Originally Posted by
Finningley Boy
I've noticed from photographs and other material that Gaydon was unique among those selected to become V-Bomber stations, the rest all had typically Brick built H-Blocks, a number, usually four at least, Regulation C-Type Hangars or
Js. Gaydon had a series of what appear to be prefab chalet style war economy buildings. Rustic/Grey long interconnecting ground floor apex huts accommodating everything from Messes and accommodation to admin offices, SCAF etc. The two Gaydon Hangars, as big as they were, just didn't seem enough for the size and number of aircraft; Valiants and Victors based there.
FB
FB,
The key element to each and every one of the airfields rebuilt as Class 1 V-Bomber bases was the new 9,000 foot runway, associated taxiways, a new Electrical Engineering Squadron, new SSA and 24 new dispersals for the aircraft. All have the 24 dispersals, including Gaydon. ( 8 aircraft per squadron, all intended to be 3 squadron airfields.) Gaydon WAS unique in that it was the only one of the ten selected that had not been an expansion 1935-40 type permanent station, hence it had none of the permanent buildings that all the rest had. It was a complete new build from the small temporary satellite station that Gaydon was prior to the rebuild. Everything apart from a few T2 type hangers was totally new. And as it was built in the mid fifties it had the utilitarian style of the day in its buildings. As it was always intended to be purely an OCU (another unique feature of Gaydon) there was no need for more than the 2 hangars, 1 for the OCU itself and 1 for the Engineering Wing ASF. The V-Force aircraft lived outside apart from when they were dragged into the hangar for servicing. Later of course centralised servicing came along and the need for squadron hangars vanished completely, Until of course it was brought back again in the early 70's. And if you think that Gaydon was short of hangars, take a peek at Wittering with its sole Gaydon type hangar and two small pre war C types. Sorry for prattling on...