Aerial Photography reveals WW2 RAF Lasham

[Hipper]

WW2 parts revealed by aerial photography after this hot weather:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44767497

Anybody got any others?

[pulse1]

As the oldest RAF Station, in similar weather Old Sarum used to reveal a circle with RAF OLD SARUM in the centre. I only ever saw it once when I was an ATC gliding instructor there.

[Darwinism]

Originally Posted by pulse1

As the oldest RAF Station, in similar weather Old Sarum used to reveal a circle with RAF OLD SARUM in the centre. I only ever saw it once when I was an ATC gliding instructor there.

'Oldest RAF Station'? Upavon surely?

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by pulse1

As the oldest RAF Station, in similar weather Old Sarum used to reveal a circle with RAF OLD SARUM in the centre. I only ever saw it once when I was an ATC gliding instructor there.

The 'station circle' at Halton is always visible.

[Innominate]

In the 1930s most RAF airfields had a "Landing Circle" presumably for practicing spot landings. The station name was probably one of the few navaids available in those days!

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Innominate

In the 1930s most RAF airfields had a "Landing Circle" presumably for practicing spot landings. The station name was probably one of the few navaids available in those days!

No.
There used to be a container in the middle with a 'smoky' substance burning in it to give pilots an idea of wind speed and direction, so it was most inadvisable to land in the circle in a wooden aircraft covered in doped fabric!

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by chevvron

There used to be a container in the middle with a 'smoky' substance burning in it to give pilots an idea of wind speed and direction.

Though not that helpful for navigation unless each airfield produced different coloured smoke.

[treadigraph]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

Though not that helpful for navigation unless each airfield produced different coloured smoke.

They did it in morse, but Native American style...

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

Though not that helpful for navigation unless each airfield produced different coloured smoke.

The airfield name was in the circle so presumably you tried several airfields until you got it right!

[innuendo]

The airfield name was in the circle so presumably you tried several airfields until you got it right!

In a similar vein, P/O Prune, after landing, supposedly would not talk to anyone until he had read the station's DROs, (Daily Routine Orders).
That way he could find out where he was.

[ICT_SLB]

Not an airfield but an ex-Pathfinder Wireless Operator, Dave Booth, I worked with at BAC Hurn said that he flew on a Lancaster that had gear to send orange smoke signals. They tried it as an alternative to all the radio calls that warned the Germans of a raid being assembled but it didn't work!

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by innuendo

In a similar vein, P/O Prune, after landing, supposedly would not talk to anyone until he had read the station's DROs, (Daily Routine Orders).
That way he could find out where he was.

Ah but P/O Prune was wartime and I dare say in wartime, the airfield's name was somehow obscured; might help the Germans find out where they are don't y'know.

[wub]

Originally Posted by Darwinism

'Oldest RAF Station'? Upavon surely?

Try RAF Digby