Lyneham
LYNEHAM: Military aerodrome also used by civil MoD contractors
IATA: LYE ICAO: EGDL
Military users: WW2: RAF Transport Command 116 Wing
246 Sqdn (Consolidated B-24 Liberators)
511 Sqdn (Liberators, later Avro Yorks)
525 Sqdn (Douglas C-47 Dakotas)
1 FCP (Ferry Crew Pool)
33 MU (Maintenance Unit)
14 SFTS (Airspeed Oxfords)
A MIKE CHARLTON GALLERY
Note: These pictures from postcards were kindly sent by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection. See, www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
First picture: The Lockheed Hercules first appeared at LYNEHAM in 1971 with the C-130K version. Later these were supplemented by the Lockheed Martin C-130J version and I think both versions (?) stayed until 2011.
Second picture: The caption says this was a Comet 4, but this is not quite correct. It was a C.4 operated by the RAF as opposed to Comet 4s such as the 4B which were for civil use.
Third picture: This VC.10 C.1 was almost certainly based at RAF BRIZE NORTON in OXFORDSHIRE.
Fourth picture: The Britannia was known as the 'Whispering Giant' simply because, for its size, it was astonishingly quiet even when taking off. However, for the flight crews it suffered from induction icing in its engines - a problem never solved as such - and needing constant monitoring. It was also, along with nearly all of the other British airliners of the period, the DH.106 Comet, the Trident and VC.10, a commercial flop.
Fifth picture: This view appears to show four Bristol Britannias, so presumably the picture was taken in the 1960s?
Post 1945: RAF Transport Command
'V' Bomber dispersal airfield
1945: 99 Sqdn (Avro 685 Yorks, later Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings, then Bristol 175 Britannia C.1s)
1946: 511 Sqdn (Avro 685 Yorks, later Handley Page F.P.67 Hastings, then Bristol 175 Britannia C.1s)
Note: It appears the Britannia served here from 1959 to 1976.
1956 216 Sqdn (DH.106 Comet C.2 & C.4)
Note: It appears that 216 Squadron operated the Comet C.2 and C.4 here, from 1956 to 1975.
1975 to ? : 24, 30, 47, 57(R), 70 Sqdns (Lockheed C-130 Hercules)
242 Sqdn OCU [Operational Conversion Unit] (Lockheed C-130 Hercules)
1998 snapshot: RAF Air Transport
24 Sqdn 12 x Lockheed C.130 Hercules (C.1 and C.3)
30 Sqdn 12 x Lockheed C.130 Hercules (C.1 and C.3)
47 Sqdn 13 x Lockheed C.130 Hercules (C.1 and C.3)
70 Sqdn 12 x Lockheed C.130 Hercules (C.1 and C.3)
RAF Operational Conversion Unit
57 (R) Sqdn (HOCU) 6 x Lockheed Hercules C 1 and C 3
Civil users: Post 1945: On MoD contracts: ACE Freighters, Air Charter, Surrey Flying Services
Location: S of Bradenstoke village, S of the A420, 6nm NE of Chippenham, 8nm WSW of Swindon
Period of operation: 1940 to - (Was to be closed in 2004) - but eventually in 2014? Other accounts state that flying operations ceased in 2011 and the Station closed in 2012.
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 07/25 1829x46 hard 13/31 1463x46 hard
01/19 1829x46 hard
1990/ 2000: 06/24 2386x46 hard 18/36 1826x46 hard
NOTES: In 1960, 99 Sqdn were operating Bristol Britannia C.1s and 216 Sqdn were operating DH.106 Comet C.2s.
A LITTLE KNOWN FACT?
One piece of history probably not too well known is that Derby Airways became the first carrier, civil or military, to use the then new Royal Air Force Operations Block and Passenger Lounge, on the very day it opened! The story is that the Derby Airways Douglas Dakota G-ANEG was en route from STAVERTON (GLOUCESTERSHIRE) to JERSEY when the starboard engine faltered and was shut down and an emergency landing made at LYNEHAM soon after the official opening of the facilities. It might be worth explaining that for every pilot, or aircrew – in an emergency every available airfield can be used, no matter how restricted or secret or private.
This said, this applies in the U.K., but not always the case elsewhere.
A LITTLE ODD PERHAPS?
A listing in 1997 makes for food for thought though. Why was the Piper PA-31 Navajo 300 G-AYNB belonging to Unigate Ltd listed as being based here? Assumimg this report is correct I suppose there is a perfectly innocent explanation - but what is it?
A HOME FOR THE 'HERC'.
In 2004 and for many years, LYNEHAM was the home of the RAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules. A flight guide published in 2000 states that LYNEHAM was just a RAF Emergency Diversion Aerodrome. Here again surely yet another nonsense? In 2000 and well before and beyond, anybody driving along the M4, (even late in the evening sometimes), would nearly always see RAF Hercules operating and often doing circuit practise!
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