Duxford Airfield
Rescue & Fire Fighting Service
This is not an official IWM site
A history of Duxford Airfield RFFS
Compiled by Station Officer Rob Unwin
1975-1991
The airfield fire service at Duxford Airfield started from an idea, in one or two members of
what was the then East Anglian Aviation Society during 1974, to whom it was apparent that
to operate the airfield for occasional test flights and for air shows, specialist services
including fire cover and ground handling would be necessary on a part time volunteer basis
- the service commenced operation in 1975
The Imperial War Museum in the 1970’s were only at Duxford as an outstation / store for
the Museum in Lambeth Road.
Fortunately at this time, Stansted Airport was disposing of some of its older fire equipment,
and following negotiations with them, Duxford’s first fire appliance was acquired, this being
Thorneycroft Nubian /Sun Water (Foam) tender VXN867. It carried 950 gallons of water
and 50 gallons of protein concentrate.
Almost straight away training commenced with the first volunteers, including Terry
Betchley, who is still working part time in the Airfield Services Department, over 40 years
later, following a long and fruitful career in the Army Air Corps!
After this humble beginning, the fire crew, now under the auspices of the Duxford Aviation
Society grew fairly rapidly, with the second fire appliance, a Landrover ACR(T)II, NJE489R
being acquired in 1976. This appliance had previously served in the Royal Air Force, and had
a local connection, being based at RAF Oakington for many years, making the regular
journey to Waterbeach and back, which was used by the stations Varsity aircraft as a relief
landing ground.
During the latter half of 1978 two further Thorneycroft / Sun appliances were obtained
from the British Airports Authority, one being a Foam Tender, SXT 107 and the other a
Water Tender (Foam), SXT 115, which was broken for spares. The Foam Tender was totally
rebuilt by the fire crews and following a re-spray by one of the members, became
operational late in 1979.
Other fire appliances were acquired over the years, two most notable being donations, one
from Cambridgeshire County Council, and the other by the States of Jersey.
The crew members grew over the years also with over 30 DAS Fire Service personnel at its
peak, during the early to mid 1990’s. The heyday of the DAS Fire Service was most
definitely the mid to late 1980’s.
During this time some of the volunteers decided it might be a good idea to have a Fire
Engine Category in the annual Military Vehicle display. The first event took place in 1981,
and continued to eventually become a stand-alone venue. These events proved to be
extremely popular, and grew ultimately too big for the DAS Fire Service to handle, proving
to be a huge strain on staff and resources.
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