Hercules fleet says farewell to RAF Lyneham 01.07.11

A fleet of Hercules will make a farewell low-level flight over Wiltshire today. Four of the planes - nicknamed Fat Alberts - are leaving RAF Lyneham for the last time before heading to RAF Brize Norton. Lyneham has been the home of the Hercules for 45 years but by the end of September, it will cease to be a flying station. Today four planes will make the 110-mile flight before heading to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The move means that the repatriations of fallen troops, which have taken place through Lyneham since 2007, will go through Brize Norton from September. The future of the base remains uncertain, although the government has said the site is in "a strong position" to become an Army base for soldiers returning from Germany. Proposals have also been made to convert the vast 1,300 acre site into a holiday theme park.

[@bonesshed.]

Lyneham was my first posting after trade training in 88. It was a super busy unit back then. Good times.

[@SlimTortoise]

As a guy stationed there many years ago, it's nice to see the back of it.

[@willemhorter9687]

I was 5 years old and I can still remember the hercs flying other and it was very emotional

[@taquila6894]

End of an era - start of a monumental error, 1 airbase 1 runway to supply all our forces globally - what myopic berk dreamed that one up!

[@benhayman9969]

8 years later do you regret that comment?

[@Lectric_Blue]

@@benhayman9969 The logic behind it hasn't changed. If we get involved in a shooting war at any time, how difficult would it be for an enemy to take out the runway and ground all the aircraft? You NEVER put all your eggs in one basket. The government/MOD did the same stupid thing when they closed Kinloss and had to put the Poseidon sub hunters in with four squadrons of Typhoon at Lossimouth. Take out the runway and we're wide open.

[@davidrobertson5284]

Sad day for the base at which we spent 11 happy years. Our 3 children were born and brought up there and we have happy memories of me flying them around on families days. At 1:27, is that GD in the co's seat? And Dom Stamp at 2:25? Passed the base a few years ago - most of the MQs empty and I believe the O's Mess is now a museum? Many a happy Summer Ball and Xmas Draw there. OK, enough.

[@NoLimits02]

The REME took over the camp and its really busy now. Lots of new buildings have been built in the last few years so the camp is in good hands

[@asramsy1]

i watched from basset it was a spectacular veiw other than the police helicopter flying around and macking alot of noise so i could not hear the hum of the magnificant planes.

[@Mikeabq1]

Sad day. Had great times visiting with my USAF MC-130E 1979-82. Thanks.

[@Tonybasten39]

A lot of my friends go 2 the air cadets at raf lyneham and there squardon will be closed in september. sad times.

[@asramsy1]

watched it from basset

[@andrewlavey6992]

Thank you, Lyneham, and all who served there.

[@Crash-zm2qd]

My grandad flew out of raf lyneham on 19th April 1963 on a Bristol Britannia and had a stop over in Ankara, Turkey and spent the day there waiting for another plane then boarded that and arrived at raf Nicosia, boarded either buses or trucks for Dhekelia and would be in Cyprus for two weeks for annual camp he was in reme TA he was.

[@eurosceptic1]

Brits out of Germany and US troops out of the UK and Germany, that's what needs to happen

[@AaronP108]

To be a strong part of NATO the US needs to be in proximity to its allies.