Which Aerodrome?

[John Hill]

I think most of those, if not all, are still around...

Now for the next challenge and again sorry for the poor quality of the picture...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2638478994_0397a1bfdf.jpg?v=0

[henry crun]

Wellington Airport opening day air display, 1959, pilots name was M. Gunton I think

[John Hill]

Full marks Henry, you have control..:ok:

[henry crun]

I do not have anything to hand, the floor is open.

[John Hill]

Another from me then!


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2637928069_4b885d4f15.jpg?v=0

[India Four Two]

John,

You are having a busy day!

Re the Sunderland "oops", there is a video of the same incident here:
YouTube - sunderland fly past (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu2qxgtFvW8)

And as I'm sure you know, that's the same day that a Vulcan nearly crashed, when it broke a gear leg, landing in the undershoot, followed by a go-around streaming fuel and a crash-landing at Ohakea. More info here:

http://www.******************************/vulcan/gallery3.html
(for some reason this link won't post properly - replace the 'asterisks and dots' with 'thunder-and-lightnings dot co dot uk/vulcan)
Vulcans in Camera - Avro Vulcan B1 XH498 Wellington. (http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/other_photographers/498_wellington.htm)
Vulcans in Camera - Avro Vulcan B1s XH498 at RNZAF Ohakea (http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/other_photographers/498_ohakea_1.htm)



Re your current challenge, no idea where it is, but what a fascinating picture. A nice Art Deco control tower, an American officer (Ike?) inspecting a vertically-challenged British Guard of Honour with No. 4 rifles (Army Cadets or the King's Own Hobbits?) and are those Russian officers under the clock?

[John Hill]

Yes I42, it is cold as a penguins chuff here today and it has been blowing a freezing gale straight of the ocean and I presume Antarctica, so plenty of time for online play!

That sure was a busy day at Wellington with two very close shaves and only one or two comparabe incidents since!

Yes, that is a nice looking control tower and it still exists! It is Ike, sorry I dont know if the big guys are Russians.

Those are good pictures you linked of the Vulcan at Wellington, I wonder if you can identify the vehicle the woman in red is sitting on in your picture Vulcans in Camera - Avro Vulcan B1 XH498 Wellington. (http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/other_photographers/498_wellington.htm) ?

[Warmtoast]

Yes, that is a nice looking control tower and it still exists! It is Ike, sorry I dont know if the big guys are Russians

Yanks, Brits and Russians and possibly some French in there somwhere so I guess it's 4-Power Berlin and with the British troops forming the guard of honour, my guess is RAF Gatow.

[India Four Two]

John,

[Thread drift]

Sorry to hear about the weather, but what do you expect, living in the throat of a venturi in the Southern Ocean? ;) You probably don't want to hear that it was 32C here today, but we did have a torrential thunderstorm to cool things down a bit.

I don't know what car that is - I thought possibly a Fiat, but the windows are wrong.

After my previous post, I found this piece of 8mm colour footage from the opening day airshow:
YouTube - Opening of Wellington Airport, New Zealand, 1959 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp-HBypWY5M)

Ironically, both incidents were just missed, but there are some nice (grainy) shots of quite a few of the participants. I've managed to ID the following: Globemaster, Sunderland, formation of 3 Ansons (?) and 12 Harvards, Canberra, DC-3, Dart Herald (in BEA colours!), C-130, Voodoo (?), Comet, Britannia, Beverly and Vulcans. Any guesses on the ones I missed?

[evansb]

Amazingly untouched from the ravages of WW.II, it is the Praugue-Ruzyne Airport Terminal, Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic.

[MReyn24050]

Bri is correct. Eisenhower at Prague Airport 1945. After Warmtoast stated:-
Yanks, Brits and Russians and possibly some French in there somwhere so I guess it's 4-Power Berlin and with the British troops forming the guard of honour, my guess is RAF Gatow.
I thought the battledress and webbing was British but the way the berets were being worn certainly was not the way the British Army wore their berets. "The badge goes over the left eye" not half way round the head. :)

[John Hill]

Evansb:ok: You have control!


[thread drift on]
IndiaFourTwo, they would have some excitement if they tried to have the airshow today! There would be more than a Vulcan dancing around on one leg! There is a video clip on-line somewhere of a QANTAS 737 giving the passenger seat belts a good thorough testing on landing in a northerly, in the past we used to watch Bristol Freighters do vertical take offs, just turned into wind and opened the throttle to go straight up!

The car in the Vulcan picture is I am confident a Ford Mainline Ute from Australia. [/thread drife off]

[evansb]

Here is the next challenge;
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080706.jpg

[evansb]

If it is any help, the hangars are still there, and the airport is in operation.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Heathrow I believe?

[evansb]

Sorry, not Heathrow, Wrong hemisphere.

[John Hill]

RAAF Richmond.

[John Hill]

Maybe not Richmond, how about RAAF Laverton?

[evansb]

Not RAAF Richmond, nor RAAF Laverton, but it is in Australia.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

RAAF Base Williamtown

[evansb]

Sorry, not RAAF Williamtown. The aerodrome is known more as a civilian airport, although a small military presence is still on the airport.

[John Hill]

Hmmmm..... Tullamarine?

[evansb]

Not Tullamarine. The military side of the field was named after a late Member of the Australian House of Representatives.

[John Hill]

RAAF Fairbairn? Thats my final guess!:sad:

[evansb]

Yes John, your are correct. :ok: Canberra-Fairbairn/Canberra International Airport. The control tower is located on the RAAF side, although it is operated as a civilian airport. You have control.

[John Hill]

Thanks Evansb, I was afraid I might have to list all RAAF fields!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2645645802_813b2d1438.jpg?v=0

This painting shows an actual scheduled air service!

[Kieron Kirk]

Hokitika.

Ciarain.

[John Hill]

Wrong end of the service Kirk.

[Kieron Kirk]

Which direction?

NESW?

Ciarain.

Wait a moment, cannot go west from Hokitika!

[John Hill]

South from Hokitika!

[Kieron Kirk]

Bert Mercer.

18th December 1934.

[John Hill]

But can you name the location?

[Kieron Kirk]

Okuru.

Ciarain.

[John Hill]

OK, bed time for me, you have control.:ok:

It would be nice though if you can find the location and I think you have enough to do that with Google!

[Kieron Kirk]

ZK-ADI DH.83 Fox Moth first scheduled air service in NZ, Hokitika-Okuru, 18th December 1934.

Ciarain.

Open house-anyone welcome to post.

[Warmtoast]

Next one from me

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Notthatone-Thisone.jpg

[Warmtoast]

Not Lasham

[chevvron]

Boscombe Down??

[Tiger_mate]

RAF Benson

[mystic_meg]

Wroughton?

[Kieron Kirk]

Chivenor.

Ciarain

[Upyer RRR]

Humberside?

[norwich]

Honnington ?

[John Hill]

Good morning all! Re ZK-ADI, just in case any Kiwis come on and start getting picky I must say that the painting by Ron Fulstow is from a photograph by Leo White taken at Bruce Bay which is quite a distance north of Okuru. Okuru is at the north end of Jacksons Bay.

[Kieron Kirk]

John,
Thanks for that, I did find Okuru on Google Earth.

Ciarain.

[Background Noise]

Bristol Lulsgate?

[KeMac]

I am inclined to go along with Mystic Meg on Wroughton

[Phileas Fogg]

RAF Wyton?

[Warmtoast]

Tiger Mate has it. RAF Benson it is. Photo was taken on 29th August 1959.

This particular flight has some history to it as it was the occasion when President Eisenhower was on a visit to the UK for talks with prime minister Harold Macmillian. During his visit Ike flew up to Scotland to see the Queen and rather than flying in Air Force One (or whatever it was called in those days), he was flown to Aberdeen and back by an RAF Comet of 216 Sqn.

At the time I was at RAF Abingdon awaiting my posting to 99 Sqn at RAF Lyneham and was in touch with one of my drinking friends who worked in ATC at Benson who told me that President Eisenhower was due to land at Benson to have talks with prime minister Macmillan at Chequers on his return from a visit to the queen at Balmoral and would I like to see a real live US president?

Nothing ventured nothing gained I grabbed my Rolleiflex camera, hopped on my motorcycle and drove over to Benson. Wearing uniform and with a rather large "professional" camera around my neck it was assumed I was an "official photographer" and I was ushered to the scaffolding erected for photographers and duly took my photographs.

Here's the itinerary:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/IkeatBenson.jpg


The Comet pulls up in front of the dais - and look at that bulled-up shiny finish!:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Ike1a.jpg


...and Ike disembarks, doffing his hat as he does so:


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Ike-2a.jpg

Over to you Tiger Mate

[Tiger_mate]

Open House

[India Four Two]

From shiny Comet to shiny new terminal building (with adequate parking).

I'm pretty sure Ike never visited this aerodrome.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/WA8July08-1.jpg

[John Hill]

How about Saint-Pierre of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon?

[India Four Two]

John, You are correct. The last vestige of the French North American colonies, off Newfoundland. Over to you.

(note to self: remove photographer's name next time ;))

[con-pilot]

During his visit Ike flew up to Scotland to see the Queen and rather than flying in Air Force One (or whatever it was called in those days)

Columbine II and Columbine III, Lockheed C-121 Constellations were Eisenhower's aircraft.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c246/con-pilot/180px-Columbine_III_aircraft.png

[John Hill]

Thanks IndiaFourTwo, I hope people have not been waiting while I was snoozing!

Open House!

[Duckbutt]

Gone a bit quiet in here for a while so have a go at this one:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/puzz21a.jpg

[LFT]

Dover AFB Delaware?

[Duckbutt]

Not Dover, sorry.

[LFT]

How about Oceana NAS aka Apollo Soucek Field then ?:)

[Duckbutt]

Sorry LFT.

At the time the photo was taken (mid 1940's I guess) this was a military establishment. It is now a successful civilian field much expanded which covers a much greater area (mainly in the area to the right of the shot).

[Duckbutt]

It would seem that the sun is shining in the photo and the weather is generally good. This would be a severe disappointment to the flyers in a unit based there at the time!

[minuteman]

Wild guess:

Frankfurt Rhein-Main??

[Duckbutt]

Not Frankfurt, right hemisphere but wrong continent.

[nacluv]

Go on - I'll throw a wild guess in - Orchard Field IL?

[Duckbutt]

It is in the US but not IL.

[PaperTiger]

Morrison Field Florida - aka Palm Beach International ?

[Duckbutt]

Not in Florida.

In the late '40s the main runway here was the first in the world to be fitted with a feature which is commonplace nowadays to all major runways.

[S'land]

Cleveland Hopkins international? First runway lights?

[LFT]

Charleston AFB.

[Duckbutt]

Not Cleveland or Charleston.

The runway feature was not the lights although not unconnected.

Three weeks before Ghandi died a classified unit at this base (nothing to do with the unit which would be disappointed by the good flying weather mentioned previously) launched something from here. It was spotted in an adjoining state and an F-51 was sent up to investigate. Unfortunately the pilot did not have oxygen, flew too high in his eagerness to intercept, passed out and was killed in the resultant crash. This incident greatly fuelled interest in 'UFO' phenomena as the body of the pilot was (incorrectly) reported as being full of holes.

[Tiger_mate]

The something is probably a balloon.

The state is almost certainly Kentucky or a neighbouring state.

The aircraft being a Kentucky ANG machine

The final attempt at an explanation was that it was a Navy Skyhook balloon released from Clinton AFB, Ohio. These balloons were very large, and very high-altitude balloons used for measuring cosmic rays. They were top-secret in 1948. This explanation was never proven, though. No one could find any documentation that a balloon of any kind had been launched at the proper time and/or place for it to have traveled the path that the object had traveled.

Open House if correct: Interesting story, thanks for posting.

[India Four Two]

Alternatively, Indianapolis Municipal, home to the CAA Experimental Station and the first ever ILS installation, which was code named "Indianapolis"

[D120A]

Another guess, but Google Earth has some scenes that seem to fit.

I think it's Indianapolis, where the earliest development work of ILS took place. The modern airport is to the south of this site?

Open House if correct, a brilliant challenge this one.

:ok:

India Four Two, you beat me to it while I was composing... That is, I suppose, better than being beaten to it whilst de-composing.

[Duckbutt]

Tiger_mate has it, Clinton County AFB, Wilmington, Ohio. It was a secret Skyhook balloon released from here that was mistaken for a UFO and caused the crash of an investigating Mustang. Some sources say this was in Indiana and others that it was (most likely I think) in Kentucky which is why I said 'adjoining state'.

It was home to the 'All Weather Flying Detachment' whose rather brave pilots deliberately flew aircraft into thunderstorms and similar weather for research purposes. They often used P-61 Black Widows with reinforced wings and noses for this. The results obtained eventually lead to to development of ILS and the first ever installation was made on runway 22 at Clinton.

All material gathered from: https://www.abxair.com/flightweb/ABX%20Air%20History/airpark/clinton_county_afb.htm a site which makes interesting reading.

Tiger has it!

PS thanks to TT for the kind pm's (which I only read after posting this and which confirm Kentucky). Look forward to your return at the appropriate time.

[Tiger_mate]

OPEN HOUSE

[evansb]

To fill the void, here is the next aerodrome:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080713.jpg
Another view, same aerodrome:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD0807013A.jpg

[aviate1138]

Ashe County Airport, Jefferson N.C. ? Possibility? Perhaps?

[evansb]

Sorry, aviate1138, it is not Ashe County, Jefferson, NC. You are, however, very close to the mystery aerodrome.

[pigboat]

Gotta be in the Blue Ridge Mountains there somewhere. Hot Springs, VA?

[LFT]

Jackson County Airport North Carolina.

[evansb]

LFT is correct.:ok: Jackson County Mountain Arport, K24A, near Sylva, North Carolina, USA. RWY 15/33, 3000' by 50', elev. 2857'ASL. No Control Tower. My kind of airport! You have control.

[LFT]

Thanks for that evansb, here's the next one -

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/DJ17DJ/nocheating2.jpg

[PaperTiger]

Jackson County Mountain AirportShhh ! Those Blackwater guys are everywhere, you know :ooh:

[LFT]

Ok, it's in the US.

[LFT]

East coast US..

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Fort Monroe

[LFT]

Walker Army Airfield to be exact, within the grounds of Fort Munroe, Hampton Virginia - You have control :ok:

[evansb]

FYI, in the United States, there are/were two other aerodromes named 'Walker'. Walker Army Airfield in Victoria, Kansas; and Walker Air Force Base (formerly Roswell AFB) in New Mexico, which was the largest SAC base in the USA until its closure in 1967.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Sorry to have kept you waiting, but open house.

Cheers

TCF

[nacluv]

If I may step in ...

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk252/kwilson1965/nacluv/Airfield.jpg


Probably won't take long, knowing you lot!!

[chevvron]

Hope I spell it right: Beaulieu.

[Bigt]

or as some called it - East Boldre, in the New Forest

[nacluv]

Told you it wouldn't last long! If anything I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

Well done, Chevvron - RAF Beaulieu it is. And spelled right to boot. It was also known as Brockenhurst.

You have control... :ok:

[chevvron]

Open House 'cos I haven't a clue how to post pictures!!
Rumour has it that during AFEE days a Jeep dropped from an aircraft and meant to fly using an autogyro type attachment didn't and they couldn't be bothered to dig up the remains, so they're still there.

[KeMac]

I was on a Flybe flight going into Southampton last year and we took a long slow turn over Beaulieu and I remember coming onto the forum asking if anyone could identify it as I did not know which airfield it was. I still didn't recognise it here though.

[chevvron]

There's only a tiny bit of runway left in the south east quadrant, notified as a model aircraft flying area, although the runway pattern should still be visible through the vegetation.

[minuteman]

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k322/minuteman_bucket/where.jpg

[Upyer RRR]

Is it the one that grew into Prestwick? (the name escapes me for a minute!)

[chevvron]

Manorbier (South Wales)? Or possibly Angle?

[minuteman]

Upyer is the closest.....geographically speaking....

[olympus]

Turnberry?

[Upyer RRR]

The name has come back (I think): Heathfield? (sometimes listed as Ayr).

[Upyer RRR]

Or there again, it has a look of West Freugh

[Flap40]

Langford Lodge?

[minuteman]

None correct so far...

...this airfield was visible from a neutral territory...

[KeMac]

Ronaldsway?

[Tiger_mate]

Ballykelly and Londonderry (Eglinton) are visible from a neutral territory

[nacluv]

RAF Woodvale?

[chevvron]

Not Ballykelly - no sign of a railway line across the runway!!
--So I'll go for Langford Lodge No delete that it's already been done - Bishops Court

[minuteman]

Getting closer..

The southern end of this airfield is now overrun with caravan parks!

(that should help)

[Tiger_mate]

Newtonards?

[Upyer RRR]

How about Cark? Maybe just visible from the ROI.

[Cpt_Pugwash]

Can't see the pic, but from MMs description above, Silloth may fit the bill.

[minuteman]

Bishops Court is the closest yet...we are indeed in NI.

This was a relatively short-lived airfield, however some elements are still visible today!

[warrior28]

are u sure its in NI and Caernarfon seems best bet !!

[Flap40]

RAF Greencastle?

[Duckbutt]

Blast, was just going to say RAF Greencastle as well, think I can just about make the photo fit on Google Earth although its very difficult.

[minuteman]

Flap40 has it :ok: RAF/USAAF Greencastle (or as the Luftwaffe had it RAF Kilkeel.)

I am trying my best to find out, but if anyone else knows - did the airfield expand further south towards Greencastle as it looks like a lot of the caravans around there are arranged around old taxiways but photos are few and far between......?

Flap40; you have control!

[Flap40]

Many thanks. It was own of those that looked strangely familiar but wasn't!

Try this one.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj36/jodel_bucket/where.jpg

[Upyer RRR]

I'll start the ball rolling with Elmdon, later to become Birmingham Airport.

[Flap40]

Sorry, not Elmdon.

[Upyer RRR]

For a second throw I'll go Hurn.

[Flap40]

Not Hurn either. Most of what is in the photo is still visible. The airfield is still active.

[chevvron]

There's a pub in that village bottom left has the largest selection of Malts I've ever seen.

Cardiff

[effortless]

How about Southend?

[Flap40]

Chevron has it. Rhoose/Cardiff. What looks like the long runway is now the short (disused). Interestingly, much of the road that wandered accross is still there today.

[chevvron]

Open house again!!

[evansb]

Identify this aerodrome:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080719.jpg

[twochai]

Another EvansB challenge, not at all obvious!!

Looks like Italy. If it is, how about Capua: LIAU??

[evansb]

Sorry, not Italy. I tried to find a shot of this aerodrome with aircraft but no luck. It might be a bit of a challenge.

[twochai]

Is it on the European continent??

[evansb]

Not on the European continent. The photo was taken in 1936.

[pigboat]

Cartierville? :p

[evansb]

Sorry, not Cartierville, Quebec. If it is any help, this aircraft was built there:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080719A.jpg
Okay, looks like the obscure biplane clue isn't helping. How about this photo, taken at the mystery aerodrome in 1927:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080719B.jpg

[John Hill]

Duke of York's visit to Wigram, New Zealand, 15 March 1927?

[evansb]

You are correct John:ok: Former RNZAF Wigram. Originally named Sockburn Aerodrome, Wigram/Canterbury, New Zealand, dates back to early 1917. This historical aerodrome was bought by real-estate developers, and as of February 2009, the aerodome will be shut down and turned into housing tracts. So it goes..

You have control.

(can anyone name the New Zealand-built biplane in thread #3921?)

[Duckbutt]

Its a Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Co. Ltd Biplane. First flew 17th January 1919, the only example crashed on a demonstration flight at Riccarton Race Course on 1st February 1919, killing Mr C M Hill, the company's chief flying instructor.

Unashamedly plagiarised from:

The Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Co. Ltd Biplane (http://www.gregorie.ukfsn.org/gregories/history/cfs_biplane.htm)

[John Hill]

Gentlemen, your next challenge is:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2688676606_963faaa759.jpg?v=0

Bonus points will be awarded for identifying the vehicle types!

[chevvron]

Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck and a modified Mk 1 Landrover?

[Guest 112233]

It seems to be a Short Wave Radio base as well as an airfield - Is it South Georga in the Falklands before the conflict.

[evansb]

The vehicle on the left might be a 1966 Holden HG Utility (UTE).
Land Rover of some sort on the right?

[India Four Two]

I doubt it's South Georgia - no extensive flat areas or trees there.

However, I think we might be in the correct hemisphere. John, is that truck RHD? Possibly a Holden Ute?

[John Hill]

Yes it is a Holden Ute, 1969 HT 186cu inch colour 'Pharaoh Gold' with red upholstery. The other vehicle is not a Land Rover.

CATIII-NDB, if I recall correctly the antennas were for HF air ground and HF point to point (CW). 2938, 3481.5, 5295

[John Hill]

No, not an Austin.

[evansb]

Invercargill, NZ?

[John Hill]

EVANSB, close but no banana!

[John Hill]

A more recent picture of the same airport!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2691162929_1a2de9d07b.jpg?v=0

[Twojets]

Hi new here so please excuse the fact that I don't know the aerodrome.

But there is something very "Bedfordish" about that Land-Rover lookalike, could it be a converted Bedford CA van???

[evansb]

Oamaru, New Zealand ?

[John Hill]

Evansb is correct! Oamaru it is!

Just for casual interest how did you arrive at Oamaru as the choice?

The little vehicle with the dry power unit is a NZ Trekka, a rather modest little utility vehicle based on Skoda mechanicals, despite appearance it was only two wheel drive.

EVANSB has control!

[evansb]

I originally thought it might be the Chatham Islands, but I narrowed the search down to smaller airports on the South Island coast. Here is the next aerodrome challenge:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080722.jpg

[evansb]

Time for some clues: Photo taken in 1951. Airfield still operational.

[Shaft109]

Looks vaguely similar to RAF Leeming.

[Upyer RRR]

I don't recall Leeming being that close to the coast. I'll take a shot at Kinloss.

[evansb]

Sorry gents, the aerodrome is not in Great Britain. The airport is presently operated by a different nationality than when the photo was taken.

[evansb]

Time for a clue: Canadian amelioration.

[S'land]

Toronto Island Airport?

[nacluv]

I'm going to go for Gander. The runway pattern is vaguely similar, but this would only work if the dark bits on the photo are timber not water...

[evansb]

Negative, gents. The aerodrome is not in Canada.

[John Hill]

Reykjavík?

[evansb]

Not Iceland. That is sand down there, not snow.

[larssnowpharter]

One is thinking Middle East. Could even have been Doha in 1951.

[evansb]

Yes, it is in the middle-east, (or near-east). The base was involved in a crisis in 1956.

[Out Of Trim]

RAF Luqa, Malta




- (If correct - OPEN HOUSE)

[evansb]

Jenkins is correct:ok: Well done. The village next to the aerodrome is called Al Kabrit. I've seen some spelling of the base as RAF Kibrit. The base was in the thick of things durung the Suez Crisis/War of 1956. A Canadian, Lester B. Pearson, pursuaded the UN to establish a Peace Keeping Force along the canal and Gaza Strip. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, and later went on to become Prime Minister of Canada. You have control.

[larssnowpharter]

Not strictly speaking an airfield but once a well known seaplane base

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t295/larssnowpharter/whatairfield.jpg

[ZH875]

Pembroke Dock or Milford Haven?

[larssnowpharter]

Not UK I'm afraid.

[ICT_SLB]

Long Beach - sometime home of the Spruce Goose?

[larssnowpharter]

Not over the pond. This base is now a 'freeport'.

[larssnowpharter]

The first recorded flights here were in 1917 by Curtis H4 boats.

[chevvron]

Bathurst aka Banjul? Or maybe Felixstowe?

[Krakatoa]

N A S Subic BAY

[larssnowpharter]

I see what you mean about Subic. It was indeed a Naval Air Station but wrong Navy.

[Krakatoa]

This time I will go for Kalafrana, Malta

[merlinxx]

Rochester, Kent, UK

[larssnowpharter]

Mr K has it! :D:D:D

It is indeed Kalafrana viewed from Delimara Point. First used by the FAA in 1917 and I think I am right in saying that the last unit there was an RAF MCU.

One used to ski at the ski club there when one was a sprog.

[Krakatoa]

Went through there a couple of times in a Sunderland. Once we had to pull the boat up the slip at Marsaxlokk for repairs. She sat in the village square for four weeks over Christmas.

[evansb]

Hey there Krak, good on yah! It is your turn to post an aerodrome photo.

[Krakatoa]

Wish I could. Have a couple but not able to post on the net.

Fill your boots.

OPEN HOUSE

[evansb]

Circa 1942
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080727circa1942.jpg

[chevvron]

What looks like moorland in the foreground tempts me to suggest Lindholme but the buildings on the far side of the airfield don't tie up.
Edited--So I'll go for Newtownards; it's not moorland but mud flats!.

[evansb]

chevron is spot on:ok: Newtownards, near Belfast, Northern Ireland is correct. You have control.

[chevvron]

Open House!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[India Four Two]

No mud flats here!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/WA080726.jpg

[scr1]

somewhere in the rockies???

[India Four Two]

somewhere in the rockies???

Yes, somewhere in the Rocky Mountains.

[chevvron]

The Canadian or American Rockies (just to keep it moving - haven't a clue where it might be)

[pigboat]

100 Mile House?

(It's probably some ranch in the Cariboo somewhere, but I just like 100 Mile House better.)

[evansb]

Banff, Alberta.

[India Four Two]

bri has it. The late lamented Banff Airport in Banff National Park.

Elevation 4583' with the lower slopes of Cascade Mountain (10,000') on the left. Infamous for often having windsocks blowing in opposite directions.

Closed for many years on "environmental grounds" - apparently it was affecting the migration of wild animals. Of course the immediately adjacent four-lane Trans Canada Highway with thousands of vehicles per hour and the CP railway with 100 car freight trains have no impact at all!

It was scheduled for permanent removal, but now has had a small reprieve and will be maintained as an emergency-only strip on the VFR corridor between Calgary and Golden.

Over to you bri.

[evansb]

Thanks Simon. I flew a C172 into Banff in the late spring of 1975. The winds and gopher holes made for a tricky landing and taxi. I was young and unafraid, and it was a rental. Here is the next aerodrome:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080729.jpg

[Crusher1]

Interlaken?

[One_of_the_Lads_1973]

Wilderswil?

[evansb]

Sorry, not Interlaken, nor Wilderswil, but it is on the continent.

[Crusher1]

Dahlem, Germany?

[chevvron]

Berne/Belp?

[evansb]

Sorry, not Berne/Belp, nor Dahlem, Germany.

[LFT]

Zell Am See Austria?

[Crusher1]

Gap-Tallard, France?

[irc1804]

Samedan ???

[irc1804]

Samedan ???

[evansb]

Crusher1 is correct:ok: It is Gap-Tallard, circa 1963. You have control.

[Crusher1]

It was the line of Fournier's that gave it away, I knew I'd seen the pic somewhere before!

So open house!

[Warmtoast]

An easy one - perhaps!

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/ForWhichAirfield4.jpg

[KeMac]

Looks like somewhere in Africa - Nairobi?

[Warmtoast]

Not Nairobi

[chevvron]

Bl@@dy short runway. Is that a Tudor bottom right? And a Wellington parked in front of the Comet?

[Warmtoast]

One must wonder if the denial of Nairobi means also a denial of Eastleigh?

Tengah first!!

Not Eastleigh and not Tengah.

Clue - it's in the Dark Continent

[PaperTiger]

Perhaps a Valleta? The Tudor perhaps a Britannia?Def. a Tudor and that looks like a Viking (no roundels). DC-3 seems to be ZS-DBP if that helps.

[KeMac]

I shall have another go - Lanseria

[Warmtoast]

Not Lanseria

[Krakatoa]

The two Lancasters look like the ones that were doing a photographic survey of east Africa in the fifties, was it 82 Squadron ?

[Warmtoast]

Krakatoa

was it 82 Squadron ?

I have no idea

[Max Tow]

If the BOAC Comet was en route LHR/JNB, I'd guess this might be Livingstone Zambia (or Northern Rhodesia then). If correct, open house as I'm about to go flying!

[larssnowpharter]

One is thinking RAF Bathurst, now Yundum.

[Warmtoast]

Max Tow has it.

Livingstone as it was in 1952.

My only visit to Livingstone was in 1952 to attend a rowing regatta on the Zambezi river about five miles upstream from the Victoria Falls.
An internet search shows regattas still take place annually on the river.

As Max Tow says: OPEN HOUSE

[BSD]

At last I have a photo or two to contribute.

Can't find the instructions on how to post.

Anybody point me in the right direction, or best still tell me how to do it, bearing in mind, I'm not an expert with this stuff?

BSD.

[Captain Airclues]

http://www.pprune.org/forums/spectators-balcony-spotters-corner/203481-image-posting-pprune-guide.html

[BSD]

An attempt to post, take #1.

BSD

[BSD]

http://http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o28/bwanamkubwa/Vermont2008147.jpg

Attempt to post, take # 2

BSD.

[AfgAirOps]

Take # 3 :p

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o28/bwanamkubwa/Vermont2008147.jpg
This is BSD's pic

[Captain Airclues]

From post #1

Moderator note: In the interest of keeping this thread running smoothly please observe the following 'rules'.

- A historic picture of an aerodrome will be posted. Newer pictures are allowed but the theme here is to compare/contrast old with new as well as identifying aerodromes which no longer exist.

Are we perhaps losing track of this with the latest challenge?

Dave

[BSD]

Capt Airclues,

Whoops, I'm sorry, you are right: I apologise for that, it really doesn't meet the requirements at all.

I think I confused it with the photos thread on D & G general aviation Qs & As.

Nevertheless, thank you ever so much to Afgairops for sorting out the horlicks I'd made of attempting to post, and open house to anyone who can post a proper piccie, in keeping with the rules.

BSD.

[PaperTiger]

A quick bit of cheating via the FAA register suggests Lake Champlain, Vermont.

(Not an 'official' entry ;) )

[BSD]

PaperTiger,

Good enough, You've got it - Grand Isle, on Lake Champlain in Vermont.

An officail seaplane base, shown on the sectional chart as VT2.

BSD.

p.s. I'm showing off appallingly. This is the Cub that I flew to Oshkosh last week. Trip of a lifetime!

[Cubs2jets]

BSD,

Why did you fly to OSH LAST week? Get a good deal on the tickets to Airventure? LOL! :}

C2j

[BSD]

C2J,

Something like that. Got there last Sunday, and spent 2 days at the show. Then alas, had to leave via ORD and a BA jet to get home for work. Someone else will take the Cub home.

Vermont to OSH in a J3 on floats was a real adventure. What a country, what a trip, what an experience! Flying with a sectional on my lap, and no radiio: it doesn't get much better than that.

Airventure 2008 was my first visit to OSH. Great fun, and what a laugh!

Boeing's Dreamlifter appeared, due in at 5:00pm, but in keeping with the 787 program, it was late!

Cheers to you, and off now before I get another jolly good wigging for thread drift!

BSD.

[evansb]

Here is a mystery aerodrome:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/WAD080801.jpg

[G-ARZG]

Cairo West?

[twochai]

As you are the resident fount of accurate info on this site, I'm probably laying myself open for a public humbling (once again).

However I'll take a flyer at it: Al Maza AFB, Cairo, probably in 1965-66, or so?

[evansb]

G-ARZG is correct.

It is Almaza Cairo West, circa 1956. The Egyptians are inspecting their newly supplied Czech-made military aircraft in response to the Suez Canal Crisis.

You have control.

[G-ARZG]

Nothing to post, sorry....
Twochai, after that 'photo-finish' just seconds apart,
have you anything to post?

[twochai]

Thanks, G-ARZG. In fact, I chickened out and edited 'Cairo West' to 'Almaza', which is not far away. Also, I was 10 years out of date!!

Goes to show, one cannot dither around this crowd!

Ok, Here's my post. A nice quiet, modern airfield:


http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk89/twochai/hpqscan0001.jpg

[AfgAirOps]

Kabul?

(minimum no. of characters)

[twochai]

Indeed, indeed, AfghanAirOps has it right, of course, it is Kabul. (Local knowledge helps??)

Another shot of Afghanistan around the same period (1968) Bhamiyan valley before subsequent rulers felt it necessary to alter the scenery:

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk89/twochai/hpqscan0002-1.jpg

Over to you, AFGO, you have control.

[AfgAirOps]

(Local knowledge helps??)

Yep..... Was quite pleased at seeing one I actually know, for a change!

Another shot of Afghanistan around the same period (1968) Bhamiyan valley before subsequent rulers felt it necessary to alter the scenery:

One must confess to having a piece of one of the Bamian Buddhas as a paperweight at home......

Where are those pics from pls? If there's more in the series I'd love to see them.

The next challenge, which I suspect will be an easy one;

http://i38.tinypic.com/2dwi29y.jpg

Rgds
AAO

[twochai]

AAO: Check your PM's.

[BSD]

Afgairops,

How about Embakasi airport, Nairobi?

BSD.

[merlinxx]

I'll go with BSD as old NBO Int'l Embakasi terminal

[AfgAirOps]

BSD,

Over to you....

Rgds
AAO

[Chris Scott]

Oh, what suspense. Has he gone AWOL?

If you two are right, that would be about 1956/7? Nice move that: chopping the number plate off the car in the foreground. Is it a Ford Consul/Zephyr6? As there are 3 of them, were they in use as taxis in Kenya in those days?

Or could they be Indian-built Morris Oxfords...

[BSD]

Been at work for the day, not AWOL.

Too late for a quick reply, so I'll make it an open house to all.

Just dug out some old photos, more in keeping with the ethos of the thread, and promise to post soon.

Lovely shot of Embakasi though, a few years later, and all those Fords would have been Peugeots and Volvos.

Kwaheri!

BSD.

[AfgAirOps]

In that case;

http://i36.tinypic.com/vmzn1y.jpg

Rgds

[Captain Airclues]

Is it time for a small clue? Is it in Afghanistan?

Dave

[John Hill]

I think it could be Afghanistan, that is a fairly serious fence behind the building and the guys might have the white headgear on plus those cars look like late model Volgas of which there are quite a few in Afghanistan. Must be in the south of the country though there are mountains in the background.

My punt Lashkar Gah!

[evansb]

Faizabad (Feyzabad), Afghanistan ?

[AfgAirOps]

Apologies for the delay.

Nope, not Afghanistan.

It's a former capital. Think Continent Foncé

Rgds
AAO

[merlinxx]

Off thread but indulge me SVP:ok:

Such memories, nice quiet day at Embakasi, BUA must have just launched! For my sins I lived out at the Spread Eagle with an office in town above the Swiss Cake Shop for a year back in the late 60s.

Can still taste the air and smell the beautiful red earth, and yes taste the Tusker and White Cap. The Thorn Tree and Long Bar at the Stanley, The Norfolk for Sun lunch, Mithaga Club, N'gong track and the Equator Inn (run by the Reader family I seem to remember), hey and the few sleezies around plus the fish and chips. Some of the strange folks who used to get in to the Panafric bar.

[Captain Airclues]

Dar es Salaam?