Which Aerodrome Mk III

[Lightning Mate]

I'll shoot for Lamu in that case.

[Russell Gulch]

Correct; your control.

Russ

[Lightning Mate]

Open House.

[descol]

LM - thanks for OH
here's one

http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv14/descol/PPRUNE9_zps3f8007a9.jpg

[Dora-9]

Ground crew wearing slouch hats in the foreground, Wirraways in the background - Australia. RAAF Amberley, Qld??

[descol]

Dora -9
Slouch hats for sure
Oz for sure but not Qld

[Dora-9]

OK, I THOUGHT this might be the 49th FG on arrival in Australia - its personnel were disembarked in Melbourne,with the aircraft shipped to Brisbane which is why I came up with Amberley. Although there were/are similar hangars at Garbutt the background is nowhere near hilly enough for there.

RAAF Laverton, Victoria?

As an aside, note the variations in national insignia present here.

[descol]

Dora – 9
Noting Amberley and Leverton makes me think I may have the wrong info on this – so, I suggest you have control – maybe let me know if Bankstown – is correct
My info suggests that it is indeed part of the 49th Pursuit Group and that the image is the 7th Pursuit Squadron in Bankstown.
The group moved to Australia and became part of Fifth Air Force in January 1942. It was redesignated as the 49th Fighter Group in May 1942. The unit received Curtiss P-40 Warhawks in Australia and, after training for a short time, provided air defence for the Northern Territory, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for engaging the enemy in frequent and intense aerial combat while operating with limited materiel and facilities for the period March–August 1942.
The group moved to New Guinea in October 1942 to help stall the Japanese drive southward from Buna to Port Moresby. Engaged primarily in air defence of Port Moresby; also escorted bombers and transports, and attacked enemy installations, supply lines, and troop concentrations in support of Allied ground forces.
The 49th participated in the Allied offensive that pushed the Japanese back along the Kokoda Track, took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943, fought for control of the approaches to Huon Gulf, and supported ground forces during the campaign in which the Allies eventually recovered New Guinea. It covered the landings on Noemfoor and had a part in. the conquest of Biak --- des col

[Lordflasheart]

Descol and Dora - Lovely photo reminder of some very interesting (and desperate) times. I don't think it is either Amberley or Laverton - I initially thought it was Bankstown or Williamtown (Newcastle) but in trying to resolve that question I drew a blank with the 49th PG (7th and 9th FSs) and instead found myself following the trail of Dr Fu Manchu :E - as pictured in the challenge photo. Don't let me interrupt the fun, but I will finish this off in an hour or so, as LadyFH is calling on me to garden while it remains light, and I want to get the detail right. LFH

[Dora-9]

descol:

The hangar is very reminiscent of the RAAF's 1940 build programme - Amberley, Garbutt, Laverton, Pearce & Richmond, but not those at Bankstown. The "corner" location (i.e. no other hangars visible) has proven tricky. Note the smaller building in the foreground at an angle to the hangar - using Google Earth I can only find these and a suitable "corner" location at Richmond NSW. Also there seem to be Hudsons in the background, rather supporting that identification.

So, thank you for generously giving this one to me - Open House anyway.

[Lordflasheart]

I think you've cracked it Dora.

I followed Fumanchu (3rd from left – nearest row) - P-40E BuNo 41-5555 - Tail No 53 and found the same pic described in the supporting text as "photographed at Richmond RAAF as Black#53 13/02/42 with "B" Flight 13th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional)

Amongst the mayhem in early 1942 was –

1. Hundreds of P-40s were shipped into Eastern Australia – from the USA or diverted from previously en-route to the Philippines etc.
2. Some were flown to Perth, then towed to Freo, 32 of the 13th were shipped on the USS Langley (CV-1) and all were lost when the Langley was sunk following bombing off Java on 27 Feb 1942.
3. Many were flown north up the "Brereton Route" to NT and New Guinea. "Navigation ? - Just follow the trail of crashed Kittyhawks ! "
4. 75 P-40s were transferred to the RAAF in March 1942 as A29-1 to 75. 41-5555 – still Fumanchu, became A29-75 –and served with 75, 76 and 82 Squadrons. It kept its name for some time in RAAF service and was eventually SOC in December 1947.

References - photo of Fumanchu -
http://www.adf-serials.com.au/newsletter/ADF%20Telegraph%202012%20Summer%20a%20GRB.pdf

Brereton Route - Brereton Route through Australia during WW2 (http://www.ozatwar.com/airfields/breretonroute.htm)

So I respectfully agree with Dora that the challenge was RAAF Richmond - (NSW Australia - for those who like to be properly informed as to where these places are ;).) LFH

[Dora-9]

Great stuff, Lordflasheart!

I really should use the ADF Serials website more - it's a fabulous resource. Incidentally, regarding the photo of A29-75 showing the faded US Army titles - Weir Strip was officially called Aitkenvale, sometimes also called 2nd Weir.

I was so busy scanning the background for clues that I completely missed seeing Fumanchu! Groan.

Thanks for my confirming my Richmond identification.

Open House gents.

[Lordflasheart]

Whats amazing is that with all the mayhem, someone managed to keep paper records, that the records survived, and best of all, someone else has managed to make them readily and interestingly available for us today. LFH

Open house ? Try this

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj632/LFH99/LFH24_zps87bdeff4.jpg?t=1362340125

[Lightning Mate]

That Shooting Star is in the markings of the 36th Fighter Squadron, so I would say it's from the Korean war.

[Lightning Mate]

I just Goggled:

36 FW shooting star korean war air base

Guess what.......;)

[Krakatoa]

Might be Suwon

[Lordflasheart]

This is going to be interesting -

Korean War ? Yes -


Guess what.......;)

LM - you were perhaps going to say ? .... and Kraka said -

Might be Suwon

I'm going to say - I don't actually think so chaps ......

;);) LFH

[sycamore]

Dogbase (K-9),Taegu..OH if correct

[Lordflasheart]

Very good Sycamore ! Taegu I believe it is *** -

However, in view of other credible suggestions I have to justify this answer.

The picture (and the previous snap before 689 started taxying to join the queue) appear all over the internet – described variously as "Suwon" "Taegu" and just "Korea." It seems to be generally agreed as 1950. My photo source says "49th Operations Group at Taegu." "Taegu" is specified variously and confusingly as K1, K2, K9 (Dogbase - nearly had me there Sycamore !) and K37 ***.

I see 49th OG (7th, 8th and 9th Squadrons - as in previous 1942 challenge) described as one of the first into action in Korea in June 1950 (at Suwon ?) with P-51s covering the retreat from Seoul. The 49th re-equipped with F-80Cs (I assume this was in Japan) and arrived (back ?) at Taegu either on 1st Oct 1950 or 1st Dec 1950 (after the breakout from Pusan - nb Taegu was on the frontline for some time). 49th moved around some more, re-equipped with F-84E and/or Gs in 1951 and was apparently still using them in 1953 – at Suwon.

The F-80Cs in the challenge could not IMHO have been at Suwon AB in 1950. Suwon City 'changed hands four times' and between Sept and December 1950 the main UN front line moved from Pusan to (briefly) well into North Korea – and well back again soon after the Chinese ground involvement.

To confuse matters further, 49th Gp was at sometime absorbed into 8th Gp and I found a sort of video - 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in Korea, 1953 - YouTube dedicated to the 36th FS (F-86) – part of 8th FBW, at Suwon in 1953, showing 'tail letters' FT and SU

*** However in Gordon Rottman's 'Korean War Order of Battle' he lists among the 57 UN airbases -
K1 = Pusan West. K2 = Taegu East (Taegu No 1.) K9 = Pusan East, and K37 = Taegu West.
(Taegu No 2.) So that's alright then. His list includes 19 UN airfields inside NK ! Obviously more homework to do.

Tried to keep it short. Willing to receive deputations, but reckon Sycamore got it - and has declared - OPEN HOUSE.

[Lightning Mate]

That's 'tinternet for you!

[chevvron]

Many years ago there was a superb Korean War film on telly which featured airstrikes by
F-80s apparently using their wingtip drop tanks as bombs. I think it was called '60 Seconds to Zero'; possibly Robert Mithcum in a leading role? It must be 50 years since I last saw it.

[Krakatoa]

The F 80's in the picture have the Misawa tip tanks which would put the time of the picture back into 1951.

[cuefaye]

:bored: --------------

[BEagle]

The movie was One Minute to Zero and indeed starred Robert Mitchum.

See One Minute to Zero - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Minute_to_Zero) .

Available on DVD from A*a*on, amongst others.

And now we return you to our regular programme.....

[Lightning Mate]

For the OH:

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/where_zps2c393054.jpg

[Cows getting bigger]

Ouston. Haven't we had that one before?

Anyway, OH if correct.

[Lightning Mate]

Correct Cgb.

Apologies if we've had it before - I didn't know.

[Lordflasheart]

Ouston is not on Mel's list from Nov 12, but enjoyed its own separate thread last year.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/500766-r-f-ouston.html


(ps sorry no material at present so QFay will have to stay bored unless he can produce owt isself ;)) LFH

[cuefaye]

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb59/malgrosse/igloo5.jpg

:zzz:

[Lightning Mate]

Bugger - I saw that not long ago whilst looking for "abandoned and little known airfields".

It's definitely the USA.

Back to my jumbo site........

[Lightning Mate]

Racked brains trying to remember which state it was in.

Bingo - Manzanar Airport California.

If I'm correct then OH please.

[cuefaye]

Correct LM - so OH be it

[Noyade]

I've read he's taking off from A375 - the Honiton to Sidmouth road.

Not an aerodrome as such, but control to anyone who can name the pub in the background...



http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7084/runwayy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/runwayy.jpg/)

[India Four Two]

Hare and Hounds, Putts Corner
50.759122 N, 3.212289 W

[Noyade]

Well done mate. The Hare and Hounds...

(Been there?)

Your Control.

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/623/img770j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/img770j.jpg/)

[India Four Two]

No, not been there, but a quick look at the A375 on Streetmap.co.uk, revealed the magic letters PH at Putts Corner, south of Honiton. Is it only in the UK that pubs are an important feature on topo maps?

Interesting story.


This aerodrome has some interesting stories too:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/WAD-2013-03-14_zpsdf61b353.jpg

[chevvron]

New Zealand or California (judging by the lenticulars)

[India Four Two]

Lenticulars, yes. Otherwise completely wrong! ;)

[Lightning Mate]

California no, but USA?

[India Four Two]

LM,

Not in the US.

[Lightning Mate]

Spain....?

[India Four Two]

Not Spain.

[chevvron]

How about Berne?

[India Four Two]

Not Switzerland, either.

[evansb]

Cowley (CYYM) Alberta, Canada ?

[India Four Two]

bri,

Of course, it's Cowley. If anyone would get it, I suspected it would be you. :ok:

The Rocky Mountain lee-waves at Cowley are particularly strong, since the 15 nm long Livingstone Range has 4000' of relief on the downwind side:
http://www.soaring.ab.ca/Resources/Livingstones%20close%20in.jpg

The picture is from Cowley; Canada's Diamond mine (http://www.soaring.ab.ca/cowley.html). For anyone interested in wave-flying, this site is worth a look.

I particularly recommend http://www.soaring.ab.ca/Stalking%20the%20Mountain%20Wave.pdf

Cowley airfield was built in 1938 as an emergency landing ground for TCA's Electras. A weather station was built there too, hence the YY designation. Today it is the only YY airfield that is grass and does not have any commercial traffic.

I spent many idyllic days there over the years, towing , instructing and wave-flying, including a Diamond altitude. Chief Tow Pilot's briefing one day "The rotor is not rough unless the tow-plane gets rolled inverted."

cuefaye,
Why do you feel it is pointless? If it really is, from your point of view, then don't click on the link.

[cuefaye]

No more then --joining sabredog!

[Lightning Mate]

Oh dear...............

[chevvron]

I think this is a SUPERB thread. Highly interesting and keeping alive the memory of airfields both in the present and those long gone (but not forgotten), as well as those which are officially 'disused' but through the diligence of enthusiastic aviators, still experience some sort of activity.

If cuefaye wants to be a miserable git, let him, it won't affect my enthusiasm for the thread.

[cuefaye]

--- this is a SUPERB thread.

Was - IMHO

Vale ac tibi maximas ago gratias, chevvron

[chevvron]

Sorry I don't speak Esperanto.

[Lightning Mate]

Meanwhile, I shall patiently await evansb.

[evansb]

Thanks gents. Here is the next mystery aerodrome:

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/IMG_85951.jpg

[topoverhaul]

On behalf of the lurkers, I think it is a superb thread with lots of interesting nostalgia and sleuthing involved. Long may it prosper!

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Petersburg, James A. Johnson Airport, Alaska.

[evansb]

The CF is correct.:ok: Petersburg, Alaska it is. He has control.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Please carry on... nothing new to hand.

TCF

[MReyn24050]

List updated today up to and including 18 March 2013. Unfortunately the Mods in their wisdom have decided that this thread should no longer be a "Sticky". I will endeavour to try to keep it on the same page.
Mel

[Russell Gulch]

It might appear that one cannot tell who moderates any more?

Thanks for the update, Mel, your work is appreciated. It's a great thread.

Russ.

[descol]

yes - Russ - I second that - thank you Melhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

[Noyade]

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6410/img778j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/img778j.jpg/)I couldn't see this on Mel's list...

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1176/img778u.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/img778u.jpg/)


http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6410/img778j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/img778j.jpg/)

(http://imageshack.us)

[India Four Two]

Zero Four and orange tiles. SE Asia?

[Noyade]

Affirmative mate. :)

[Lightning Mate]

Ex USAF/USN?

[Noyade]

Wiki makes no mention of it being ex-military.

[Noyade]

I should mention the photo was taken in 1983.

[Duckbutt]

Think I've found it but not sure of official title - Jefman, Indonesia?

[Noyade]

Jefman, IndonesiaWell done Duckbutt! :ok:

I have it as Jefman Island - "the airport for Sorong". Air travellers land there and are ferried across to Sorong, according to Dick Smith's book were he illustrates and describes his solo around the world helicopter adventure.

Cheers!

[Duckbutt]

Thanks. Sorry for slight delay, spent yesterday evening helping some good friends celebrating birth of first grandchild and came to be feeling very little pain, as the saying goes. Here's another:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz88_zps1735945e.jpg

[chevvron]

Habbaniya, Iraq? (Nice picture of Lizzies)

[Duckbutt]

Sorry, not Habbaniya Mr Chevvron.

[Cows getting bigger]

I would say a little further East. Afghanistan or Pakistan?

[Duckbutt]

Yes, CGB, one of those.

[Lightning Mate]

Lysanders - it must be Pakistan.

Looking.............

[Lightning Mate]

I just Goggled "Lysanders in Pakistan", and up came Kohat.

[Lordflasheart]

Lysanders

Are they all queuing to climb aboard ?

[Duckbutt]

Yes, IAF (I believe) Lysanders at Kohat in what is now Pakistan.

LM has the ball.

[Lightning Mate]

No new balls available I'm afraid, so reluctantly it's OH.

[Noyade]

Couldn't see this on Mel's list...

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/9471/img780s.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/img780s.jpg/)

I have a couple of other images of the aerodrome if it proves difficult.
Cheers.

[India Four Two]

Mate,

Those fuselages appear to be Murray Sueter's "Bloody Paralysers". So is it the RNAS airfield at St. Pol/Dunkirk?

[Noyade]

They're Porte Baby fuselages Simon and it's a RNAS sea base which began life somewhere around 1914 on the British coast.
I think we're looking at the hangars from the direction of the arrow indicated with the sea on the other side and the photographer is in a field used for land based navy aircraft. It was handed over to the United States in 1918 under Commander Kenneth Whiting.

(The aerodrome at lower left was built in 1939 for Bomber Command)

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3622/img782f.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/img782f.jpg/)

[Airclues]

RNAS Killingholme, Lincolnshire?

Dave

(Open house if correct)

Edit;

Happy to give the floor to TheChitterneFlyer if correct, and Noyade agrees.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

I believe it's RNAS Killingholme on the Humber estuary.

TCF

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Dammit... Airclues pipped me to the post...

[Noyade]

RNAS KillingholmeHappy to give the floor to TheChitterneFlyer if correct, and Noyade agrees. Agreed. Well done gents. :ok:

TCF has control.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Many thanks... Open House

[Lightning Mate]

Morning TCF. :)

Are you able to post?

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Over to you Lightening Mate... it appears that I upset someone in Jet Blast!

[Lightning Mate]

Well, it wasn't me.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Nope... not at all. Funny old world innit?

[Duckbutt]

As it's OH then:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz89_zpsfb45aec1.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

Has this been up before?

It looks familiar somehow.

[Duckbutt]

I can only say that it's not on Mel's list.

[Lightning Mate]

Oh, OK.

It still looks familiar though.

[Duckbutt]

To perhaps put your mind at rest, yes I too can recall a similar picture (about a year ago?) but it is definitely not the same one.

[Lightning Mate]

Looks like some pretty high ground with snow in the far background.

I am thinking Himalayas, Canada, or South America.

I wouldn't like to shoot an approach from the far end though.............

[Duckbutt]

Yes, one of those...........

[Lightning Mate]

....oh here we go - I'm about to wear out my mouse.............

[Duckbutt]

Be fair, I've eliminated about 50% of the world!

If it helps, it is within 100 miles of the sea.

[Lightning Mate]

It does help - probably the west coast of South America somewhere.

[Duckbutt]

Keep going LM.

[Lightning Mate]

Mountainous - near the coast.

Chile?

[Duckbutt]

Getting there LM!

[Lightning Mate]

At last - it's Cochrane innit.

[Duckbutt]

It is, LM. Good effort, hope the blisters on your mouse finger isn't too painful!

You have it.

[Lightning Mate]

Cheers mate.

One for you since we're alone at the moment.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/sepiajob-1_zpsd9696735.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

Keep going...............

[Duckbutt]

Hendon?............

[Lightning Mate]

No question about it - your cockpit. :ok:

[cuefaye]

----------------:bored:

[Duckbutt]

I've got another but what with the football being on the box tonight I won't be able to give the thread the appropriate attention so OH.

[Noyade]

Not on the list...

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/9233/img788b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/706/img788b.jpg/)

[Lightning Mate]

Are we back in the UK, or is it the USA this time?

[Noyade]

Are we back in the UK?

Yes indeed. I can draw a rough map of the area if you wish.

[Lightning Mate]

My first thought was Hendon again, but the two roads/taxiways are juxtaposed.

Map? Map?..........:ok:

[Noyade]

Not Hendon.

Not to scale....

http://i50.tinypic.com/2l45g3.jpg
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5443/img793.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/img793.jpg/)



http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5443/img793.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/img793.jpg/)

[Lightning Mate]

Blimey - not one but three maps!

[Lightning Mate]

Not far from me then.

That's the area of Hullavington, but that didn't open until 1937.

Hereford?

[Lightning Mate]

Old Sarum?

[Noyade]

All right, maybe my map was a tad rough.

None of those places you mentioned above. Try this...

http://i50.tinypic.com/2hz5sts.jpg




http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8577/clipboard01dwo.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/clipboard01dwo.jpg/)

[Lightning Mate]

Upavon?....

[Noyade]

Not Upavon....I think. :)

But my village/aerodrome does have "Avon" at the end.

[Lightning Mate]

Netheravon then?

[Noyade]

Netheravon

Done! :) Nice place?

Netheravon (http://www.drumbeat.org.uk/netheravon.htm)

[Lightning Mate]

Most places around here are nice mate, especially in the summer.

Lots of good pubs and beers too.

[Lightning Mate]

Gentlemen,

I shall have to OH this one.

[Duckbutt]

If it's OH then:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz92.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

Obviously a seaplane base and I think I see Catalinas.

American base therefore, but not in the USA I suspect.

edit: just NB'd the trees - South Pacific?

[Duckbutt]

Nearly all correct LM but not 100% so.

[Lightning Mate]

Now you've got me wondering which bit is wrong.....

[Duckbutt]

:E........................

[Lightning Mate]

I'll get you for this!

PS - found something.....

[Lightning Mate]

Units Based at Lunganville Seaplane Base
VP-12 (PBY
Catalina)
VP-44 (PBY Catalina)

Warm Granddad?

[Allan Lupton]

Perhaps it's Indian Ocean, not Pacific, and somewhere like East Point, Diego Garcia

[Lightning Mate]

Hello Allan - not seen you here before. :)

[Duckbutt]

Oi LM, appropriate respect please! (or perhaps it was).

It is actually Luganville, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

The (relatively minor I concede) error was that the Catalinas are RNZAF not USAF.

[Lightning Mate]

Oi LM, appropriate respect please! (or perhaps it was).

Well mate, that's what it says under your name. We're the same age remember. ;)

I don't have anything ready at the moment so it's either:

OH
Throw another one up
Perhaps Allan our new member might like to have a go.

Either way, let's keep the ball rolling.......

[Lightning Mate]

Hang on - I've got sumfin'.....

[Duckbutt]

Yeah, got anything Allan while I grub around in my files looking for something?

[Lightning Mate]

I've got something ready to go.......

[Lightning Mate]

What's the name of this airfield? Should be very easy.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/greenish_zps03978ab8.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

Wanna clue?

[Duckbutt]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/CC1-1.jpg?

[Lightning Mate]

:D:D:D

All yours again.

[Duckbutt]

OK, don't think this one's too difficult to track down:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz93.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

I think I see Corsairs in Australian markings.

[Duckbutt]

Well spotted LM.

[Lightning Mate]

I'll go for Australia somewhere.

[Duckbutt]

Big country, Australia.

[Lightning Mate]

Sure is.

But not many places with a Corsair base.

edit: I'm being dumb - they must be Australian Navy aircraft, so that narrows it down a bit.

[Lightning Mate]

Maryborough, Queensland

[Duckbutt]

Thats it LM.

[Lightning Mate]

Cheers mate.

I have to go out for a while, so either OH or you post another one.

[Duckbutt]

I've had a good go lately so anyone else want to post something?

[Lightning Mate]

Nobody about, so.....

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Ivebeenhere_zps5975398d.jpg

[chevvron]

Warsaw Pact military?

[Lightning Mate]

Military yes.

Warsaw pact no.

[sycamore]

French,or Belgian..?

[Lightning Mate]

Neither - go north. ;)

[Background Noise]

That's Skrydstrup I believe, in Denmark.

PM inbound, and OH when confirmed.

[Lightning Mate]

That's Skrydstrup I believe, in Denmark.

:D:D

OH has been declared.

[Noyade]

A Sea Base....not on Mel's list, as far as I can see...

http://i47.tinypic.com/16ht8x.jpg

[Lordflasheart]

Wild guess - Taranto ? LFH

[Noyade]

Sorry Lord, not Taranto.

[Mickj3]

Kalafrana, Malta

[Noyade]

Not on Malta.

Additional map, roughly with the same orientation as the photo above....

http://i47.tinypic.com/2i9mrra.jpg

[Noyade]

Not sure if there will much of a crowd watching over Easter, so another map and further clues.

http://i47.tinypic.com/2iqda12.jpg

The flying boats are Short Singapores and the harbour is on the Algerian coastline.

[Allan Lupton]

In that case I think that might be Bône (now Annaba)!

[Duckbutt]

Arzew?..........

[TheChitterneFlyer]

I reckon Duckbutt is correct!

[Duckbutt]

Only polite to wait for confirmation TCF.

[Noyade]

Arzew

Well done Duckbutt. :ok:
Your control.

Happy Easter.
Graeme.

[Duckbutt]

Thanks Graeme. I'm off to bed now but here's one that will no doubt will be sorted when I came back in the morning:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz94a.jpg

[TheChitterneFlyer]

I think this is the water airport at Pavia, Italy.

TCF

[Duckbutt]

It's not TCF but there once was a (direct) connection.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Interesting... the existing hangar in Pavia is of identical design!

[TheChitterneFlyer]

OK, my guess is that the "direct connection" is the River Po and that the hangar is (or was) located in Turin between the Ponte Isabella and the Ponte Balbis.

TCF

[Duckbutt]

Entirely correct TCF except that the direct connection I had in mind was that Pavia was one of the 'stops' of the Torino to Trieste seaplane service that operated between 1926 and 1934. Over to you.

Point of irrelevent interest, I drove through your village a couple of weeks ago, very pleasant spot.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Indeed, the direct connection was going to be either the river or the service route... I went for the river. Good challenge... it kept me quiet for a few hours!

Point of irrelevant interest... I've since moved from Chitterne; but only by a few miles. However, I do agree, it's a most pleasant area of Wiltshire.

Open House...

TCF

[India Four Two]

Apropos (;)) Duckbutt's post, this is all that is left of this water aerodrome:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/Torino_zpsf9d6ad68.png

1st April 1926 - the first commercial air service in Italy. 87 years ago tomorrow.

[cuefaye]

-------- :bored:

[Duckbutt]

To relieve the boredom then:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz95.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

Morning Db.

Not been around of late.

Russian helicopters and the centre one might be an Mi4, so we may be in Russia or the old east Germany.

[Duckbutt]

We are, LM

[Lightning Mate]

Salzwedel ?

[Duckbutt]

Yes, Salzwedel - you have control. If the challenge had got stuck I also had this picture of the same field in an earlier incarnation:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz95a.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

Apologies, but I have injured myself so it will have to be OH.

[asw22]

Hello all!

I have been away for a while but I have no shortage of interesting european airfields!...Here it is:

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/8834/pprune6.jpg

I am misericordious and will provide one clue:

JG2 - transition to Bf 109F

[Lightning Mate]

Northern France?

[Airclues]

Evreux, France?

OH if correct as just off t'pub.

Dave

[cuefaye]

I have injured myself


Not the brain again?

[asw22]

Northern France it is, Evreux it is not...

Another clue: nearby was a fighter command post of considerable operational importance (also, lot of remnants)

[asw22]

Just for fun a view of the large hangar visible in the upper centre of the airfield photo:

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/5838/pprune6aux.jpg

[Duckbutt]

Well I've found a copy of the 'hangar' photo which is labled 'Beauvais' but I can't tie in the first pic with anything on Google Earth though.

Perhaps later development of the nearby airfield together with the autoroute service area have changed the layout too much.

[Allan Lupton]

The crescent-shaped wood and the one to its left look like those at the R101 crash site, generally referred to as near Beauvais so Duckbutt's on to something!

[Lightning Mate]

Nivillers ?

[asw22]

No, it is not Beauvais (Tillé), nor is it Nivillers. Look up north...The Fighter HQ I am referring to was code-named "PLUTO" by their german users...

Beauvais Tillé and Nivillers form a meta-airfield, they are connected together and in the case of Tillé are concrete runway equipped.

The photo I propose to your sagacity shows no such thing... If the hangar has been labelled Beauvais elsewhere, it is wrong but understandable; Beauvais had a great many hangars camouflaged as "farms" including a couple of them workshops 40 or 50m wide which warranted themselves this kind of "manor" camouflage.
If one looks closely to the photo you will notice two 40m hangars of this type. They have now disappeared but another airfield nearby has kept its example (devoid of the camouflage now!)...which makes it rather unique (only one other survivor of the type in Creil, this one never camouflaged)...

JV

[Duckbutt]

Gotcha I reckon! St Pol-Bryas, just to the north of St Pol s/Ternoise?

[TheChitterneFlyer]

I reckon you're right Duckbutt... how on earth did you find that neck of the woods?

TCF

[Duckbutt]

TCF see pm.

[asw22]

Excellent Duckbutt!

This is indeed Saint Pol/Brias ("y" not used nowadays). This place was used extensively by the JG2 and it was also where the pilots got acquainted with the 109F. There even was an unformal "Kommando saint Pol" dedicated to this task. Within the "chateau de Brias" grounds just at the north end of the place (I removed it from the photo) are the remnants of the JaFü 4 "Pluto" which was the fighter command post for all north of France and Belgium in 1943/1944.

How did you find out DB? In any case the floor is yours!

JV

[Duckbutt]

To precis the pm I've sent to TCF in answer to the same question, I had nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon and spent some time digging around. Despite your best intentions I didn't get much help from your clues but eventually found Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: France (http://www.ronaldv.nl/abandoned/airfields/FR/calais/pas-de-calais.html) . In the Pas De Calais page there is a pic of a USAAF raid on an airfield and despite a different orientation, that distinctive curved wood is clearly visible. A check on Google Earth confirmed the road layout, especially that road coming in from the left at an angle. It's spelled 'Bryas' on that website. Good challenge.

Hope this meets the same high standard:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz96.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

I just Goggled "Corsair aircraft named Kathleen"

One discussion site has come up with:

Also NZ5639 was named "Kathleen" in the later part of her tour in Japan.

That was 14 Sqn RNZAF, which should narrow it down a bit.....

[Lightning Mate]

Further searching of that squadron reveals your photograph as taken at Iwakuni, Japan.

Should have airbrushed out the aircraft name mate. ;)

edit: this would have made it a lot more difficult, especially with no roundels.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Duckbutt_zps84c23eb3.jpg

[Duckbutt]

Correct LM. Thought about airbrushing as suggested but it's always a dilemma on here as to how many clues you do leave in a picture.

All yours.

[Lightning Mate]

Thanks Db.

Another for you all.....

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/109_zps165b95d6.jpg

[aviate1138]

Bizerta Tunisia? Just flashed into my mind but not expecting any success. Hills seem too high......

[Lightning Mate]

Morning aviate.

Not Tunisia I'm afraid.

[evansb]

Comiso, Italy ?

[chevvron]

Could it be Crete? Don't know the name of the airfield but there was one near mountains where the German invaders landed.

[Lightning Mate]

Hot.

Not Crete but the right country. ;)

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Molaoi airfield... Greece.

TCF

[Lightning Mate]

Thar ye go. :D

Your stage.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

My apologies chaps; I've nothing prepared to make a worthwhile challenge... Open House to the first to the post.

TCF

[Noyade]

Here's one to be going on with...and I couldn't see it on Mel's list...

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ps36fp.jpg

[asw22]

Rheine (Hopsten) in 1945...The black spots are of snow blown/melt by reactors of Me 262 on the start of their take off run ...

JV

[Noyade]

Rheine
Well done mate - thought it might have lasted just a little longer though. :)

Your control.

[asw22]

Here is one rather interesting:

- there are two airfields on this one (one WWII, one WWI)

- the bombing around the small wood in the center of photo was NOT due to the airfield presence...something else was there...

- the WWI airfield is known for a sad event concerning a well respected ace...

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/3469/pprune7.jpg

Good search...;)

JV

[Lightning Mate]

Bonjour asw.

France and used by the Luftwaffe?

[Duckbutt]

I suggest the WW1 airfield is Auxi Le Chateau, to the NE of Abbeville. It was taking off from this field that the RFC Pilot James McCudden VC crashed and was fatally injured on the 9th July 1918.

I confess I do not know the identity of the WW2 airfield or why the wood was bombed.

Edited to add that it would seem the wood was a V2 site. It was named after the nearby village of Acquet.

[chevvron]

Maybe it was post D Day and the bombing was an attempt to attack something hiding in the wood. eg Tanks.

[Lightning Mate]

Oi fink Duckbutt is there.

[asw22]

Absolutely excellent Duckbutt!

The WWI field (in the lower right corner) is Lannoy/Auxi le Chateau from where J McCudden took off for the last time...

The small wood is the bois d'Acquet and after it outlived its usefulness as the dispersal area of the WWII Auxi airfield (between the two woods center and upper right) the Luftwaffe advantage of the wood to build a V1 launching site of second generation ("Bel Hamelin" type) which explains the extensive bombing...
A house serving as Kasino is visible along the peripheral road on the right and its basement and chimney are still there:

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/4714/pprune7aux.jpg

This airfield was probably used by Stukas in 1940, and abandoned shortly afterward. Earthen revetments are still visible in the wood.


DB you have the helm!:D

[Duckbutt]

Thanks. I should have course said V1 not V2. Here's my next effort:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Twyler/Puzz97.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

Morning Db.

I've taken your photograph into Photoshop and played with it to try to identify the aircraft.

Are they Ansons? If so, I would assume an RAF base.

[Duckbutt]

They almost certainly are Ansons and it is an RAF Station.

[chevvron]

An RAF station, but in Canada? (From the architecture of the hangars)

[Duckbutt]

It is Chevvron.

[Lightning Mate]

Thanks chevron.

Ansons + RAF base + Canada = Charlottetown Prince Edward Island.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Might it be CFB Trenton?

TCF

[Duckbutt]

LM has it, Charlottetown PEI.

[Lightning Mate]

Cheers mate, but if it's OK with you I would like to donate this to chevvron, who did an excellent spot with the hangars and led me to it.

[chevvron]

Thanks for the offer LM but it was you who actually got the name, and I'd only OH it anyway.
I've got some photos on an Xd card but can't figure out how to get them onto my Chromebook so I could post them.

[Noyade]

Now that the dust has settled from the back-slapping - is it open house? :)

http://i48.tinypic.com/2pq80le.jpg

And a query. I watched Red Tails the other day and I know a lot of CGI was involved in its making, but there is one scene where the Yanks are giving the Krauts a pasting on the ground and you see a control tower on the left. It looked real and I wondered if they combined real objects with CGI for the scene?

Does the control tower exist in real life somewhere? I though if anyone would know you guys would. Cheers.

http://i47.tinypic.com/1zdosud.jpg

Red Tails (2012) - IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485985/)

[asw22]

Hello!

The control tower is typical of a pre-war german tower, and the hangar behind is also from pre-war german inspiration...However we are supposed to be in Italy there...

The worse thing for me is the respective distance between the tower, the runway, the hangar and the aircraft parked alongside the runway...This is so utterly ridiculous I almost choked when I saw it the first time!

Needless to say no airfield existed -or exists- even remotely resembling to this one :bored:

Concerning your airfield, coul it be a RAF base in the thirties?

JV

[chevvron]

Filton originally had aircraft sheds of this style, but the parked aircraft look like Glosters of some sort, so maybe Brockworth aka Hucclecote?

[MReyn24050]

The aircraft look more like Westland Wapitis to me.

[MReyn24050]

The aircraft look more like Westland Wapitis to me.
Airman in khaki?

Possibly 30 Sqn's Wapiti IIBs at Hinaidi Iraq?

[Noyade]

Needless to say no airfield existed -or exists- even remotely resembling to this one http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/wbored.gif

Fair enough. Thanks mate.

Sunday afternoon clues...

We're in India - North West Frontier.
Water supplied from the Kabul River.
Wapiti's.
39 Squadron.

Cheers.

[Airclues]

RAF Risalpur?

OH if correct

Dave

[Noyade]

Well done Dave. :)

Open House.

[BOAC]

'Scuse me for butting in, but re Charlottetown./Anson - how would they have got there in that number? Shipped/ferried/licence built?

[JW411]

Shipped and licence built. It was the home of No.3 GRS and the Anson population at any one time was getting on for 100!

In fact, I have in front of me a copy of a WOP's logbook for when he was on the staff at Charlottetown and the oldest Anson that I have found in his logbook is Anson Mk.1 K6207 which was originally delivered to 220 Sqn on 24.09.36.

After several prangs it was finally rebuilt by Martin Hearn in August 1940 and then shipped to the RCAF on 28.02.41.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

Err, weren't Anson's built under licence of the De Haviland (or Avro's) of Canada?

TCF

[JW411]

A quick visit to Wikipedia tells me that 2,882 Ansons were built by Federal Aircraft Limited in Canada.

The Canadian version was not fitted with reverse thrust.

[Allan Lupton]

Quote
The Canadian version was not fitted with reverse thrust.

Eh???
Hardly anything had piston engines and reverse thrust, so what's this about.

[JW411]

It's a private joke.

[TheChitterneFlyer]

It's a private joke.


Piss-take accepted!

[chevvron]

JW411: those of us who are aware of the performance of an Anson understand completely!!
(NB The Beverly had reversing props and I think some the DC6/7 types did too. And didn't Howard Hughes crash due to one element of his contra rotating props going into uncommanded reverse?)

[JW411]

Thank you.