6c77_b.jpgimg5133 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26688477322_8880fb4abb_b.jpgimg5132 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Down the hill there are some more buildings including this lovely little Stanton shelter:

26782122165_8b0c7121f9_b.jpgimg5138 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Again totally pristine:

26176786074_15098704a5_b.jpgimg5140 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And another…

26714865881_b16ff795d0_b.jpgimg5144 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Here's another RAF building that looks like it was used subsequently used as a chicken coop!

26509211910_7422736ce7_b.jpgimg5146 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26781939025_9e266d0e01_b.jpgimg5151 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And a very large Stanton shelter:

26714751171_8b99da67de_b.jpgimg5152 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26781872515_5a6bdd630b_b.jpgimg5155 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Again, very clean:

26688002982_0ff37c5820_b.jpgimg5156 by HughieDW, on Flickr

A bit of agricultural hardware:

26508999970_d9eb08924e_b.jpgimg5161 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And one last RAF building which looks like it has been used to stable animals:

26687898462_b20bcbd30f_b.jpgimg5162 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26176345324_84bdb49e06_b.jpgimg5163 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Finally on Google Earth, just to the north, I saw this former stable which I took a quick peek at:

26687814542_abbd368c9a_b.jpgimg5167 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26177707123_a009b807d3_b.jpgimg5168 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!
 
Last edited:
Can't beat a good airfield mooch.

Nice one mate.

Cheers Newage
 
it looks like you had a good old mooch about, great post HughieD. There's a place i know that i may have to check out, you have inspired me.
 

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