Gamston
GAMSTON: Military aerodrome later civil aerodrome and gliding site
(Now also known as RETFORD)
Note: First picture by the author. The second picture (2018) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: WW2 RAF Bomber Command 7 Group
3 Aircrew School
(Late 1944: Vickers Wellington bomber disposal centre…so this is where so many ended up!)
Operated by: 1980s/1990s: A F Budge (Aviation) Ltd
2000: Gamston Aviation Ltd
Flying club/school: 2005: A.L.H. Skytrain
Helicopter ops: 2005: Kuki Helicopter Centre
Maintenance: 2001: Diamond Aircraft
Location: E of the A.1, W of B6367, NE of Elksley village, 3nm S of East Retford
Period of operation: Military 1942 to 1957 then civil to present day (Continuous period of operation?)
Note: These maps are reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 03/21 1829x46 hard 09/27 1280x46 hard
15/33 1280x46 hard
1990: 03/21 1219x23 hard (additional 480m available on request)
2000: 03/21 1203x23 hard 14/32 800x18 hard
NOTES: Although GAMSTON/RETFORD aerodrome is very easy to find, maps of this aerodrome provide a good example of how it can sometimes be quite difficult to find disused aerodromes today. I’ve seen a WW2 map of GAMSTON which clearly shows the A1 trunk road passing to the east of the aerodrome whereas for the past thirty years or so it passes to the west before curving round south of the aerodrome.
In the same vein road numbers are often changed too so the road numbers I have often used in this 'Guide' for the location of some aerodromes could easily, by the time you read this, be out of date. In fact some of these roads had ceased to exist long before I set about researching this 'Guide'.
Nevertheless I actually enjoy the fun of ‘detective’ work sometimes involved. For anybody seriously considering taking up this gentle hobby, an old Ordnance Survey map of the area combined with a modern version will almost always guarantee success although you might well find nothing noticeable on arriving to indicate the prior existence of an aerodrome when arriving by car.
A walk or better still a bike ride around the area will nearly always furnish something remaining, perhaps just a small area of old concrete that was once a dispersal area still used by a farmer for some purpose. I know this doesn’t just fascinate me either as lots of people enjoy this activity and relish, having found such a spot, imagining what it must have been like many years ago witnessing the activity that once took place.
Reading up on the history of the aerodrome before a visit makes the experience so much more enjoyable too
GLIDING
For many years gliding has taken place from 15/33 (now 14/32), one of the ‘disused’ WW2 runways, which later becomes listed in pilots Flight Guides. Whilst so many UK aerodromes, especially those constructed in WW2 have drifted into oblivion GAMSTON today is a bustling vibrant place but, in 1977, only the Beech E90 King Air G-BABW of Bridon Ltd was based here.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
In April 2005 I was given the job of collecting the Pitts S-2A G-BBTR and delivering it to GAMSTON. It was asked if I could loan some blankets to protect the aeroplane parts on the hangar floor but on returning later found that the company operating the hangar had gone bust.
Not at all uncommon in the UK of course. Hence the saying; "Q: How do you make a small fortune in British aviation? A: Start with a large fortune!"
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