RAF Cardington Camp
RAF Cardington 1936-2000
Did you know that the RAF was formed 100 years ago in 1918?
Updates Jan 2018
Updates for Jan 2018 in chronological order.
Peoples Gallery Servicemen 1938-1939: Samuel Kennedy, Jack Richard Crane, George L Cray.
RAF Cardington 1939-1945 – Wartime Entertainment: Balloonatic programme 1940.
Topics – Cardington documents: A Christmas 1943 station menu.
Peoples Gallery Servicemen 1942-1943: A group photograph Mar 17 1943.
Balloon Units – Other: BB Unit July 5 1941.
Other Units - Dutch Trainees: Hank Helminks,
Peoples Gallery Servicemen 1945-1965: Alan Bell.
Topics – Sports at RAF Cardington: Gordon Pirie.
Other Units – National Service: Wilfred Dunning 1957.
Thanks to Brian Kennedy, Peter Crane, Jo Savage, Malcolm Bell and Paul Dunning and Hank Helminks for sending the above information to us.
Welcome to the RAF Cardington website.
Hello welcome to the RAF Cardington website. Located two miles south of Bedford, Bedfordshire the station was opened in 1936 and finally closed in 2000. RAF Cardington was home to several Units during its existance but it is mostly remembered for its Recruitment Centres, Balloon Units, and Maintenance Unit producing gas cylinders. RAF Cardington was also used as a demob station for personnel returning from wartime service in 1945. During the Second World War over 8,000 personnel worked on the station and it is estimated that over 250,000 recruits passed through its gates. However there is much more to the story – Parachute Units, Polish and Dutch Units and many others have made an appearance over the years.
At the start of this New Year in 2018 I would like to say a huge thank you to the people who have taken the time to make contact and send in their stories and photographs. This website wouldn’t work without your input. There are many additions to the website this month so please take a look at the new items - it may be you recognise someone.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Jane Harvey
January 2018
A A B Thomson - holder of The Military Cross & Bar. The first Station Commander of RAF Cardington 1936
Aircraft Storage in 1932
Grp Capt A R Arnold DSO, DFC - the longest serving Station Commander from Nov 1939- Mar 1945
Barrage Balloon testing in 1938
Signing up for National Service - RAF Cardington 1951
No 102 Dispersal Unit was set up to 'demob' the thousands of RAF men returning home from WWII
Emblem of MU217 RAF Cardington
A 1943 RAF Cardington cricket team. Sport of any kind was high on the agenda for staff in their spare time.
The two magnificent Sheds in Jan 2016. Home to airships from 1916-1930 and put to numerous uses during the following years.
Renamed MU217 RAF Cardington in 1955 - the Gas Plant supplied RAF depots throughout the world.
The Shorts Building in 1986
A sign of the times - a road sign which will probably be taken down soon.
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