FORMER Northern Echo employee Tony Marshall sent D&S Times some amazing pictures he took during a visit to the RAF Fire Fighting Service School training centre in Catterick in the mid to late 1980s, before it moved in 1989 to RAF Manston.
As a fire school, it had a mock-up of a house to simulate search and rescue scenarios. It also had a burning area where ex-service aircraft were covered in fuel and set alight, including two Avro Vulcan Bomber’s.
There were also a number of retired airframes used for practice rescues and deployments. Of note is the old Handley Page Hastings TG511. It was one of the aircraft that took part in the 1948 Berlin Airlift.
The wings and other components from this aircraft were used in the restoration of the Elvington Air Museum’s WW2 Handley Page Halifax bomber “Friday 13th”. This aircraft is the only surviving example of the type anywhere in the world.
During the visit, Tony and his colleague were shown around a small military museum before being allowed on to the airfield to look round the various hulks of vintage aircraft. This was followed by a demonstration of fire fighting by the students, and was described by Tony as “very spectacular, and very skilfully soon extinguished”.
The station closed in 1994 and was transferred to the British Army and became Marne Barracks. Operationally it now falls under the command of Catterick Garrison.
Tony told us: “The airfield at Catterick is an example of a First World War Home Defence Station. It was opened in 1914 for pilot training and the defence of North East England. The initial unit at the base was “A Flight” of 76 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
“The airfield was remodelled in the interwar years, specifically in the late 1920s and latterly as part of the RAFs “expansion period” in 1935. By 1938 the airfield was a key fighter station, provided with an asphalt runway and defensive installations.
“During opening phases of the Second World War the base was used to protect convoys as well as the North East of England in general. During the Battle of Britain as part of Group 13 Catterick repelled German attacks from occupied Denmark and Norway. Later in the war the airfield was transferred to 12 Group Fighter Command.
“As the war progressed, it meant that it was relegated to a second line airfield.”
If you have any photographs you would like to share with our readers, please email jo.kelly@newsquest.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here