Last throw of the dice here...... I'm sorry that I've not been able to source any images of the airstrip during war-time. The image of the 'Super Robin Hangar ' I obtained using Street View. There were said to be up to 20 of these hangars in the woods bordering the airstrip. Aircraft were also concealed under the trees on the edges of the airfield. The place was operated by an aircraft manufacturing company and was used as a dispersal airfield with facilities for test flying and post-production engineering.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....93ac4fa904.jpg

Several sources state that Seafires were manufactured at the airfield, however I can find no evidence to support this. They were however manufactured nearby by a sub-contractor to Supermarines. The sub-contractor operated the airstrip.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e58253d96d.jpg

The 'sub-contractor' also assembled the dreaded Airacobra again at their factory nearby. Here seen at Duxford (I think). They were not a success in RAF service. As a result a large number were stored at the air-strip before being crated up again and sent to Russia.

Seafires = Westland & Cunliffe-Owen

I have a feeling we might be in the Westbury/Trowbridge area but ................

The lady is the amazing ATA pilot Lettice Curtis, but sadly I don't have her autobiography.
I thought the Airacobras were assembled at Colerne?

If I were you I would head off south-east to join the A303 take that road until you reach the M3 junction and then take your pick.............

said Quaquk. What was so dreaded about them? I always thought that a tricycle u/g was a joy to land (not a pilot myself).

QuaqUkgf,
First my compliments for such a nice challenge without any pictures of the site itself.
I think it should be a challenge for our fellow posters to come up with some photos of the site.
The company you are referring to must be Cunliffe-Owen. The site must be Marwell Manor Eastleigh.
May I ask why you choose to post this challenge?

edit:
I found my answer here:
Solent Sky

There's a photo of Marwell Hall here...
MARWELL HALL

The zoo car park is more apparent here. I should have breakfasted earlier. Grandchildren there several lockdowns ago; sadly they were released, ho-ho. Some of the production was hidden at .......... I posted that some time ago, close to me.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....33132e2e96.jpg

Well I chose the challenge because about 35 years ago I was visiting friends who had worked at Marwell Zoo. We took a walk about the place and they told me how there had been an airstrip here with Spitfires from Eastleigh during The War. I'm not at all sure that the father of one of my pals hadn't worked there.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e8376a7c05.jpg
Photographed in 1947

All yours Bear.

Vibration was the problem, I think, a consequence of the solid-mounted rear engine with shaft-driven front propellor.
I think I remember that in his ATA Pilots' Notes Hugh Bergel referred to the whole aircraft becoming a blurr even if viewed from the pilot's seat.

The Air-cobra failed in RAF service for several reasons

Firstly the main problem was it was useless above 20,000ft - at the time they didn't have a decent turbo charger and it simply ran out of steam

The UK bought it on the basis of the performance figures of the prototype, which reached 400 mph . In service they found max speed was around 350 mph at 15,000ft - totally useless by 1941 in W Europe. The 37mm gun only carried 30 rounds and was slow firing 3 rounds a second. Because of the cockpit design it was difficult to get out in an emergency and it didn't have a clear view windscreen.

The Russians loved it - altho' most history's say they used for ground attack that's not really true - they used it as an interceptor at low levels above the battlefield taking out Stuka's , Bf 110's etc

AFAIK the engine position itself gave no real problems

Thanks Quaqukgf,
Before I post the give away clue
First this one:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0e870ec35.jpeg

Lugano perhaps?

Is it a LET410 of South East Asian Airlines? Now SEAIR & Xplor ASia?

In the Philippines?

It is further East than Lugano
But the others strayed to far
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5a7b8552f.jpeg

Caucasus region. the prop is a LET-410 of Vanilla Sky of Georgia - Could it be the small field of Ambrolauri ?

The first picture suggests the runway is 02-20 so I'll try Mestia.

OH if correct.

Flap40 has it with Mestia.
I stumbled into this one when searching for the Khorog challenge lately.
Since 2010 they have a very contemporary architectural terminal.
They are trying hard to develop the area into a skying destination.
But so far better known for the svaneti tower houses as can be seen in the background.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....52c9ad57b.jpeg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8b729c1ff.jpeg

OH called

Thanks. Like you say, amazing architecture. Is that a Sea Fury?