The Royal Air Force station west of the West Raynham village closed in 1990 1996. It had been an active RAF base since 1930.
The base saw action during the war and suffered losses. It is reported that a total of 86 aircraft belonging to the RAF West Raynham were lost in the war. Afterwards Raynham updated their craft with Venoms, Vampire and Meteor jet fighters.
However, earlier this month Living TV’s Most Haunted announced that RAF West Raynham would be the venue of a week long live special. The 2010 series, titled “The Silent Town”, was heavily trailed and the result was a number of internet pranks, suggestions that the filming could be gate crashed as well as unusually high speculation on the internet about the possible haunting.
UK Living told press that they are aware of the Internet chat and have put in place tight security in order to prevent disruption. The venue is also quite hard to find.
Possible ghosts and entities at RAF West Raynham?
Due to the internet pranks around Most Haunted Live: Silent Town there are an unusually large number of recent reports of spirits, murder and suicide at West Raynham. In Pure Spirit has attempted to distil them into something meaningful.
Officer’s Mess
There are reports that a ghost a Polish pilot, who was shot down during World War 2, has been seen in the dining room, walking towards the kitchen and through walls. The entity seems to favour Room 7 in the Officer’s Mess.
Armoury
There are reports that a shadowy figure can sometimes be seen hanging from the rafters in the social club section in the area adjacent to the main armoury. Is this a spectre of a mechanic who committed suicide?
The chapel
The chapel is home of a particularly bitter and angry ghost. Reports associate a high air force rank to him; perhaps Wing Commander of Squadron Leader (or, less often, Fligt Lieutenant) and the name George of Geoff.
Less common is the suggestion this is the ghost of someone murdered in the base although that has been suggested. A more common alternative is that the ghost is someone who died at the base after receiving wounds they could have avoided if someone else had been honest with them.
The Guard’s Building
It has been reported that the bathroom in the guard’s building can suddenly become feelingly cold.
The control tower
The control tower is said to cast a sinister presence out across the silent town-esq collection of buildings that RAF West Raynham has become.
The control building
Both the control room and the nearby fire station have reports of haunting and paranormal activity.
It is said that a particularly active poltergeist is present in the control room of the control building.
Base Headquarters
It is said that the base headquarters at RAF West Raynham are the centre of a dark power. Strangely (or perhaps not!) the finance room in the building is suggested as the possible source for the feeling.
Visitors to the building who are familiar with the creepy deserted buildings and who are not normally sensitive to spirits or the supernatural
The Sergeant’s Mess
There are a number of areas within the sergeant’s mess in which people have reported feeling the presence of the supernatural.
There is one suggested sighting of a green coloured ghost in the bar area inside the mess. The bar area and boiler room have both been reported as sites of possible haunting by paranormal investors via social sites.
Hanger
It is widely believed that the hanger building is haunted in the silent town remains of RAF West Raynham. Hanger 3, in particular, is rumoured to have been the scene of a secret military experiment that may have made use of British psychics during the war.
Hospital
The hospital houses a number of decontamination stages. Visitors to the building have reportedly heard screams or felt intense pain while visiting these areas.
There are also reports of sobbing from the x-ray room. One internet psychic has associated the area with a woman’s name “Alice” or “Alison”.
In Pure Spirit
What do you think? Are these reported hauntings nothing more than a reaction to Most Haunted Live: Silent Town coming to of RAF West Raynham? Bare in mind that many of these reports pre-date the show’s announcement.
This post was published before the TV program but if you witness anything odd while viewing the program it would be great if you could share your experiences below.
"It has been widely reported that the now deserted base – which looks like a silent town – is reported."
Whoooa! It´s been widely reported that it´s reported!
That´s scary!
No, wait… It´s STUPID!
Good spot. I always rush these posts and make comedy English errors as a result! Fixed now.
Hey peeps, going to raf west rainham this tuesday to be in the audience of most haunted live. its an experience i have allways wanted, so hopefully it will be good ; -)
andy
Is there a risk that you'll be called out from your seat and sent into the darkness with the team? :) Do let us know if you see/sense anything (no matter what happens to you!)
Yvette Fielding would run a mile if something other wordly did appear, the show has run for too long and NOT proved anything, a few orbs you may say, I've got oddles of them on my camera. so what, what would Miss Fielding do for a living if she wasnt chasing "spooks", not much I think, she gives a spiritual life a bad name…….
Louis x
I noticed people on Twitter complaining that nothing was happening – do you think Yvette and team are under pressure to put on a show? (The TV authorities count the show as 'entertainment' rather than any attempt at factual analysis, by the way).
Hi Andrew, just FYI Raynham closed in 1996, not 1990. I was still visitng serving friends there in 1993.
Adora
Thanks! I've made that correction (and shown the error). Do you think there's anything 'else' at the base?
I HAVE LIVED IN WEST RAYNHAM VILLAGE FOR ALMOST TWENTY FIVE YEARS AND I LIVE ON MY OWN IN A THREE HUNDRED YEAR OLD COTTAGE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY GHOST I MAY HOWEVER HAD WEIRD GOINGS ON HAPPEN BUT NOTHING THAT MAKES ME WANT TO MOVE OR FRIGHTNING NOT YET ANYHOW HUMANS ARE MORE OF A WORRY TO ME I DO THINK THIS GHOSTLY INTEREST IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL AND SHOULD STOP IT CAN ONLY BE A PHASE ITS NOT THAT I AM NOT INTERETSED IN THE SUPERHUMAN I AM A LITTLE BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD LET THE DEAD REST . RESIDENT OF WEST RAYNHAM
I lived at the base in the 90's. No strange goings on at all then. I now live just a mile away from the camp and the only thing that makes me want to move now is the HGV's that pass my house everyday. There's no ghosts or spooks just people that want to beleive and people willing to make mony out of them.
Are you watching the program? Finding it frustrating?
I am a ghosty goul that actually lives at RAF raynham, so i for one believe it is haunted.
I am an X RAF who served there from 1966 to 1969, I had an experience which "rocked my boat" so to speak, so do I beleave, you betcha!!. NO, I am not about to tell any stories, because there will always be people who will disbeleave and ridicule, can I prove anything, of course not, no one has ever proven anything upto yet so why would I be any different, and I also beleave if "whom" ever wanted us mere mortals to know, I think we would have been told by now.
I only watched because I was stationed at West Raynham in 1951/52, but I’m glad I did – I love a good laugh! One of the highlights was when Yvette said “I’m an erk, we’re all erks”. As an erk is an airman second class, the lowest of low, IF there were any spirits there then any sounds heard were either suppressed laughs or snorts of derision.
i cringe abit whilst watching this show..karl was wearing an incorrect raf tunic and cap for the period when he stayed in room 7…..IF there are ghosts there..they probably think he is a german spy due to incorrect attire (( raf tunic / hat were 60's/70's issue ))…i wish they would just say..we are from the future…you won the war….thank you very much and walk towards the light !!
Are you surprised the audience voted/encouraged them on? I think it gave the show the green light to press on with the 'subterfuge' but I do wonder whether the audience was coached to vote that way.
I was in the Audience that night and we were simply just asked to vote.
That's good to hear. Do you think they did the right thing?
can anyone go visit this site?
You need tickets for the MHL event. Not sure about whether you need tickets to explore the base otherwise; I believe there are forums discussing how to tour derelict buildings which might be more helpful. Are you watching the show?
I must admit I ‘channel hop’ a bit but I was puzzled by the ouiji performance on Friday. Very loud banging caused no comment from the team, while unheard sounds caused hysterical shrieks from Kath. Was there some explanation given that I missed?
Where did the bullets/shells/casings (they’re cartridges, for heaven’s sake) come from?
During my 18 months living there I had no weird experiences, even when on camp patrol at night, nor did I meet anyone who had.
Very frustrating, the only things interesting that happened were as the credits were rolling at the end of the show, and then not mentioned at all the following day. Also why did we not see the footage of the filing cabinet door opening? The door apparentlly opened on the webcam and was seen by thousands "online", So why didn't they show us that footage. FAKEnham, seems the ideal place for this lot!!
Hi
it's a shame the correct terminology wasn't used, I guess they were poorly advised. For example, Guards House was correctly known as the Main Guardroom, The Hospital = Station Medical Centre (SMC). The cartridges "thrown" in the SMC looked very much like blank rounds used in training exercises in the 80s. I am retired RAF & although never stationed at West Raynham, visited there for work purposes many times in te 70s & 80s & I stayed in the Sgt's Mess for 2 weeks in Autumn 1980. I certainly never saw or heard anything spooky.
This show was an excellent example off mind over matter. The audience – many of whom apparently had travelled hundreds of miles – wanted to see/hear something – anything – for their efforts. They were susceptable to suggestions put forward by the team – I am sure thats why there were so many noises – heard by the team – not heard by those of us watching at home – just to keep the audience on side. The incorrect use of RAF terminolgy, the teams apparent lack of knowledge on the subject and the confusing and boring comments from the so called experts in history corner made for a shameful and shamful show. I have spent many hours on researching WW2 airfields. The utter disrespect shown by the team for the men and women who occupied Raynham during the war years – surpassed even their own ignorance and commercial exploitation. Whether you believe in spirits or not – MHL at Raynham – was simply a self serving exercise with no regard for our history and the men and women who fought for our freedom.
Hi
I quite agree with Patrick's comments, especially about the noises "heard" by the team & not by us at home.
Alan
FYI Gents, I had tickets given to me for Xmas and did travel hundreds of miles to watch, HOWEVER having now experienced it first hand, found it better to watch at home, We were in a hangar completely separate from the "action", and I can assure you that NO suggestions were exerted to the audience, you are literally there just to watch.
Us Audience members did not need to be kept "on side"!!!
No disrespect what so ever was shown to the buildings…and as far as I could see there are actually no Men or Woman physically present to anger or upset??!!?
As for our History, my 12 year old actually started to ask questions on the back end of this programme and the insights that were given, something I am pretty sure would usually stay in the classroom!
Im not really defending the show cos Im not to fussed either way TBH just expressing the other side of your over opinion on The Audience!!
If you dont like it… dont watch it …….as Alexandra would say….Simples!!!!!! ;D
Stick t researching your WW2 Airfields Love!!Bless!
Thanks for your comments Sarah. I've found that this sort of debate tends to divide opinions sharply but I think you've made some very good points here. It'll be great if the show's started an interest in history with your son!
So much of west raynhams history is in the public domain it is hard to believe that a huge amount of information was not gatherd prior to this show.
it seems to me that this show follows a format an old tried and trusted format building up to a spectacular ending involving CARL AND STEWART and YVETTE i must admit i was an avid vewer of MH but even now i cant be botherd watching anymore as it seems so phoney what happend to all the people who started on the show did they see the light and not the one at the end of the corridor that we cant see.
its time to go MH i have sat with earphones on listening to audio and i cant hear any of the noises reported ? but hey ho it helps with the yvette and carl show and the upkeep of that massive house in cheshire how about some serious ghost hunting by some genuine ghost hunters sorry most haunted but you have let me down let serious people do this not just fame hunters and financial gain hunters
Do you think the Yvette and Karl spin-off shows harm Most Haunted?
In a way yes but MHhas lost its appeal to people you dont get any follow up as in shows like ghost hunters with all this technical wizzardry that is about i would have thought MH would have at least a follow up show to the lives showing and explaining pheonomena caught at the time and relayed in the follow up show as yvette will often say did you get that???? .
on other programmes audio evidence and video evidence is shown or revealed MH do none of this that is what is so disturbing about MH also some of the cast the 2 people on the history desk what can i say when one grins and laughs when aproached and the other is well just the other get some real people with interest why have all the credable people left or been fired?.
this was a landmark show its now a joke when in can be much more the wrong people have gone
try some new presenters with less artistic licence and more technical intrest and belivability
I was in the audience on the first night saturday & being honest i never felt or saw anything. When they were doing the sayonce in the hanger i could’nt stop giggling so my mrs kept jabing me in the ribs. Later on i fell asleep & started snorring which made a few people jump & me aswell as i got another jab to the ribs.
I wish i could say i’d senced something but i did’nt but thats show bizz but thats all this show is about !!!
I was stationed at WR for 4½ years. Frankly, never heard so much bollocks in my life. None of the above was ever discussed in my time there. During my service we:
1 Were armoury guards, this meant sleeping overnight in the armoury
2 Security Guards, most of the time when not on patrol, was spent in the Main Guard Room
3 I was not a SNCO, but had friends who were. No one mentioned strange goings on in the Sergeants Mess
4 Block 104 – supposed to be haunted – I slept there for a year – nothing. Also nothing from the Officers Mess
5 ATC, had to visit various times of the night to sign security logs
I'd say one or two have a slim grasp on reality
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=…
Hello :)
I know that there has been Ex RAF Guys who have commented on here and said that its was all crap and untrue, and i know am commenting on this like a week late, i only watched the last day of it on Thursday, as i had been on holiday, but near the end When they are in that corridor where the guns shells are getting "thrown" at the team, but there was that white light thing floatin in the air…kinda high too, am not saying it was a spirit type thing but i have seen that sort of thing before, i was freaked out when i saw it, but Stuwy didnt when he saw it on camera?
maybe cause am a girl am sure? But i do believe in Ghosts, My tutor in college also was in the RAF for many of years, hes said he has heard alot about The RAF station, West Raynham , he said his soldier mates have seen some strange stuff there, so it could be all maid up…maybe its that am young and i would believe anything?….I couldnt help but laugh, am not sure which day it was, but it was when karl ,Yvette Cath and Chris on camera where in that room and Karl kept saying there was someone standing that that room, and Yvette had that canddle and thought the camera would be able to see it better :S? But Cath Screaming …Oh My Life….Me, my big sister, big brother, little brother and little sister were all sat on the sofa watching it Proper howling at cath screaming at nothing….Shes such a wuss!!
I’ve been in the audience at west raynam & the only thing cold about that place was the wheather! I talked to a chap a few days ago who admited he & a few friends set alot things up to spook the most haunted team ,& as he said it was a good job they did as it would have a very quiet show . As for me i do belive in ghosts but i dont belive in karl & yvette (sorry guys).
My husband , an american officer was posted at RAF West Raynham from 1992-93. We stayed at the Officers Mess for about a week. during that week I had been washing laundry in the laundry room; and although the room was warm from the dryer being on, a cold mass followed by a man in uniform walked through the wall to the other sideand through that wall. I walked out to the hall and the room next to the laundry room was room 7. I inquired a week later in the pub if the mess was haunted. The barmaid and my neighbor were aghast that I had witnessed the ghost. I'm not easily frighted, but I did see the ghost again andI tried not to go into room7 if I could avoid it. The wives club used to keep flower arrangements in that room, even in the summer because the room was always cold even during the summer. MaryAnn
Cath should not be on the show. She roars and screams at the smallest of sounds. I think alot of it is in her head. She totally spoils the show
I am responding to Sarahs comments about her son having found an interest in history as a result of the programme. Whilst this is good to know, there are many other introductions to history that can be made other than via a commercially exploitative TV programme. I give a lot of talks to schools and the children are always fascinated by having the hands on experience of touching original period items.
I am not for one moment sugesting that ghosts do not exist, however, I do not consider that the show was anything other than a TV experience rather than a serious attempt to search for and understand the 'atmosphere' of West Raynham. Twenty friends and I watched the show, each viewing from a different location in the UK, None of us saw anything or heard anything on the 'cams' and the lack of knowledge about RAF terminolgy made the whole programme a distraction from rather than an enhancement to the world of the paranormal.
Just came across this page whilst browsing. I never watch most Haunted that yvette bird very irritating.
I was stationed at RAF West Raynham 1970 to 1972 and worked in the PBX in Station HQ. My job required me to work night shifts from 5pm to 8am next day. we had a TV in the section but didnt watch it all night as I remember it went off ie no programmes after midnight which meant a long night in the quiet. Guess what happened!! NOTHING considering I was in the building with a so called dark influence. the only dark influence at the time was a dip stick wing commander OC eng wing. Cant remember his name but he was a plonker.
I was there from 1971 on Ken, may know the same people as you – Mick Daly for instance http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=…
I live here not haunted at all
I live in west raynham park formaly raf west raynham and its not haunted at all
I served at WR and it was my job to go about the station at night. The only time I have ever seen a ghost was there.
WRAF, worked in Air Traffic Control as Ops Clerk 1952-54. Would imagine there would be a few 'lost' souls as saw and heard over RT a few fatal crashes, plus one of our fire crew took his motor bike out onto the runway one night after a demob party and wrote himself off. However, never heard or saw any ghosts, even when full of spirit!
Shiver me timbers, them’s some great inforatmion.
I was at West Raynhamin 1952 as part of a Royal Navy detachment known as NAFDU,our block was opposite that of the WAAF accomodation and one night having just enough drink to dull my senses I went into the wrong block,maybe someone saw a high speed ghost as I made my escape.No other spirits that I know off but maybe that of Mush Blunsden ,an officers steward who was killed by riding his motorbike into the five barred gate .
Happy days,I went back in 2007 but was stopped from entering the site by a rat faced security guard,I was just curious to find out what was developing on the site.
Frank, there is a Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/108095945384/
I was stationed at WR for two years 72-74, I never experienced any thing out of the ordinary, I have spent time in the guardroom, slept alone on duty in the armoury and carried out security checks in the headquarters and the ATC tower, I can't recall anyone else who had any experiences either.
To the resident of raynham, I also am local and must say I have seen ghosts myself and to me it is not a phase it is part of my life, it doesn't scare me and I don't lecture others about it. I feel people should be allowed to believe what they want regardless of if they have had any experiences or not.
You just sound like a very closed person who isn;'t open to other peoples views!
Also in my experiences i have found some people have a gift and are able to sense or see things and others dont these people who don't then say that its a load of c**p. Keep youre minds open!
I have just been rewatching the Silent City prog on tape again and having been stationed in the station armoury there in 1956/7 I can assure there are spirits there because we used to see them every Friday night after we finished for the weekend in the NAFFI bar
i moved onto west raynham 3 months ago , i am a sensitive and have had a wander around and the place itself has an energy , there is a lot of spirit activity here , i have taken a few pictures and video clips which i will upload if and when i see fit to , but yes there is an awful lot of activity , Most haunted have made an absolute bollox of this like they have everything else they have done .
Anonymous
The Control Tower can be a bit noisy when it is windy, but nothing paranormal to report!