New UK Airfield explore, with interesting finds..

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Yesterday (28/12/10) Whitehunter and me met up to explore another WW2 airfield that we'd been meaning to visit for some time.

Firstly I must say sorry for including pictures of the sites explore in this archeology section but I think they give a good insight into the sad decay these once busy sites have now fallen, and also conveys the atmosphere the mist created for the explore.

We were fortunate that with the recent rise in air temperature following the arctic chill the whole area was shrouded in a thick mist which created a sort of spooky atmosphere as we wandered around the remains.

After a thougher walk which entailed several miles we eventually, at close of the day discovered a contemporary rubbish tip. But in the short time before it got dark we did notice that although there was lots of broken WW2 dated pottery the finds were not concentrated so it may not be the airfields main dump. But we'll return to check this out.
But there were some very interesting larger pieces









Stanton shelter there were loads around the site.





The sad fate of many.



Picket hamilton?



Interesting period suitcase.





More picket hamilton?



more to follow

LUCKYSTRIKE

[ian_]

Very evocative photos, Luckystrike. Was it a Fleet Air Arm base or is the case just a strange coincidence?

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

I thought this was an unusual Stanton having such a large entrance shelter. I guess the theory being to funnel larger numbers of people inside with the wall helping to protect from the blast?



The site was covered in these blast shelters.



and the foundations of buildings.



Another umpteenth blast shelter.



Now it starts to get interesting, the edge of the dump.







The last picture shows yet another well preserved blast shelter.

Next post will show the interesting finds.

LUCKYSTRIKE

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Hello Ian,

Yes we also thought it strange but just a coincidence.
But at times of need (ie shortfall in personnel in one, surplus in another) I understood that Air crew were sometimes transferred from one service arm to another or even requested transfers. So perhaps it was lost by someone who'd transferred? Sadly will never know but interesting none the less.

LUCKYSTRIKE

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Now for some finds.

The first one is shown as first spotted



Then a bit closer with Whitehunter for scale.
It is made of a fiber type compound that seems to be plasticised almost like paper mache material, the exterior is silver coloured but looks like it was oversprayed with a light blue paint some of which still remains.



We turned it over and it reminded me of a little boat or canoe. You can see it has marks round the inside where it seems to have been divided into compartments. There's a hammer sized hole punched through it, perhaps the reason it was dumped. Sorry I didn't get close up pictures of the surface but it was almost dark and my camera batteries were failing.

Just a theory could it be the bottom of a drop fuel tank?



A few small surface finds, the lid of an aircraft battery box, some sort of clip buckle and an unusual piece of leather with lace holes?



I took a few pictures of this next metal tin or tank to show the unusual shape, notice the jam jar for scale. It seems to have quite a few internal dividers. Sadly its condition is very poor now, do have any ideas what it could be. I was wondering perhaps it was a fuel tank and by its shape perhaps from a fuselage?.
Of course it could just be a piece of farm machinery.













and lastly an interesting solid wheel (foot for scale) it was very heavy so probably not aircraft but perhaps airfield vehicle, Do you have any idea's?



I'll post pictures of the small amount of small finds made when they're cleaned up, Whitehunter will do the same unless of course he's already posted them on another thread while Ive been doing this

Thank you for looking.

LUCKYSTRIKE

[ian_]

Interesting stuff to be just lying around. The big fibreglass piece looks like the nose radar cover off something big like a Valiant or Vulcan, bit of a guess though. steel bits with holes in are wartime runway/dispersal tracking. Looking forward to seeing more!

[Paul B]

The concrete pipe sections are just that, standard concrete pipe sections used as defensive positions both on and off WWII airfields.

The "big blue lump" may be a radome of some type, these would be fibreglass, pressed fibre or some other type of material which allows radio waves to pass through.

All the best,
PB

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Thanks guys, the blue lump isn't made of fibre glass but it is like a pressed fibre so it could be a radome. Did they use these during WW2 or just after? Why I ask is like many war time airfields surplus to requirements it was closed in 1947 or 1948.

LUCKYSTRIKE

[martynv4]

Interesting stuff to be just lying around. The big fibreglass piece looks like the nose radar cover off something big like a Valiant or Vulcan, bit of a guess though.

My first thoughts were running along similar lines and had (excuse the spelling). Shakleton or Gannet with possible links to Fleet Air Arm on site.

Fantastic photo's!

Martyn.

[Rommel1942]

What a great place! No places like that here, unfortunately.
Will have to visit some sites like this one someday
Regards,
Finn