HMS Hornbill
The Royal Navy air station
Photograph by Major G.W.G.Allen circa 1930
Courtesy of Jaqi Mason
This black and white image is from an aerial photograph of the area taken by Major G.W.G.Allen in the early 1930s. Comparing it with both the modern satellite image and the aerial shot of the air base in 1946, one can see the railway line snaking off from the station up towards Radley and Oxford, and the Abingdon road curving across the foot of the image. The tree lined estate road can be followed from the station in a straight line until it crosses Thame Lane and a short distance further on it passes under the arch of Abingdon Lodge and into Nuneham Park whose boundary is marked by row of tall trees. Almost all the area seen between the railway and the Abingdon Road, including the wooded area on the right and well into Nuneham Park itself was to be taken up by the air base.
In order to accommodate the air base Thame Lane was diverted around the site and the estate road to the station now terminated where it met the new line of the lane. This meant that Abingdon Lodge found itself orphaned within the diverted Thame Lane, but outside the perimeter track. It survived for many years and was not demolished until the 1970s. The boundary to Nuneham Park was lost as the area reverted to agricultural use but the estate roads can still be traced, almost from where the lodge once stood. Major Allen's hangar was demolished, but the old hangar site remained outside the airfield perimeter and was later redeveloped for residential use.
Satellite view in 2020 courtesy of Google.co.uk
Imagery ©DigitalGlobe, Getmapping plc,
Infoterra Ltd&Bluesky, The Geoinformation Group
In order to accommodate the air base Thame Lane was diverted around the site and the estate road to the station now terminated where it met the new line of the lane. This meant that Abingdon Lodge found itself orphaned within the diverted Thame Lane, but outside the perimeter track. It survived for many years and was not demolished until the 1970s. The boundary to Nuneham Park was lost as the area reverted to agricultural use but the estate roads can still be traced, almost from where the lodge once stood. Major Allen's hangar was demolished, but the old hangar site remained outside the airfield perimeter and was later redeveloped for residential use.
The base itself was completed in 1944, being commissioned on 1st November 1944 and closing as a Naval Air Station on 30th September 1953. Its official name was RNAS Culham (or HMS Hornbill). It is believed that there were a total of four incidents involving either a crash landing or runway overshoot during the operational life of the airbase. One incident took place during the afternoon of Tuesday 9th October 1945 when the railway line was blocked by an unidentified Fleet Air Arm plane which had crash-landed near the end of the runway. Another incident took place about ten years later when a Sea Vampire T Mk.22 approached to land a bit low and knocked its wheels off on the perimeter fence within view of the signal box.
This area was particularly busy during the Second World War, as the nearby Nuneham Park and House had been requisitioned by the RAF in 1942 for use as a P.R.I.U. (Photographic reconnaissance interpretation unit) being known as RAF Nuneham Park. This continued until 1957 when all the buildings and roadways that had been added during that time were removed and the estate handed back to the original owners. There were two other service camps adjacent to that at Culham, one being 'Argus Camp' on the western side close to Lock Wood and the other, 'Pegasus Camp' to the east by Clifton Heath. Little if any evidence remains of these other camps as the abandoned buildings were gradually demolished.
HMS Hornbill/RNAS Culham in 1946
Courtesy of Peter White
Click or tap to see a larger image
HMS Hornbill/RNAS Culham in 1945
Courtesy of Ove Arup & Partners Ltd
HMS Hornbill/RNAS Culham in 1946
Courtesy of Peter White
Click or tap to see a larger image
HMS Hornbill/RNAS Culham in 1945
Courtesy of Ove Arup & Partners Ltd
We are grateful to Peter White for this aerial photograph which was taken sometime during 1946.The railway runs across the image from top left to bottom centre, with Culham Station just discernable near the lower edge. The main road to Abingdon, the A415, runs the other way from centre right to centre bottom where it crosses over the railway line by the station. Lock Wood is the wooded area at the top left of the photograph, and the buildings of Argus Camp can be seen adjacent lying outside the area enclosed by the diverted Thame Lane.
The plan on the right dates from 1945 and shows slightly more detail, but disappointingly it doesn't reveal more information regarding the station and rail link. See a larger version by clicking or tapping on the thumbnail image.
Aerial view taken from an undated Christmas card
Author's collection
This aerial view of the airfield is taken from a
small undated Christmas card 
Author's collection
Click or tap link for a larger image
which shows, what we believe to be, a DeHavilland Mosquito flying over the airfield in a North Easterly direction. There are few buildings to be seen in this view and it is worth comparing it with the overall view and plan shown above to see why.
Culham station is out of shot beyond the bottom left corner of the photo, but the line of the railway can be traced from centre left up towards the top right corner. Part way along, Thame Lane crosses the line via its original bridge, which can just be made out, before it follows its diverted route around the top of the airfield perimeter.
The issue of The Aeroplane from 12th November 1948 contained a page entitled
'A visit to Culham' The Aeroplane, November 1948
Author's collection
Click or tap link for a larger image
which showed some Seafires in flight and an aerial view of the dispersal area.
The air base at Culham hosted a number of air displays between 1945 and 1953 when it closed as an operational air station. The photographs below were taken by an unknown visitor to one such Naval Air Day held at RNAS Culham on Saturday 9th July 1949.
Blackburn Firebrand
taken on 9th July 1949, author's collection
DeHavilland Sea Hornet
taken on 9th July 1949, author's collection
Fairey Firefly over the railway line
taken on 9th July 1949, author's collection
We are fortunate to also have in our collection a copy of the official programme
Author's collection
Click or tap link to see the full programme in pdf form from that day in 1949. This not only lists the impressive flying programme but also includes fascinating details about the static displays, many photographs, and a general plan of the air base itself.
Hawker Sea Fury
Courtesy of RNPA Historic Archive
This Hawker Sea Fury of 739 Squadron based at Culham is having its vertical view camera reloaded in December 1948. The Sea Fury could be fitted with both vertical and oblique cameras for photo reconnaissance missions.
It was the last type of propeller driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, and one of the fastest such aircraft ever built. Development of the Hawker Fury was formally initiated in 1943 in response to a wartime requirement of the Royal Air Force. As the Second World War drew to a close, the RAF cancelled their order, however the Royal Navy saw the type as a suitable carrier aircraft. Now designated the Sea Fury, development proceeded and the type began entering operational service in 1947 remaining in service with the RNVR until August 1955.
Seafire photographed by Harold H.Gasson circa 1950
Courtesy of Crécy Publishing
A local railwayman, Harold Gasson, wrote a series of four books about his life on the railway and this photograph of a Seafire coming in to land is taken from his third book Signalling Days which was originally published by Oxford Publishing Co. in 1981. Crécy Publishing republished all four books in a combined volume entitled Steam Days in June 2020 (ISBN: 9781910809679) and the image has been reproduced here with their kind permission.
