I was browsing some old WW2 charts and was amazed at the number of airfields built in the war years.
In this 1938 chart: http://www.btinternet.com/~miscellaneous/chart/P1020205.JPG the airfields are marked in red. Interestingly there are Civil Aviation Areas (early controlled airspace?) over London. Does anyone know how these were controlled pre-radar?
In the 1944 chart at: http://www.btinternet.com/~miscellaneous/chart/P1020203.JPG East Anglia is by now covered in black airfield dots.
I have a number of charts of this era and it is good to see both the changes and the airfields which have survived to the present day. Most noticeable id the lack of ‘airspace’ restrictions.
Incidentally the 1938 chart has the name of Sgt John T Latimer 581104 written on it as well as HANN. Does anyone have any information?
By: keithnewsome - 7th April 2008 at 23:12
They seem to be happening far to often for me ! MMMMM Sorry ! Keith ?
By: Moggy C - 7th April 2008 at 23:04
Doh! Two senior moments in one thread. 😡
Moggy
By: keithnewsome - 7th April 2008 at 22:57
Yes sorry my attempt at humour just did’nt work …… again ….. but back to the thread ! Keith.
By: 92fis - 7th April 2008 at 22:45
I guessed you mean’t Knettishall. 😉
By: 92fis - 7th April 2008 at 22:40
92fis, as he fly’s over “hopington” “every time he aviates” I need to make sure he knows where he is at all times, or at any time ???? Keith.
Easy mistake to make, as the n in Honington isn’t that clear if you just glance at it.
By: keithnewsome - 7th April 2008 at 22:35
92fis, as he fly’s over “hopington” “every time he aviates” I need to make sure he knows where he is at all times, or at any time ???? Keith.
OOOOPPPs just done some mods to the post ! you are too good for me !
By: Moggy C - 7th April 2008 at 22:31
Me neither.
Nowhere can be to the west of Thetford and the East of Diss at the same time.
Moggy
By: 92fis - 7th April 2008 at 22:30
Honnington?
j/k
Is Barnham shown? possiblty renamed?
Barnham was never an airfield, It was just a bomb store that was built early fifties.
By: 92fis - 7th April 2008 at 22:23
As an aviator I am sure this will be so easy ????
Where is this place ???
6.77 miles WSW of Thetford.
12.12 miles NE of Bury St Edmunds.
21.48 miles SE of Norwich.
9.59 miles E of Diss.Name that place ?? Keith haha ! Mate !
They are rather strange directions for just one place.
By: keithnewsome - 7th April 2008 at 21:41
Nav Ex for Moggy C
As an aviator I am sure this will be so easy ????
Where is this place ???
6.77 miles WSW of Thetford.
12.12 miles NE of Bury St Edmunds.
21.48 miles SE of Norwich.
9.59 miles W of Diss.
Name that place ?? Keith haha ! Mate !
By: Moggy C - 7th April 2008 at 21:22
Nope.
Never caught up with him.
Moggy
By: ZRX61 - 7th April 2008 at 21:18
Doh!
I only fly over the bloody place nearly every time I aviate.
Senior moment.
Moggy
Did you ever manage to part John Agnew from that German undercart behind the barn at BK Farm?
By: Moggy C - 7th April 2008 at 07:35
Honington
Doh!
I only fly over the bloody place nearly every time I aviate.
Senior moment.
Moggy
By: wieesso - 7th April 2008 at 07:32
North of Bury St Edmunds and South of Thetford.
Is that ‘Hopington’ or ‘Hapington’?
Not a name I’m familiar with.
Moggy
Honington
By: bazv - 7th April 2008 at 05:21
Many airfields indeed,but many are still missing-Rackheath,Beccles,Deopham green,Fersfield,Debach,Leiston -sure there are a few more.I only note these as I have flown over the East Anglian countryside for 30 years and tend to navigate by the disused airfields-like churches in E Anglia you are never out of sight of one!
These airfields(and quite a few more probably) opened in 43/44,so i would think it was likely that the maps just could not keep up with the amount of new airfields opening,I would imagine there was a lot of ‘manual amendment/updating’ by aircrew at that time.
1944 was the peak year for the number of UK airfields in use,after D-Day the numbers started to decline(ie ALG’s in the south).
By: ZRX61 - 7th April 2008 at 01:24
North of Bury St Edmunds and South of Thetford.
Is that ‘Hopington’ or ‘Hapington’?
Not a name I’m familiar with.
Moggy
Honnington?
j/k
Is Barnham shown? possiblty renamed?
By: ZRX61 - 7th April 2008 at 01:21
Back while the filming of MB was going on we were stooging around Norfolk someplace & the landscape appeared to be littered with airfields. We were seemingly never out of sight of at least 2 or 3..
By: Moggy C - 6th April 2008 at 23:47
North of Bury St Edmunds and South of Thetford.
Is that ‘Hopington’ or ‘Hapington’?
Not a name I’m familiar with.
Moggy
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th April 2008 at 19:07
Mudmover
Presumably airfields were still being built in East Anglia and added to the numbers that already existed in 1944. Or are there other reasons?
By: Mudmover - 5th April 2008 at 08:40
Many airfields indeed,but many are still missing-Rackheath,Beccles,Deopham green,Fersfield,Debach,Leiston -sure there are a few more.I only note these as I have flown over the East Anglian countryside for 30 years and tend to navigate by the disused airfields-like churches in E Anglia you are never out of sight of one!
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April 4, 2008 at 9:54 pm