Expansion period airfields - why so many?
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Expansion period airfields - why so many?
I was back in the UK last week, and my travels took me to "RAF Lincolnshire", where my folks have moved to. We went to visit the "antiques centre" at Hemswell while there. It got me thinking, Hemswell was only used for 30 years, 1937-1967, and that could be said of a great many of the expansion period stations, some even less.
Why then, did the RAF/Air Ministry build quite so many? There must have been nearly 80 of them, plus others that were pre-existing, but brought up to speed with new buildings. It must have cost an absolute fortune in those days. They're nearly all brick built, so must have been very labour intensive to build. Indeed, why were some built with metaled runways and others with just grass?
The political climate at the time must have been getting a bit more tense than the 20s, but to build 80 new airfields "on spec" (as it were) must have been a huge ask. Chamberlain's "peace in our time" moment must have been a huge "I told you so" moment for the Treasury. Soon to be proved wrong, of course, but even so, there were a LOT of these places built, and they were no small undertaking.
Was it perhaps the fledgling RAF building itself up as a Service to a level of credibility with the other two?
Whatever the reasons, I do think it a terrible shame that a good half of them are no longer in MoD hands. Hemswell's fared better than some, but I spared a thought for the SWOs past of the station. They'd be rupturing their spleens at the state of the place today.
Why then, did the RAF/Air Ministry build quite so many? There must have been nearly 80 of them, plus others that were pre-existing, but brought up to speed with new buildings. It must have cost an absolute fortune in those days. They're nearly all brick built, so must have been very labour intensive to build. Indeed, why were some built with metaled runways and others with just grass?
The political climate at the time must have been getting a bit more tense than the 20s, but to build 80 new airfields "on spec" (as it were) must have been a huge ask. Chamberlain's "peace in our time" moment must have been a huge "I told you so" moment for the Treasury. Soon to be proved wrong, of course, but even so, there were a LOT of these places built, and they were no small undertaking.
Was it perhaps the fledgling RAF building itself up as a Service to a level of credibility with the other two?
Whatever the reasons, I do think it a terrible shame that a good half of them are no longer in MoD hands. Hemswell's fared better than some, but I spared a thought for the SWOs past of the station. They'd be rupturing their spleens at the state of the place today.
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read the OP again
As I undersand the OP, this impending war was covered....but the question was, I suspect, how were the RAF able to get the airfieldsn and infrastructure pushed thru, when many of the local authorities would not funds to build.
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Not all the WW2 airfields in Lincolnshire are from the expansion period (1936 - 1939). The rapid increase in the Bomber Force after 1942 led to a need for many more airfields, and many temporary airfields were built as satellites for the main bases. Equipped with makeshift accommodation (Nissen huts etc) these airfields took just a few months to complete and began to come online in 1943 - the extra capacity of the satellites allowed Squadrons to move off the main bases for a few months and concrete runways were then put down before more squadrons moved in again.
Most main bases ran two satellites airfields - for example, Waddington was the main administrative centre for Bardney and Skellingthorpe, the whole complex being known as "Base 53" (3rd Base of 5 Group). The "Base" was under the command of an Air Commodore who outranked the Stn Cgrs at the 3 airfields. By 1944, Waddington's Base 53 could call on 5 Squadrons: 9; 50; 61; 467 RAAF; 467 RAAF; (around 100 Lancasters) to send on operations.
However, for all the details on the expansion programs etc read "The Right of the Line" by John Terraine (available on all good internet/auction sites for not much money) which covers the subject in great detail.
Most main bases ran two satellites airfields - for example, Waddington was the main administrative centre for Bardney and Skellingthorpe, the whole complex being known as "Base 53" (3rd Base of 5 Group). The "Base" was under the command of an Air Commodore who outranked the Stn Cgrs at the 3 airfields. By 1944, Waddington's Base 53 could call on 5 Squadrons: 9; 50; 61; 467 RAAF; 467 RAAF; (around 100 Lancasters) to send on operations.
However, for all the details on the expansion programs etc read "The Right of the Line" by John Terraine (available on all good internet/auction sites for not much money) which covers the subject in great detail.
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Wartime Airfields in Lincs
A glance at The Airfields Of Lincolnshire reveals that, at its peak, Lincolnshire had 119 airfields. Some of them were well-found, like Hemswell, with hangars, technical and domestic accommodation, runways etc, but the vast majority were satellite airfields, with little in the way of large buildings, and merely grass strips. This sort of number was required due to the vast number of ac to be accommodated. There were huge numbers of bombers (and, of course, some raids comprised over 1000 ac), plus fighters and training ac, and the inevitable repair and salvage organisation. In addition, some of the airfields served as decoys, to draw attacks away from the real ones. As well as simply accommodating the ac, they also served to disperse them, so that an attack on one airfield wouldn't incur too great a loss.
They would all have been 'acquired' by compulsory purchase, or the land would have been 'borrowed' from the owner, to be handed back after the war. This was also the case for many large houses, and even pubs, which were commandeered to serve as accommodation for the squadrons (hence the lack of buildings on many of the airfields).
To put things into context, Lincs now has the grand total of 4 active airfields.
They would all have been 'acquired' by compulsory purchase, or the land would have been 'borrowed' from the owner, to be handed back after the war. This was also the case for many large houses, and even pubs, which were commandeered to serve as accommodation for the squadrons (hence the lack of buildings on many of the airfields).
To put things into context, Lincs now has the grand total of 4 active airfields.
Maybe some consideration was made of what would happen when the surviving aircraft of a thousand bomber raid returned, shot up and low on fuel, possibly with injured pilots, with a good number likely to block runways on landing?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The real answer for why there were so many permanent airfields such as Binbrook 1940, Manby 1938, Coningsby 1940, Cranwell 1916, Digby 1918, Waddington 1916, Scampton 1916, Hemswell 1937, Kirton Lindsay 1940, Spittlegate 1916, Swinderby 1940, North Coates 1935 is the policy instituted by Trenchard.
He realised that aircraft would be in service for very short periods before they were superceded by newer better types. It was better therefore to create a proper infrastructure and only expand the aircraft inventory when required.
You mentioned hard runways; many hard runways were only built during the war and extended in the 50s for the newer types.
The hangars were a masterpiece of design. They have blast doors that would minimise fragmentation damage and soft blow-out roofs so that an explosion inside would be contained. Hangar services were also split with each half having separate plumbing and electrics.
If you look at the various officers' messes you will see that they are all of single story construction. If you go west and north outside the then presumed range of the enemy bombers operating from Germany you will find messes with 3 floors. These rear area airfields also have many more hangars for aircraft storage.
I will, if I have time check the other airfield of which I think there are 34. These were temporary airfields which were handed back to prior owners etc post war. One, Spilsby, was identified as a USAF cold-war recovery base for B47s. East Kirby nearby was an emergency airfield up into the 1960s. It was unmanned but had a newly resurfaced runway and fuelled goose-necks for a flare path as late as 1965.
And ultimately why so many? The many were, as said, required for the huge number of bombers required to take the war to Germany.
He realised that aircraft would be in service for very short periods before they were superceded by newer better types. It was better therefore to create a proper infrastructure and only expand the aircraft inventory when required.
You mentioned hard runways; many hard runways were only built during the war and extended in the 50s for the newer types.
The hangars were a masterpiece of design. They have blast doors that would minimise fragmentation damage and soft blow-out roofs so that an explosion inside would be contained. Hangar services were also split with each half having separate plumbing and electrics.
If you look at the various officers' messes you will see that they are all of single story construction. If you go west and north outside the then presumed range of the enemy bombers operating from Germany you will find messes with 3 floors. These rear area airfields also have many more hangars for aircraft storage.
I will, if I have time check the other airfield of which I think there are 34. These were temporary airfields which were handed back to prior owners etc post war. One, Spilsby, was identified as a USAF cold-war recovery base for B47s. East Kirby nearby was an emergency airfield up into the 1960s. It was unmanned but had a newly resurfaced runway and fuelled goose-necks for a flare path as late as 1965.
And ultimately why so many? The many were, as said, required for the huge number of bombers required to take the war to Germany.
Not just Lincolnshire, go North to Yorkshire or South into Cambridgeshire and a similar situation existed, especially around the Pathfinder main bases such as Wyton and Oakington. Wyton remains a flying station' (just) with Grobs' and is expanding to accept the JARIC move from Brampton, whereas Oakington is about to get 1,500 houses, the first tranche of up to a possible 10,000!
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
If you look at the various officers' messes you will see that they are all of single story construction. If you go west and north outside the then presumed range of the enemy bombers operating from Germany you will find messes with 3 floors ......
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Airfields in Britain
I was once seconded in the late 60s to the MPBW (Ministry of Public Building & Works) Airfield Safeguarding Section.
In their store room they had large maps on thick card which showed all of the military and civil airfields in Britain with their status (active, Closed, etc.).
I think that I counted more than 1,000 at one time.
I read a very good book (I think 'No Time For Fear') by Basil Embery about his war experiences.
I am sure that he described how he unofficially had the runways extended at his base .
By extending the main runway, he cut down the number of crashes on the base significantly. The 'powers that be' were not amused, however he proved his point. I think that when word got around they had many more aircraft land on their longer runway.
In their store room they had large maps on thick card which showed all of the military and civil airfields in Britain with their status (active, Closed, etc.).
I think that I counted more than 1,000 at one time.
I read a very good book (I think 'No Time For Fear') by Basil Embery about his war experiences.
I am sure that he described how he unofficially had the runways extended at his base .
By extending the main runway, he cut down the number of crashes on the base significantly. The 'powers that be' were not amused, however he proved his point. I think that when word got around they had many more aircraft land on their longer runway.
Last edited by KN647; 10th Apr 2012 at 10:49.
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On 24/8/39 UK Parliament passed the the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act. That gave Govt. rights that (IIRC in his WW2 History) Churchill noted as exceeding the (legitimate) powers of any totalitarian regime. Property, any private property, could be requisioned for (the sense is) Defence purposes. All normally: to be returned to the original owner when Defence purpose lapses...but, sometimes, Govt. imposed compulsory purchase, at (some kind of) pre-War, normal market, price.
For airfields, before you rush in to buy from (whatever MoD Estates is called today), you need to know whether a descendent of the original owner can still claim title. The surveys done in 1938-42 identified even more sites than were actually turned into airfields: Policy from mid-1938 was to build up a b....y Paralyser Force, to encircle, blockade and thus reduce Germany. After Anschluss, Auto industry ceased civil work 21/4/38, RAF Expansion Scheme L was funded 27/4, including 250 Halifax (10/38: 500), and the contracts placed by 11/38. Agency Factories were funded to build all this. I have 560 airfields built Sept,38-Sept,46, from 2,000 surveys: in ’44 £1Mn. (Civil Works, plus land requisitioning) for each triangle layout RAF Builds for War,HMSO,97,P113. Paddy fields using hardcore helpfully provided by the Luftwaffe were turned into airfields by 60,000 strong men, many volunteer Eire citizens. Done in fewer months than the years taken today to do a modest stretch of road.
1942 was the peak airfield building time, after FDR & WSC agreed Germany First and the Combined Bombing Offensive.
For airfields, before you rush in to buy from (whatever MoD Estates is called today), you need to know whether a descendent of the original owner can still claim title. The surveys done in 1938-42 identified even more sites than were actually turned into airfields: Policy from mid-1938 was to build up a b....y Paralyser Force, to encircle, blockade and thus reduce Germany. After Anschluss, Auto industry ceased civil work 21/4/38, RAF Expansion Scheme L was funded 27/4, including 250 Halifax (10/38: 500), and the contracts placed by 11/38. Agency Factories were funded to build all this. I have 560 airfields built Sept,38-Sept,46, from 2,000 surveys: in ’44 £1Mn. (Civil Works, plus land requisitioning) for each triangle layout RAF Builds for War,HMSO,97,P113. Paddy fields using hardcore helpfully provided by the Luftwaffe were turned into airfields by 60,000 strong men, many volunteer Eire citizens. Done in fewer months than the years taken today to do a modest stretch of road.
1942 was the peak airfield building time, after FDR & WSC agreed Germany First and the Combined Bombing Offensive.
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Thanks chaps.
It wasn't just Lincs that I was interested in, I find the whole programme interesting. I just happened to be in Lincs where there's a surfeit of them.
What struck me about Hemswell though was the very short career of such an extensive building programme. There were others with short lives, Middleton St George comes to mind. Others were kept in the estate and left to rot (Syerston, and Scampton particularly).
It seems such a shame that there wasn't a bit more joined up thinking in the 60s/70s/80s to keep these places in the MOD estate and in use. There was obviously money in the pot, as the MOD retained a lot of other sites that were of a far lower standard.
I used to drive past Little Rissington every weekend, and find it shocking that it was just left to rot, while places such as Weeton camp (another ex-RAF station) were retained. To recover places like Little Rissington and Scampton back to life would cost inordinate sums today, but had they been occupied and maintained, the MOD would have a far better quality estate than it does now.
Some really odd decisions seem to have been made. Church Fenton is a half derelict place, yet it is still partly occupied. Scampton had its Airmens' Mess used for a totally different purpose, yet they have to use Kirton to live in. Why not just build the bloody thing in a new building at Scampton, or even at Kirton? Or even, put it in a bunker. Oh no, silly me, they've all been left to flood & rot too...
It wasn't just Lincs that I was interested in, I find the whole programme interesting. I just happened to be in Lincs where there's a surfeit of them.
What struck me about Hemswell though was the very short career of such an extensive building programme. There were others with short lives, Middleton St George comes to mind. Others were kept in the estate and left to rot (Syerston, and Scampton particularly).
It seems such a shame that there wasn't a bit more joined up thinking in the 60s/70s/80s to keep these places in the MOD estate and in use. There was obviously money in the pot, as the MOD retained a lot of other sites that were of a far lower standard.
I used to drive past Little Rissington every weekend, and find it shocking that it was just left to rot, while places such as Weeton camp (another ex-RAF station) were retained. To recover places like Little Rissington and Scampton back to life would cost inordinate sums today, but had they been occupied and maintained, the MOD would have a far better quality estate than it does now.
Some really odd decisions seem to have been made. Church Fenton is a half derelict place, yet it is still partly occupied. Scampton had its Airmens' Mess used for a totally different purpose, yet they have to use Kirton to live in. Why not just build the bloody thing in a new building at Scampton, or even at Kirton? Or even, put it in a bunker. Oh no, silly me, they've all been left to flood & rot too...
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Spekesoftly, no I don't. It is just possible that it was a postwar addition. When I was there in '57 it was the College of Air Warfare which of course catered for senior officers.
There was considerable expansion at many other messes too. The original messes had the anteroom to the right of the main entrance and the dining room ran back at right angles on the other side of the corridor.
The expansion involved increasing the length of the anteroom to nearer the east wing. A second and much larger dining room was then built at the end of the existing dining room and, I think, new kitchens off that. At the same time a number of changes were made to the east and west wings. The variations probably depended on the ground available. Typically the east and west wings were extended to the north. On some messes additional short wings were pushed out from east and/or west wings as well. Finningley was a good example of that.
The main building additional stories may have been done as part of this new cold war expansion. Another anomalous mess was, IIRC, Upwood, which also had larger than normal accommodation wings.
While Manby was an important post-war airfield and had a number of Lincoln aircraft its runway was apparently not long enough for the Canberras used by the Spec N course which instead operated from Strubby.
There was considerable expansion at many other messes too. The original messes had the anteroom to the right of the main entrance and the dining room ran back at right angles on the other side of the corridor.
The expansion involved increasing the length of the anteroom to nearer the east wing. A second and much larger dining room was then built at the end of the existing dining room and, I think, new kitchens off that. At the same time a number of changes were made to the east and west wings. The variations probably depended on the ground available. Typically the east and west wings were extended to the north. On some messes additional short wings were pushed out from east and/or west wings as well. Finningley was a good example of that.
The main building additional stories may have been done as part of this new cold war expansion. Another anomalous mess was, IIRC, Upwood, which also had larger than normal accommodation wings.
While Manby was an important post-war airfield and had a number of Lincoln aircraft its runway was apparently not long enough for the Canberras used by the Spec N course which instead operated from Strubby.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
a bit more joined up thinking in the 60s/70s/80s
The V-force future was in doubt in 1968. The TSR2, for which Coningsby had an extensive refurbishment programme, was cancelled in 1965. The buy of 400 Tornados never materialised in that sort of numbers at any one time.
You can almost imagine one committee deciding in isolation: 400 Tornado = 40 sqns = 13 airfields.
The jet age also saw a major runway extension programme as bigger and increasingly heavier aircraft demanded longer and longer runways. The 9000 feet runway became the defacto V-Force runway. Other runways were increased to around 7500 feet and others remained at their WW2 length of 6000 feet.
To decide which airfields would be improved a secret document was prepared for all the airfields. This survey examined the potential extensibility of all the runways and commented on road diversion, building demolition, bad ground etc.
As we know, Scampton extension required a realignment of the A15. Wittering was a classic with extension gained by joining it with Collyweston and it had a potential of 13,500 feet.
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Mess Design
From Ian Philpott's book "The Royal Air Force - an encyclopaedia for the interwar years":
"In the 1930s, during the expansion period, ..... architect Sir Edward Lutyens was tasked with designing a complete building, rather like a hotel, to comprise sleeping accommodation, dining rooms, lounge, bar, kitchens, games rooms, and mess offices. These messes were built to a standard design accross the UK, mainly in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and East Anglia, at such stations as Swinderby, Catterick, Honongton and Waddington, but the older stations such as Netheravon and Manston, were not built to the standard pattern, and like Old Sarum and Netheravon had separate sleeping accommodation in bungalows."
"In the 1930s, during the expansion period, ..... architect Sir Edward Lutyens was tasked with designing a complete building, rather like a hotel, to comprise sleeping accommodation, dining rooms, lounge, bar, kitchens, games rooms, and mess offices. These messes were built to a standard design accross the UK, mainly in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and East Anglia, at such stations as Swinderby, Catterick, Honongton and Waddington, but the older stations such as Netheravon and Manston, were not built to the standard pattern, and like Old Sarum and Netheravon had separate sleeping accommodation in bungalows."
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Spekesoftly
If I recall correctly the Officers Mess at Manby was a post war building for the RAF Flying College and later the RAF College of Air Warfare. Because of the large number of Officers attending the courses extra accommodation was required.
If I recall correctly the Officers Mess at Manby was a post war building for the RAF Flying College and later the RAF College of Air Warfare. Because of the large number of Officers attending the courses extra accommodation was required.
architect Sir Edward Lutyens was tasked with designing a complete building, rather like a hotel
Sadly this route leads to the monstrosities that are Daedalus Mess at Cranwell and the WOs' and Sgts' Messes at Waddington and Kinloss (I am sure there other equally tacky designs). Personally I cannot see why you couldn't take the original Lutyens design and modernise it - so much more aesthetically pleasing whilst also being functional and practical.
Last edited by Roland Pulfrew; 10th Apr 2012 at 16:08. Reason: spolling
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The Lutyens design was not confined to the UK. I was intrigued to see that the mess at Ohakea, opened in 1939, followed exactly the same principles. They even used an emergency water tank as a swimming pool 