RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF · Gloucester · England · United Kingdom

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

On the 27th April 2014 we managed to get inside the Watch Office at RAF Little Rissington and these are the photos that I managed to take.

Wiki Commons

RAF Little Rissington shield.
RAF Little Rissington shield.
RAF Little Rissington crest.
RAF Little Rissington crest.
RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

 

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
1952 Air Ministry plan.

Record Site Plan 52

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

Main site.

Record Site Plan 52

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
On a very dull day, I have highlighted the Watch Office.

27th April 2014

Hawker Audax flying at RAF Netheravon.
Hawker Audax flying at RAF Netheravon.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

How it may have looked except that here there are trees and the Air Ministry had only just started to plant trees to soften the buildings to the eye in the late 30's. The RAF had their own nurseries where they grew the young saplings especially for RAF Camps.

27th April 2014

A picture of RAF Brize Norton in wartime and you can just see small trees in the background.
A picture of RAF Brize Norton in wartime and you can just see small trees in the background.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The Watch Office fly past around the end of the RAF's use of the airfield , before the army took over.
"How do I know when I'm slipping in on a Turn Please Sir?"
"How do I know when I'm slipping in on a Turn Please Sir?"
"Watching the ground about 50yds. ahead a little to one side"
"Watching the ground about 50yds. ahead a little to one side"

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The flight line with four two seat Vampires trundling out to the main runway to take off.

23 December 1960

"My helmet FEELS quite comfortable Sir, but I can't hear you very well"
"My helmet FEELS quite comfortable Sir, but I can't hear you very well"

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
A long shot of how it looked in 2011.

05 February 2011

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

2014 and it was in a real state, there seemed to be no plan what to do with it. Now it sits proud and has been turned into a very nice house. I must go back and see it.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The view through the window of the Chief Flying Instructors office.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
On the back wall a hatch to pass messages through from the clerks room to the Chief Flying Instructor.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

Chief Flying Instructors office or his deputy. There are two identical rooms each side. Somebody who may have used this room as CFI was Flt/ Lt Harry A.M. Pascoe RAF(VR). Toward the end of WW2 he was posted as CFI to No 6 (Pilots) Advanced Training Unit at RAF Little Rissington.

27th April 2014

Flt/ Lt Harry A.M. Pascoe RAF(VR) CFI here near the end of the war.
Flt/ Lt Harry A.M. Pascoe RAF(VR) CFI here near the end of the war.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
 

27th April 2014

JP.
JP.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Rear corridor.

27th April 2014

Cadet Wakeley pilot in training.
Cadet Wakeley pilot in training.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Rear corridor.

27th April 2014

Air Chief Marshal Pathman Hariprasadha Mendis. As a Flt. Lt. he served here as a flying instructor. Became the first commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Chief Marshal Pathman Hariprasadha Mendis. As a Flt. Lt. he served here as a flying instructor. Became the first commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Probably the original toilet fittings.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The clerks office to the CFI with the hatch in the wall.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Not sure what this is but may have been a sort of strong box/safe.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Stairs to first floor.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Back of the observation room.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Observation room.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The view out over the airfield.

27th April 2014

Early Red Arrows picture.
Early Red Arrows picture.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

A longer shot of the 'D' type shed part of the aircraft storage MU across the airfield.

27th April 2014

Inside the Dyson 'D' type at RAF Hullavington.
Inside the Dyson 'D' type at RAF Hullavington.
'D' type shed.
'D' type shed.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Passage way.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
This could be the rest room.

27th April 2014

Rest room.
Rest room.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
 

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Watch room.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Rear room.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Control room access stairs.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Control room.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The flat roof of the watch offices below and the old ladder to the roof of the control room.

27th April 2014

The Central Flying School was asked to provide an official team and, in 1965, the Red Arrows were formed at Little Rissington. Ray Hanna was selected to join the team and within a year he became its leader.
The Central Flying School was asked to provide an official team and, in 1965, the Red Arrows were formed at Little Rissington. Ray Hanna was selected to join the team and within a year he became its leader.

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
This is a hatch to the roof, it could be used instead of the outside stairs or an escape route if the building below was on fire.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
Looking back at the hangars (sheds).

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The detail in the banister rails. I do hope they were retained.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
And down again.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
 

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The outside brick work, a yellow brick. With cavity walls and concrete floors and ceilings. Painted white outside.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
The rear view.

27th April 2014

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36

RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester 1936 Chief Flying Instructors Block, 5740/36
 

27th April 2014