Post WW2 1950s Royal Air Force Cardington Airfield Photo Album

For sale is a Post WW2 1950s Royal Air Force Cardington Airfield Bedfordshire Photograph Album.

This photograph album has hand written notations for 1956, and all the photographs were taken at Royal Air Force Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire. 

Cardington Airfield, previously RAF Cardington, is a former Royal Air Force station in Bedfordshire, England, with a long and varied history, particularly in relation to airships and balloons. The station was formerly part of the civil parish of Eastcotts, before it was abolished on 1st April 2019. 

During the 1950s, RAF Cardington was the reception unit for National Service and saw thousands of recruits issued with their kit. The Parachute Regiment was stationed there as one of the hangars housed the balloons from which trainees made their first drops.[citation needed] In 1954 RAF Maintenance Command used Shed No.1 for its rehearsals for the Royal Tournament. The Royal Marine Commandos also used Shed No.1 for its rehearsals for the 1987 Royal Tournament.

Hangar 1 was used by the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) to operate balloons on behalf of the Met Office carrying instruments to measure conditions in the atmosphere. The balloons were also used in parachute development (although they were unmanned – using a heavy dead weight); much of this work was carried out in secret.

This photograph album holds just photos of the Royal Air Force recruits in the uniforms and aircraft at the airfield. The album holds 47 photographs and is in good condition. 

 These will be sent via royal mail 1st class signed for and dispatched within one working day’s.