646 SU RAF Obernkirchen

Subject: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 16/9/2012, 21:27

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
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0402rc%20August%201958%20Parkeston%20Quay%20Harwich

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0402rc%20August%201958%20Parkeston%20Quay%20Harwich

Hoek van Holland station
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0407%20August%201958%20Hoek%20van%20Holland%20station

View inside RAF Obernkirchen
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0421%20August%201958%20RAF%20Obernkirchen%20looking%20towards%20entrance

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 16/9/2012, 21:38

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.

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 05799acs%20646%20SU%20listing%20at%20RAF%20Neatishead%20Radar%20Museum

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 05799acs%20646%20SU%20listing%20at%20RAF%20Neatishead%20Radar%20Museum

We did have a Coat of Arms - I think it's the only one in the RAF with a German motto.
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 05805acps%20646SU%20Arms

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

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 05802%20Me%20and%20646%20SU%20Arms%20at%20RAF%20Radar%20Museum%20Neatishead

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 16/9/2012, 21:51

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

From outside the camp
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0429%20August%201958%20View%20of%20RAF%20Obernkirchen%20from%20outside

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0429%20August%201958%20View%20of%20RAF%20Obernkirchen%20from%20outside

View over the plain to the north-west
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0418%20August%201958%20View%20over%20the%20plain%20from%20our%20accommodation%20block%20at%20RAF%20Obernkirchen

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0418%20August%201958%20View%20over%20the%20plain%20from%20our%20accommodation%20block%20at%20RAF%20Obernkirchen

Accommodation blocks & tennis court
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0420%20August%201958%20RAF%20Obernkirchen%20accommodation%20blocks%20%26%20tennis%20court

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0420%20August%201958%20RAF%20Obernkirchen%20accommodation%20blocks%20%26%20tennis%20court

Accommodation block
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0424%20August%201958%20RAF%20Obernkirchen

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 16/9/2012, 22:02

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

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0411%20August%201958%20Obernkirchen

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0411%20August%201958%20Obernkirchen

The Town Hall
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0412%20August%201958%20Ratskeller%2C%20Obernkirchen

Street scenes
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0414%20August%201958%20Obernkirchen

646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0415%20Obernkirchen

And a local railcar to Stadthagen
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0431%20August%201958%20Railcar%20to%20Stadthagen

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.)

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 17/9/2012, 17:36

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)

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 17/9/2012, 17:48

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

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 18/9/2012, 19:55

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.

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 18/9/2012, 20:19

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

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 20/9/2012, 20:18

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

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 21/9/2012, 01:16

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.

Subject: Re: 646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 21/9/2012, 20:25

[quote="eMeS"].

Night at Parkeston Quay
646 SU RAF Obernkirchen 0402rc%20August%201958%20Parkeston%20Quay%20Harwich

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 ! monkey

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