I went on a guided Battle of Britain themed walk around Middle Wallop today which allowed access to some of the treasures usually inaccessable to the public.
We had a BBC South camera following us for a series of programmes BoB to be shown in August. Also in attendance were the Museum of Army Flying young eagles web TV team.
Yes I know this is a bungalow, but it is on the airfield and in 1940 it was OC 609 Sqn’s house!
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This next item took some time to find but its the Pickett-Hamilton pop-up fort.
Is this unique, being the only such installation still in situe on an active military airfield?
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Found at last
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Someone has obviously done some restoration in the near past!
Finally over in the bomb dump there are two buildings that are even rarer than the Pickett-Hamiltons, the Quetta huts.
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Now something for those not interested in the BoB (can such people exist?) here are two hulks near the E pen.
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The walk was rounded off with a (1940 themed) lunch in the Five Bells pub in Nether Wollop, which acted as the 604 Squadron mess in 1940.
All together a nice day out.
By: WG-13 - 6th July 2010 at 07:36
Oh what the heck, the whole airfield deserves listed status, which it hasn’t got.
Couldn’t agree more, having spent a considerable amount of time in, on, around or above MW. The current occupants do their best, I’m sure, to retain as much of the historic fabric as they can, given the active status of the whole place.
By: pagen01 - 5th July 2010 at 22:32
Yes I know this is a bungalow, but it is on the airfield and in 1940 it was OC 609 Sqn’s house!
This next item took some time to find but its the Pickett-Hamilton pop-up fort.
Is this unique, being the only such installation still in situe on an active military airfield?…two buildings that are even rarer than the Pickett-Hamiltons, the Quetta huts.
No, St Athan still has two in good order and St Mawgan still retains one at the Trebelzue site.
The PH Forts seem to be slightly more common than recently thought, It seems to be the case that alot of airfields are unaware of them being there, and that workers/visitors on them think they are drainage inspection covers
The Quetta huts are very rare now, and possibly unique as I think the Odiham examples were removed?
The bungalow actually looks like it could have been used as a Fighter Station Watch Office, others with similar layout have been used as such in other locations.
Great pics and thanks for sharing.
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th July 2010 at 22:22
The bungalow was on part of one of the farms that were requesitioned when the airfield was built. Apparently there were others but this is the only one remaining.
It is in reasonable condition as its used by the British Army Parascending Association as their headquaters, hence the double glazed windows (When I saw them I couldn’t help thinking of the cottage and garage doors in the BoB film)
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The bungalow appears in a number of wartime photos with spitfires parked outside just like cars in the drive and later ones with Canadians and Americans sat outside its front door. It even appears in effigy in the museum.
This bungalow along with the Quetta huts, Picket-Hamilton forts….. Oh what the heck, the whole airfield deserves listed status, which it hasn’t got.
By: Wyvernfan - 5th July 2010 at 08:24
Very nice aeronut. I’m intrigued by the bungalows history and subsequent survival. As its on the airfield is it preserved as is, undergoing preservation or facing an uncertain future?
By: Scott Marlee - 4th July 2010 at 23:27
moreeeee moreeee….i love history around Middle wallop…would love to see some more
By: bazv - 4th July 2010 at 19:06
very nice aeronut!are you a member of AIX ?they would love the pics of the forts and huts 🙂
rgds baz
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July 4, 2010 at 7:00 pm