Wartime ELG?
From Wikipedia's entry for RAF Manston:
Along with RAF Carnaby and RAF Woodbridge, Manston was developed as a South coast emergency landing ground for bomber crews. These airfields were intended for use by returning bombers suffering from low-fuel and/or suspected damage to their pneumatic (wheel Brake) and/or hydraulic (Control surface) systems. All three airfields were equipped with a single runway, 9,000*ft (2,700 m) long and 750*ft (230 m) wide. There was a further clear area of 1,500*ft (460 m) at each end of the runway. At each of the three airfields, the runway was divided into three 250*ft (76 m) lanes. The northern and central lanes were allocated by flying control, while the southern lane was the emergency lane on which any aircraft could land without first making contact with the airfield.
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Wasn't it the width that was the major factor allowing other aircraft to be able to land even with a wheels up aircraft on the runway?
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True, NutLoose ... It was the width that mattered, not the length. Which makes a change.
And once the crew were out, and any ordnance secured, the bulldozers would make even more space for the next crew(s).
Sadly I have never discovered a reference for the ELGs in meaningful detail.
And once the crew were out, and any ordnance secured, the bulldozers would make even more space for the next crew(s).
Sadly I have never discovered a reference for the ELGs in meaningful detail.
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The location I'm interested in is in Scotland and is, I suspect very much smaller than your description. Second question; does being designated as an ELG imply any lighting available?
The only airfields designed as ELG's in the full sense were Manston [ an established airfield which was developed] ,Woodbridge and Carnaby [ both specially built for the purpose]
You're not thinking of an SLG by any chance? More info. on the site in question would help.
You're not thinking of an SLG by any chance? More info. on the site in question would help.
It would be worth asking on The Airfield Information Exchange website (AIX)...if you have a specific location in mind...they will probably know of it.
Some ELG's were very small...
On the south coast we had a very small one near wittering and RAF Friston was a designated ELG...it was a small grass airfield (RAF Bodkin Hazel in 'piece of cake' )
Some ELG's were very small...
On the south coast we had a very small one near wittering and RAF Friston was a designated ELG...it was a small grass airfield (RAF Bodkin Hazel in 'piece of cake' )
As a small aside - here is a short extract from the RAF Friston ORB
Must have been pretty well packed 
it was a small grass airfield
22nd September 1944.
Between the hours of 18.13 and 19.07, when practically every other drome was closed and our own cloud base was no more than 400 feet at the best, we homed and successfully landed twenty-one Mustangs, three Bostons, two Thunderbolts, ten Mitchells, in addition to our own Squadron in the middle of them.
Between the hours of 18.13 and 19.07, when practically every other drome was closed and our own cloud base was no more than 400 feet at the best, we homed and successfully landed twenty-one Mustangs, three Bostons, two Thunderbolts, ten Mitchells, in addition to our own Squadron in the middle of them.
it was a small grass airfield
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Applause to the Flying Control guys on that occasion!!
Indeed especially when you look at the location !!
On the top of the seven sisters just east of cuckmere haven...
The L.H longer rwy was the designated emergency strip,the short strip was for the based fighters !
Nice photo here...
Friston
On the top of the seven sisters just east of cuckmere haven...
The L.H longer rwy was the designated emergency strip,the short strip was for the based fighters !
Nice photo here...
Friston
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I wonder if they all had FIDO?
If you do not know it was a fog dispersion system that consisted of trenches either side of the runway filled with burning petrol to clear the fog
If you do not know it was a fog dispersion system that consisted of trenches either side of the runway filled with burning petrol to clear the fog
Last edited by NutLoose; 29th Oct 2013 at 22:17.
This is the only list I have seen of FIDO stations - from AIX
RAF Blackbushe/Hartford Bridge
RAF Bradwell Bay
RAF Carnaby
RAF Downham Market
RAF Fiskerton
RAF Foulsham
RAF Graveley
RAF Ludford Magna
RAF Manston
RAF Melbourne
RAF Metheringham
RAF St Eval
RAF Sturgate
RAF Tuddenham
RAF Woodbridge
RAF Blackbushe/Hartford Bridge
RAF Bradwell Bay
RAF Carnaby
RAF Downham Market
RAF Fiskerton
RAF Foulsham
RAF Graveley
RAF Ludford Magna
RAF Manston
RAF Melbourne
RAF Metheringham
RAF St Eval
RAF Sturgate
RAF Tuddenham
RAF Woodbridge
FIDO
..... consisted of trenches either side of the runway filled with burning petrol to clear the fog .....
The FIDO installations at Manston and Blackbushe were still operational in the early 1950s.
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Thanks Guys
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It's interesting going onto Google Maps and looking at the satellite photos of Carnaby, Woodbridge and Manston.
At Carnaby there's an entire industrial estate on the runway. Parked cars give an amazing sense of scale.
At Woodbridge and Manston, you can see the active runways are only one lane, with older concrete to the ether side. The width of the concrete makes the modern actives look tiny. The active at Manston looks like its 1/4 of the width of the ELG.
At Manston there are some Cessna light aircraft parked up and a airliner on the threshold of 10 that give a sense of scale.
At Carnaby there's an entire industrial estate on the runway. Parked cars give an amazing sense of scale.
At Woodbridge and Manston, you can see the active runways are only one lane, with older concrete to the ether side. The width of the concrete makes the modern actives look tiny. The active at Manston looks like its 1/4 of the width of the ELG.
At Manston there are some Cessna light aircraft parked up and a airliner on the threshold of 10 that give a sense of scale.
it might have helped Rudolf Hess no end
Last edited by longer ron; 30th Oct 2013 at 07:41.
Another quick look at the Friston ORB this morning...
This must surely be one of the most bizarre entries in any RAF ORB...
This must surely be one of the most bizarre entries in any RAF ORB...
7th July 1942.
At 07.55 hours a tank which had arrived on the aerodrome to demonstrate a new method of exploding a minefield was being serviced near the cliff edge when it got out of control and crashed 130 feet over the cliff into the sea below. The occupant of the tank, Signalman GARDNER, 2372889, of the ROYAL TANK CORPS, sustained multiple injuries despite gallant rescue work and a blood transfusion in the Medical Crash Room on the Aerodrome prior to removal to the local hospital. In the afternoon, both Squadrons departed having been suddenly ordered to return to their home bases in the morning. This totally unexpected move caused great disappointment and left the Station strangely quiet.
From CWGC -probably thought he had a cushy posting near his home
GARDNER, AYLWYN GEOFFREY
Initials: A G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Signalman
Regiment/Service: Royal Corps of Signals
Unit Text: 11th Armd. Div. Sigs.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 07/07/1942
Service No: 2372899
At 07.55 hours a tank which had arrived on the aerodrome to demonstrate a new method of exploding a minefield was being serviced near the cliff edge when it got out of control and crashed 130 feet over the cliff into the sea below. The occupant of the tank, Signalman GARDNER, 2372889, of the ROYAL TANK CORPS, sustained multiple injuries despite gallant rescue work and a blood transfusion in the Medical Crash Room on the Aerodrome prior to removal to the local hospital. In the afternoon, both Squadrons departed having been suddenly ordered to return to their home bases in the morning. This totally unexpected move caused great disappointment and left the Station strangely quiet.
From CWGC -probably thought he had a cushy posting near his home
GARDNER, AYLWYN GEOFFREY
Initials: A G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Signalman
Regiment/Service: Royal Corps of Signals
Unit Text: 11th Armd. Div. Sigs.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 07/07/1942
Service No: 2372899
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
According to my book there were no military airfields in Lanarkshire in 1939-45. Also, as Lanarkshire is an inland county it is not an ideal place for an ELG.