Eyersey1234 Posted 5 February , 2021 Share Posted 5 February , 2021 Mods please move if this is in the wrong section. How many WW1 airfields still survive? I know there is the one at Stow Marie, just wondered if there were any others Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Linham Posted 6 February , 2021 Share Posted 6 February , 2021 A lot will depend on the information that you are seeking. For instances RAF Scampton was opened in November 1916 and was called Brattleby. It closed and was sold off in in 1920. The same fields were purchased in the 1930 and became RAF Scampton. Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted 6 February , 2021 Author Share Posted 6 February , 2021 It's a bit like RAF Driffield, there was a RFC base near there in WW1 though I don't think it was quite on the same site. What I mean is are there any others that were in use in WW1 and are still used as some form of aerodrome today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted 6 February , 2021 Share Posted 6 February , 2021 Wiltshire/Hampshire Old Sarum still exists, though flying ceased a couple of years ago. There are 2 or 3 WW1 hangers there, 1 of them in use by the Boscombe Down Museum. Beaulieu or East Boldre still has a couple of buildings, though not sure if WW1 or WW2. Only flying there is model aircraft. Chattis Hill is a farm but I think there are still a couple of WW1 buildings there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Linham Posted 6 February , 2021 Share Posted 6 February , 2021 Old Sarum, Wiltshire has some WW1 hanger's and I believe is still open for small private aircraft Netheravon , Wiltshire which could be described as the home of Army flying opened in 1913. Now used by the Army Parachute Assoc Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 6 February , 2021 Share Posted 6 February , 2021 Yatesbury No doubt there are contemporary photos available on the Web, and this will include some of the series of 16 postcards published by Tomkins & Barrett in 1917. (I have several postmarked in November that year.) I've always been a bit surprised that the photographs were allowed to be taken and published. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fovant Posted 6 February , 2021 Share Posted 6 February , 2021 Around London there are several airfields established during WW1 which are still in use – North Weald, Rochford/Southend, Northolt and Biggin Hill. One of the aeroplane sheds from North Weald survived as a garage in Moreton nearby until a couple of years ago. Although offered for preservation, it proved impossible to save it. The Bristol Fighter, which can be seen at Duxford, served with 39 Squadron at North Weald. The hangars and several buildings survived at Hainault Farm until recently as well. These had been coverted into warehousing after WW1 when flying ceased, but have now been demolished. Some of the buildings at Hendon also date from WW1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 6 February , 2021 Share Posted 6 February , 2021 The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust website might be of some use NigelS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted 6 February , 2021 Author Share Posted 6 February , 2021 Thanks everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 7 February , 2021 Share Posted 7 February , 2021 RNAS Pembroke (aka Milton) and later RAF Cheriton, although heavily made over during a later war some period relics survive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 7 February , 2021 Share Posted 7 February , 2021 (edited) The original RFC Headquarters, and one of the original Black sheds (hangers) built in 1912, still survive at Farnborough, Hampshire. The HQ building now houses the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum (open at weekends only - when the pandemic allows). Also close by, is a portable airship hanger frame. Various buildings relating to the Royal Aircraft Factory/Royal Aircraft Establishment can also be seen. Sepoy Edited 7 February , 2021 by Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 7 February , 2021 Share Posted 7 February , 2021 A number of bits and pieces of the Montrose Air Station survive: https://rafmontrose.org.uk/ The trust recently acquired a WW1 era hangar although another is still used (last time I looked) by industry. (Burke's Sheds). RM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 7 February , 2021 Share Posted 7 February , 2021 (edited) Never an airfield in the strictest sense of the word (!) but a number of the buildings & hangars of the former RNAS flying boat station at Calshot on the Solent/mouth of Southampton water still survive (with restoration) in use now as an activity centre. The scale of the main 'Sunderland' hangar can be best appreciated when viewed from the Southampton-Cowes car ferry Lawrence House, Calshot Activities Centre Main Hangar (Calshot former RNAS Station Immediately South of castle) Type G Hangar (Calshot former RNAS Station approximately 130 metres South west of the castle) Staniforth Cottage, Calshot Activities Centre Watersports Hangar (Calshot former RNAS Station circa 250 metres west of the castle) NigelS Edited 7 February , 2021 by NigelS Main Hangar link added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickdavis Posted 17 February , 2021 Share Posted 17 February , 2021 The vast majority of flying sites in the UK & Ireland were landing grounds without any buildings, except, perhaps, for guard huts. In rural areas, the outline shape of many can still be made out, although they may have been divided up as pre-WWI field boundaries were re-established. Quite a number of WWI sites were re-activated during the 1930s expansion period and during WWI. Many WWI buildings were by then removed, leaving no evidence on stations such as Wyton and Bicester. Many WWI buildings have been demolished in the last 30-40 years, e.g. the GS sheds at Marske and Sherburn-in-Elmet. The single ARS shed at Duxford was deliberately blown up during the making the Battle of Britain film. Surviving evidence that I'm aware of is listed below (I'm sure there must be more if such structures as the hut at East Boldre are to be added): Andover: concrete base for GS sheds Bedford/Cardington: two airships sheds, one re-located from Pulham post-war Bogton: concrete bases for 1916 pattern GS sheds Boscombe Down: one coupled 1918 pattern 15-bay brick GS shed unit (re-roofed) Bramham Moor/Tadcaster: one 1917 pattern timber GS shed (later pattern) Bracebridge Heath: one triple and one single 1918 pattern 15-bay brick GS shed units (re-roofed) Bristol/Filton: one triple and one single 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units plus parts of 1915 pattern flight sheds Calshot: one triple RNAS F Shed unit, plus two non-standard RNAS seaplane sheds plus traces of slipway Catfirth: concrete base for seaplane sheds plus several huts Catterick: three complete plus one half 1915 pattern flight sheds (re-clad) Cattewater: two RNAS F Sheds. Cranwell: two RNAS F Sheds Dover (RFC): concrete bases for two 1915 pattern flight sheds Duxford: three coupled 15 bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units with Esavian doors Farnborough: one 1913 flight shed Feltham: two triple 1918 pattern 15-bay brick GS shed unit (re-roofed) Gullane: concrete bases for 1918 pattern 15-bay GS sheds plus officers’ mess Harling Road: one 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed Hendon: two coupled 1917 pattern 17-bay timber GS shed units incorporated into RAFM buildings plus former Grahame White aeroplane shed Henlow: three coupled 1917 pattern 16-bay GS shed units plus one coupled 1917 pattern 15-bay GS shed unit plus one coupled GS shed unit with pitched roofs Hooton Park: three coupled 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units Houton Bay: concrete apron and bases for seaplane sheds plus slipway Hucknall: two coupled 1918 pattern 15-bay GS sheds units Lee-on-Solent: two RNAS G Sheds plus three non-standard coupled RNAS seaplane shed units Longside: concrete base of airship shed. Leuchars: two coupled 15 bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units with Esavian doors Minchinhampton: sections of WAAF hostel Montrose: three 1915 pattern flight sheds Mullion: concrete bases for two airship sheds. Netheravon: concrete base for HP shed North Shotwick: three coupled 15-bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units North Weald Bassett: half of one coupled HD flight shed unit relocated to Moreton, Essex (probably only roof trusses used) Norwick/Mousehold Heath: one coupled and two single 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units plus several HP storage sheds. Old Sarum: two coupled and one single 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units Pulham: concrete bases of two airship sheds (one shed was transferred to Bedford/Cardington post-war) Rendcomb: concrete base on one 1915 pattern flight shed Seaton Carew II/Tees: seaplane slipway Shrewsbury: two coupled 15 bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units Stow Maries: most buildings except flight sheds. South Shields: remains of seaplane slipway visible at certain low tides Weston-on-the-Green: officers’ mess Witney: officers’ mess Yatesbury: one 1916 pattern timber 17-bay GS shed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted 17 February , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 February , 2021 30 minutes ago, mickdavis said: The vast majority of flying sites in the UK & Ireland were landing grounds without any buildings, except, perhaps, for guard huts. In rural areas, the outline shape of many can still be made out, although they may have been divided up as pre-WWI field boundaries were re-established. Quite a number of WWI sites were re-activated during the 1930s expansion period and during WWI. Many WWI buildings were by then removed, leaving no evidence on stations such as Wyton and Bicester. Many WWI buildings have been demolished in the last 30-40 years, e.g. the GS sheds at Marske and Sherburn-in-Elmet. The single ARS shed at Duxford was deliberately blown up during the making the Battle of Britain film. Surviving evidence that I'm aware of is listed below (I'm sure there must be more if such structures as the hut at East Boldre are to be added): Andover: concrete base for GS sheds Bedford/Cardington: two airships sheds, one re-located from Pulham post-war Bogton: concrete bases for 1916 pattern GS sheds Boscombe Down: one coupled 1918 pattern 15-bay brick GS shed unit (re-roofed) Bramham Moor/Tadcaster: one 1917 pattern timber GS shed (later pattern) Bracebridge Heath: one triple and one single 1918 pattern 15-bay brick GS shed units (re-roofed) Bristol/Filton: one triple and one single 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units plus parts of 1915 pattern flight sheds Calshot: one triple RNAS F Shed unit, plus two non-standard RNAS seaplane sheds plus traces of slipway Catfirth: concrete base for seaplane sheds plus several huts Catterick: three complete plus one half 1915 pattern flight sheds (re-clad) Cattewater: two RNAS F Sheds. Cranwell: two RNAS F Sheds Dover (RFC): concrete bases for two 1915 pattern flight sheds Duxford: three coupled 15 bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units with Esavian doors Farnborough: one 1913 flight shed Feltham: two triple 1918 pattern 15-bay brick GS shed unit (re-roofed) Gullane: concrete bases for 1918 pattern 15-bay GS sheds plus officers’ mess Harling Road: one 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed Hendon: two coupled 1917 pattern 17-bay timber GS shed units incorporated into RAFM buildings plus former Grahame White aeroplane shed Henlow: three coupled 1917 pattern 16-bay GS shed units plus one coupled 1917 pattern 15-bay GS shed unit plus one coupled GS shed unit with pitched roofs Hooton Park: three coupled 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units Houton Bay: concrete apron and bases for seaplane sheds plus slipway Hucknall: two coupled 1918 pattern 15-bay GS sheds units Lee-on-Solent: two RNAS G Sheds plus three non-standard coupled RNAS seaplane shed units Longside: concrete base of airship shed. Leuchars: two coupled 15 bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units with Esavian doors Minchinhampton: sections of WAAF hostel Montrose: three 1915 pattern flight sheds Mullion: concrete bases for two airship sheds. Netheravon: concrete base for HP shed North Shotwick: three coupled 15-bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units North Weald Bassett: half of one coupled HD flight shed unit relocated to Moreton, Essex (probably only roof trusses used) Norwick/Mousehold Heath: one coupled and two single 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units plus several HP storage sheds. Old Sarum: two coupled and one single 1917 pattern 16-bay brick GS shed units Pulham: concrete bases of two airship sheds (one shed was transferred to Bedford/Cardington post-war) Rendcomb: concrete base on one 1915 pattern flight shed Seaton Carew II/Tees: seaplane slipway Shrewsbury: two coupled 15 bay 1918 pattern brick GS shed units Stow Maries: most buildings except flight sheds. South Shields: remains of seaplane slipway visible at certain low tides Weston-on-the-Green: officers’ mess Witney: officers’ mess Yatesbury: one 1916 pattern timber 17-bay GS shed Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken139 Posted 3 July , 2022 Share Posted 3 July , 2022 I found a link here that may be helpful. Airfield Research Group - WW1 Aerodromes 1918 list - ARG Forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now