Haunted Wartime Airbases

[Mahone]

I think it's basically as Bob says: though hopefuilly as time passes it becomes less emotive.

I believe the swastika is also outlawed in other countries too (Hungary and Brazil among others from memory) yet in Asia, India and many other places it's widely used as a symbol of good luck - and as a Buddhist symbol. It's all about cultural context... and I think that's a good analogy with poor old Nogger / Nagger/ Niggsy: you certainly shouldn't change historical fact but at the same time there's no escaping the fact that are many people for whom that name is genuinely offensive.

However. Going off topic a bit. Though it occurs to me that if he's a ghost dog - shouldn't he be white now, anyway? That would solve the problem (or maybe cause a whole new set... who knows).

[blueredblue]

There was a story about twenty years ago, of a 'Ghostly Bomber' (A Wimpy.) flying around Wales and the Welsh Marches. Personally, I am not at all superstitious, but I did often wonder what it was that folks were really seeing. I spent many an hour, day and night flying around that area and never saw anything more ghostly than my own shadow on the clouds... I wonder if any others remember that story of the 'Ghost Bomber'....?

There have been several sightings reported in recent years in Wales. The details escape me but I shall endeavour to dig out my old scrap book and post what i can find.

Having spent my life growing up in mid wales avidly watching low flying take place daily, by every aircraft flown by the RAF since 1982, and the last 11 years serving HM, experience tells me C130's are probably what people are seeing. However, the sheer amount of wartime crashes locally of WW II Allied bomber aircraft can not be discounted.

I remain cautiously open minded!

[blueredblue]

As promised, here are details of few sightings that have been reported in the local media at various times.

1964 Bow Street nr Aberyswyth, a misty grey 4 engined aircraft was seen to fly silently overhead by a local man.

1998 A44 East of Aberystwyth, a university student and his parents travelling home to Bristol sighted what they called a "Grey WW II Bomber" flying at very low level at slow speed, seemingly strugling to stay aloft.

15 Mar 2007 A44 Between Llangurig and Aberystwyth, a motorist claimed to have seen a large 4 engined aircraft seem to dive towards the ground, no crash site was evident.

Same area, same descriptions, who knows!

[tarkey]

I took this one at Old Buckenham in 2010 and within minutes of posting it on a forum I received a message it had violated the terms of Photobucket and it was removed. B----y nonsense. I had a go back and after a few exchanges it was reinstated

[Air Ministry]

Funny how I should find this thread resurrected shortly after reading this:

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/show...9&postcount=56

Another "silent WW2 bomber", I must get out on the hills more often!

[blueredblue]

Hello all, I was recently on a course at the Defence School of Transport, Normandy Bks, Leconfield. As I am sure some of you know this is the site of the former RAF Leconfield, an airfield that can trace its origins back to the late 1930's.

I have read previously that the station is haunted by the spirit of an RAF officer. However, I do not know any other details where, when and how this officer came to pass or which building is supposedly haunted.

I am keen to find out any information as I am returning to DST Leconfield at the end of this month on another course with the aim of doing some investigating!

[Canaris]

Hi Blueredblue,
Thanks for your e-mail. Sorry I cant help you with this one, but I have passed it onto my friend Chris who is also on this website. I hope he can be of some assistance. If you have an interest in haunted airfields, then please look in on us at www.soulsearchers.org.uk
Cheers
Jim.

[blueredblue]

Hi Blueredblue,
Thanks for your e-mail. Sorry I cant help you with this one, but I have passed it onto my friend Chris who is also on this website. I hope he can be of some assistance. If you have an interest in haunted airfields, then please look in on us at www.soulsearchers.org.uk
Cheers
Jim.

Thank you for passing my request onto Chris, he has PM me some information. Had a quick look on your site and there is some interesting reading. Will register when I get more than 2 minutes spare lol!

regards

[Canaris]

Thank you for passing my request onto Chris, he has PM me some information. Had a quick look on your site and there is some interesting reading. Will register when I get more than 2 minutes spare lol!

regards

Thanks Blueredblue, Chris and I look forward to seeing you on Soulsearchers.
Cheers
Jim.

[lestweforget]

Hi all.

I am a long time lurker, infrequent poster! Guess the knowledge, proxmity to aircraft most of you folk have, and general high standard of the posts on here puts me off at times!! Anyway, have been interested in historic aviation since I was knee high to a grasshopper, thanks for the great site!

Read this post from start to finish over the period of a few nights. Interesting stuff indeed!

My post has nothing to do with haunted airbases, but tiggered a memory I have of the way the mind can work, and of the effect somewhere a major event happened can have on someone.

About five years ago, I mentioned to a friend, who has no real interest i aviation, that I would like to take a walk to find the crash site of the B-29 Superfortress in Succoth Glen, Argyll. It is only an hour or so drive away. We set off on a glorious summer day (rare in these parts!) from Lochgilphead, armed with camera to document the site of the wreck. It was a long slog in the hot weather, and many pics were taken along the route. We could see the glinting of the sun off the wreckage from quite a distance away. Having done a bit of research, I knew of the tragic circumstances, and large loss of life aboard the last flight of the aircraft beforehand. On arrival, we were both awestruck by the amount , and the amazing condition of the wreck of the B-29. We explored the wreckage, and it was almost as if a darkness descended not literally, but certainly in the mind. I looked at my friend, and said I did not feel like taking any pictures, and he wholeheartedly agreed. I don't really know how to explain it, but we are both very practical and down to earth folk who would normally shrug off such things, but the crashsite certainly had an almost spiritual effect on us. It was as if taking pictures would have been a mark of disrespect although I certainly dont have a problem with other people doing so at all. That is just what it felt like in that moment. So not a pic was taken.

I am all for the restoration of historic aircraft , and if crashsites have to be utilised, like the Whitley and Stirling projects then I wish them all the luck in the world, and the means , in my opinion, most certainly befit the ends. I support them wholeheartedly. It is just that this site had a very big effect, though not haunted in the dictionary sense, it certainly made the hairs on the back of our necks stand up! I hope you make some sense of this post!!!

P.s. Here is a link to the site for those unfamiliar to it.

http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co...9a_succoth.htm

[pistonrob]

I used to be stationed at RAF Lyneham and worked nights for pretty much 4 years. there was plenty of odd stuff from beyond the norm that went on in C2 hanger over the far side of the airfield. people would be seen yet no one else could possably get into the hanger, sometimes seen in the Hercs checking the airframe or disapearing through doors within the hanger that normally squeeled rather loudly but made no sound when these "other" bods went through them. sometimes one or at times two bods
.
once i was showing the (ex) girlfriend around the hanger/ aircraft. we were the only people in there and i knew that coz i had the keys and the doors were locked...

after one close encounter that the girlfriend saw in a Hercules but didnt mention it to me at first as she thought "they were meant to be there" in the back of the aircraft as she knew nothing of the haunting history of the hanger at this stage.. at the end of the mini tour we were on our way out of the hanger when we saw another bod in the corner of the hanger going into the only office in that corner, which incidently was my office that was locked and had the usual sqeeky door. no sound occoured and the bod disapeared. i shouted down the hanger towards where we saw the bod but no answer was forthcoming. we quickly made for the exit and as we did the hanger lights flickered on n off which was odd becouse i hadnt turned them on as it was broad daylight outside.. anyway im opened minded with stuff like this

[Canaris]

Hi lestweforget and pistonrob,
That is two very interesting stories you have told us about the B29 crashsite, and the haunted hangar at RAF Lyneham. My friend Chris who is on here CJH is also interested in these strange happenings. By the way ,,, he is a keen biker also. Both of us are on a website that has lots of aviation stories similar to your own. Please look in on us guys. Membership is free. I'm sure you will both find something of interest in our forum.
Cheers
Jim. www.soulsearchers.org.uk

[WB981]

Pistonrob. I find your post most interesting as I have never heard of any hauntings there yet I have worked at Lyneham for 24 years!

[pistonrob]

Ha ha its not the kind of thing you go talking about in the forces. i heard nothing from the other hangers ref this kind of stuff when quietly mentioned. i was there between 1994-97 and as already mentioned i worked nights for near enough the whole time so didnt really rub shoulders with the day time ground crews.
the bods that were seen were mostly dressed in Blue clothing/overalls which stood out becouse we all wore the green overalls when working on the aircraft. you were never alowed on or in the aircraft in your Blue uniform due to the FOD risk from items in your pockets etc.

one of the lads (Jason) i worked with was going to give me a good kicking (jokenly) when i apparently ignored him as i walked though the wash room behind him and went into one of the toilet cubicals. he was was washing some crap out an eye n wanted a hand with the eye wash bottle. after swearing alot at me he kicked the toilet doors open one by one SAS style only to find i wasn`t there. where upon he walked back into the main hanger and bellowed for me, only to discover i was working atop one of the Hercs with another lad, ide been there for hours and hadnt moved. no one else had been to the toilets for ages. Jason was not the kind of lad to make this kind of stuff up and be so serious about it so??????????? who knows?

[WB981]

I thought J2 was the hangar which had this sort of activity.

[pistonrob]

never heard of J2?

[WB981]

J1 to 5 on the main site! However having spoken to sombody today you are correct in the location being C2. He was aware of unusual activity in C2 with people not wanting to be on the hangar floor by themselves.

[pistonrob]

we had a WAAF cpl in charge of us one night. me and another guy were working on the undercart bay in a Hurc and she was inside the main cargo hold of the same aircraft. after about 15 mins she came out and started chatting to us and hung round basicaly until teabreak which was unusual for her.
She went on to tell us that she thought one of the lads had brushed passed behind her when she was inside the a/c but on looking around she saw no one there. she passed it off as a bit of air breezing past but when she felt the same thing brush past the nape of her neck a minute later she freeked out a wee bit.
it was about this time the other incidents came out from other members of the team. for some reason most of these incidents occured around June through to August time.. i worked there on my own at times for hours on end (against reg`s) and nearly always had that feeling that someone was watching but got used to it as no harm came from it.
incidently i worked many an hour in the BBMF hanger at Coningsby on my own. After a days flying the a/c would creek, moan and fart like a bunch of old folk but i never had an uneasy feeling working there.

[WB981]

I've been told that sombody hung themselves in the toilets in C2 and its this individuals ghost that is seen. Its taking me a long time to get the information.

[Timc63]

Not too sure if this has been covered in the previous pages of this thread but here's a photo taken a fair few years ago of the "alleged" ghost of the Lincoln bomber at Cosford museum.

I've looked at this photo many times and in the wrong place too! I always thought there was a "face" between the centre of the guns but apparently I should have been looking just below the top/centre of the photo and there appears to be a figure with flying helmet, goggles, harness etc!

If you tilt your screen you can make out more detail!

Not that I'm a believer in this sort of thing but rather intriguing all the same.

[pistonrob]

unfortunately the Cosford Lincoln Ghost was declared as a fake about 10 years ago. it was in the news and papers. there was a point at which the museum were going to move the Lincoln on somewhere else, at about the same time one of the guys who worked there came out with the idea that it was haunted as a tease to the tourists who were asking about going inside it. the story got round that it was actually haunted and more and more people came to see the haunted bomber rather than the collection as a whole. being more popular than expected the museum decided to keep the aircraft.

the guy and a couple of his mates owned up to the prank on the tv and in the papers, a prank that actually saved the aircraft by accident

[gordon2990]

My story is not about a haunted airfield. but a haunted hospital built for first world war casualties.
The hospital is Bangour Hospital WestLothian Scotland
This hospital closed a few years ago and a friend of mine got the contract to clear out the famous WARD9.
He ordered a skip for the morning and it duelly turned up, the driver waved up to a small window for the guy who was watching him to come down and sign for the skip,when my friend turned and told him nobody was in the building and he was the key holder,the driver never came back for the skip

[rotarypete]

Having spent the last two evenings being thoroughly entertained by all the amazing observations and tales on here I thought I would contribute a few of my own experienced over the years.

The first, and perhaps coincidental to the last story, was on a "Ghost Hunt". I had bought my wife a Christmas present of a commercial ghost hunt which was being run in a hotel near Southampton. Apparently this was the first time it had been used and as we were guided around the various rooms, we entered one via a small set of stairs and as I came into this brightly lit room, the overpowering stench of hospital cleanser and the vision of rows of beds hit me. A few minutes later we were invited to give our thoughts so I immediately contributed and was informed that during WW1 the room had indeed been a recuperation ward for injured servicemen.

The final two tales, have a more aviation theme. The first relates to the early 1980's when we used to have access to the old radar/radio station atop The Trundle above Goodwood. The building was built of thick reinforced concrete and was always very damp, which considering the Cold War radio kit in the building always surprised me. However, the building was always very cold and on many nights, doors would open without anyone being near, and on more than one occasion I remember cold "breezes" being felt and footsteps heard (even though the floor was a ragtag of carpets). Aside from the inconvenience of the doors being opened it was never threatening, but rather benign, a friendly ghost!

Rolling forward a decade and I was living with a girlfriend on the outskirts of Milton Keynes. Being a Saturday afternoon in mid February 1995 we decided to take the dog and go for a walk and ended up at RAF Finmere. Now for some reason, I had gone with the assumption that Finmere had been in the hands of the USAAF, which has a bearing on what happened next. Wandering across the airfield we made our way to the old control tower and with me leading, the dog following and my girlfriend tagging along behind, I moved around the outside walls looking for an entrance, if only to get away from the cold drizzle falling. Moving along the second wall, I stopped because of a pile of fence wire and posts, and turned to warn my girlfriend. There standing behind me was a young man dressed in the blue uniform with pilot wings; he was smaller than me, around 5'10" with sand hair, blue eyes and as solid as I was. He smiled, and then proceeded to fade in front of me. At this point my girlfriend and the dog came around the corner to find me standing there. I explained what I saw and we had a further look around before leaving. A few days later I happened across information about RAF Finmere that highlighted that the base was RAF and not USAAF. To this day, I know what I saw, how clearly I saw it, to the pnt if I had a photo I could recognise this person; Equally, if this was a figment of my imagination, which I know it wasn't, why didn't I "see" an American airman if I thought the airbase was under American jurisdiction?

Anyway, thanks to all these entertaining stories.

[mike shaw]

Outstanding thread! Anyone have any interesting stories like this about King's Cliffe? If so please share!

No stories as such but when I worked as a rep I often stopped & walked around. Hard to believe it once buzzed with P51s!

[Frazer Nash]

Both of us are on a website that has lots of aviation stories similar to your own. Please look in on us guys. Membership is free. I'm sure you will both find something of interest in our forum.

Signed up Jim!

[No1EFTS]

Strictly speaking not a haunted airfield but interesting never the less.

I have just read a fantastic book by Julian Evan-Hart called War Torn Skies Hertfordshire (ISBN 978-0-9554735-1-7); the book recounts some of the military aircraft crashes in Hertfordshire during both World Wars.

One entry in the book recounts the fate of Heinkel He 111 P-2 G1+GL. On Thursday 19th of September 1940 Heinkel He 111 P-2 G1+GL was engaged by AAA over London and received a direct hit.

Heinkel He 111 P-2 G1+GL began to lose height, finally breaking up and crashing into marshy ground at Thorley Wash just outside Bishops Stortford.

There was only one survivor from of the crew of four, with the bodies of the three crew killed, recovered and interned in the cemetery at Safron Walden. Although it looks like one of the crew cannot rest in peace as his ghost is occasionally seen standing in an adjacent garden overlooking the crash site. Maybe he is trying to warn people of the unexploded bombs still entombed in the marshy ground.

[Denis]

Interesting...
What garden would that be? the nearest one is Oscar Smiths, and he has never seen anyone or anything before!

The flashearth link is on the site of the crash.Which incidently is a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI), so dont go digging anyone

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.84....4&r=0&src=msl

A fairly well known crash site in the area and this is the first time I have heard of a supposed ghost. sure this isnt related to the other supposed ghost of USAAF pilot 2nd LT Smolensky (crashed attempting an emergency landing at RAF Sawbridgeworth, and who was supposed to sit outside Butlers Farm half a mile to the west?

[CJH]

sorry to have been absent - been busy

a couple of recent things

Former RAF Tholthorpe Yorkshire

have been lucky enough to be invited down for a couple of investigations by the Middlebrough Paranormal group in their on-going investigations at Tholthorpe. The areas under investigation are a couple of Romney Huts, the ambulance shed/mortuary and an air raid shelter near the former base hospital.

It's still an incredible site with a fair amount of WW2 buildings in existance.

phenomena so far have been thuds and footsteps that were clear and apparently walking towards the witness, paint tins making a drumming noise and what he described as the noise of hollow pipes being dropped. In addition there have been times when there has been the smell of aviation fuel around. A sound like a bunch of heavy keys being dropped, followed by a tune being whistled and 4 footsteps, On another occasion an Evp was captured which seems to be that of an aircraft engine running. This was on a bank holiday, the area was deserted the recorder had been left running in the locked paint shop all day

and that's just the start to the witnessed phenomena


on the last visit down there, apart from exceptional evps and some bangs in response to questions, it got physical, and after an altercation with a disembodied form I received a cut to my top lip while standing in the middle of one of the Romney huts, with no one else near at the time, at least 5 other people witnessed the blood flowing freely for a couple of minutes (amazing how much blood can leak from a small scratch)

Chris

[Peter]

Sounds interesting but why no investigation in the tower? Also the "drumming" on paint cans could be the normal expansion and contraction with temp change over the course of a day I have had this happen in our workshop and it makes you pause for sure..

[spit1940]

I was called out one evening to a buisness on langar airfield in notts.I was told not to go the normal way in but to use part of the peri track.As i approached the said said entrance i was stopped by the site of barbed wire and a sentry type of guard.Seeing i couldnt get in that way i turned the van round and drove up the main road to the works.The security guard just laughed at me when i told him but he did say a guy dressed in raf uniform had been reguarly by the same entrance i had tried to use.Still Cant explain the coils of barbed wire across that entrance.