Control tower or Watch office thread

It was done as ‘carefully’ as it is possible to do so in the circumstances without putting undue risk on the workforce. The aims were to:

1. Record the details of the structure in minute detail prior to work starting.

2. Salvage all original fittings.

3. Salvage as many sound bricks as possible.

It was not possible to re-use any of the render,floors, footings, or roof construction as they are built ‘in-situ’. However around 75% of the bricks were salvaged. When the structure is re-built it will be exactly as it was in 1945.

My photos were indeed of Goxhill in N Lincs, a Type 518/40 tower, the largest type constructed during the war. The field was used as a training base for, amongst others, the 78th FG during WWII.

By 2002 the structure was seriously unsafe and the new owners of the airfield sold the building. It was the subject of a very detailed measured survey and was subsequently carefully dismantled, brick by brick,over a period of several months and will shortly be re-erected in the USA, complete with many salvaged original items such as wc stalls, electrical boxes, coat hooks etc. Drawings for the re-erection were made from the survey drawings of the building coupled with original drawings supplied by the RAF Museum.

hi i would’nt say that the control tower at former usaaf base F-345 goxhill was taken down carefully. i had taken some pics of the tower (as i only live round the corner) been demolished and was given several stories by the workmen there.
i have been looking into the history of the airfield for a few years now and have got quite abit including a video from when the 496th FTG was there.
the workmen used a teleporter tractor to demolish it i maybe wrong and apologise if i am.
the pictures were taken through out 2003/4 and i have pics from 05 with still alot of rubble there.
sorry to rabble on

cheers

Looks like DamianB’s 14th April mystery photo has defeated everyone – its certainly a difficult one……

HMS Ringtail (Burscough) durring demolition July 2004

see www.hms-ringtail.co.uk for more on this tower

Didn’t realise we had this thread, here’s two of Tholthorpe in Yorkshire

The oldest control tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Swartkop AFB, South Africa.

What is it with old Control Towers?

I find them amazingly fascinating yet i cant explain why?

I drive past Finmere and Bicester every day and cant help but look. Id love to get closer to the tower at Finmere but doesnt seem possible, as for Bicester how long till its houses?

I remember as a kid seeing F1-11’s (i think) use the base.

1)not a watch tower, but a WW2 structure – Chain Home tower at Stenigot
2) also at Stenigot, but post war remains of NATO ACE-HIGH comms system..
3)Watch tower at Strubby.
edit- ooops just realised Vicky-Ten has already posted a Strubby pic..! 😮

Thought you guys might like to see this.

This is the Watch Office of the old RAF Penang seaplane base at Glugor on the east coast of the island, very close to where the Penang Bridge road link now comes on to the island. The road just visible at the bottom of the photo is the 6 lane dual carriageway for the bridge. The land was reclaimed in the mid-80’s.

The upper story has been demolished but the building is still in use by the Maritime Division of the Royal Malaysian Police. A lot of the old buildings of the base still survive and are also used as workshops or offices by the police unit.

BR

Laurie.

Starting at top left:

Strubby, Coleby Grange, Wickenby
Langar, Wigsley, Hemswell
East Kirkby, Metheringham, Swinderby(older of the 2)

Vicyten can you ID these? especially the ones in the middle

Sandtoft? The watch office there is now a home.

Please see my earlier comment!

Hi Mark V,

Thanks could you give me a little hint will it be on the east Coast or the West Coast of the States. 😀

Cheers
RER

hello Rob,

Its still in shipping containers at the moment but it will be re-constructed later this year. I am not permitted to say exactly where just yet but I will keep you all posted on progress of what will be a very exciting project.

My photos were indeed of Goxhill in N Lincs, a Type 518/40 tower, the largest type constructed during the war. The field was used as a training base for, amongst others, the 78th FG during WWII.

By 2002 the structure was seriously unsafe and the new owners of the airfield sold the building. It was the subject of a very detailed measured survey and was subsequently carefully dismantled, brick by brick,over a period of several months and will shortly be re-erected in the USA, complete with many salvaged original items such as wc stalls, electrical boxes, coat hooks etc. Drawings for the re-erection were made from the survey drawings of the building coupled with original drawings supplied by the RAF Museum.

Hi Mark V

Where in the States was it rebuild, I’ve never heard of this and I might have to take a road trip to see it.

RER

No – further east!

Going next to London Bridge, Az, is it? 😉

My photos were indeed of Goxhill in N Lincs, a Type 518/40 tower, the largest type constructed during the war. The field was used as a training base for, amongst others, the 78th FG during WWII.

By 2002 the structure was seriously unsafe and the new owners of the airfield sold the building. It was the subject of a very detailed measured survey and was subsequently carefully dismantled, brick by brick,over a period of several months and will shortly be re-erected in the USA, complete with many salvaged original items such as wc stalls, electrical boxes, coat hooks etc. Drawings for the re-erection were made from the survey drawings of the building coupled with original drawings supplied by the RAF Museum.