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RAF Ossington
RAF Ossington was situated just west of the village of Ossington in Nottinghamshire in the grounds of Ossington Hall, with the Hall itself forming part of the accommodation. Constructed as a standard bomber airfield with three concrete runways during 1941, it was transferred to 93 Group Flying Training Command soon after opening in January 1942.
In May 1943 the airfield was returned to Bomber Command. It closed in 1946 and today almost all the airfield buildings have vanished, the Hall having been demolished in the 1960's.
Squadrons stationed at Ossington
- 14 (P) AFU Flying Training Command. January 1942 - May 1943
- 82 OTU. June 1943 to January 1945.
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Those known to have served at RAF Ossington during the Second World War 1939-1945. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
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Want to know more about RAF Ossington? There are:0 items tagged RAF Ossington available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Tom "Ginger" Todd I was stationed at Ossington during the 1940's.
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Brian "Tex" Bartingdale I am trying to trace 3 guys who flew out of the Ossington aerodrome 1943/44; Tex, his real name was Brian Bartingdale, and his friends Nobby and Ginge (he had red hair!). I was about 4 at the time and staying with my aunt, the 'drome was very close by and the guys used to sometimes 'dip their wings' when they flew over the cottage. I would love to find them and tell them I remember the chocolate and doll's tea set! Pure nostalgia and I would like them to know how they added a bit of magic to a little girl's war years.
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Flt.Sgt Andrew Angus "Jock" Brown 149 Sqn (d.6th Sep 1943) Andrew joined the RAF in December 1941, and did his Elementary Flying Training at 22 EFTS at Teversham, Cambs, with Marshalls, on the site of what is now Cambridge Airfield; the aircraft was the DH 82 Tiger Moth. He was then one of the student pilots to be sent to America under the Arnold Scheme.
He was posted to Lakeland School of Aeronautics (soon to become the Lodwick School of Aeronautics), Lakeland, Florida, in Feb 1942, he commenced training on the PT17 Stearman aircraft, mainly under the watchful eye of a civilian instructor, W.A. Lethio, before progressing to Cochran Field, Macon, Georgia in May '42 and the BT13A "Vultee Valiant". After that he was off to Dothan, Alabama in July '42, and the AT - 6A ("Harvard") aircraft, for Advanced Flying Training. At this stage he was also flying out of Elgin and Napier Fields. He was an average pilot, with comments from his flight commander of, "Flying O.K., but too cocky". But he persevered, and gained his wings.
He also gained the interest of a couple of the local young ladies. One was possibly Mary Malpass, the other possibly Lucille (?). Mary may have been the daughter of a Lakeland dentist. The pictures on the "Lakeland" page, which were in his personal effects, are now in my keeping.
Posted back to the UK( Nov '42), and No 14(P) A.F.U. at Ossington, Notts, he flew the Airspeed Oxford. His first twin-engined "solo" was on the 21st Nov '42 in Oxford Ser No 9635. After 3 months on the Oxford he was posted to fly the Wellington Aircraft. Steady progress meant that he went in May 1943 to 1651 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit), at Waterbeach, Cambridge, to learn to fly the Stirling Bomber. During the 11 OTU and 1651 posting the final crew (Crew 6) teamed up. Completing the conversion training on the 18th May, 1943, he was posted with "Crew Six" as an operational crew to 149 (East India) Squadron, flying Stirling III Bombers out of Lakenheath, Suffolk. On the 29th of May, he and the crew received their new Aircraft, A Short & Harland built "Stirling" Mark III serial number EE872, contract No 774677/38. This aircraft was transferred to 149 Sqn on the 26th May '43 and given the Sqn letters OJ-N. The Sqn records show it as "Cat E" (missing) on the 6th of Sep and SOC (Struck Off Charge) on the 11th. Although this was not the only Aircraft the Crew flew, it was still considered "theirs" by them, and treated as such.
The first trip for the crew with 149 Sqn was with Plt.Off. Laurie Blair as first pilot in OJ-M (BF531) on the 27th May '43. His first "Op" was on a trip to Wuppertal on the 29th May (Alex Holms also shows this trip in his log book). Again Plt Off Blair was first pilot.
A lot has been written about the Stirling, from its ability to turn inside a Hurricane at low level, to its insane vulnerability when flying fully laden at it's operational ceiling of 15,000 feet. Please see this page, this article or the Links page for more details on this aircraft.
It was in aircraft EE872, N-Nuts on the night of 5/6th Sept '43 for an "Ops" mission to Mannheim (his second trip to that target) that he and his crew encountered Leutnant Heinz-Wolfgang Hoppner of 6.Staffel/NG 1. He was flying a Messerschmitt 110 fitted he attacked from beneath his prey, silhouetted it against the sky, and deliver a burst of cannon fire directly into the aircraft.
The cockpit area was hit hard, and the aircraft descended over Ludwigshaven, being shot at by the Anti-Aircraft gunners as it came down. Witnesses stated that at least one gunner was firing at the searchlights up to the point of impact. Some of the crew managed to bail out, but Andrew and Doug Badcock were still aboard when it hit, just outside a little south-west of Mannheim.
Andrew's full story, pictures and other 149 Sqn tales are at www.stirlingpilot.org.uk
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Brian Arthur George "Tex" Bartingdale Brian Arthur George Bartingdale, known as Tex, who served on Lancasters flying from Ossington believed to be transferred to Cranfield maybe sometime in 1944 . Thought to have survived the war and lived at Gorse Hill, Anstay Leicester. May have gone to live in New York in 1947. He also had two friends called Knobby and Ginger (Nick names of course) actual names not known. If anyone knows anything about him please get in touch.
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Tom "Ginger" Todd I was a little girl of five years old when I came in contact with Tex (Brian Bartindale), Ginger (Tom Todd I think) and Knobby, (don't know his baptised name). These guys were stationed at Ossington Aerodrome in the '40's.
I would love to know what became of them, they added a touch of magic to a little girl's war years, also to my sister who is 18 months younger. I have a vague recollection of a present of a tiny doll's tea set we were given and one of these guys caught me licking the pink top of matches to paint the white dots in dominoes and stopped me!
My mother and sister and I were from the North of England and were staying with an aunty in Sutton on Trent. It would be so lovely to know what became of them and to thank them or their relatives for a lovely wartime memory.
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Flt.Sgt. Geoffrey Leadbetter My grandfather, Geoffrey Leadbetter, was stationed at a number of sites including Kinloss, Cardington, Hixon, Ossington, Blackbushe and with HMS Hornet in air-sea rescue. He was a flight sergeant and his serving wing was engineer/instructor. He died in 2003. I would be grateful if anyone who remembers him would get in touch.
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WO. Frank Claud Williams 14 Squadron Frank Williams is my grandfather. I have been trying to find any information about his involvement in the war. He passed away suddenly when I was about eleven years old, unfortunately, we never got to talk about his life as adults. This is my first attempt at what I hope will take me the next step in finding out more about my Grandfather.
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WO1. Frank Claud Williams 14 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Frank Williams was my grandfather. He passed away around 1985. I don't know very much about his story in the war. I am trying to find out more.
I know he served at RAF Ossington with 14 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit, Training Command. Someone posted that they were trying to find a man she only knew as Ginge on account of his red hair and his friends Brian "Tex" Bartingdale and Nobby. Perhaps Ginge was my grandfather as he had red hair.
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LAC. John Thomas "Ginger" Todd John Todd served in the RAF and was an LAC FCA during the 2nd World War. He was based at Inverness, Dalcross, Grantham, Pool, Lyneham, Ossington, Poole and Waddington. He lived at Hyson Green, Nottingham. Any further information please?
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John Thomas "Ginger" Todd My father, John Todd, whose 1940s address was 6 Kirkstead Terrace, Kirkstead Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham, served with the RAF. He enlisted on the 16th of august 1941 and was based at Dalcross, Inverness, Grantham, Poole, Lynham, Wiltshire, Ossington and Waddington.
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