West Malling Airfield

[Flyer 719]

I am trying to find an old set of charts for West Malling airfield and I'm not having alot of luck. I'm particularly after an airfield layout chart.

Can anyone help?

719

[Matt Skrossa]

As West Malling was an RAF Station for most if its' existence then you could try either No1 AIDU at Northolt - 0208 833 8209, or the Air Historical Branch at RAF Bentley Priory. Also try the Airfield Research Group (search on google) as they do have some useful info on a lot of old airfields. I think the main runway was 25/07. Please PM me if you want more boring info on this once wonderful airfield!

P.S. 618 VGS were the last unit to fly from there, so I'll send out an e-mail plea tonight to some old chums who may have what you are looking for.
Although not as detailed as you might need, the picture below is useful. The blast walls and peritrack in the top right-hand corner of the picture was where the Beatles filmed some of 'Magical Mystery Tour', see I told you I could be boring!
http://www.flyingzone.co.uk/associations/asr/rafwestmallingmemorialgroup/associmages/westmallingarialphoto.jpg

[Arclite01]

Try 'The Battle of Britain Then & Now'

Arc

[jabberwok]

When did the hard runway appear? In Juy 1944 it is still listed as Sommerfeld Track (Steel Planking) with runway QDM's of 264 (2000 yds) and 004 (1600 yds).

[Flyer 719]

Thanks for all the replies so far folks. I'll be looking into the suggestions made.

719

[Rushton]

Try the RAF Museum Hendon. They hold most of the airfield plans and are usually willing (for a small fee), or were, to photocopy them and post them to you. Go to their website or give them a call. Ask to be put through to the Archive Department. Mind it was 8 years ago when i got one from them - a declassified WWII plan of Holmsley South. They were very helpful though.

Rushy

[Flyer 719]

Many thanks for you help here folks. I'll hopefully have some joy one way or the other.

719

[Arclite01]

Hard runway from 1944 onwards.

Believe resurfaced 1955 and 1969 and some patchwork in the 1980's by Shorts

Nothing from then onward I think.

Arc

[Flyer 719]

Well I managed to get hold of a site plan from the RAF museum allthought it not an airfield plan!! They sent the following;

WEST MALLING
B.A.B.S MK.4. SITE PLAN.

Does anyone know what this B.A.B.S MK.4. is??

I am still trying to locate some charts, if anyone can help.

719

[McFunkletrumpet]

The only BABS I know was a landing aid called (I think)
Beam Approach Beacon System. The site plan would therfore show the positioning of the ground equipment in relation to the runway.
No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Not an unknown McFunkletrumpet trait.

[spekesoftly]

I think BABS stood for 'Blind Approach Beacon System' - but hey, you were very close!

[McFunkletrumpet]

Google shows it to be Beam Approach Beacon System.
Well, we got there in the end Speke. Ta Ra

[Flyer 719]

Well I managed to get hold of a copy of chart from 1954 for West Malling and under Aerodrome Lighting is says;

Mk. IV R/W lighting on R/W 07/25
Identification beacon flashing red WZ

So I guess it is some sort of approach lighting

719

[Gainesy]

I think BABS was a radio system, dots for left of centreline, dashes for right of C/L and steady tone when on C/L, or something similar.

[Bof]

Gainsey.
Nearly right. BABS stood for Blind Approach Beacon System and was fitted to the Hastings in the 60s and probably in many other of the piston multis of the era. Basically you had a Rebecca interrogator in the aircraft and a Eureka beacon on the airfield (usually referred to as the BABS beacon). The kit was operated by the nav. Whe you got yourself in the approach sector at around seven miles using the ADF, the nav would switch on the trx in the aircraft which interrogated the ground beacon. This produced an image on a small radar scope showing your position in relation to the R/W centreline and distance from the end of the R/W. He would then give you a talkdown by telling you your azimuth from the centreline - dots 1,2,3 or 4 if you were to the left or dashes 1,2,3 or 4 if to the right, so you made your own corrections. Also gave you your distance out and height you should be passing at each mile. Not bad for rough accuracy - almost as good as the old ACR7 down to about 250ft. You could tell if an a/c was fitted with BABS by the two miniature H aerials (like old TV) mounted on either side of the nose.

[Matt Skrossa]

Compare this picture with my previous post to see the vandalism of this wonderful airfield in the garden of England. Perhaps we needed more 'executive houses' and golf courses in Kent. Mind you they did preserve the 1930's control tower, which looks completely out of place surrounded by modern houses, but at least the late great Dennis Jackson (and others) got a memorial erected a few years ago.

http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&X=568000&Y=155000&width=700&height=400&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&pc=&zm=0&scale=25000&multimap.x=277&multimap.y=169

[Gainesy]

Bof,
Thank you, didn't know it was Eureka based.

Matts,
A pox on golf courses. :mad: Green deserts.