By: John Green - 30th January 2016 at 12:39
By co-incidence, I’m reading Leo McKinstry’s latest: Sealion. This book covers the events of 1940 and in particular those relating to an actual invasion and the home airfields directly in the firing line.
After Dunkirk, speedy re-armament was the order of the day giving rise to many cost effective solutions including the McNaughton tubes. These tubes gave impressive results upon detonation. They could re-arrange the contours of the ground most effectively, instantly creating anti tank ditches and earthworks impassable to wheeled and most tracked vehicles.
By: John Green - 29th January 2016 at 20:20
Thanks Richard. I could have been making a rather better job of departure, rather than cringing in terror.
By: Richard gray - 29th January 2016 at 17:40
They were known as Pipe mines or McNaughton tubes.
http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?PHPSESSID=k81rj68u4tbd03dreoeivobv21&topic=5511.15
Survey report Bournemouth Hurn. Appears the pipes were laid, but not filled with explosives.
By: John Green - 29th January 2016 at 17:37
Now you tell me ! I’ve flown in and out of Bournemouth more times than I can remember, pushing out enough sweat to swim to my destination !
By: Richard gray - 29th January 2016 at 17:21
As a civil engineer, my father was engaged in aerodrome constructon during at least the early part of WW2. He mentioned to me that during the construction of Bournemouth (Hurn) linked chains of explosives had been buried beneath the runways and taxiways to await detonation in the event of an attempted seizure by the Germans.
He didn’t think that they had ever subsequently been lifted !
Don’t Panic John. They have been sorted, will see if I can find the file.
By: John Green - 29th January 2016 at 16:33
As a civil engineer, my father was engaged in aerodrome constructon during at least the early part of WW2. He mentioned to me that during the construction of Bournemouth (Hurn) linked chains of explosives had been buried beneath the runways and taxiways to await detonation in the event of an attempted seizure by the Germans.
He didn’t think that they had ever subsequently been lifted !
By: Paul F - 29th January 2016 at 15:18
For more on the subject try “British Military Airfields 1939 – 45” by David J Smith (ISBN 1-85260-038-1 PSL 1989)
Its a good summary of the rapid expansion of UK airfields during the war, and is a good summary of various aspects of the subject such as hangar designs, standard building “patterns”, lighting and approach aids etc.
It was a “sequel” to the original PSL “Action Stations” series.
As with the original “Action Stations” series it’s a bit dated now in terms of its description of what happened to the airfields post war, as many have closed to flying (or worse)since it was published.
Paul F
By: PeterVerney - 29th January 2016 at 15:16
What a super reference, and the history of an enormous civil engineering achievement.
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th January 2016 at 15:10
Ah…had missed that!
By: wieesso - 29th January 2016 at 14:17
… simply “WOW” – thanks edit: Moggy and Tangmere1940 😉
By: steve611 - 29th January 2016 at 14:12
Before Moggy gets back from his extended lunchbreak……
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January 29, 2016 at 1:30 pm