Great Orton
GREAT ORTON: Military aerodrome later private airstrip
Military users: WW2: RAF Coastal Command 17 Group (RLG for SILLOTH)
6 OTU (Vickers Wellingtons)
55 OTU (Hawker Hurricanes)
Operated by: 2001: Solway Light Aviation Ltd
Location: W of Great Orton & NE of Wiggonby vllages, 1nm S of Kirkbampton
Period of operation: Military: 1943 to 1952 Civil: 1980s & 2001. Later perhaps?
Runways: WW2: 08/26 1820x46 hard 13/31 1289x46 hard
02/20 1280 hard
2001: 07/25 850x46 hard
NOTES: Just a very little point I readily admit but here again is another example where two of the runway lengths deviate slightly from the standard aerodrome lay-out of that time. I’m intrigued to know why exactly? Did the contractors cock it up, because they couldn’t make measurements accurately? Or, as I suspect is more probably the case they were actually very accurately measured by somebody when handing over and taking charge?
I expect it was nigh on impossible for the contractors to get the exact amounts of material required delivered in precise quantities especially in those days and I suspect many aerodromes in WW2 had runways that differed slightly in length at least from the figures given in official records. As we know even aircraft usually differ slightly in their actual dimensions as opposed to the dimensions given on the design drawings
AN APPALLING LEGACY
In the late part of the 20th century this ex-RAF aerodrome became internationally famous when a major national disaster occurred. It was the major operational base for the cremation of animals afflicted by the ‘foot and mouth’ disease in this region. Although still a highly contentious issue it now seems possible, (or even highly probable?), that the outbreak was deliberately started at the behest of the then Labour government headed by the paranoid Prime Minister Tony Blair who was determined to destroy the influence of the ‘Countryside Alliance’.
This is another aspect about delving into UK aviation history - barely scratch the surface and you can be pretty certain a potentially major political scandal will soon emerge.
SOMETHING NOT KNOWN
At the height of this catastrophe Tony Blair ordered that no press or media could be allowed anywhere near - as typically they all had various bogus agendas. (Nothing has changed). Only one reporter was eventually allowed in, with top level approval, to cover the logistics involved for Truck & Driver magazine. That was me.
What they didn't know was that I was also an owner driver, and had noticed that the initial outbreak of 'foot & mouth', alongside the A.6, had occurred right next door to a government research establishment run by the ministry concerned with matters appertaining to agriculture, animal health etc. Call me cynical, but that really is one hell of a coincidence!
Andrew Fitton
This comment was written on: 2017-07-09 22:07:44The establishment referred to above on the A6 is likely the DEFRA Merrythought Veterinary Investigation Centre. It is one of a network of centres across the UK supporting animal health across the UK. The Veterinary Investigation Service is the body which supports the regulations and investigates cases of Animal Health, it does not create them. The VI centres report to the Chief Vet at Central Veterinary Labs at Weybridge in Surrey. Foot and Mouth is a reportable disease and famers and vets know to report it as soon as they see it.. I believe a farmer called Bobby Waugh from Heddon in Northumberland had an identified outbreak and told no one which is a legal and moral offence but continued to send animals across the UK aiding the pandemic and moreover the livestock were so riddled with it, it infected sheep in the surrounding fields. By all accounts Waugh was a poor farmer with a decrepit and filthy farm.. Waugh was successfully prosecuted. The site of Waugh's farm and indeed the Essex abattoir are no where near the entire stretch of the A6. My experience to comment - my family had been involved in farming in Cumbria for 200 years, many people I know were impacted and my father was a senior vet at Merrythought for 23 years until his retirement in 1997.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Dear Andrew, Many thanks indeed for this advice and information which I shall keep posted. As you can see, as just a visitor to the region, I can only report on what appeared to be the best advice at the time. My best regards, Dick
john west
This comment was written on: 2019-05-21 16:40:11I did part of my National Service 1949/1950 here, all I remember was it was wet & B cold JW
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
