Which Aerodrome Mk II

[Capot]

Dammit! My thoughts as soon as I saw it; but I suppressed them thinking that I remember the terminal building as longer on its frontage. The roundabout on the road behind, if it is AUH, was one I drove onto at 90mph before it was lit.

But, if it's AUH, it's later than 1966/67; IIRC the new airport was opened 2-3 years after that.

[Mr_Grubby]

I'll go for Muharraq, Bahrain, circa '67 - '68.

C.

[KeMac]

It does look like Abu Dhabi at that time and the roundabouts look right but I don't recall the road continuing straight over at the second roundabout which was on the main road from the city out to the bridge. I could be wrong of course - it was all a long time ago.

[evansb]

Sorry, not Bahrain, nor Abu Dhabi, although the letters do add up.

[KeMac]

How about Baghdad although Baghdad has been done before?

[Double Hydco]

How about Dubai?

DH

[evansb]

DH is correct Dubai UAE it is. Your turn.

[Double Hydco]

Thanks evansb. Nothing to hand at the moment, so OPEN HOUSE.

DH

[nacluv]

Thanks, DH. May I nip in with this slightly unusual request?

This photo appeared in a book I recently read, and was captioned as RAF Folkingham, which I am 100% certain is incorrect. Question is - where is it really? I have no idea at present (other than somewhere in the UK?)...

[Airclues]

nacluv

I don't know where it is, but I agree that it doesn't tie up with the remains of RAF Folkingham that are visible on Google Earth.

Dave

[nacluv]

Thanks, Dave. Folkingham has a much smaller triangle in the middle of the runways, and also does not have that huge bomb dump area (?) to the NW corner of the photo (I have no idea of the true orientation of the airfield). The photo dates, according to the caption again, to around 1943, so it's clearly not a Bloodhound site at that end - yet at least!

The book's subject is the wartime airfields of the East Midlands, which incorporates Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire(!). I have checked the other 'F's but can't find a match, but in any case, the mis-ident could mean that it is anywhere!

[naelcam]

Agree that it doesn't look like Folkingham.

The only match I can find is Boreham in Essex. Some of the dipsersals are still visible on Google Earth, but it takes quite a strong imagination to match the field pattern...

If it is, then the photo is looking almost due south.

[nacluv]

By George I think you've got it. The runway and dispersal pattern match up, as does the bomb dump, and as you say, looking almost exactly due south.

Photo from GE:



Hardly the East Midlands!!

I think if someone else can corroborate the result, then we can declare naelcam as the winner Ladies and Gentlemen.

Was this airfield not used as a post-war motor racing circuit?

[Old Bald Pilot]

Boreham

Back in the 70s and early 80s I remember it as the test track for the Ford Motor Company. I would think they still own it.
OBP

[nacluv]

OK - I'm happy that we have the answer. Boreham it is. Well done to naelcam, and thanks - you have control.

[naelcam]

Thanks and sorry to be a bit slow off the mark.

Not entirely sure that this is appropriate, given earlier comments about 'which hangar doors' but see what you think?

If it's impossible, I'll withdraw it or provide enough clues.

[oldandbald]

How about South Cerney in Gloucestershire ?

[Mr_Grubby]

naelcam.

Don't worry.

Valid picture, but no idea where it is at the moment !!

C.

[naelcam]

Not South Cerney, nor Gloucestershire.

[chevvron]

RAF Newton Nottingham.