RAF Airfield I.D., 1930s ?

Gentlemen,

Having spoken to Chumpy off-board, and seen other photos in his collection, I can confirm the photo is of Upavon, taken very early in 1938 – I found a similar (dated) photo in the National Archives with exactly the same aircraft configuration as in one of Chumpy’s photos.

The photo was taken shortly before work started on improving and developing the camp’s facilities. This included a ‘C’ type hanger which was built just to the east of the ‘A’ type in Chumpy’s photo; the hanger was completed in April 1939.

The only unit in residence was the CFS, which equipped with Tutors, Furys, Harts and Ansons, although replacement of the latter with Oxfords began in November 1937. (Source: ‘Wings over Wiltshire’ by Rod Priddle (2003)).

Brian

Hi James,

Yes they could well be Hectors, those around the Anson certainly from the ‘Hawker’ stable. As you point out not quite right for a Hart due to the lack of sweepback on the wings.

The aircraft at the other end of the hangar certainly of a different breed, Tutors being my educated guess. I will indeed have to do a bit more research as to the based units and their aircraft.

Chumpy.

Close study of the photos show an Anson and various bi-plane trainers, Hawker Harts..Avro Tutors perhaps, difficult to say for sure.

The difference between Harts (family) and Tutors should be relatively straightforward to tell at a slightly higher res than here. The Harts will have slightly, but noticeably swept wings, and rounded tips (excepting the Hector which had a streight wing). The Tutor has a straight wing with square tips, and the wing looks notably ‘square’.

Any details on the types should help with units at the base and thus dates, I’d assume.

I have a similar photo found in the National Archives that’s dated 1938, but I wonder if anyone could suggest a date for Chumpy’s.

Brian

Upavon without a doubt. I’ve aerial photos of the airfield dating from 1913 to 1937; the road clump of trees behind the hangers on the left of the photo and general road pattern are distinctive. Any chance I could have a copy? I’m particularly interested in one of the minor buildings – it was the very first airfield met office and is still there today.

The first photo is taken from the south (give or take a few degrees) over what was known as the South airfield; the North airfield is just visible to the top right.

The annex along the hanger was converted into the met office in 1944, and was used as such until 1972 – I worked in it from 1966-72.

Brian

Hi Brian,
Wow many thanks for your speedy answer!

The photos look to be RAF aerial recon photos, 5″ square contact prints. I have a couple more of the place, roughly where was the Met Office building?.. I will endeavour to do a close up scan.

Cheers, Chumpy.

PS..Will give you a PM in the near future.

Funny that… I drove past there last sunday and have seen Upavon many times from the air.
If you left click and hold on the ‘N’ on the compass at top right on google earth,you can spin it round to ‘orientate’ GE with the photo which sometimes helps I D.

cheers baz

I’m pretty sure it is WP840. You will know another hanger was subsequently built to the east of the one shown, and I think (open to correction) that is also used by the gliding fraternity.

Brian

Is the hanger visible in picture 1 the one used by 622 vgs? It looks alot like the one I saw many times when I did my gliding with the ATC in the early 90s.

Upavon without a doubt. I’ve aerial photos of the airfield dating from 1913 to 1937; the clump of trees behind the hangers on the left of the photo and general road pattern are distinctive. Any chance I could have a copy? I’m particularly interested in one of the minor buildings – it was the very first airfield met office and is still there today.

The first photo is taken from the south (give or take a few degrees) over what was known as the South airfield; the North airfield is just visible to the top right.

The annex along the hanger was converted into the met office in 1944, and was used as such until 1972 – I worked in it from 1966-72.

Brian