Culham was a Royal Naval Air Station,' HMS Hornbill' to give it the full name. As a matter of interest the 1943 Fairey Swordfish 2 LS326 flew from here after the war and was later used in the film 'Sink the Bismark' . During the war it flew on North Atlantic Convoy duty with 836 Squadron. full story at www.stringbag.flyer.co.uk if you are interested.
Sea Fury VR930 took off for the first time on 23rd February 1948 from Kingston and entered RN service on 8th March 1948 at RNAS Culham, details from above site also.

The Parachute School used it for housing the Permanent Staff and also all Trainee Parachutists who came for the course. The Permanent Staff lived in the old Hospital Block top of the hill behind the Airfield and the Trainee's lived in Nissen huts, just lower down the hill. The Nissen huts were surrounded by wire, and the only way in or out was to pass the Guard-room which was there. (There was also a Guardroom at the main gate entrance to the camp, this was operated by the Navy). NO escape !! Let me know if you were at Culham, and have any memories or even better ... photo's!

Trainee's were normally taken in by Bedford Truck by the PCAU drivers, all members of the Parachute Regiment ... we were known as JAN'S Battalion after Major J.A.N. Sim MC our CO.( see photo on front page.)
The Champ was not a good army machine, too heavy and complicated, but great fun to drive. 6 forward gears with a transfer box that gave 6 in reverse if you were brave enough. Powered By Rolls-Royce !Perfect for having fun at Culham...

Does anybody else remember the Mosquito Aircraft that was lying in a corner of the Airfield in 1957 ?

The Photo below shows the Hospital Block where the Permanent Staff lived while at Culham.(Central heating, all mod con's!!)
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