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Thanks SH.
I don't think this rather battered airfield has appeared before... http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...airfield42.jpg |
Time for a clue...
This airfield changed hands (several times?) during the war and today is a major international airport. |
North Africa?
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North Africa? |
Benghazi ..... ?
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Benghazi ..... ? |
Benghazi Benina International Airport
RAF Benina |
That's the one!:ok:
Over to you. |
Thank you Olympus. Do you know was the airfield called by the Luftwaffe as I couldn't find that?
Here's the next mystery airfield http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/.../20120620A.jpg |
Blimey that's not much of an airfield (min 10,000 x 150 ft Full length taxiway and bothways ILS please) Is that a formation takeoff, a runway incursion or an "Exercise Fire Fire Fire !" ? At least it's into wind. All :). Working on it. LFH
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nvubu
My source for the photo was 'Wings Over North Africa' by AVM Dudgeon. The caption to the photo refers to the recent capture of Benina airfield from the Italians who had left a number of damaged aircraft among the burnt-out hangars and pitted roads. I would assume that the Luftwaffe knew it as Benina as well. |
I was under the impression that challenges should be obtained from the Web rather than an individual's private library. Little wonder it was difficult to track down without the clues,even though I had checked Benina!
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As originator of Mk I of this thread, I certainly didn't / don't feel that challenges ought to be based on pictures available from Web sites. Using Web images encourages people to win by letting Google Images do the searching.
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Source material ?
As a newcomer to Which Aerodrome, I was certainly under the impression that photos were acceptable from any source including private, on the basis of "If its an aerodrome its an aerodrome " - unless you prefer to call it an airfield, or if there are not enough clues to identify a deceased aerodrome.
The only specific limitation I've seen was to edit out commercial references, though I saw a reasonable exhortation not to post endless google earth overhead pictures. I thoroughly enjoy the chase even though I rarely succeed and I wouldn't want to see excellent photos excluded because they were (or were not) not from a specific media source. I certainly hope to find the odd one or two from my own personal snaps or books. So I wondered what led Tacklebury to make the comment he did and I wondered if it was in reference to a particular picture. It first occurred to me that it might have been my remark above - referring to the old Argosy "Blimey that's not much of an airfield ...." If I gave the impression from my remark that I was criticising that or any other challenge, I apologise profusely. Nothing could be further from the truth - I think that's a smashing challenge and even though I'm unlikely to get the answer, it won't stop me looking. Its just that in the olden days I was aeronautically predisposed to need 10,000 ft of concrete etc. I did eventually realise that Mr T was referring to Benina a photo apparently taken from a book. Then I looked up my crib for posting pictures culled from various PPRuNe sources and found the first sentence I'd copied - "To post a picture on PPRuNe, it has to be on a website already - whether your own or someone else's. If it's not, all is not lost ...... " So I wondered if the phrase I underlined above had been accidentally misinterpreted by Tacklebury - I read that instruction to mean "you can't copy and paste a picture directly onto PPRuNe - you have to supply a website link" which can include in my case, placing my challenge (from whatever source) in my own secured Photobucket album and following the instructions for posting the link on PPRuNe. That is to say, I don't see any restriction that requires a Which Aerodrome challenge to be taken exclusively from the internet, nor do I see any restriction that specifically or even indirectly excludes private photos or stuff from books and the like. Respectfully, LFH |
Apologies for starting a "knife fight in a phone booth", that really was not my intention. This is a first class Thread, with great contributions from all participants, no matter what source from whence they came.
Once again,apologies to all concerned, and thanks to Seacue and LFH for their responses. Back to nuvbu's bucolic challenge! |
To clear this up - this airfield image is also from a book. :ok:
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Very obviously so,nvubu!
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I find that when posting an image already on the web, that a certain person has a seemingly encylopedic knowledge of all existing pictures, and gets it first time :ok:
Time for a clue or two. It has a very interesting history. At the time of this image, the airfield was a private concern, although it was taken over by the RAF during WWII - although you may not find it on some lists as such. It is not used for flying today, but it is in regular use for other activities. To assist LFH :D, I think the grass runways were approx 3500' & 2500' running approx N/S & E/W (measurements by GE). Any Help? :ok: If these don't help, more clues later tonight |
Not Ratcliffe
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Woburn Abbey?
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not Woburn Abbey, although moving in the right direction
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Badminton?
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not Badminton - although there is a horsey link.
nor Radlett - but getting closer further clue. Aircraft assembly took place here during the war. Further research reveals that there might only have been one runway - the shorter East West one, so possible apologies for the earlier info. The USAAF were also based here. |
Where's sabredog?
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Woodley is closer than Radlett - you're 12-13 miles away :ok:
Ther airfield was used in the 1950s, and almost probably into the 1960s. |
Langley Airfield is even closer :ooh:
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Can't be Hanworth or Heston 'cos they've been done before. Smith's Lawn was used for aircraft assembly but no USAAF presence that I know of. This leaves Aldermaston which had an MAP area and was used by USAAF.
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chevvron has it, but by exclusion, as it is Smith's Lawn.
The photo is of TRH Prince of Wales and Prince George flew by Imperial Airways Argosy G-EBLF City of Glasgow (Captain Gordon Olley) from France to Smiths Lawn, Windsor Great Park, on their return home from a South American tour. In 1940 an air-raid on the Vickers Armstrong aircraft factory at Weybridge forced VA to relocate to Smith's Lawn where from the 1920s a grass airstrip already existed for use mainly by the Prince of Wales. The site was used for the assembly of, for example, high altitude Wellington bombers. There were two brick hangers, one situated near the road that comes in from Cheesemans Gate where fuselage sections were built. the second hangar, the Flight Hangar, was where the aircraft were completed. During the war, 64 Wellington Mk VIs were assembled on Smith's Lawn and some aircraft were modified to carry an airborne lifeboat quite possibly tested on Virginia Water which still had some water in it. Two examples of this lifeboat, that would be dropped to ditched airmen, remain at Brooklands to this day. The airfield was camouflaged with dummy hay stacks and canvas lorries. The east-west runway was always grass and unlit. A compass swinging base was located near Smith's Lawn Cottages. For most of the war, this whole area, including Virginia Water, was closed to the public although young lads sometimes sneaked through the surrounding woods to watch what was going on. In 1940 the airfield had been used by Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft, designed by Sydney Camm born in Windsor and educated at the Royal Free School. Douglas Dakotas (DC3s) were permanently stationed at Smiths Lawn and later the 27th Transport Group of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) who set up an operating base of wooden and canvas huts near Cumberland Gate, under the large trees. The camouflage nets covering the hangars were very effective and from a distance looked like ploughed fields. On one occasion an air battle took place overhead resulting in a German Messerschmitt ME 109 crashing in the Cavalry Exercise Ground. Amazingly the pilot came out of the aircraft almost unhurt and was taken prisoner. The airfield was also mentioned a few pages ago, whick reminded me that I had this photo of it. chevvron has control |
1 horse races are boring
Look at F1.
Please how can more people get involved, rather than the automated searcher that is running the forum. Glf |
I guess there may be approx 1,500 images on Mel's List - that's some collection - - As Del Shannon said in 1965 - 'Keep Searchin'
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Never thought I'd get that one as I was totally unaware the USAAF used Smith's Lawn.
Years ago there was a book called 'Beneath the City Streets' which mentioned an 'underground aircraft factory' under nearby Wentworth Golf Course. I've often wondered if the Wimpeys assembled at Smiths Lawn were actually built in this factory. Open House PS: Further to the remarks by Tacklebury; the only time I've used 'the web' to provide an answer is when the photo is a 'vertical' of an airfield, otherwise I've used personal knowledge either from my own explorations, or from Plaistow books or Action Stations books. (sorry about the adverts but I think it's justified) I think it's too easy if you can just find the exact photo on the internet anyway. |
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Is that an airfield? it looks more like the POW interrogation centre at Barnes!
If it is an airfield my bid is Graveley (Hunts) |
It is, not one I had heard of until a friend flew in there earlier this week. You are looking at the pilots ready room I believe.
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Stow Maries Aerodrome.
P.Ms for NVUBU,Seacue and Gulfstreamdriver. No automation, just a knowledge of ex RFC aerodrome architecture. |
That's the one, sabredog yhc :ok:
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Many thanks,LFH.
P.M. for you shortly. For the moment; Open house. |
chevvron - there's also a painting by Charles Cundall, dating from 1944, illustrates 'Planes of the United States Air Force on Smith's Lawn'.
look forward to the PM SD. |
1944 and he was allowed to give out the location? I wasn't alive then, but surely it should have been 'somewhere in England'!
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As it's open house, here's an easy one - it has been done before, but with a modern photo
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/.../20120622A.jpg |
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