Exploring RAF Rivenhall, Abandoned WW2 Airbase Essex.

Рет қаралды 12,379

3 жыл бұрын

#RAFBASE #FORGOTTENHISTORY #WW2 #AIRFIELD
RAF RIVENHALL
Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air force. During the war, it was used primarily as a combat airfield with various fighter and bomber units. After the war, it was closed in 1946 and kept in reserve until 1956, during this time it was used as a camp for displaced Polish POW soldiers.
After 1956 the base was leased to the company Marconi for radar testing and many of the building were adapted or upgraded for use by them.
Today, the remains of the airfield are located on private property with the northern half being turned into a quarry.
To sign the petition to preserve the Airbase please visit here:
www.change.org/p/restore-save...
Please take a look at these great channels:
SuperPopBro
/ superpopbro
Beyond the Point:
/ beyondthepoint
We hope you enjoyed our little video.
If you would like to help our channel continue to grow and improve by making a small donation or become a Patreon please take a look at our links, we would be incredibly grateful. Kind regards Em and Stu 😊
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Пікірлер: 75

@fightersweep 3 жыл бұрын

The large bush to the side of the T2 (can be seen in your drone footage) is a type of Willow with straight stems used by the Navajo Indians to make arrow shafts. It's not native to these shores and it's believed to have been planted by a Navajo radio operator stationed at Rivenhall. The Norden bombsite store used to have a blast door inside with all of the 397th mission tallies painted on it. I helped remove that in 1992 to be put on display in the Rebel Air Musem at Earls Colne. Great video guys! Glad you got to visit Rivenhall.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

We love people contacting us and telling us there experiences at these places we really appreciate you contacting us to tell us some more information... Thank you stay safe 😊👍

@user-yd9bj3bs8g 13 күн бұрын

I've been monitoring this air base for ten years from the sky using light aircraft from Earl's Colne and Southend. Most of the site has been excavated as a sand and gravel quarry. They are starting to build an incinerator with the worked out quarry floor being modified to form suitable foundations. It's ten years since I started the historic airfields project, 200 disused airfields later. Sussex to Norfolk, Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. John.FAI/BGA 51417. Yesterday was 57 years since I started flying at 15 years of age.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 13 күн бұрын

@@user-yd9bj3bs8g I've looked back on many aerial shots of this airbase over the years and its quite shocking how the landscape has changed with of course many of the ww2 structures being lost 😔

@johnstartin-taylor184 5 күн бұрын

Wonderful video. Very many thanks for your explore. One thing I will just say though, is don't underestimate the fact that these places are haunted .... Take a look at the KZfaq videos by Chris Huff, who has visited very many disused airfields over the years and made contact with past RAF personnel now in spirit. Some are earthbound and others simply visiting just as you both are. Be very open to it all. These airfields are incredibly emotional places and much of that aura still remains about them. It's hugely interesting in it's own right ...

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 4 күн бұрын

@@johnstartin-taylor184 Thanks John, we appreciate your positive feedback.. We've somewhat change our attitude when it comes to the paranormal since making this video I can assure you.. 😳👻

@MrVxrman 2 жыл бұрын

Great video guys 😎 I have also signed the petition and donated as well. All the best 😊🍻🥂👍🏻

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks glad you liked this video, really hope the petition works and they manage to save some of this amazing place..

@RODPIKERDRONESUK 3 жыл бұрын

Great job well done thanks for sharing cheers

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much we will get better 😊

@fxtblues 3 жыл бұрын

Great video guys! Loads of content here :)

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

@ExploringwithAustinandThomas 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video, one of our favourite explores :)

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you was a great day very relaxed explore 😊

@derekpyne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Em & Stu. Been waiting for this one since you mentioned about a old airfield explore a few weeks ago. I said before that this is more my interest (but the other things you do are interesting). There's a few old airfields around that area but with a lot gone. A couple of old airfields up in Lincolnshire has gone under a quarry very sad. The last building you're went in did look like the officers mess. In each room would be one or two beds. Years ago most of the airfields I went around was in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and my county Buckinghamshire. Really enjoyed this video thanks guys 👍👍

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Derek glad u liked it, we often get requests to do airbases but as u can see they are big projects involving lots of research but we do love doing them when we get enough time.. hopefully we'll get to a couple more next year as we have started researching a few in Norfolk and Suffolk. Thanks again for watching and commenting we really do appreciate it 👍😊

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Great video guys very comprehensive and did well to find and include everything, I don't think we managed to see half as much stuff as that. Big thanks for the shout out too! One thing to watch for in that heater room is the white stuff round the pipes is asbestos so probably best to steer clear of anything like that in future!

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, we must have walked miles that day to see what we could find but was definitely worth the effort! We love exploring the old airfields.. thanks for the tip about the asbestos, we often forget to look out for it.. cheers for watching 👍

@petermcgarrymusicandflying 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed very much. Kudos.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Peter, appreciate you watching 👍

@PoshcatsCamping 3 жыл бұрын

Great explore. Hope you found your sunglasses 😎 Enjoyed Em’s history at the beginning. It really gave context. The quarry looks like it is ready to take more of the site soon. Have a good weekend 👍 Trev

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad u enjoyed it. Unfortunately Stu never did find his sunglasses lol. Unfortunately so much has already been lost to the quarry and much more probably will follow in the future 😔

@robertfreeman2608 3 жыл бұрын

Good morning Em and Stu what a fantastic find many thanks 👍

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Yes we really love exploring places like these as u never quite know what you will find.. thanks for watching and hope ur keeping well 👍😊

@robertfreeman2608 3 жыл бұрын

@@ExploringWithEmAndStu Hey got a few problems with my legs so cant walk so it was great to see your vid up many thanks. I enjoyed the vid getting use to the drone now. 😊

@jamesllewellyn5191 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting video great exploration.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 👍😊

@maxwellfan55 3 жыл бұрын

Well researched and fascinating piece of military archaeology, thanks to you two. Great to have someone recording this before it all disappears and nature finally reclaims. These kinds of videos are kinda personal for me and others brought up or who served on RAF bases knowing how well populated and efficiently run they were. The building with the vented doors and high interior was probably a parachute store. Ref the one at the end of the video. I have explored a similar building to this one at a base in Devon called Upottery. It was also quite near the runway and control tower (still standing). Not accommodation but admin offices for sure, directly related to flying control. The bath in one of the rooms was probably dumped there. Rare to find Nissen huts like these still standing, but disappearing fast. Just love those beautifully proportioned galvanised window frames still hanging on for dear life. One last thing, but have to ask. Did any of you christen that guard hut toilet on the way out?

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

No that we saw but the base is quite a big place there was so many buildings there scattered all over but there we don't actually know as it was reused and knocked about abit... 😊

@brendanukveteran2360 Жыл бұрын

It is a parchute hanging room - one the same at Skipwith.

@seankay8137 3 жыл бұрын

Good video guys. Especially like the drone footage.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much 😊

@goexplorewithdalecorrina6044 3 жыл бұрын

That's a large raf base you found there👍👍

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

It was brilliant not far from us

@donmiller2810 3 жыл бұрын

Cool video guy's wish I could check that place myself!

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Don its amazing and full of history 👍🙂

@BigBountyHunter 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video ,really interesting right up my street, being local have sadly seen how much of that place has disappeared, the building with the vented doors you asked about could possibly be the airing rooms where parachutes were hung to dry ,thanks for sharing

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Hi we are so pleased that you enjoyed our video it's great that locals can help us have a few ideas on these places thanks for watching 😊

@oligorman999 6 ай бұрын

I like your channel is the best in the world 🌎🌎🌎

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Oli 😊

@raymondgill9796 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Raymond we appreciate to taking the time to watch 🙂

@lewisgardner1660 3 жыл бұрын

Good video guys I used to deliver packing cases into Marconi marine in the early 80s if I remember right I delivered some to Marconi radar at rivenhall airfield, but I can’t remember if it was there or not I know it was Marconi radar on an airfield local to witham where I worked at the time. Good old Marconi the inventor of radio.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Lewis, there's a good chance it could have been here as most of the site was used by Marconi after the war.. Thanks for watching glad u enjoyed it 👍😊

@mattmutlow2978 4 ай бұрын

You should come to York and check out all the old RAF bases in the surrounding area 👍

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 4 ай бұрын

We would love to travel around the rest of the country abit visiting more.. Hopefully in the future we can. Thanks for watching 👍😊

@testnameone806 3 ай бұрын

I grew up on this airfield, know it well, as a kid in we used to dredge the ponds for live rounds, as that's where they would dump the machine gun belts. and not all the casings were empty. Regarding the Polish refugee camps, and the flowers they planted still blossom in the surrounding woods to this day. In the 90's there were illegal raves in that big hanger. The "chicken coop" is a pheasant pen the area was used to raise pheasants and then hosts shoots for many years.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 2 ай бұрын

The amount of discarded military stuff buried around these old Airbases throughout the country is staggering, they'll be digging it up for centuries.. We've since found a few more of these Pheasant enclosures in the woods around other local airbase, they seem to be quite common.. Thanks for watching 👍

@user-xo6mi1fr4j 5 ай бұрын

Very good thanks my dad was there 1944 he was in b flight 570 sqn raf

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 5 ай бұрын

We're always amazed at the amount of people that contact us with family who spent time at these places during the war from allover the world, its fascinating. Thanks for your message and for taking the time to watch 😊👍

@normannokes9513 5 ай бұрын

A surreal experience for aircrew engaging the enemy in the morning and walking London in the afternoon.

@leofric31 2 жыл бұрын

the Ops room was used by Essex police firearms unit in the early 90s, and had a house built inside it for house clearance drills.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 2 жыл бұрын

Ahhh didn't know that any information we get is a very appreciated thank you 🙂

@robaspinall988 2 жыл бұрын

its sad that alot of RAF bases are being closed down and sold off .. I miss RAF Swinderby .. apparently RAF church fenton has now been converted to a small air craft place .. its a shame no-one can get into the hangar . I often wonder if there is any stuff left in there.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 2 жыл бұрын

It really is sad to see we have been to a few now there closed or vandals have got to them 8

@brendanukveteran2360 Жыл бұрын

@29 mins - May well be a drying room used to suspend and air dry large fabric items such as parachutes - there is one of the same general dimesions at what used to be RAF Skipwith in North Yorkshire - very near where I live. The size of those " Nissen huts" suggest they are more like US Q-Model Quonset huts - which were larger...much larger

@ExploringWithEmAndStu Жыл бұрын

Rivenhall was an amazing airbase to explore, and although we wish we'd done abit more research before we went we're glad we got there when we did as unfortunately the nearby quarry is slowly taking the site over 😔 We appreciate your information about some of the buildings, I now actually have a pocket guide book titled 'British Airfield Buildings of the Swcond World War' which would have come in handy if I'd had it back then lol. Thanks again for watching and taking the time to comment, always appreciated 👍😊

@JustMe-xc6gc 3 жыл бұрын

There is a lot to explore in Essex I used to live at Walton-on-the-Naze

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

So did I my family still live there. Stu 😊

@Vincent98987 2 жыл бұрын

Think about how much memories were made there

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 2 жыл бұрын

We do all the time it's amazing really 🙂

@koffii1260 Жыл бұрын

Does anyone know if this is still available to explore today?

@ExploringWithEmAndStu Жыл бұрын

There's been alot of development in the area since we visited so not sure what, if anything is still explorable anymore I'm afraid 😔

@MACHOO179 2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately all them old buildings are no longer there, lost to quary company, the big black building is still there think its something to do with B.T, I would love to do what you guys do. 👍

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 2 жыл бұрын

Yes we have heard that most of it has gone and we are so grateful we got the chance to visit when we did 😑

@mattclark7634 3 жыл бұрын

Hi this is only ten mins from my work and i never know this was there

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Get in quick it's all being knocked down

@donmiller2810 3 жыл бұрын

5 views 1st like

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

@MrAvant123 2 жыл бұрын

They wouldnt have been "displaced Polish POW soldiers" they would have been displaced Polish soldiers, I know because my late father was one.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your information...please understand we research all of our information and the information that is on this video was out of books and Google and other information portals...if we offeneded you we apologise 🙂