RAF Comberton, Worcs, 31/7/07

**A man called Martyn** · 28th July 2009, 17:44

Its taken a couple of years to do something with the pictures taken on this visit as information on the site was hard to find as it is located on the outskirts of the village of Wick but to avoid people confusing it with the RAF base in scotland it takes its name from another village Comberton.Another example of this was RAF Carterton, Oxon which was changed to RAF Brize Norton to avoid confusion with RAF Cardington.Stories of the name being changed because of supplies coming to the wrong base are themselves are little more than rumour and here say, With out any input from some who served at the site these statements are pure fiction.
This was the only operational Ground Controlled Interception (GCI)radar station established in the West midlands and was one of only five inland radar stations activated in the spring of 1941 as a response to the luftwaffe threat.The first equipment to arrive on site was an intermediate transportable type.In 1943 RAF Comberton was upgraded to a final GCI station with type 7 radar capable of multiple aircraft controlling, long range and better height finding capabilites.A brick built operations room and a number of ancillary buildings were added in 1943.
Post war the site was updated as part of the ROTOR system. An additional above ground ops building with eight concrete aerial plinths was added.Today there is no trace of this postwar building.The site was on care and maintenance in the late 1950s and was closed some time after that.There are also remains of the site accommodation which are located at Vandyke court.Later a purpose built camp was provided at nearby Pinvin.Where a water tower still stands.
Historical information from 20th century defences in Britain, The west Midlands area by Colin Jones, Bernard Lowry and Mick Wilks.
Cold war :Building for Nuclear Confrontation by Wayne Cocroft and Roger J.C Thomas, Edited by P.S Barnwell.
Site access by permission of the land owner.

Ops building built in 1943 and known as the 'Happidrome'

Internal views of the 'Happidrome'

Rotor period RADAR Plinths of which four remain on the site

RADAR plinths

Site substation.

Stand-by set house

Gate House

**Indy500** · 28th July 2009, 20:33

Nice one! I haven't seen anything on this one before - top work and lets see some more pics!

**chedd** · 28th July 2009, 21:00

top post dude...............

I have the very same book and I am trying to retrace all the relevant stuff in it

Thanks for sharing

ched

The trouble i had was finding information on the site.It was on saturday that i brought that book in Stafford after a failed effort to do Unitec.Finally i had some information about the site in my hands.and could finally try and make a thread out of it all.

**chedd** · 30th July 2009, 17:31

information is power dude...........
There is a load of stuff littered around the Worcester area

ched
"the lights in the sky, are waving goodbye"

**A man called Martyn** · 30th July 2009, 17:48

Originally Posted by chedd

information is power dude...........
There is a load of stuff littered around the Worcester area

ched
"the lights in the sky, are waving goodbye"

I know worcester very well indeed.The Heenan and froude factory is worth a look.

**deadjester** · 12th April 2010, 19:40

Originally Posted by A man called Martyn

Its taken a couple of years to do something with the pictures taken on this visit as information on the site was hard to find and its also not in the village it takes its name from.
This was the only operational Ground Controlled Interception (GCI)radar station established in the west midlands and was one of only five inland radar stations activated in the spring of 1941 as a response to the luftwaffe threat.The first equipment to arrive on site was an intermediate transportable type.In 1943 RAF Comberton was upgraded to a final GCI station with type 7 radar capable of multiple aircraft controlling, long range and better height finding capabilites.A brick built operations room and a number of ancillary buildings were added in 1943.
Post war the site was updated as part of the ROTOR system. An additional above ground ops building with eight concrete aerial plinths was added.Today there is no trace of this postwar building.The site was on care and maintenance in the late 1950s and was closed some time after that.There are also remains of the site accommodation which are located at Vandyke court.Later a purpose built camp was provided at nearby Pinvin.Where a water tower remains.
Historical information from 20th century defences in Britain, The west Midlands area by Colin Jones, Bernard Lowry and Mick Wilks

Ops building built in 1943 and known as the 'Happidrome'

Internal views of the 'Happidrome'

Aerial Plinths of which four remain on the site.

Aerial Plinths.

Site substation.

Stand-by set house

Gate House

For any one that is intrested This base was called RAF Wick ( the village that it is in!) but due to a large amount of kit being delivered here that was supposed to go to RAF Wick in Scotland it was Renamed RAF Comberton (which is the closeest Village) I used to Play at RAF Comberton is a kid in the 80's and we found alsorts of stuff foot powder boxes of valves and even a SAC badge !

**deadjester** · 16th April 2010, 14:55

We have 3 close by RAF Defford (Canadain Fighter SQ with some graves in pershore CEM) RAF Throckmorton (known locally as Pershore) and RAF Comberton. Also Pershore race course was taken over in 1939 by the RAF but not sure WHY still some building and a water tower there so in fact 4 Bases close to Pershore. And also the fact that a welligton crashed into the roof of the Brandy Cask Pub in Bridge street Pershore and now has a blue plaque to give details !