Gaydon at Home Day 1963. Vulcan, Valiant, Victor.
Photograph (c) Graham Richardson
Gaydon at Home Day Programme, 1963.
Photograph courtesy of Graham Richardson
The photo of the planes was taken by my Dad in September 1963, and I’ve also attached the programme of the actual day. The aircraft pictured are left to right: Vulcan; Valiant; and Victor.
Gaydon opened in June of 1942 and was selected to become a V Bomber base between 1953-54. The base closed on 31st October 1974, and British Leyland bought the site in 1974.
Battle of Britain Home Days
The RAF had what they called Battle of Britain at Home Days held each September at a number of stations up and down the UK, and the Gaydon show was our nearest. It continued through the 1960s and early 70s. The aircraft are in their anti-dazzle white paint, as the threat from a nuclear attack was very real then.
An article on the base’s time as a V bomber base can be found here.
Comments
I remember as a very young boy being taken to Gaydon Air show with my family as a birthday treat. I got separated from the family and was taken to a hanger where I was looked after by some RAF lads. I probably had a better time than if I had stayed with my dad. I had sweets, ice cream, comics and a toy. Thought this is a good lark getting lost is profitable.
I remember I was sent on detachment from RAF Cosford to RAF Gaydon for a month or so before my training course started. About 20 of us spent our days cleaning the static display aircrafts prior to Battle of Britain event in September. The SWO was a great bloke who used to let us kids go home early on a Friday. Happy days!
Can anyone remember the 50th Anniversary of the RAF celebrations at Gaydon? I clearly remember the aircraft being scrambled during a social function during the cold war, but maybe my memory is playing tricks.
Hello Paul Pickering!
That SWO was W/O Allen – my next door neighbour then. My Dad W/O Corbett was i/c Hanger 2, Valiant servicing. I lived there 1955 to 1963.
My father, generally called Artie or Ray, was the ground Engineer for XA935, he was a Warrant Officer and received the MBE (Milt) before leaving the RAF and emigrating to Australia in 1965. He died in 1976. Seeing thi page reminded me of Kineton High School and the cinder path to the Gaydon village and the Bank Holiday Ban The Bombers.
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