Explore Britain’s haunted RAF airfields, from ghostly pilots at RAF Montrose to phantom Spitfires over Biggin Hill. Unearth chilling tales of courage, sacrifice, and lingering spirits.
For over a century, Britain’s RAF airfields have witnessed extraordinary bravery and devastating loss. But what remains when history refuses to rest? In this video, I delve into the haunted histories of RAF Bircham Newton, Montrose, Biggin Hill, and Waltham, uncovering tales of ghostly pilots, phantom aircraft, and unexplained phenomena.
From the spectral airman of Montrose to eerie echoes of Merlin engines at Waltham, these chilling stories are more than ghost tales—they’re tributes to the courage of those who served.
Join me as I explore the supernatural side of Britain’s wartime legacy. Like, subscribe, and share to help keep these stories alive!
#HauntedAirfields #GhostStories #RAFHistory #BritishHistory #HauntedPlaces #ParanormalHistory #HauntedUK #MilitaryGhosts #AviationHistory #RAFGhosts #HauntedAviation #GhostlyEncounters #SupernaturalStories #WWIIHistory #HistoricHauntings #WarTimeGhosts #HauntedPlacesUK #GhostTales #AviationLegends
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:38 RAF Bircham Newton: Ghosts on Tape
06:44 RAF Montrose: The Spectre of Desmond Arthur
11:00 RAF Biggin Hill: Phantom Spitfires and Pilots
14:21 RAF Waltham: The Headless Airman
17:18 Conclusion
Photo credits
St George’s Chapel, Biggin Hill: Wikimedia tristan forward / RAF church and mock-up fighter plane at Biggin Hill
Desmon Arthur’s grave at Sleepyhillock: Kevan Dickin, CC BY-SA 3.0 httpscreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Waltham B1 Hangar: Ivor the driver at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Waltham Entrance Sign: Ivor the driver, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grimsby Taxiway Northend: Ivor the driver, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mohne Dam Breached: Ivor the driver, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hurricane: S.A. Devon, Royal Air Force official photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
B.E.2 Early Production: Photograph not credited, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggin Hill Squash Courts: cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Evelyn Simak – geograph.org.uk/p/4436948
Montrose Air Station: Kevan Dickin, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Station Headquarters at Bircham Newton: cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Evelyn Simak – geograph.org.uk/p/4437172
Former barrack block of RAF Bircham Newton: cc-by-sa/2.0 – © JThomas – geograph.org.uk/p/5575097
Book Link
The Ghosts of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk by Dr Paul Lee https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghosts-Kings-Lynn-West-Norfolk/dp/B09HNT2BW8 (not an affiliate link)
Newspaper excerpts courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.
Recommended reading and product links
These are the books that I use when researching my episodes. The Amazon links below may earn me a small commission, without impacting the price you pay for them. Please consider supporting the channel by making your purchase through these links. Thank you!
Haunted England: The Penguin Book of Ghosts by Westwood & Simpson
https://amzn.to/3K3lFUy
The Lore of the Land: A Guide to England’s Legends by Westwood & Simpson
https://amzn.to/4bJ2eMi
The English Year by Steve Roud
https://amzn.to/3QSy69n
For this episode I also referred to:
• the first four books in the Ghost Station series by Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, published between 1986 and 1991
• Haunted Kent by Janet Cameron, published in 2005
• Haunted Places of Kent by Rupert Matthews, published in 2004
• Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain, published by Readers Digest in 1973
• The World Encyclopedia of Fighters & Bombers by Francis Crosby, published in 2006
Original music composed by Stephen Anthony, Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
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Great stuff. And the first of 2025. My interest in haunted airfields comes from the old Peter Underwood BBC recording from the former RAF base at Bircham Newton. Its uploaded on Youtube from memory. Brilliantly covered here.
Excellent as always, narration amazing. Certainly interesting as i live in Lincolnshire surrounded by airfields, they certainly have a feel to them, not creepy just quiet and reflecting i suppose.
Great stuff, one of my favourite channels.Thank you.
Excellent video thank you x
Very interesting but get things right, Hawker Hurricanes were the most prevalent fighter during the battle of Britain and Biggin Hill was also home to 32 Squadron (Hurricanes) as often recounted to me by a friend who was an "erk" there during the battle.
This was great. Not sure that watching it late at night in bed was the wisest idea, but it was great! Any stories about airfields in Sussex?
Another fascinating video, also touching on the memories of the those who were lost during the Conflicts that cost so much, so many lives. This was especially one that I could relate to, former RAF (1973-1984) there were lots of tales and I would like to hear more of these fields. Thank you again.
PS. I was never a witness, just as well as I would've been off on my tootsies PDQ.
The sound of that Spitfire at the beginning was beautiful.
I remember coming home from school one afternoon back in the 70s and my mother was I think ironing with the radio on and they were talking on the radio about a Haunted airfield and they played a tape recording from inside one of the old buildings, I reckon it was probably the Bircham Newton recording.
Also I have to say to the lady who narrates this, you have a lovely voice I could listen to you for hours.
What a brilliant video, thank you. Thoroughly enjoyed it 😃
A Great video, are you going to feature RAF East Kirkby, now an historical location, that has quite a bit of activity.
Having served at RAF Linton On Ouse in Yorkshire in the 1980s I remember a young Air Traffic Assistant met a man in an old WW2 pilots uniform on the stairs ..she swore she had seen a ghost as he was there one minute and gone the next!!
Thank you, totally fascinating
I’ve personally experienced strange occurrences at WW2 airfields and I can openly admit to being scared on several occasions. Alas there are not many of these deserted sites left in the UK for the adventurer to experience for themselves . If you can do it now before the area becomes another housing estate. If the site is now owned by agriculture then please gain access permission first for everyone’s safety.
As as child, growing up in the fifties, there were places that were dead, just dead, no animals, no birds were to be seen or heard, these places where mainly barracks, and as you passed them you could feel death, coldness of death. It was a strange time as so much was still left of the last war. There was an ora that was left behind, staid in those days, up until the seventies, and probably ghosts were drawn from this, a shadow mirror image of those gone before.
This is very well narrated, easy to listen to, and nice to know that our past has not been forgotten, that some are still interested
My great grandfather flew with the RAF 312 Czechoslovak squadron in Hawker Hurricanes, with Squadron Leader Frank Tyson, during world war two. He was one of the 'few' ღ ≽^•⩊•^≼
Absolutely fantastic, and very respectfully done. Thank you
By the way the The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito did more damage to the German planes than Spitfires and Hurricanes. The German high command ordered that the manufacturing facility should be bombed. Eddy Chapman was employed to blow the place up, Chapman a double agent working for us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8isXjV9XTgs
Excellent work again 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for mentioning my research. It is now a definite fact that none of the four named ghosts picked up by the mediums (including the "suicide" victim Wiley) ever existed and none of the facts they gave check out. It's sad that this information is still presented as fact!
Stories occasionally come in from local people who live/lived or worked in the area including old homes occupied by ex crews and servicemen.
The Birches hotel, next to the squash courts is also the source of many stories with odd noises and beds found messed up that had just been made up. A student at the CITB was in his room when he heard a knock at his door. When he opened it he was confronted by a figure in RAF uniform!
I believe most of these appearances are residual, which is a shame. It would be wonderful to be able to tell them the war is won and their sacrifices have not been in vain.
Evil spirits can pretend to be the dead.
I was born in Chichester , West Sussex , living close to RAF Station Tangmere . I can remember seeing Spitfires flying (very) low over our front door ; Visiting the station many times also, just walking distance in West Hampnet was a satellite airfield . Tangmere , about two miles from home was also close enough to walk . As an Air Cadet i had the most wonderful experience walking through the three hangars . Relating this to a friend , he told me of an headless airman walking along the perimeter of the Airfield , the story relevant being , this airman landing a light aircraft and getting stuck in a patch of mud , climbed out and attempted to push the aircraft out . resulting in his decapitation . The friend told me he walked behind him waving his hand over the shoulders of this headless walker .
I remember being present at RAF HORNCHURCH during the battle of Britain ( circa 1940 ) what puzzles me , is that I was not born until 8/2/1942.
The military museum I work at and the base and training area it borders are incredibly haunted. From ghostly battles between ancient warriors in one of the valleys, boot steps and whistling inside the corridors of the museum and even one barrack block with a room the camp authorities refuse to allow people to sleep in.
Visiting an pld training airfield nearby i always get the feeling that the sircrews are dtill there , only remaining bits of the quarters are the foundations including those. Of the canteen . There i hear voices that i cannot hear clearly enough to understand what they talk about but it is realy moving for me who was 4 years old , saw the large bomber flights going over to unload over germany.
Good morning so very enjoyable fascinating stories looking forward to the next one 😊
Thank you for your presentation and for being respectful to the fallen.
My late father used to say to me
don't worry about the dead son
You got to worry about the live ones my late father was with
R.A.A.F from 60 to 68 with 36
SQUADRON R.A.A.F. Base RICHMOND N.S.W AUSTRALIA
Why only British ghosts at Biggin Hill? Surely there would be the ghosts of Luftwaffe pilots too?
RAF LINDHOLME -Billy Lindholme or Lindholme Willy, allegedly the ghost of a Polish airman. I worked there 21 years and never spotted him. They're real if you want them to be and it's always an entertaining story.
Some think hauntings are just like recordings that somehow play back the past. I don't know where the electricity goes when I flip the light switch off myself, but if such a recording is obviously aware of you seeing it, how do you explain that? Ghosts at Britain's airfields deserve respect. Never did so few protect so many.
When they were building Thamesmead lake workmen found parts of a crashed Hurricane! For years afterwards the ghost of a pilot was seen standing in doorways and back gardens of Thamesmead! Even in bright sunlight the figure was dark – like he was standing in the night!
Very well narrated, not overly sensationalised, excellent graphics too, thanks for posting.
It is said that the Avro Lincoln on display at the RAF Cosford museum has it's own ghost.
Absolutely super video as always 😊
A short distance from Biggin Hill is (Was.) RAF Kenley. Now used for gliders and microlights it was an important WW2 airfield. A friend (Mark) lived close to the old airfield and one day was expecting a school friend to visit. The friend arrived in a state of great agitation demanding that the fire service and police be called (This was in the late 1980s / early 1990s, mobile telephones were the preserve of the wealthy). He had just seen an airplane crash! My friend's father calmed the lad down and got him to explain exactly what he'd seen. The boy told of an old fashioned airplane like one he'd seen in war films come low over Plough Lane with an engine on fire. It crashed on the airfield. It was on fire as he pedalled his bicycle away to get help.
My friend's dad was aware of psychic phenomena at the airfield and calmed the boys down before putting them in the car. They drove up to the airfield where all was peaceful and still. The boy was adamant as to what he'd seen and had no idea that the airfield was an old RAF base.
Other residents near the airfield have heard a band playing late at night in an empty (Now demolished) hall and have heard aircraft sounds.
You could well understand why these spirits are still around after the lives and endings they endured and dying before there time we owe a lot to them would be lovely if they rested in peace just subsided to your channel
Few years ago I finally found my Grandfather who served with the 457th bomb group at Glatton, was the assistant inspector. Last year for my birthday my wife paid for me to take a flight from the runway that 80 years ago B17 bombers my Grandfather checked out would take off and hopefully land. It was a very dull cloudy summer day, my wife who was on the ground said just before we took off the clouds parted and a beam of sunlight shone over the aircraft. I believe that was my Grandfather and his comrades looking down knowing I was there in their honour
In the early 1980's myself and some friends had a party in the woods right next to the then disused and abandoned RAF Martlesham Heath airfield in Suffolk. It was really cold and misty, and the main runway had mostly been torn up for housing – no room whatsever for an aircraft to take off. Suddenly, we heard the sound of a Merlin engine starting up, then a second, then a third and a fourth starting up. After a short while idling, the engines throttled up and could be heard taxiing away from us to the north end of the runway. The pitch then changed as through an aircraft was turning to face south. Within seconds, we heard the engines increase even more as if taking off. The sound got louder and louder and we heard it come from our left, passing in front of us, off to the right and lifting into the air. Within around 10 seconds, the sound cut off immediately and we heard nothing more. A few years later, riding a motorcycle towards Martlesham, a figure dressed in WW2 uniform walked across the road in front of me and vanished into a hedge. Both amazing experiences and I'll never forget it – I remember like it happened last night.
Another airfield with hauntings I’m told is Tangmere in West Sussex.
At one time the RAF had over 600+ airfields so you can imagine the amount of ghosts that still walk these places even with transformations that have taken place I think all the RAF have today is around 30+ bases active to date. You should look up Ex RAF Bassinbourne i served there saw and heard a few things especially the old watchtower and some of the hangers.
Thankyou Hidden Realms for an interesting video! Top notch production 👍
In aid of the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre I had a short biography published of Lt. Desmond Arthur, primarily focusing on his life and family history, but with a brief summary of the ‘ghost stories’.
The odd thing being that the Montrose Air Station didn’t yet exist when Lt. Arthur was tragically killed at Lunan Bay in 1913 as he was based at Upper Dysart in the Lunan area.
I went to a gliding completion as crew a few years ago. The airfield was Tibenham an ex USAF WW2 Norfolk. As the comp was 2 days I slept in a tent overnight, I was awoken in the early hours with the sound of a heavy bomber flying overhead, I assumed it was head over to Europe, the sound changed as the aircraft dropped into the circuit I could hear it coming into land , it then taxied upto to the area where my tent was the sound shook the air as 4 radial engines then shutdown. I could hear voices and the sound of the engines cooling. I just assumed they had to land because of a problem. I went back to sleep, got up in the morning and went to see the aircraft nothing was there! It amazed me as I really expected to see a B17 or a B24. To this day I cannot explain that experiance. I know I woke up and sat up listening to the event.
These are our ancestors, ghosts or not, their memory is precious and they deserve to be remembered.
I always see these stories as very sad as the fallen young airmen are still not at piece and still looking in some cases a reason why they died and can not move on. God Bless them all 🙏
Love ghost 👻 stories 💙 thank you so much for this video.
Many years ago I had the privilege of doing the "now" photography for a book called Bases Of Bomber Command Then And Now for the publishing company After The Battle. It meant spending hundreds of hours poring over more than a hundred airfield site plans, and then an even larger amount of time in eastern England on disused Bomber Command airfields, re-taking wartime photographs wherever possible on the exact spot they were originally shot.
As can be imagined many of the locations were very atmospheric. Names like Swinderby, Dunholm Lodge, Ridgewell, North Killingholm, Foulsham, North Creake and Waltham – to name but a few – became part of my life for the eighteen months it took to complete the project. But despite all those hours, I only experienced one curious event. It was on a still, humid summer day in 1999 at Fiskerton Lincolnshire, a disused Bomber Command airfield that had returned to agriculture with few visible reminders of its wartime role.
I was alone in the middle of the day, and became gradually aware of the unmistakable sound of multiple RR Merlin engines. That was nothing unusual, as the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight's (BBMF) Lancaster PA474 was based at the relatively nearby RAF Coningsby, and a regular sight in Lincolnshire's skies. However, the sound became louder and louder, to the point where it became apparent the aircraft had to be not just directly overhead, but also very low. I stood looking in all directions waiting for the aircraft to appear, and then literally ducked to the ground fearing a crash was inevitable, such was the sound's volume. But no Lancaster (or indeed any other aircraft) appeared and the sound gradually faded away. There was no logical explanation, and it left me very shaken. I subsequently checked with BBMF, who confirmed none of its aircraft were over Fiskerton that day.
Did I imagine it? Definitely not. Was I under the influence of drink or drugs? Definitely not. Have I ever experienced anything like it again? No. Sadly as this was pre-internet, Fiskerton was one of only two airfields out of a hundred and one where I failed to find a definitely traceable wartime photograph to meaningfully retake, so Fiskerton didn't get a true then and now treatment, but that brief period of time is indelibly etched into my memory.
Should investigate hauntings in Dresden!