Which Aerodrome Mk III

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

This should help you Max Tow. Just walk westwards along the South Coast - perhaps starting in Kent ? Should the soles of your boots become a little worn, try taking the train....


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1193x932/aerial_4e72fcdbe109bdd459a41db77156aaafaec42e3c.png
Dated 1917. Note the twin hangars not yet constructed. Also the Horse Trough between the Railway Station and the Hotel.

Photo credit: Maritime Archaeology Trust.

[ea200]

Bembridge from your last picture

[Self loading bear]

Bembridge from your last picture

Whot? Not East Anglia?
How deviously!

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well done ! ea200 is correct. RNAS/RAF Bembridge it is. Closed in 1919. Hotel was The Royal Spithead Hotel demolished 1989. The 'Chippy' is part of a complex in Shanklin IOW . It was originally The Summer Theatre constructed from the Air Station Flight Shed and Hangars in 1921.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/808x762/screenshot_2021_02_17_google_maps_0233220659cdcee7e63f076df9 c31dd68b82e5c8.png
Now a Car Park.

What strikes me about the images is how much more cared for, and dare I say ordered, the old Bembridge looks. Here is a rather sad link with some nostalgic snaps - rather small I fear .....https://rshg.org.uk/graves/mr-goodwin-thomas-howard-barnes/

All yours ea200 !

[ea200]

Thanks. I see the horse trough/drinking fountain is still there.
Very busy so OH I'm afraid.

[Asturias56]

here's a one to try

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/343x303/2021_02_13_162725_d4c2ac230e2b5ac0c7fa93729ced1d43e60cedce.j pg

[Asturias56]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/340x366/2021_02_13_162350_ba95663a0222c7f934d15ecf061a5f62258888f9.j pg
Its a rather strangely named spot - if you knew it it would lead you wrong by about as far as you could ever imagine

[Self loading bear]

Its a rather strangely named spot - if you knew it it would lead you wrong by about as far as you could ever imagine

Truely depends on one’s imagination.
I just found a new challenge out of this clue.

[Max Tow]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/340x366/2021_02_13_162350_ba95663a0222c7f934d15ecf061a5f62258888f9.j pg
Its a rather strangely named spot - if you knew it it would lead you wrong by about as far as you could ever imagine

Thanks for the clue! I guess we're considered in Oz to be "as far as you could imagine" so Walla Walla is indeed strange & Antipodean on the list of WW2 USAAF bases (having discarded "Venice" & "Lowcountry" airfields) in the U.S. (as the Cessna has a N reg)....
If correct, OH as late night here - I think SLB has a challenge ready?

[albatross]

Thanks for the clue! We're considered in Oz to be "as far as you could imagine" so Walla Walla is indeed strange on the list of WW2 USAAF Second Air Force bases in the U.S. (as the Cessna has a N reg)?
If correct, OH as late night here - I think SLB has a challenge ready?
Some further info if you are correct
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walla_Walla_Regional_Airport

[Asturias56]

Sorry - had to wait for the 24 hr rule - I'm off out so I think its the 23 hr rule right now

MaxTow has a palpable hit.............. Walla Walla in Washington State . Only knew of it as I knew someone from thereabouts - thought he had a strange accent for an Australian at first!!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/453x268/2021_02_13_161808_70a84230f3c92aa6b978cb8b8a91cc82ae8b1729.j pg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/652x577/2021_02_13_161449_9877d0808aaa44b3669af88bca393a16580b20f0.j pg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/279x331/2021_02_13_162652_c6803b99c7ad1d55097ff15feb9cc605f69a4989.j pg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/558x378/2021_02_13_162514_bcee077036e36418a8e8250baf39b09533e07547.j pg

[Max Tow]

Tks. OH as per yesterday's post.

[Self loading bear]

Yes I found one based on the last clue of Asturias:
Its a rather strangely named spot - if you knew it it would lead you wrong by about as far as you could ever imagine.

We are looking for the name of the encircled strip.
The other strip in the left upper corner is perhaps easier to find but I do not have a clue for that one.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/605x620/52d80978_cf0a_495e_930e_125e0c4ad8b0_e28818f6e966cf34f9203b7 da6a6404742f209bd.jpeg

[Asturias56]

Are we in the USA Bear??/

[Self loading bear]

Are we in the USA Bear??/

Yes we are!

[Asturias56]

And every immigrant named his place after his place of origin in the Old Country. :(

Is that a lake on the right?

[Self loading bear]

It is not Harlem
or any other Dutch town.

to the right is tidal water

[Self loading bear]

I did a lot of searching but could not locate any picture of an aircraft that has landed here but the strip is at least in existence since 1976 and has an FAA code. Must be a very quiet place, just like it’s namesake as far away as you could imagine.

[Asturias56]

can't find a suitable Hell, Heaven or Paradise. ..............

more clues please!

[Self loading bear]

You are looking in a too esoteric direction.
Distance to hell cannot be measured
Distance to heaven: It might be right at your doorstep.
At the namesake an actual landing and take-off did take place.

And to the right of this strip it are probably mangroves

[Asturias56]

I had a look around Florida and noticed St Petersburg but couldn't see the challenge - should I look harder - or elsewhere?

[Self loading bear]

You are on the right coast of the right state. Just a small step for men further south.

[Sideshow Bob]

I guess from your clues, it's Tranquility Bay Strip (4FA3)

[teusje]

Tranquility Bay Strip Airport on Pine Island, FL

[Self loading bear]

I guess from your clues, it's Tranquility Bay Strip (4FA3)

Bob has it with Tranquility bay airstrip.
Tranquility Base is on average equally fartedt away from all Prunners around the world.

If anybody has more info or pictures of the Tranquility bay airstrip (with aircraft?)
please feel free to share.

Bob has control.

[Sideshow Bob]

Thanks Bear, unfortunately I haven't got any really old pictures but here's one I took after landing in 2005. Hope that's ok

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/03_11_05_1716_f9889e8bacfaf53e4396b3e1fe101c860ead27dd.jpg

[Self loading bear]

I definitely prefer own photos above Google maps/Earth shots.
The challenge is usually more difficult as own photos are usually not on the internet.
The historic context can follow later in clues or other photos.

I just appeared to me that the red X lines in the Union Jack are not centered in the white X.
That shows to be common.
Does anybody know how that came along?

[Max Tow]

Re the flag on the RAF Tristar - it's meant to be asymetric. The red saltire of St Patrick (N.Ireland) is offset so that it does not relegate the white saltire of St Andrew (Scotland) to just a thin border.

[Sideshow Bob]

I just appeared to me that the red X lines in the Union Jack are not centered in the white X.
Of all the years I spent walking up the stairs and past that flag, I never noticed that lol

[dixi188]

The flag is the correct way up if the flag pole was on the left, so is the one on the other side mirror image, ie still flying back from the fwd flagpole? (if that makes sense).
I can't find many images with the flag. Was that when carrying Royals or Blair Force One?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Is it Ascension Island?

[Sideshow Bob]

Hi dixi188, no it was the standard paint scheme at the time. We were on a freight run so the aircraft would have been one of the KC1s (ZD948, ZD950, ZD952, or ZD953), without digging out my logbook, I'm not sure which one. I only know it was a freight run as we had stopped doing South Atlantic runs in 2001 (due to other demands) but the civil 747 which took over had been hit be a ground handling truck in the Falklands so we had to pick up the flex for a few weeks.

I was just about to post a clue about not being asleep when you arrive but it looks like OUAQUKGF Ops has already hit the nail on the head; Wideawake Airfield it is. It's one of the easiest airfields to find, you can see the solitary cloud over the Island from Top of Drop! Only problem is diversion; the nearest used to be over 1000miles away, now there's a runway on St Helena, it's only 800 miles (providing you can land at St Helena).

Over to you OUAQUKGF

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Thanks Bob. I have a huge soft spot for The Tristar having worked for an airline that operated them. Back in time now............





https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1610x787/screenshot_2021_02_22_google_maps_1800e6381dbd20ef315a6e48da 8fbdf817637484.jpg

[Sideshow Bob]

Hi OUAQUKGF are we in East Anglia?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Yes East Anglia. Big place - Four Counties - No lack of aerodromes fortunately.........

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/578x526/1949_5c1933000591d8a519af47050f10c748c3a87734.jpg
1949 .You could say that the wood (middle distance right) was really the heart of the airfield.
Photo credit; Britain from Above.

[Asturias56]

also an amazing number of railway lines there pre- Beeching

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/996x924/screenshot_2021_02_25_overhead_62294800634e6f92de4ac13ed762d 4f0e7d83b40.png



If needed will supply clue this evening......

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/605x413/screenshot_2021_02_25_bf461820059461779249a302fda0500f99d9a8 b6.png

[Asturias56]

Somewhere like North Pickenham?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Not really like North Pickenham or similar. Certainly no Thor Missiles or, as far as I know, Turkeys.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1363x922/airfield_1946_c87bfc20ba2cf5cdaca71159996fec02ed754e74.png




Portia was 'With Child' when she passed through the Boundary hedge.

[JENKINS]

RAF Docking perhaps?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well done Jenkins. RAF Docking Norfolk it is. Active 1939-1945. Originally Decoy Aerodrome and subsequently Satellite for nearby Bircham Newton. Became a very busy Coastal Command Aerodrome being more suited for Night Operations than Bircham Newton. Longest runway (Grass) N/E-S/W 1730yds. Hosted Shipping Strike Squadrons, Met Reconnaissance Flights, Air Sea Rescue Units and a Beam Approach Flight (this last 1942-45). Proximity to coast meant that crippled aircraft returning from Ops over Europe, short of fuel, or weather diversions would sometimes land at Docking. My clue alluded to the latter:


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x317/8aa219db2d666a6169cb8916e0d63e2e_preg_port_7894fceafcad37bf2 fa9bebc3bad69c2d093e153.jpg



https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/943x731/media_41702_usaf_prang_76c20e5843a51a23be64a363f66c813db08f7 b46.jpeg
42-30263 Pregnant Portia at Docking October 30th 1943. Also suffering similar fate at Docking on the same day B17s 42-30250 and 42-30171. All 385 BG (Great Ashfield) on Ops Recall. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

(Observed by ATC at Docking to have landed long.)


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1040x672/squadron_personnel_f601b96f3295c7bbcc8fc7750bd5d6e455138e4c. jpg

Crews of 206 Squadron at Docking in 1940. The Squadron suffered heavy losses in that year. Photo credit Bircham Newton Heritage Centre.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x635/screenshot_2021_02_24_royal_air_force_coastal_command_1939_1 945__8f2a2313bbb7363884b066dc4d15cb6cc770b76c.png
Flying Officer J.B. Gordon and his 1041 Met Flight Gladiator at Bircham Newton. The location of this photo is sometimes given as Docking from where this aircraft operated.
Photo credit Imperial War Museum.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x637/docking_1_03_07_77_pf_airfield_research_group_ecdb9209a82a9b b9558fca61854cc4eadd6c213e.jpg
Photo credit Airfield Research Group.

Further reading: Up In all Weathers By David Jacklin published by Larks Press.

Over to you Jenkins

[JENKINS]

Terrific photographs: thanks, I am sure, from all here. Stopped one lunchtime in local pub for lunch, somewhat perturbed to find that local burial was having a wake therein. Lovely countryside, and not particularly flat. Nearby Commonwealth War Grave cemetery worth a visit.

Open House I regret, no source of anything decent.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Yes a gently rolling landscape, beautifully stark with vast skies. The first image looking west from the remains of the eastern perimeter which now serves as a lane. The only clue to the lane's former function being in the regular fissures of its concrete construction. Very atmospheric.

[Asturias56]

I don't expect this to last long.............

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/392x942/2021_02_21_134325_cc302d03f2e8b5e5957a9ee62f924af9f270d1d4.j pg

[jensdad]

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1040x672/squadron_personnel_f601b96f3295c7bbcc8fc7750bd5d6e455138e4c. jpg

Crews of 206 Squadron at Docking in 1940. Photo credit Bircham Newton Heritage Centre.
Fantastic photos indeed. What type are these RAF aircraft? Interesting looking machines, although not the most attractive :)

[Self loading bear]

Lockheed Hudson

[sycamore]

Australia....?

[Asturias56]

A long way from Australia...................... though English is spoken by most of the inhabitants

[Self loading bear]

I have worked my way through airstrips in Guyana, Sierra Leone, Liberia Nigeria and Cameroon.
Did I miss something or is it closer to Australia than Cameroon?

[jensdad]

Lockheed Hudson
Dank je wel, SLB!

[Asturias56]

I have worked my way through airstrips in Guyana, Sierra Leone, Liberia Nigeria and Cameroon.
Did I miss something or is it closer to Australia than Cameroon?


Not a lot in it Bear - but you have made a significant error in the thought process in line 1 - rather a pleasant spot to sit with a beer.............. a once a day service more or less but mainly for the relatively well heeled to look at wild life

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/191x249/2021_02_21_134422_cb2617441ddddeb7fcef1c8122cdc21ea4c3cde8.j pg

[chevvron]

Treetops Hotel??

[Asturias56]

well I could afford to stay there so not as grand as Treetops... and a lot closer to sea level...............

[nvubu]

I think the airstrip is in a national park - although not sure it is in Kenya.

O/T. I didn't rate Treetops when I stayed there in the 1980s, it just seemed like it was trading on it's name. If I remember correctly it wasn't in the treetops when I visited as they had all been cut down, although looking on GE now, looks like the walk in to the hotel has been re forested. However, it also looks like the location is a bit out on a limb, with settlements only 1km away to the N, E & S. I visited the Ark (also in the Aberdares) the previous year, and I remember that being in the middle of the forest, with just the water hole as the open space.

[Asturias56]

Not sure if it's a national park - I think it has general protection tho'....... you can see the sand dunes fringing the ocean at the https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/659x452/2021_02_28_100652_5aa053fec80bec9f1fdad790af51f3f841c6ac9d.j pg
end of the runway in this shot - it's not exactly overrun with navaids!

[nvubu]

From your clue "Not a lot in it Bear", I reckon it is must be somewhere in the Indian sub-continent - but where I have no idea.

"I don't expect this to last long" :ok:

[Max Tow]

[QUOTE=nvubu;10999920] "I reckon it is must be somewhere in the Indian sub-continent - but where I have no idea."

except that I don't think that you'll find "English is spoken by most of the inhabitants'" in India...or anywhere else in that area (except on a few tropical islands).

[Max Tow]

Further thoughts...

Interestingly, OP hasn't yet said which in direction from Cameroon to Oz it's equidistant, so with those dunes & grass, the cooler latitudes on the other way round to recent guesses may be more fertile linguistically, perhaps?

[Asturias56]

Ahh - someone thinking outside the box!

If Bear wrote down the reasons he started looking in "Guyana, Sierra Leone, Liberia Nigeria and Cameroon" and examined them carefully it might lead to a different set of parameters for the search.................

There are a couple of other forums on here where I'd expect it to have lasted about 3 minutes.

[India Four Two]

Bahamas or Caribbean?

[Max Tow]

Searching for the required historic link, are we nearer to Sheffield?

[Self loading bear]

I was originally looking for native English countries.
I think Baja California equidistant to Cameroon and Australia.

but not much time to search.

[Asturias56]

It's a long way from Sheffield as well but there is a historic link

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/552x561/2021_03_02_151309_505e05f12b270c55d36af8a2dbdf31516cda9840.j pg

[BSD]

Could it be the Falklands?

[Asturias56]

It could............................. uncropped picture

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/991x683/2021_02_21_135016_061285ea95e1a0a80989dbb47feac269d0b4549a.j pg

[BSD]

I'm betting Its Sea Lion Lodge landing strip.

How's that?

[Max Tow]

An historical link...a long way from home.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/279x392/0453c16a_2c3b_4c77_93d2_cb2ac12e45de_4_5005_c_3b6da75f49bf8b ea571046b12d7319d323d70033.jpeg
H.M.S. Sheffield Memorial, Sea Lion Island

[Self loading bear]

How much beaches I have been ploughing the last two days.
And only to find the most sand was already between my ears....

Nice challenge
and a wonderful spot to spend a holiday week.

[Max Tow]

"...and a wonderful spot to spend a holiday week." SLB - I think you'd find most of your week spent in getting there & back.
Pending Asturias' adjudication, those of you interested in Falklands airports may find the following of interest - the DC4 hijack to the Stanley Racecourse is quite amusing!

https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/operation-black-buck/before-invasion/

[Asturias56]

I shall show discipline - come back at 17:49! :ok:

getting to the Fi sin't too hard in normal times- (but it isn't cheap) - the RAF one-stop runs a couple of times a week and is effectively an overnighter. The LAN Chile flight can get you from Madrid via Santiago but that requires an overnight each way (and a horribly early departure on a Saturday) in Santiago - which is a nice spot.

The "second flight" which is/was going to be TAM from Sao Paulo via Argentina was due to start when CV-19 stopped all that - I think that was going to be a mid week flight but never saw the timetable .

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Thanks Max Tow for that very interesting Falklands Link.

[Max Tow]

Thanks Max Tow for that very interesting Falklands Link.

Thanks for that - The "DC4 racecourse" in Stanley seems to be little changed from the 1966 photos in the link.
As others have remarked before, these explorations tend to throw up all sorts of interesting diversions!


By the way, I've P.M.'d Asturias as I wonder whether the Mods really do require him to impose a 24hr freeze after a correct guess (esp as he started the challenge back in Feb), or perhaps the intention might just have been to set a minimum of 24hrs from the original challenge post to declaration of a correct answer, in order to allow us Transatlantic & Antipodean types a look in (which seems to be working fine). Is that correct?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/404x288/adba3a9a_139f_438e_89f4_eefeaac7905b_4_5005_c_a10e51efb80905 effe3d0d175880645ccc62cbcc.jpeg
It does look a bit like a control tower...

[Asturias56]

That was the aim - but the way its been enforced 9and I mean that) - the posts have been somewhat contradictory - the original rule only referred to "24 hours after the post to confirm" whereas a more recent edict refereed to "is not named until 24 hours after the original post" . Which I would take to be the original challenge.

Having been wrapped on the knuckles before I'm not taking the risk...... it took me two years to get back on "Rumours & news"

[Sideshow Bob]

Having been there several times (abait briefly and in the 1990s) you'd of thought I'd of got that one. Got to say that my trips were free though and not exactly by choice.

[BSD]

The next challenge is ready and waiting for Asturias56 to fire the starting gun...

Not one I can se on the list of previous and hopefully compliant with the spirit and rules of this contest.

A photo I took myself, but I'd be amazed (and delighted) if the super-sleuths on here didn't crack it in double quick time.

The link to the DC-4 made for interesting reading. Never been to the FI myself but used to fly with one of the original FIGAS pilots, whose obituary in the Telegraph in 2005 told of a "mercy" flight he'd undertaken for a sick child in a Beaver IIRC. A marvelous piece of flying.

[nvubu]

Thanks Max Tow for that very interesting Falklands Link.

I'm with OUAQUKGF and others on this - really interesting read, thanks for the link

Asturias56 - it's 24 hours after the challenge has been set.

[Asturias56]

It is indeed Sea Lion Island - a spot I'd recommend to anyone. The accommodation is not luxurious but fit for purpose and the food and people are wonderful. I have to apologise to Bear - I hadn't realised until he started hacking through the undergrowth in W Africa just how like a red soil strip it looked! By then all I could do was to ask him to check his assumptions.......

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1200/img_4059_0ebf52a982c74b6ebaa82c4ab1409384dad3c824.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x768/img_6330_medium__5798e93b80efc183754aeafe6a531837f3d375db.jp g
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x768/img_6224_medium__cd168ad127154c3790c67d4ab75ce2b6efad3feb.jp g

[BSD]

Enjoy!

Not sure how long this will last, but have fun.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/966x685/which_aerodrome__77f6bd8fbe6d679ff92417c05cb36fd0e24c34b8.jp g

[Self loading bear]

...
I have to apologise to Bear - I hadn't realised until he started hacking through the undergrowth in W Africa just how like a red soil strip it looked! By then all I could do was to ask him to check his assumptions.......



No need to apologize,
I had not much to go on, so made the assumption that it would be an English native country farthest away from Australia as possible.

Not realizing it could be a Great Britain overseas territory as well.
No worries, I have found two new wonderful places with equally non-descriptive surroundings.
That will be old school Jenkins criptic challenges.

[Asturias56]

Before that terror is unleashed on us lats see what we can do on BSDs challenge

Could be a lake or the sea, two high winged aircraft there - plus quite good roads for such snow bound country

Are we in N America (including Greenland)?

[BSD]

We are indeed. I've a feeling this won't last!

[Asturias56]

N America with mountains - but no trees - that restricts it to very high or way, way north

Is it above 10,000 ft AMSL?

[BSD]

Not much above seal level....

[Self loading bear]

Artic bay airport?

[India Four Two]

I see some similarities with Arctic Bay, but there are no glaciers nearby to source those icebergs. I think this strip is more likely to be in Greenland.

[Sideshow Bob]

I think this strip is more likely to be in Greenland.

I agree, having spent time in Newfoundland, it doesn't look like Northern Canada. I was surprised by how few airstrip there are in Greenland and again how few are dirt. Is it Daneborg Station?

[teusje]

Zackenberg Station maybe?

[BSD]

Another photo. taken as we came overhead before turning to the left into the downwind leg......

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/744x618/fullsizeoutput_2b05_eefb40395ac8a15aa0368e3185627fbf602d3344 .jpeg

[sycamore]

Kulusuk, BGKK,Greenland....

[India Four Two]

I think sycamore is on target!

[BSD]

I'm thinking enough time has elapsed for me to declare sycamore is on the money and now has the con.

Fascinating place. Built I believe in the late fifties by the US to support the construction of the DEW (distant early warning) line, Sea Bass, Sob Story etc.

Now that I've cracked uploading, here are 3 more. On the ramp, taking on the most expensive fuel in the entire world (at the time0 paid for in cash, US$ only. And one on departure.

Leaving SondreStromfjord (now Kangerlussuaq) the lady in the met office said "you won't get a better day than this to cross Greenland" It was spectacular.






https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1102x781/fullsizeoutput_2b04_8a4d046de74135e4f00d48bc4f695846e261a632 .jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/781x1155/fullsizeoutput_34_7eb2228d6c464e911a0b6a11f445379baf12c9e9.j peg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/963x682/fullsizeoutput_61_b6b435143ee5cd94defddc937f191f0414988bc3.j peg

[sycamore]

OK,bit lucky trawling around G`Land....however,with a clear passage,here`s one ,named after a friend who lives 10 miles from me...there was an airstrip there mid`70`s,but not showing on GE....Another pic later...
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/810x518/ht_land_1__2b732c37ba08026c26694c8bd26f8b1f377d835a.jpg
it is an island

[Self loading bear]

After Tranquility Bay,
the moon-like strips are back in fashion!

Cape Verde Islands?

[sycamore]

Sorry Bear,but you don`t need a swimsuit here,sunscreen,yes,but fur preferred; about the same distance from your country to here ,as to CVs.

[Asturias56]

Are we n N Canada? there scenery looks like Hudson's bay - tho it could be the Khatanga Gulf sort of place in N Russia - but I doubt the base would be named after your mate............

[sycamore]

A56,correct...couple of little `clues` in with photo...my friend`s father named it((family name).
If you go half as far as Bear,starting from near `MissPiggy`s mishap,you should be close,but it won`t be `warmer`.......

[Max Tow]

Well, starting from Miss Piggy wreck in Churchill and going c 2000km N brings us to Haig-Thomas Island, but I see no aerodrome? OH if correct (SLB had one ready?).

[sycamore]

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1124/ht_land_1_f90d87a795392e973e46619669ab9a483a9bcd2d.jpg
copywright;rkkomiersowski.. I was about to give some nav .help from Miss`Piggy;,in my Herk, t/o,climb,180/12 mins,cruise FL200,300KTS,3hrs40,descen 249kts 9.5 mins,turn Final,land.. You have control for a gravel t/off ,MAX TOW.....
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1540x1000/ht_land_2_d0a32a767c513ddf534d980206e87e23a0075674.jpg

[sycamore]

Ground temp,-55*C,and you will fog it out....

Google ,`D H-T,explorer/Commando for further info...

[Max Tow]

An adventurous but sadly short life!
Expedition report here (I see H-T originally named the island after Neville Chamberlain)..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW7Wz2a4SDg

OH declared

[Flap40]

I doubt this will last long....


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1080x1440/156616834_10224793590415942_3240290163639992413_o_db5791ac2d 87fafe53f81c161635bedc9ed3fcdc.jpg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well if this is the same Yacht she sails under the Portuguese Flag........


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/570x427/1749270_d24db16004ff4c504b1d31f8ac868d6fa3d6fe6c.jpg

A bit more digging. So is the Aerodrome that of Cascais where this yacht appears to be based?

[Asturias56]

Its overhead - must be Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, Madeira, commonly known as Madeira Airport (Portuguese (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_language): Aeroporto da Madeira) or Funchal Airport (Aeroporto do Funchal) or Saint Catherine Airport (Aeroporto de Santa Catarina) (IATA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IATA_airport_code): FNC, ICAO (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICAO_airport_code): LPMA),

[Self loading bear]

Not everybody likes him but he is a great footbalplayer.
I can understand the Madeirians want honor him with an Aeroporto.
But he surely does not deserve such a statue:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1600/feb39622_92f3_48ff_8f7c_1c592fc9b9bd_51486851ca7abc4fc7612ba 96b7da1bd19f17b2a.jpeg

[Asturias56]

last time we were there we were taken for an Island tour by a tiny young lady in an enormous Merc - we mentioned we'd seen a top of the line Ferrari parked in town the day before and she indicated it belonged to the Island's most famous son.

"Ah" says Senora A "He keeps it here to impress the home-town girls"

The young lady curled her lip. "Him? He bought it to impress HIS MOTHER!" :p

[Asturias56]

And yes its an awful statue - and its not the only one - there are several around Europe and they are all grim - I think its the hair that's the problem

[Flap40]

I think it's better than the first attempt....

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1424D/production/_95390528_ronaldobust.jpg

[Flap40]

Well, that's the 24hrs up and so it's congratulations to Asturias56. Over the years we've had many arial views of airports but I don't think we have previously had a view from below.

[Asturias56]

Thankyou - for several minutes I was peering into the background of the OP looking for the runway until the penny dropped :ugh:. The combination of overhead, those pillars and being sea side reminded me immediately of FNC (and its interesting landings).

Lets try this:-

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/455x296/2021_03_09_162914_77bbe2f44fe66400b601cf15d5f43cd59d5ca4cd.j pg

[chevvron]

Swinderby?

[Self loading bear]

Well, that's the 24hrs up and so it's congratulations to Asturias56. Over the years we've had many arial views of airports but I don't think we have previously had a view from below.

I did a view of the viaduct of Luxembourg Findel about 2 years back.
But that is not below the runway itself. Only lights on top of it.

[Flap40]

True, i'd forgotten that one.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Indian Subcontinent ?

[Asturias56]

The challenge isn't in the UK nor on the sub-continent

It's quite a pleasant spot but doesn't have any scheduled services


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/326x301/2021_03_09_163321_72fa214cf3c40e3ef5e680cb715205ee7a3346ea.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Former Soviet Union?

[Asturias56]

No , not the FSU. One of those places that has been occasionally important in the history of it's own country but hasn't bothered the bulk of history. Quite a reasonable sized spot but not a major tourist area either.

No important figures from here either - not even dodgy , diving footballers...............

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well, I hesitate to ask if it is in Scandinavia - but you never know!

[sycamore]

Occasional use as a drag strip...judging by the tyre/oil tracks...?

[Self loading bear]

Occasional use as a drag strip...judging by the tyre/oil tracks...?
And the Volvo advertising sign...

[Self loading bear]

Norra Upplands Tierp?

[chevvron]

Occasional use as a drag strip...judging by the tyre/oil tracks...?
Mantorp Park or Anderstorp then.

[Asturias56]

It's not in Scandinavia but it does have an associated motor sports facility.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/373x260/2021_03_09_163152_5fcb78d7ac5b9e1bf9816d6f14c9f9030ded9193.j pg

[Archer4]

The plane in the second picture (behind the orange tent) is an ultravia pelican. If this is in Europe, I can make a good guess on the callsign. Doesn't narrow it down much, the plane I have in mind has been everywhere.

[JENKINS]

Le Luc perhaps?

[Asturias56]

There is a link to the previous challenge......................

[Asturias56]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/296x367/2021_03_09_162850_8d0ae01edd070f2b108954803587ae3762b5c8f9.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Is that a T33 Gate Guardian?

[Asturias56]

No - it's just something parked up - I don't think this is used by the military very much - its hard to find any history of it at all but I have never seen or heard anyone mention an military connection.

The gate IS interesting as the airport is surrounded by the motor sports facility so day-to-day you have to use a tunnel to access the hangars and the runways............ Of course big kit is brought in across the race track

[Flap40]

It looks more like a T-37 to me.

[sycamore]

Portugal,or Spain....?

[teusje]

Aeródromo Municipal de Braga

[Self loading bear]

Aeródromo Municipal de Braga

Which fits with Tweety T-37 2410

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x400/78da85ee_769a_47da_b11f_134de216eaa6_2d61b677e9905412c350fd7 69a43bc9f4ea2a7a9.jpeg

[Asturias56]

Apologies about the T-37 - I honestly didn't remember it.... but I'm busy tonight and so will stretch the 24 hr rule and award the Palm d'Or to Tuesje with Braga - which really is a nice place

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/283x256/2021_03_09_162802_98d307d0c6f7acc7db39b1876515e1e6add5d560.j pg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/894x675/2021_03_09_162548_f0aab708548e1feb71cb981bc7eca36ec01d2f2e.j pg

[teusje]

Thank you Asturias, that was a nice challenge.
Now let's try this one:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/795x488/wa2_dxo_644c62b14f2f468f5e20132308b9f4134bbc9528.jpg

[Checklist Charlie]

Yawn, another 20 hours to wait for the answer.
A wedding chapel at a saccharine named US sky airport that thinks its a harbour..
CC

[Max Tow]

Quite so.
In the meantime, having looked at a TWA Lindbergh Line map, I wondered what had become of Winslow Arizona (apart from the Eagles song) featured large on the transcontinental trunk route and just up the road from OP's challenge. Seems it used to be the most important town in N.Arizona & a rail hub until the Route 66 bypass cut it off and now has a population less than 10k. Just like Radiator Springs In "'Cars"....

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/755x475/27095515_3ec3_4054_9969_c136dde8e608_1_201_a_ab0ef6e0fddc8b1 994db526ef5e087fc118fd59f.jpeg

[Asturias56]

" I wondered what had become of Winslow Arizona"

pretty quiet place - not very well off - lot of Native Americans. Not much happens - scenery is interesting and they've redone the old classic La Posada Hotel but it's not as threatening a place after dark as Gallup NM

[teusje]

Checklist Charlie got it, Phoenix Sky Habor.

[Checklist Charlie]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1515/where_am_i_26e8aeeb6d0036ee9deb8b43e0cf29d2100ac978.jpeg
Where am I

[chevvron]

Not UK; South America?

[descol]

Australia ?

[ea200]

Somewhere warm. Doesn't look very North American but as a long shot maybe Red Flag? So Nellis.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

RAAF Base Pearce (Bullsbrook) Western Australia? Later doing a bit of digging the apron doesn't look right for Pearce so instead I'll have a crack at RAAF Butterworth?

[Checklist Charlie]

Yes descol

CC

[descol]

Darwin Northern T

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well that knocks Butterworth out - so I'll have a go at RAAF Laverton? - and I'll also throw in my original guess of RAAF Pearce because this Vulcan was there circa 1968.

[Checklist Charlie]

We now have the right year. OUAQUKGF Ops (https://www.pprune.org/members/240330-ouaqukgf-ops)

CC

[descol]

Richmond NSW

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well I'll try RAAF Edinburgh...?

[Checklist Charlie]

descol is on the money, RAAF Richmond in 1968.

CC

[Max Tow]

descol is on the money, RAAF Richmond in 1968.

CC

Richmond was quite a frequent destination for the Vulcan, including the first non-stop UK/Australia flight in 1961.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJO6CBL6fEE

Here are the same hangars as in the OP's photo,in 1962.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/948x544/603ef37d_4fe6_47bc_9d1c_f8774cd96ad4_1_201_a_5dc041254005983 2126c4d371c451328ad30caa5.jpeg
in 1962.

[descol]

thanks CC and MT for the info on Richmond
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1764x1188/2_e68eb2bbdc725c527c491432e9c40a332de4c125.jpg
Thanks CC and MT for the info on Richmond
Guess this one

[Asturias56]

Are we near the sea?

[descol]

yes - we are

[mgahan]

Perhaps in the Pacific some years ago when this was the spare deck for Cassidy - Aeon on Kiritimati?

[descol]

Aeon it is Mg - I had posted this several years ago - the Vulcan from last post prompted a repost as Kritmass was synonymous with the aircraft
you have control
Descol

[mgahan]

Thanks - I've had this picture I took in mid 2019 when I did the airport inspection waiting on my desktop for a chance to post it as a challenge. Credit to the original construction team - apart from the grass clumps the surface is good. Now I'll need to find another!! Standby while I search my flies. In the mean time I would be very interested in chatting with anyone who has used the strip or has pictures of aircraft there.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1227x920/aeon_field_rwy_from_thold_09_03e1a1c395450931285084db9c38336 89d1e1150.jpg

[mgahan]

The time is 0 dark hundred and we were well clothed for the destination and about to board for an exciting and fun filled couple of days. But before we departed the crew had breakfast - toast, jam and a strange smelling clear liquid!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/598x449/ludmila_6dfcd2979d48e3cc9fdab1eb7df63dc93ca98f05.jpg
I'm off to bed and will be back on line at about the same time (local at this airport) the picture was taken. .

[Max Tow]

U.A.E. perhaps, Dubai?

[descol]

Jeez Mg - that's some change in Aeon - I took the photo I posted in 1996 when on a UK monitoring visit

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well if Max Tow hasn't got it with DXB I guess perhaps that this is SHJ (Sharjah) and that you were probably about to depart to Afghanistan?

However 0924 (a.m) camera timing must be set for elsewhere - probably an Australian time zone - say typically Canberra - giving a time at Sharjah of 0224 a.m.

[mgahan]

Back online after a restful night.

I did mean to crop out the camera time as it may have caused some confusion. Too late now.

the aircraft was operated by Daallo but Max probably knows that.

[mgahan]

Sorry folks - while waiting patiently for the 24 hour rule clock to tick over the internet (and SMS and lots of other things) went off line here in paradise. just back now and I will confirm Max T has it with Dubai. We were headed to Kandahar for an inspection.

All yours Max.

Now to tackle a 28 hour backlog of emails (mainly jokes as it is the weekend) but first maybe a read of this morning's paper.
MJG.

[Max Tow]

Thanks MG - I see that aircraft, if it's S9-SAO, came to a sad end the following year. Hopefully nothing to do with the clear liquid breakfast.

Here's something for the weekend from soggy SYD:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/560x306/9322de08_c0fa_49e0_8dfa_0e0ead759aea_4_5005_c_e2b54d91adc42a 007b1817abe42a0a462efe7ffb.jpeg
In the beginning...

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/556x271/dcac1b6a_3fd2_4474_a231_b523a5948594_4_5005_c_258dfc2cd30db1 9a616de3d5811c7d97de0b2fe9.jpeg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Mingaladon Burma?

[Self loading bear]

P2 Palembang Sumatra?
based on the lucky find that this might be the same aircraft?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/220x169/eac8288d_9304_4a87_9d14_5cd9c817285e_7ef1dd7a31d3172690bfd7c 01a478b6cde0e49fe.jpeg

[Max Tow]

Two "rights" on the East of Suez guesses but two "wrongs" on suggested locations. And therein lies a clue.
Slightly later photos....

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/543x235/03d7350d_6b23_440e_b28b_a30be0ce4278_1_201_a_9dcc451f2e7457c 3feea1e70cec85140fcc356c3.jpeg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/588x216/d7a5b1dc_e9be_4ca2_a47f_b1bde2517108_4_5005_c_2e490d02d51473 4d45d2b68dab4774d169e75f73.jpeg

[Asturias56]

SE Asia? could be Malaya

[Max Tow]

To the East of Suez and ex-Empire, but not Malaya.
The airfield has changed its name since above photos taken - both named after former top men in the neighbourhood.
By the way,SLB's Hurricane has a somewhat different paint scheme (note the tail tricolour height and letter nearer to roundel) and is not the one shown.
Oh, and just to confuse, the current main runway is neither of the marked pair on my carefully cropped map. Photo below looks down old and across new.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/506x296/7a5dad7e_bc3f_45f4_9088_526ac3750400_4_5005_c_37634018b01f16 311a4b706ddce3f3c74c9a0a9c.jpeg
Same but current view as original photo

[Asturias56]

Sri Lanka?

[Max Tow]

Not Sri Lanka

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/540x346/2c66c4fb_1d43_45ee_8c87_434a9bb08c23_4_5005_c_31ac355fadb383 4b17f7fc79baf53573c3668681.jpeg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Are we in The Philippines ? Briefly part of 'The Empire'

[Max Tow]

Not Philippines, and you've left the ocean. A couple of clues before I sign off which should hopefully get you there - a modern shot and visitors in 1940.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/471x436/34e5c4fa_2646_4dec_912e_5aa9719afe7d_1_201_a_91077b1be4900ed 3620a3ba89f0c999804a040ca.jpeg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/552x146/2a86b88b_048d_42ee_bac5_11110f4b8326_4_5005_c_72f2fe600ef48f d44563c694bf6c49fae947d568.jpeg

[Asturias56]

Sub-continent perhaps?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Tengah - Singapore?

[Max Tow]

Good morning from sunny SYD!
Sorry, again two rights on the ocean and two wrongs on the location.
As mentioned, you'll find it East of Suez after some degrees and before the magnificent wonders of the Far East.
Those aircraft in the last photo would not be found in any other theatre, but you're right, the Luftwaffe wasn't the adversary.
Here's a photo of the area now after take-off

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/538x322/da7da1be_6dc3_4dee_9f41_27ad7ddda0c0_4_5005_c_80918a42d6c7f3 b7e314be3e6f445cebe50d3e0a.jpeg

[jensdad]

I know Pondicherry was a French colony (I'm guessing they're French aircraft of some type in the second last photo) so could it be that fantastically named city?

[Max Tow]

No, not a French colony and I think Asturias already got a "nul points" with that general area.
You are right to pick up on my uncharacteristically lavish wording in the last clue, which may have numerical connotations for the guidance of a navigator.

p.s. to jensdad: There is indeed a French connection on the bomber aircraft in the photo, but perhaps not in the way you intended.
In case you're unfamiliar, they have dependable engines!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/390x415/89b44c9f_cd3b_4816_b1f7_6066fbc37ec4_1_201_a_7c374de7a5e8660 cc8dc8ce50b9947170aa071dc.jpeg

[Noyade]

Crazy stab - but Shackletons and Ju 86s - are we in South Africa?

[Max Tow]

Crazy stab - but Shackletons and Ju 86s - are we in South Africa?


Not at all crazy but no to SA. The Shack is ex UK but you're getting much warmer. The Ju 86 is a crucial I.D. so have a quick dig before the northern hemisphere sleuths log on? I need the airfield's name in 1940.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/727x461/dbb543cb_0b6d_40c6_a1d7_c37380d59e90_1_201_a_1225b76360cdc49 1a424d2cb6a340f0e28d53bb7.jpeg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/827x379/d8035c2c_472f_4d6d_b238_2af84cbed94a_1_201_a_2ada397d7ec3533 649a027c66f64a0c38585194c.jpeg
Crew room photo 1940

[Asturias56]

Mauritius? Doesn't look right..................

[Sideshow Bob]

No to SA. The Shack is ex UK but you're getting warmer. The Ju 86 is a crucial I.D. so have a quick dig before the northern hemisphere sleuths log on? I need the airfield's name in 1940.

Not sure of the airfield's name in 1940, but as the RAF like to name bases after the area the guardroom is situated in, I'm guessing something like RAF Kipevu (suburb of Mombasa) (or was it a RNAS as the FAA used it as a land base of the British Eastern Fleet?).

[Max Tow]

Well done SB! I think you meant HMS Kipanga, which was the co-located naval air station, but Mombasa is spot on so take a bow.

I was actually after RAF Port Reitz (named after the 19th century commissioner Lieutenant J.J. Reitz), now Moi International (after the former President of Kenya).

The airfield was established early during WW2 by the South African forces in preparation for the successful but little known conflict with Italy in the Horn of Africa. The airfield was home to Furies, Gladiators & Hurricanes, together with detachments from 12 Sqn and 34 Coastal Reconnaissance Flight, operating Junkers 86Z aircraft.

As an aside,19 Ju86 passenger aircraft were ordered by the allegedly pro-Nazi Defence Minister Oswald Pirow for South African Airways before the war, together with one Ju86K bomber, and the former were hurriedly converted for military use as war loomed. After SA decided to enter the war alongside Britain, the aircraft began coastal patrols in support of the RN base in Cape Town before some were moved to Kenya, where there was a further Ju86 base at Nanyuki.

The "French connection" noted in response to Jensdad's guess alluded to Ju86 ZS-ALN 650. In 1941 this aircraft became lost in a storm over Ethiopia and was forced to land in Djibouti, where the aircraft was impounded by the Vichy French and used as a transport with Junkers support, until returned to the SAAF in 1944 and broken up for spares. Apparently the use of German aircraft could cause confusion - on 31 Oct 1940, a Ju86 carrying the S.A. Prime Minister and C in C Gen.Jan Smuts and the British Commanding Officer East Africa, Gen.Alan Cunningham, was attacked and almost shot down by SAAF Furies based at Archers Post in northern Kenya after failing to give the required recognition signal.

The above mentioned SAAF unit emblems are visible in the crew room photo, including 3 Sqn's "Fighting Wasps."

'The Hurricane (I.D. letter is actually Q not O) pictured was from 3 Sqn SAAF.Following the move north by the South African units, the RAF base was shared during the war and after by the Royal Navy in support of carrier borne aircraft from the Indian Ocean fleet using Kilindini harbour.

The airport was extensively redeveloped in the 1970s, with a new runway. In addition to the activities as Kenya's second international airport, the base hosts air force units, including those pictured from the USAF - the C5s and C141s pictured in the early 1990s for relief operations "Provide Relief" and "Support Hope" in Somalia.

My sadly failed clues were: the repeated mention of "two rights" (=Reitz) and the words "magnificent" and "wonders" in connection with degrees East of Suez were intended to suggest the number "7" , which is the number of degrees that Port Reitz/Mombasa lies east of Suez. The"dependable engines" remark referred to the P&W Hornets on the SAA Ju 86s.

All yours, SB...

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/902x541/ff274f7a_3324_4142_99d7_f355274f9d3c_1_201_a_7d26b769ade40af 295e2cf16e80dab7e2379b927.jpeg
Moi International

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/687x686/bbf92cfa_5153_44fa_a925_bca2e8abfd61_1_201_a_8bded4187f334c1 bb52b1d6735bbef6d08779a2c.jpeg
RAF?RNAS Port Reitz

[Sideshow Bob]

Thanks Max Tow, again without nipping up into the loft I have nothing too old but here's one from the turn of the 21st Century
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1764x1145/untitled10_5b02ccf067f02cb631536141e1e0d74c45882e04.jpg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Is it North America - One of those 'Graveyard' Airfields ?

[Sideshow Bob]

Definitely not on in the Americas

[Asturias56]

that was good challenge Max :ugh:

Is this one Africa perhaps?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Central Asia (including Afghanistan) ?

[Sideshow Bob]

It's somewhere in between (although Afghanistan was just a corridor away).

[Max Tow]

Pre or post 9/11?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Talking about a corridor away points to N/W Pakistan but I'm not sure when the Americans managed to obtain facilities there post 9/11. I'm going to go for Kulob Airport in Southern Tadjikistan . Looks suitably run down. ( 3000 metre runway) and is that an American C17 wing?

[Sideshow Bob]

The picture was taken in Dec 01 so very much in the time of the outfall from 9/11. Still a little far north OUAQUKGF Ops, the Boulevard (the corridor mentioned) ran from the Arabian Sea/Gulf of Oman to the south of Afghanistan. Here's a picture looking the other way down the runway but still standing north of the runway. ps yes was a C17 wing but he was just a visitor.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1782x1158/untitled16_d01d8a8af8e88f6b44e8d8d882cbcf2df7b1ce60.jpg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Is it Seeb (Muscat) Oman?

[India Four Two]

Nimrod on the left.

[zetec2]

Whats that in the background ? Greyhound ?

[old,not bold]

If it's a Skyvan that increases the probability of Seeb, but I'm unconvinced. Those hills look very familiar, though.

[Max Tow]

No, with those 4 fins it's a Greyhound. They and Nimrod MR2/R1 were based in Muscat during Enduring Freedom/Operation Veritas in Dec 2001 so I'd tend to go along with OUAQUKGF's Seeb guess.

[sycamore]

RAF Herc. as well....

[Sideshow Bob]

24hrs is up, OUAQUKGF is spot on it's Seeb during Enduring Freedom/Operation Veritas. The dispersal is now under the Stands for the new terminal. The accommodation site can still be seen just to the west of the two taxiways connecting the now two runways. It was an interesting time, along with the RAFO normal contingent of Strikemasters, Hueys and Hercs and the Omani Royal Flight 747SP, there was a varied collection of Coalition arircraft including E-4s B-1Bs, Hercs UK & US, the odd Greyhound resupply, Canberras , Tristars, VC10s (until they were asked to leave due to being too noisy), Chinooks, and of course the Nimrod MR2s.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/612x408/bj4r3115_39df356768f7f4dde5131b0d07fd8706779acc6c.jpg
MR2 over Afghanistan, a long way from the sea
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/612x408/1_2b20e17de18f77eebd1433db511c638abe418f2c.jpg
5* accomadation
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/624x400/untitled03_29cd008587a8645ff507a3ef79e0f44182452bd4.jpg
North side of the airfield on the approach
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/607x411/dsc_0246_crop_please_do_not_delete_bfa73790f1fbb23b86d85a05b a7b8cf7068a731e.jpg
206 Sqn Crew 2 ready to go (no badges, just rank slides)

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Bob - Many thanks for gently leading me to Seeb. A most interesting challenge - I had never heard of 'The Boulevard' until now and then in the previous exhausting challenge Max had us chasing around the place - conjuring up strange looking aeroplanes that one had never seen, let alone heard of. Thank you both very much. Slightly cooler climes now, tho' the winter temperatures in the the Gulf I remember as being very pleasant.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/707x353/propellor_daa77890d28b14a53a5c3dfcab97ba83ba9369b9.png

[Asturias56]

In England's green and pleasant land?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

I'm sure it is a green and pleasant land but it is not in England.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/909x719/28169418_runway_110c289b246378fe07d73afa450b82dc39922218.jpg

A clue tomorrow morning. That prop looks vaguely familiar.......

[Max Tow]

Thanks for the kind words! Is it N.America &/or a Mustang prop? Also, is 15L grass as otherwise seems too quiet for parallel hard runways?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

No and Yes.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/675x900/statue_d55ccd896dd72f369ea47c3741dc5aadab77350c.jpg

Mercury and Messerschmitt

[G-ARZG]

Sannicolau Mare, Romania? OH if correct

[Max Tow]

Looks a bit like the chap waiting at South Kensington tube, who I used to walk past every day, but no airport there and it's not LHR! So on investigation, it seems sculptor Imre Varga made a few of Mr.B with the same distinctive leg-wear and hat, including one for his home town of Siofok (not to be confused with O.P.'s home of Niofok).
That's not a very aeronautical path to a guess - in fact, more like "Which Composer?" - without any idea how the "Mercury & Messerschmitt" fitted in, but on further thought in this edit, could it simply be Freddy's house in S.Ken and a 109 prop? Trying to start with an answer and then fitting the clues, which is a bit unsatisfactory.
There may of course be other statues in locations which also got one from Mr Varga, but the grass/asphalt parallels and unusual Minecraft-like "R" runway letter seem to fit.
OH if correct as I'm looking forward to resuming air travel this w/e so I'll be seeing real airports instead of sepia images for a change. Yay!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/289x490/b2eae285_dc29_42f6_b82a_f5d81b8eb8a9_4_5005_c_8736939436afcc 76fe00c040a4f5405dae381fc6.jpeg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/912x500/early_years_7c15b0be4743e5d47895ae83a6fe58e4e6c48dbc.png

Airfield here since 1932...

[Asturias56]

Sannicolau Mare, Romania? OH if correct


don't think there's an airfield there TBH

[chevvron]

HA- registration is Hungary not Romania so Budapest/Franz Liszt or to be correct Ferenc Liszt.
Bugger, that's runway 13R and L.

[G-ARZG]

don't think there's an airfield there TBH
​​​​​
I was misled by Air Britain pics of AN2"s at that name. Somewhere near, I suspect

[Asturias56]

I think it a statue of one of the Bata shoe making family - they started in Zlin (now Austria) was Moravia) but I can't see any airport nor any with that heading nearby

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

HA- registration is Hungary not Romania so Budapest/Franz Liszt or to be correct Ferenc Liszt.
Bugger, that's runway 13R and L.
Chevvron - sadly not Budapest (altho in the 1920s you could take this seaplane from the Danube in Budapest to the town in question) . Nor Liszt - this chap not so easy on the ear.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/512x294/junkers_f13_e8f778324fe157e16bc4e9cc28f3d011ae6b9d58.jpg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Asturias56. I could say your answer is a load of old cobblers - that is very rude of me but no hurt intended!

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

G-ARZG - Sorry not Romania. Central Europe yes. You mention AN2 - was that in connection with the propeller? Certainly AN2s have visited this airfield but I think the prop is from an AN26.

[Max Tow]

not so fast...in fairness to Chevvron & Asturias, a search brings up our man in Budapest, clearly modelling his new line in garden wellies...

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/282x338/fb725113_1e20_4363_800a_7c2d8b9d3a88_4_5005_c_2c2342c9de080f 174d03a06a09469480af6aaaab.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/355x362/9fc36f72_e5bd_456c_ac56_999abd2efc3c_4_5005_c_b7978cdb36b806 6a4d1fe4d92b9fe6297ad6b9c7.jpeg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Yes Bartok is all over the place..... However I hope my comments are taken in the good spirit that was meant. I guess Asturias couldn't quite read the inscription on the base of the statue. Max Tow has it with Siofok Hungary. Tony Spooner's very good autobiography 'In Full Flight' recalls a flying visit to Siofok in the late 1930s. I was interested to see if the airfield still existed. I chucked in a couple of minor Red Herrings with the Statue: Mercury = Crater on the Planet named after Bartok. Messerschmitt = ME210 flown by the sculptor Varga Hungarian Air Force WW2. The image I posted of the statue is from that in Siofok - Varga's birth-place. Incidentally re Chevvron's contribution Varga produced statues of Liszt too !

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1283x722/airfield_aerial_d54240b3b184eee035880196b92e054ddfa2291d.png
Taken prior to the laying of the new runway in 2018. Looking towards the resort town of Siofok with Lake Balaton beyond.

Parachuting appears to be very popular here: Suggest you turn down the volume.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCkCtqyzRdo



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1280x960/1280px_malev_il_2_janos_tamas_dfa9baa536c2e35c56679a3cc89ed6 54c726e764.jpg
Lisunov LI-2 at Siofok. Photo credit: Janos Tamas



You can turn the volume up for this. Filmed I think at Budaors Airfield:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qv9tJpPECY



Max Tow has declared Open House.

[Asturias56]

Asturias56. I could say your answer is a load of old cobblers - that is very rude of me but no hurt intended!

Absolutely no offence taken - I was going cross-eyed trying to read the words on the statue and searching for statues of mid Europeans with hats and coats took me to Bata............................... :ok:

[G-ARZG]

G-ARZG - Sorry not Romania. Central Europe yes. You mention AN2 - was that in connection with the propeller? Certainly AN2s have visited this airfield but I think the prop is from an AN26.

Bartok's birthplace, Air Britain AN2 photo

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/920x2000/screenshot_20210326_142153_com_android_chrome_21caff541ff17c 195bcda1fd11ae42b0fe486234.jpg

[Asturias56]

Since MaxTow declared OH here's oen to fil in some time
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/289x218/2021_03_20_172903_71beb8dc7159a7eb7d6908434c824910dff7ce63.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

United Kingdom ?

[Asturias56]

Sorry - correct Continent tho'........... it's quite old but I'm having problems finding any old pictures - heres a modern one and a tiny old one

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/353x252/2021_03_20_173217_f6e27d4c9d92e55c076dbfd29b6a4b04a5840bf3.j pg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/200x131/werewrr_0a1f40c4d376670fd7724a154f24e511c293de0b.jpg

[Asturias56]

The land was zoned as an airfield in WW1 but operations didn't start until the late 20's since when its been in constant use. has International flights.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Central Europe?

[jensdad]

Looks like a pretty sizeable town or city in the distance there. Has a Balkan look about it. Pristina?

[Asturias56]

For a given value of Central I'd say it was Central Europe - old & new - again aplogies for the older pics - I'm stuck with the size PS Jensdad is back!!!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/200x131/dfsadfadal_84f0412ed96232497b90d18a434a822ec2235414.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/802x523/2021_03_20_174130_b706194c2e2e5ef9aaf943ba7d5bd804bffd43f5.j pg

[jensdad]

I've been lurking in the background but just didn't have any idea about any of the challenges!
Looks like Wizzair fly there, so that narrows it down to every airfield in Central Europe :) I'll take my last (for the moment) stab at Kosice?

[Asturias56]

Sorreee......................

It was used by at least 3 airforces in WW2 - maybe 4

[India Four Two]

maybe 4

An airfield in Italy?

[Asturias56]

No - quite a way from the sea

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/527x578/2021_03_20_174253_becab08027905108229e555975fabe6d2e3c5a12.j pg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/634x461/2021_03_29_142627_e4597f706fa1e402033409bb345b860ff07136eb.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Cluj Airport Romania ? I had been working my way through the Carpathians and came across it at much the same time that Asturias posted his latest images. Looking back I see that G-ARZG mentions the place on the previous challenge.

[Asturias56]

wait til 1400......................

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/702x423/2021_03_20_174051_20456ef19b1090f8e0259943e45878dd72d38c51.j pg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/738x542/2021_03_20_174012_a46720ac1a0eeac2c098401ffc2f454e0baaa5ad.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Sorry I don't understand ?

[Asturias56]

24 hour rule - I have to wait a day to confirm (page up or search) - I don't want to be in the sin bin again :(

Yes its Cluj - I was reminded of it when G-ARZG suggested it as an answer - I used to work in Romania - it's quite a big operation. Over to OUAQ :ok:

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Thanks Asturias. I was under the impression that the 24 Hour Rule meant that a correct answer could not be confirmed until 24 Hours had elapsed from the time of the start of the challenge. Perhaps a Moderator could clear this up for all of us?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/853x931/screenshot_2021_03_15_google_maps_e15e6337b511af0677ac5d6f2d 1a09cf278c0b27.png



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x400/ladies_group_1930_e5281a5b981f98534683fb2fdca112aaefdeb470.j pg

The Bunkers of the Golf Course provided aviators with a landmark for the adjacent airfield.

Dressed for the weather - a British Summer Past ?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/320x400/images_dog_2_resize_5_latest_684cbf8a2ea5117ccc6ee18d39ee610 5adb224c1.jpg

A once familiar resident of the town.............

[ea200]

Old photo and looks like a greyhound. My first thought was Mick the Miller, but that leads me to Dereham and neither Shipdham nor Swanton seem to fit.

[chevvron]

Was it pre WW2 only?

[Asturias56]

Thought it might be near Killeagh Co Offaly , where he was born but no cigar..............

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Not a Greyhound and not contemporaneous with the airfield which closed in 1919. I think it's a long, long way from Killeagh(ary) - not that I know where Killeagh is !

[nvubu]

I presume the golf course still exists? Looks like a links course, so by the seaside?

added: Aldeburgh Airfield (first name in the UK Airfields list for Suffolk - thank goodness it wasn't Yoxford)

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

1923 The First Pond Yachting Site.



https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x681/4945952568_42e843872d_b_262dfdf5662d80f816eab159d2abf3623d77 a45f.jpg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/575x362/p1030296_2__4390c171a9a6e242b03a025600e72956366cff90.jpg
Photo credit: Royal Air Force Museum.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Good Hunch nvubu - Aldeburgh (Hazelwood) Aerodrome is correct. I must admit I had no idea until a month or two ago that there had been an airfield at Aldeburgh.

Putting a bit of flesh on the bone: RNAS Aldeburgh Night Landing Ground commissioned October 1915. Later (1918) RAF Anti Submarine Observers' School - closed 1919.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/601x250/p1030293_2__2da46379fa5b1c1f29ff80f1cf848636c68d7fed.jpg
One of the School's three Blackburn Kangaroos at Aldeburgh. Photo credit Geoff Dewing with thanks.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1066x815/screenshot_2021_02_21_cci41_2_indd_gaz2_pdf_9066b6321bb8d0c5 5661a9033236b33dfe5223a1.png
Credit Mick Davis Cross & Cockade.

I believe there is nothing in the way of buildings on the former aerodrome to be seen today - the last, adjacent to the A1049, being demolished some years back. Buildings, building materials and plant (including a light railway) were auctioned off at the aerodrome on June 27th and 28th 1919. Many wooden building components including The Officers' Quarters were transported to Thorpeness Common where they were re-erected as 'The Uplands'. They can still be found today:https://www.thorpenessandaldringhamheritagegroup.co.uk/articles/the-uplands-by-janey-blancheflower

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/705x512/screenshot_2021_04_03_7_uplands_pretty_retreat_in_thorpeness _bungalows_for_rent_in_thorpeness_united_kingdom_07cc5319fe6 81f34a62c70046cead43d47483b2e.png
Time for a Snifter !


There was a nasty collision between two DH6 aeroplanes while air-testing on May 24th 1919 when three of the four occupants lost their lives.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/495x1024/iro_woodbridge_reporter_29may1919_page1_part_495x1024_0cf270 13c9b94d28bf788d14a89334d43a318ef8.jpg
(Ipswich Museum)

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/448x279/post_17542_0_56375200_1341656577_thumb_wright_funeral_559522 a1b2b60b696603550c89e6629471ea070a.jpg
Photo credit: Great War Forum.



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/330x730/snooks_96ee1e4e8c5142342f7bccb51f60a099ed844587.jpg
Overlooking the Yacht Pond. Stolen - Recast - Recovered. 'The Borough' now has two Snooks.



Further Reading: 'Air Station Aldeburgh' Written and published by Geoff Dewing 1998. IBSN 0 9526416 2 3. My thanks to him for allowing me to reproduce material from this book.

Over to you nvubu !

[nvubu]

Thanks - it was a pure fluke that I started with Suffolk.

Where was the first photo of the boating pond taken, as I'm fairly sure it isn't the current one.

Now for the next challenge

https://am3pap004files.storage.live.com/y4m_w-Z9BzZ-YJ3rl3pGxOZalF4ODj-h1cAhfQvhAOpAzubhBZR_AVOPnhHWSDa-KKk_fcvfaN2esg-z-U_rBl9YPpC8ga-IvowYFTsiSxU1se7hYnzORN8ntyrrRsQV4yo8kdeQWuQ10pAIyyQh0CLwPgg E_auPVeCsy6wR0hsvfsEIiRnjWjBW2sENh9USlR_?width=543&height=495&cropmode=none

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Re Boating Pond - it was a postcard. Certainly not that of today. Looking at the scene I would guess that it was taken somewhere in the vicinity of where Aldeburgh Yacht Club is today i.e. south of the town and looking SSW across the River Alde. Cheers.