Royal
Air
Force StationRoyal
Air
Force Station
BEMPTON
RE-UNION 2006
The proposed reunion for July 20th 2006 had to be abandoned due to lack of support - However several people who had already made prior arrangements to be in the area on that date attended the White Horse for lunch and a very good get-together ensued.
HOWEVER
A reunion has been organised for 9th July 2008 at the White Horse, Bempton
This is currently under-way and is being organised by Mike (and Gill) Blanchard who can be contacted at:-
84 Holbeck Hill, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 3BW
Press the button to View earlier Reunions
Welcome to the R.A.F. Bempton Website
This site is being produced and constantly updated by Norman Down who was stationed at Bempton from April 1954 to September 1955
I keep a database
of ex-Bempton personnel, many of whom I am in touch with -
George Hepworth, *Tom Mayfield and myself also endeavour to arrange
reunions and get-togethers from time to time. Tom has now retired from his duties and we are pleased to welcome Mike Blanchard who will be assisting us - Many thanks for your past help Tom.
If you are an ex-Bempton'ite and
would like to be included in any of the above, please E-Mail
or send your details to:
Norman Down, 23 Christopher Close, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 9SA
Be sure to click on the names of any personnel which are underlined, as there are some quite good stories hidden about
.
A Brief History of R.A.F. Bempton
Location:
6 miles N. of Bridlington, 18 miles S. of Scarborough, 10 miles W. of Flamborough
Head*
| R.A.F. Bempton started life in February 1940
as R.A.F. Flamborough Head, but later that year was renamed
Bempton. It was a *GCI station
for the remainder of the war years, disbanding on 1st August
1945. It then had a brief spell as an Air Ministry Experimental Station Type 31 until 1st November 1945 when the station was shut down. It was then allocated to the Northern Signals Area (90 Group) and placed on a care and maintenance basis. On 1st June 1949, the station was declared operational again as a CHL/CHEL station. On 17th February 1950 it was transferred to Fighter Command, with whom on 1st November 1951, it was renamed as 146 Signals Unit Bempton. |
146 Signals Unit disbanded on 1st December 1961,
and the station was renamed R.A.F. Bempton. It soldiered
on as such until 1st April 1964 when it was disbanded. Bempton
was then reduced to a domestic satellite station of R.A.F.
Patrington. It remained as such until April 1972, when there was no further requirement for the quarters. It was then reduced to redundant station status. Bempton was finally disposed of, some time in 1980/81. *The above information was supplied by and is reproduced by kind permission of the Ministry of Defence. *The site underwent a massive rebuild in the early 50's to provide a new bunker and convert the site into a part of the Rotor Programme. *(added fact from James Fox) |
*There are other web-sites which cover the Radar story in a little more detail - one of these being RSG (Research Study Group) who have a list of all the radar sites and include many pictures of the Bempton Tech Site, they also have an interesting virtual-tour of the underground installation and an article by Tex Bennett on the Rotor project.
There is now a wonderful 'Living Museum' at RAF Holmpton (near Patrington) Well worth a visit, it is underground and a tour lasts about 2 -3 hours which includes many visual effects, films, slide shows etc. It also interests the Ladies (my wife was a bit reluctant to go in but afterwards declared "it was most interesting")
Hack Green - once a Rotor
*GCI site, later a Home Office Regional Government Headquarters - opened to
the public as a museum in April 10th 1998
The Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, as
it is called, has quite
a large collection of radar bits and pieces among
other things.
The Royal Air Force AIR DEFENCE RADAR MUSEUM
Located at RAF Neatishead, Nr Norwich,
Norfolk. Tel: 01692 633309 this is a wonderful museum, opening hours: -
(Year round - 2nd Saturday each month and Bank Holiday Mondays) - April to September
inc.
Tuesday and Thursday 10.00 to 17.00hrs (last entry, for tour, at 15.00)
