646 SU RAF Obernkirchen

After National Service Ground Radar Fitter trade training at RAF Locking, (Weston super Mare) I was posted to 646 SU at RAF Obernkirchen in August 1958. I sailed from Parkeston Quay, Harwich and landed at Hoek van Holland. I've dug out some of my photos from the period. After two months, 646 SU moved a few tens of miles to RAF Scharfoldendorf.

Night at Parkeston Quay


Hoek van Holland station


View inside RAF Obernkirchen

So, what did we do in 646 SU?
The official listing is given below and taken from the lists of defunct units at the Radar Museum, RAF Neatishead, north of Norwich.



We did have a Coat of Arms - I think it's the only one in the RAF with a German motto.


and here's me at the Radar Museum in 2007.

Here's some pictures of RAF Obernkirchen in summer/autumn 1958.

From outside the camp


View over the plain to the north-west


Accommodation blocks & tennis court


Accommodation block

For those people who have better memories than me, here's some pictures of Obernkirchen:



The Town Hall


Street scenes




And a local railcar to Stadthagen


I do have one or two more, but in October 1958 we moved to RAF Scharfoldendorf, and I've not been back to Obernkirchen.

(For the photographers out there, all of the 1958 images were taken with a 16 on 120 Zeiss Ikon Ikonta.)

Great photo's .. you just can't beat a black and white shot, just wished I had taken more photo's during my stint in the mob.

Len (Ciphers)

Right on Ciphers. I to wish I had done the same. Really good photos eMeS.

If I might join in the applause for the photos, eMeS. How you managed to take pictures of Harwich/The Hook just amazes me.
We were so harassed by the movements people when I travelled by that route we didn't even have time to think !
I liked those shots of Obernkirchen, some of them reminded me very much of Nienburg
in '59.

Thanks for your kind comments.

I probably guessed the exposure for the Parkeston shot, and must have found something solid for the camera.

The problem is that although I've spent huge sums on later and more modern equipment, both film and digital, I haven't improved the artistic side at all. OK I can now tackle moving subjects with ease, and if I'm lucky even birds in flight, but basically my recent photos are as good/bad as those above!

More photos at the Scharfoldendorf page

Fantastic photographs particularly the railway themed examples (I am a self confessed enthusiast)

Have you found the Obernkirchen slot on the Locations section of this site. There are more before and after shots which might be of interest to you

JPW wrote:

Fantastic photographs particularly the railway themed examples (I am a self confessed enthusiast)

I expect to be uploading more photos with 1959 West German rail connections, including main-line locos both steam and diesel, a narrow gauge loco and some track-laying equipment. They'll be under the Scharfoldendorf link, above.

Quote :

Have you found the Obernkirchen slot on the Locations section of this site. There are more before and after shots which might be of interest to you

Yes, I've checked that out - only one photo seems at all familiar, the last one which reminds me of the Guard room.

[quote="eMeS"].

Night at Parkeston Quay


While admiring the Harwich photo, I felt that there was something missing from the picture, then it hit me. Where are all those under-employed Monkeys that used to harass the tired, fed up squaddies ? What was the point in them shouting "git yer 'air cut" to somebody getting on to a ship and bound for Germany ?
Plonkers !