Dates: 1917 - 2000
Cardington became one of the major British sites involved in the development of airships when Short Brothers bought land there to build airships for the Admiralty. They constructed a 700 ft long airship hangar (the No. 1 Shed) in 1915 to enable them to build two rigid airships, the R-31 and the R-32. Some 800 people worked there in 1917, most of them travelled daily from Bedford. Shorts also built a housing estate, opposite the site, which they named Shortstown.
The airships site was nationalised in April 1919, becoming known as the Royal Airship Works.
In preparation for the R101 project the No. 1 shed was extended between October 1924 and March 1926; its roof was raised by 35 feet and its length increased to 812 feet. The No. 2 shed (Southern shed), which had originally been located at Pulham, Norfolk, was dismantled in 1928 and re-erected at Cardington.
After the crash of the R101, in October 1930, all work stopped in Britain on airships. Cardington then became a storage base.
In 1936 / 1937 Cardington started building barrage balloons; and it became the No. 1 RAF Balloon Training Unit.
For both airships and barrage balloons, Cardington manufactured its own hydrogen, in the Gas Factory, using the steam reforming process. In 1948 the Gas Factory became 279 MU (Maintenance Unit), RAF Cardington; and then, in 1955, 217 MU. 217 MU, RAF Cardington, produced all the gases used by the Royal Air Force until its closure in April 2000; including gas cylinder filling and maintenance.
The two airship hangars ceased being part of the RAF Cardington site in the late 1940s and they were put to other uses. The fence was moved, so they were outside the main RAF Cardington site.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving RAF Cardington
"I clearly recall being told how to wear a beret after being kitted out at RAF Cardington, and on commencement of basic training at RAF Bridgnorth. It appears that the RAF wear berets the same way as the army, because Syd Smith described it exactly as it was explained to us. "
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" Richard "Taffy" Jones mechanic(E) RAF Nov. ’37- Nov. ’45 Served: RAF Cardington, Henlow, St. Athan, Martlesham Heath, Manston Kent, Halton, assigned to Air Vice Marshall Maltey, opted to Fleet Air Arm 823 Squadron "A" flight (Swordfish) HMS Glorious, 793 Squadron (Blackburn Roc) Trinidad. ..."
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" I was at RAF Bridgenorth in January 1959 for basic training, the DI was Cpl Fowler, yellow sqnd. We arrived by train from RAF Cardington. I believe the station or platform was attached to the camp because we had to run across a field which was part of the camp. It was certainly not Bridgenorth ..."
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" I’ve just found some documentation, and am wondering how many of you still have similar types of bits and pieces of your service days? Papers instructing me to attend a medical, dated 3rd Sept 1958. Draft Certificate, dated 10th Sept 1958. Copy of Attestation, made at RAF Cardington on 28th ..."
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"It has taken me two years Margaret,now look at your date of joining and the posts you have made.You could have got a job at RAF Cardington,when it was a ballon station. HeHe "
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