Site 1: Technical

The technical site is situated north of the perimeter and on the aerodrome. The buildings here contained everything necessary for the day to day maintenance of the airfield.

Guard Room And Fire Party Building

[Drawing No: 12404/41] (Map Ref. 1)

Cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres. A pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. Situated next to the sub station at the entrance site. This building was the main aerodrome security building and the fire crews rest room in which they slept when off duty.

This building is no longer extant. [2007]

Main Inlet Electrical Sub Station

[Drawing No: 13241/41] (Map Ref. 2)

The intake sub-station was sited on the technical area site [the main load centre] and positioned with reference to the route of Cornwall Power Company's incoming cable. The interior fittings including the high voltage switchgear was supplied by the Air Ministry. Here the main incoming electrical supply of 13,000 volts was transformed to medium voltage and distributed on a 3,300 volts ring main. The medium voltage switch gear and equipment in the sub-station consisted of main switches to control the supply from the main transformers, change over switch for connecting the distribution circuits to either the outside or standby supplies and 20 tailless distribution units required to feed the dispersed step up transformers located around the aerodrome and dispersed sites.

Inside the building are two trenches to take any oil spill from the transformer. They run from front to back and approximately 3 ft from the side walls. The trenches are 2ft 6in wide and 3ft deep. These trenches were covered over with wooden planking.

Permanent 9in brick construction with a reinforced concrete slab roof and wire fencing around it. There are two entrance doors with exterior blast walls. The ventilation louvres remain. The larger louvre has a ribbed asbestos sheet as a rain shield. None of the equipment survives but the building itself is in excellent condition.

Still extant today. [2007]

Mechanical And Electrical Plinths [M and E]

These step up transformers were sited around the aerodrome and dispersed sites to maintain a constant voltage. They were fed from the tailless distribution units located in the intake sub-station and housed an electrical transformer and switchgear. They were constructed of unrendered 9in brick with blast wall protection at the entrance. They were without roofs and some had deterrent glass on the top of the walls.

Most are in good condition but have no units inside. [2007]

Fire Tender House

[Drawing No: 12410/4] (Map Ref. 3)

The fire tender was housed in the fire tender house when not in use. When in use it was sited behind the control tower.

Constructed of cement rendered concrete block with external piers forming three ten foot bays. Roof trusses were standard 18 ft steel and covered with corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. It was a garage type construction with double wooden doors at one end.

This building is no longer extant. Only the concrete plinth and the yard site remain partially buried under grass. [2007]

Gas Chamber

[Drawing No: 12411/41CB] (Map Ref. 13)

This was for the training of airmen in the correct use of respirators within a gas contaminated environment.

Construction was of permanent brick and not concrete as the drawing number suggests. External piers at 10 ft centres. It had a concrete reinforced slab roof which was bitumen coated. There was an entry and an exit door. Entry was through an air lock which had it's own entrance. There was an associated lachrymatory generator to produce tear gas.

The building is extant and used as a farm store. [2007]

Gas Clothing And Respirator Store And Workshop

[Drawing No: 12409/41] (Map Ref. 26-27)

There were two of these buildings next to each other. Specialist clothing including capes, rubber boots, gloves and respirators were stored here ready for use in the event of an attack on the aerodrome with gas weapons.

It was constructed of cement rendered temporary 4.5 inch thick walls with piers at ten feet centres supporting standard 18 ft steel trusses carrying corrugated asbestos cement sheeting.

This building is no longer extant. [2007]

Gas Defence Centre

[Drawing No: 12408/41] (Map Ref. 84-85)

There were two of these buildings adjacent to each other. They were used for gas training and awareness instruction.

The buildings were constructed of cement rendered 4.5 inch thick walls with piers at ten feet centres supporting steel trusses carrying asbestos cement sheeting.

These buildings are no longer extant. [2007]

Work Services Compound [AMWD]

(Map Ref. 4-8)

This consisted of four bitumen covered Nissen huts which were used as stores, office, workshop and mess, and the clerk of works and station engineer's offices. The stores and office had a shop type counter inside where stores were dispensed. The main store held ladders, cable on drums and large mains water valves for the fitters amongst other things. The workshop and mess room was divided in two . The mess room was in one half. The remainder was sub-divided into the electrical shop and the fitters shop. The clerk of works and M&E station engineer's office occupied the final building.

The Nissen huts were 16 ft by 36 ft each. Constructed of corrugated steel sheeting with T-shaped (in section) arched steel ribs spaced at 6 ft centres and concrete floors. Inside the compound was an associated latrine. The compound was contained by wire fencing.

These buildings are no longer extant only the concrete plinths remain. [2007]

Fuel Compound

[Drawing No: 9108/41] (Map Ref. 11)

This consisted of a concrete slab 54 ft by 72 ft and surrounded by wire fencing. It's purpose was to store coal for use on the technical site for heating. The compound was surrounded by wire fencing and was kept locked as fuel was in very short supply. The compound was served by a loop road to an entrance and exit of a size suitable for lorries. To the north were two smaller access points. Fuel compounds were to be found on other sites on the aerodrome.

The concrete yards and roadways survive but the wire fencing and posts are no longer extant. [2007]

Armoury

[Drawing No: 12403/41] (Map Ref. 14-18)

There were two armoury sites which were identical.

Each site consisted of five Nissen huts which housed the inspection office, gun cleaning room, camera room office with small bomb container room, workshop, and an oil store with filling room and ammunition room.

The Nissen huts were 36 ft by 16 ft each. Constructed of corrugated steel sheeting with T-shaped (in section) arched steel ribs spaced at six feet centres and a concrete floor. Lined with smooth sheeting on the inside.

These building are no longer extant. Only the concrete plinths remain. [2007]

Armoury And Maintenance Huts

[Drawing No: 12777/41] (Map Ref. 30-32)

There were three armoury and maintenance huts with this drawing number. They housed the armoury and maintenance, maintenance unit and maintenance staff block.

These were Nissen huts 16 ft by 36 ft each. Constructed of corrugated steel sheeting with T-shaped (in section) arched steel ribs at 6 ft centres. Concrete floor.

These buildings are no longer extant. Only the concrete plinths remain. [2007]

Main Stores And Stores Offices

[Drawing No: 2069/42] (Map Ref. 20)

This was a series of buildings containing a variety of stores for the technical site.

They were constructed of cement rendered concrete blocks Pitched roofs with standard 18 ft steel roof trusses clad in corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. They had a concrete floor.

The buildings are still extant although it is minus some of it's roof. [2007]

Photographic Block

[Drawing No: 4782/42] (Map Ref. 22)

This building was used to load the cameras, to print and develop film.

It was constructed of cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres. Pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. It had a red quarry tiled floor over a concrete base.

The building is no longer extant apart from the concrete plinth which still has some of it's quarry tiles. [2007]

Turret Instructional Building

[Drawing No: 11023/40] (Map Ref. 23)

There were two turret instructional rooms in a single building which was used for training air gunners. The remains of the plasterboard screens onto which films of attacking aircraft were projected still remain. The whole interior was lined with a plasterboard screen. It had an angular domed plasterboard ceiling. There is still evidence of the bright white paint with which it was covered [2007]. These trainers were used in preparation for live firing. In the centre of the room was a gun turret which was electrically operated and used light projection to pinpoint the target. An instructor was able to monitor how accurate the gunners aim had been. Engine noise and gunfire from loudspeakers made the exercise extremely realistic.

This building was constructed of cement rendered concrete block with with external piers at 10 ft centres. It had a pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting and a concrete floor. The building had two large doorways with double wooden doors. This building is extant. [2007]

Air Ministry Bombing Teacher

[Drawing No: 1130/42] (Map Ref. 24)

This building was used to train bomb aimers. It was a two story building. On the ground floor, which was painted bright white, was a screen onto which was projected a travelling map of the target area. There was a glass slide representing an aerial picture of the countryside. It covered 1,500 square miles giving the illusion of an aircraft flying at 8,000 feet. The projector was powered by a 500 candle power electric lamp. A three foot wide platform was accessed by a metal ladder. It represented the bombing position in the aircraft and was fitted with a bomb site and navigation equipment for the trainee. A pilot sat in a small ante room beneath taking instruction from the bomb aimer. He had a seat and a set of rudder pedals which were linked to the projector and were able to move the travelling map. A second ladder led to the projection area from where the powerful lamp projected the travelling map.

The map could travel from various directions to simulate the flight of the aircraft and wind drift. When the trainee had calculated the speed and direction of the wind and sighted on the target he dropped his bomb by throwing a switch. The map stopped moving when it was calculated that the bomb had hit the ground. The instructor was then able to determine how accurate the aim had been. A small annex on the side of the building gave sufficient room for the bomb aimer to lie prone and the pilot to sit.

This two storey building is of permanent brick with concrete rendering. It has a pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting This building is extant but is without roof. [2007]

Link Trainer

[Drawing No: 4188/42] (Map Ref. 25)

The link trainer was an American training device for teaching instrument flying. It was named after it's inventor Edwin Albert Link. It was used on operational stations as a way of keeping pilots flying skills up to a high standard. The RAF's link trainer used in WW2 was the ANT18 D2. It was manufactured in Canada.

It consisted of a wooden box with a plywood clad timber frame approximating the shape of a cockpit and forward fuselage section. It had a removable opaque canopy to impede the pilot's vision. It was connected through a universal joint to the base. The cockpit was like that of a single engined aircraft of the period. Inside was a single pilot's seat, primary and secondary aircraft controls and a full set of aircraft instruments. It had the basic six instruments plus a compass, radio, rudder pedals and control column.

Connected to the base it was pneumatically operated on a grounded turntable and there were several sets of air driven bellows to simulate the basic movement of pitching, banking and turning. An air compressor drove the bellows and provided input to the instruments.

The trainer was connected to the instructor's desk where a tracking crab, a three wheeled trolley, reacted to the movement of the “aircraft”. It acted as an automatic recorder. One of the wheels, known as the idler wheel, functioned as an ink pen and traced the course on a map of the area being “flown” over.

The instructor was able to monitor what was happening on a duplicate set of instruments and assess the pilot's performance. The instructor's table had a large map, a display of the main flight instruments and the crab which moved across the glass surface of the map table plotting the pilot's track. The pilot and instructor communicated with each other via headphones and microphones. The whole unit was powered by a standard 110v AC/240v AC power outlet via a transformer.

The building was constructed of cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres supporting 18ft standard steel roof trusses. The roof was clad in corrugated asbestos cement sheeting.

The building is no longer extant. Only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Lubricants And Inflammables Store

[Drawing No: 12406/41]CB (Map Ref. 29)

This building is no longer extant apart from the concrete plinth. Unfortunately it was destroyed before I started my measurement recordings. [2007]

Wireless Telegraphy Site 1

[Drawing No: 8933/42] (Map Ref. 35-39)

Like site 2 this WT section had five buildings, a tractor shed, store, 2 workshops and a battery charging room. The section repaired and maintained all the WT equipment on the airfield.

The buildings were all Nissen huts 16 ft by 36 ft each. Constructed of corrugated steel sheeting with T-shaped (in section) arched steel ribs spaced at 6 ft centres. Concrete floor.

The buildings are no longer extant only the concrete plinths remain. [2007]

Wireless Telegraphy Site 2

[Drawing No: 12403/41] (Map Ref. 77-80)

Like WT site 1 this site also had five buildings, a tractor shed, store, 2 workshops and a battery charging room. They were all Nissen huts with the exception of the tractor shed which was cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres and a pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. The Nissen huts were constructed of corrugated steel sheeting with T-shaped (in section) arched steel ribs at 6 ft centres. Concrete floor.

The buildings are no longer extant. Only the concrete plinths remain. [2007]

Squadron And Flight Offices

[Drawing No: 4730/4 CB] (Map Ref. 44)

There are two buildings with this drawing number, one marked for General Reconnaissance [GR] and one for Bomber Command[B]. They were combined squadron and flight administration offices.

Constructed of cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres. Pitched roofs of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting.

These buildings are no longer extant. Only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Squadron Office

[Drawing No: 4730/42 CB] (Map Ref. 50)

This was a single building constructed to the same drawing number as the combined squadron and flight office. It was marked for use as a General Reconnaissance administration building. Cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres. Pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting.

The building is no longer extant only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Flight Offices

[Drawing No: 4785/42] (Map Ref. 51-53)

There were five of these buildings for use as offices for single flights as opposed to the squadron as a whole.

These buildings were all Nissen huts 16 ft by 36 ft each. Constructed of corrugated steel sheeting with T-shaped (in section) arched steel ribs at 6 ft centres. Concrete floor.

None of these buildings are extant only the concrete plinths remain. [2007]

Recovery Unit Small Bomb Components Pyrotechnic Stores - RUSBC

[Drawing No: 5488/42] (Map Ref. 47-49)

These three buildings were used to house recovered flares, flame floats and other similar items until they had been made safe.

They are constructed of cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres. A reinforced concrete roof and a concrete floor.

The buildings are extant but no longer have their doors. [2007]

Crew Rest, Locker And Drying Rooms

[Drawing No: 1452/42CB] (Map Refs. 54, 56 & 72)

There are three blocks, one for General Reconnaissance [GR] (Map Ref. 56), one for Bomber [B] (Map Ref. 54) and one is not designated (Map Ref. 72). The buildings were designed in three sections for the crew to rest in when on duty. There was a rest room, a locker room and then a drying room. It was essential for flying clothing to be bone dry so that it did not freeze at altitude and so the building contained drying facilities. On the end of the building is the boiler room to provide the necessary heating for the drying room.

The construction was of cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres,. A pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting and a chimney at the drying room end.

The undesignated building is complete and in use by the Moorland Flying Club. The GR is partially complete and the B is no longer extant. [2007]

Turret Repair Block

[Drawing No: 8933/42] (Map Ref. 60)

This building was used for turret repair purposes. Turrets needing repair were removed from the aircraft. The guns were repaired and maintained by Armoury. Work on the turret itself was done in this building.

A Nissen hut 16 ft by 36 ft. Constructed of corrugated steel sheeting with T-shaped (in section) arched steel ribs spaced at 6 ft centres. Concrete floor.

This building is no longer extant only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Radar Workshops

[Drawing No: 7352/42CB] (Map Ref. 55)

These two buildings were used to repair and calibrate radar equipment carried by aircraft. The equipment to be repaired was removed from the aircraft and worked on here.

The buildings were at the eastern and the western ends of the technical site. Constructed of cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres. A pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting.

This building is no longer extant only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Dope Store

(Map Ref. 64)

Until the 1950's the fabric used for aircraft fuselages, wings or control surfaces was invariably woven from natural fabrics – linen and cotton in various grades. The fabric was glued, sewn or laced to a wood or metal airframe as in the case of the Wellington. It was soaked with water to initially shrink the skin and to remove wrinkles. It was then doped to further tauten, seal and protect it.

This building was used to store this dope. It was a highly flammable liquid and needed careful storage. Examples of doping agents include Nitrocellulose, Cellulose acetate and Cellulose acetate butyrate. Nitrocellulose was also known as the explosive propellant “gun cotton”.

The building is of cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres. A pitched roof with standard 18 ft roof trusses supporting corrugated asbestos cement sheeting.

It is no longer extant. Only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Parachute Store

[Drawing No: 11137/41] (Map Ref. 67)

All air crew were issued with parachutes that after several flights tended to get damp and had to be dried out and repacked. The parachute store was specially designed for drying out, inspection and storage of parachutes. The open plan building was laid out with wet parachutes hanging from pulleys fixed to the highest point in the building. Running parallel and close to the side wall that contained windows was a long table that was used to inspect and pack the parachutes. On the opposite, windowless, wall were the storage racks for parachutes awaiting re-issue. The building was heated by coal fire to assist drying.

The building was cement rendered inside and out with external piers at ten feet centres forming five bays. The roof had standard steel roof trusses and a central raised section in which were lantern lights.

The building is no longer extant only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Motor Transport [MT] Section Office

[Drawing No: 1949/42CB] (Map Ref. 69)

This building was used as an administration office for keeping vehicle records and rest room for the MT drivers when on duty.

Cement rendered concrete block with external piers at 10 ft centres and pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. Standard 18 ft roof trusses.

This building is no longer extant only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Motor Transport Vehicle Shed And Yard

[Drawing No: 12775/41] (Map Ref. 70)

It was wartime RAF policy to park motor transport vehicles in the open and it was only for maintenance purposes that buildings were used. A single three bay MT vehicle shed at one end of a concrete manoeuvring yard with vehicle washing facilities. One of the bays was equipped with a vehicle inspection pit.

Constructed of cement rendered concrete block. A pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. Standard 18 ft steel roof trusses. Concrete hurters [pillars] positioned in front of the vehicle shed door openings. These were used for keeping the doors open with the use of a metal hook fixed to the doors and an eye bolt attached to the concrete hurter.

Beneath the yard was a bulk petrol store capable of holding 5,000 gallons. (Map Ref. 71)

A small area of garage is extant. The concrete yard is extant. The tanks were removed after the war to be used by Cow and Gate. [2007]

Motor Transport Fuel Compound

[Drawing No: 4619/40] (Map Ref. 86)

Separate from the MT section was the fuel storage compound. It was 54ft by 72ft enclosed by a wire fence. This was the aerodrome's transport refuelling area.

This area is still extant but the wire fencing has been removed. [2007]

Bulk Oil Installations

[Drawing No: 11270/40] (Map Ref. 12)

These tanks, on two separate sites, stored all the MT and aviation oil requirements of the aerodrome. Oil was stored in the two underground tanks. They were capable of holding 2,500 gallons each.

There is no remaining evidence of these installations. [2007]

Cycle Shed

(Map Ref. 83)

Due to the dispersed nature of the aerodrome it was necessary to provide bicycles for transporting ground crew to and from the dispersals. A system developed whereby a cycle was picked up from the cycle shed and used to ride to the work site. The off duty crew then cycled back returning it to the shed – at least that was the theory. It was not unusual for the cycles to be seen in the car parks of local pubs however.

This building is no longer extant only the concrete plinth remains. [2007]

Static Water Pool

[No Drawing No.]

Static water pools were dispersed throughout the aerodrome. They were fed by the natural water table and used for fire fighting purposes and on occasions for dinghy drill.

Open constructions of permanent brick and concrete they were capable of holding 20,000 gallons of water. Almost every site had it's own static water pool.

The pool has been filled in but evidence of the site is still visible. [2007]

Blast Shelter

[No Drawing No.]

A quick safe retreat from the effects of blast but not giving the same level of protection as an air raid shelter.

Traversed blast walls constructed of permanent brick and built back to back they were capable of holding up to 50 people. An unroofed structure with an open entrance. The protected area ran at right angles to either side of the entrance. Earth was banked against the outside of the walls to give bomb splinter protection.

Still extant today. [2007]

Latrines

[Drawing No: 9026/41]

Nine in number these latrines were variously titled for WAAF's, airmen, technical and WAAF technical but all with the same drawing number.

Constructed of cement rendered temporary brick with external piers at 10 ft centres. A single pitched roof of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting.

No longer extant. [2007]