Where was this taken?

I borrowed the book ‘The Fledglings’ from a chum.
Looks like all the main buildings still survive,there is a good picture of the Hangar and another picture also confirms that the building where the OP’s photo was taken from is indeed the gun butts !
Aircraft mentioned/pictured in the book include Corsair,Widcat,Fulmar,Blackburn Shark,Swordfish,Walrus,Anson,Hurricane,Proctor,Avenger and Barracuda !

Edit – I have spelt avenger correctly but for some reason it ends up with a gap LOL

just a bit off topic but that’s the first Corsair I’ve seen in camouflage, was it common?

If there is I haven’t found it. Definitely two Barraccudas though.

We must have been thinking along similar lines?!

Managed to get a used copy as in “New Condition” from Amazon, although there was only one left in stock!

Hopefully will be delivered at some point next week, so will give it a read and post the main points of interest regarding HMS Fledgling!

Drove through Millmeece (Mill Meece) many times on the way to Stafford from Newport (Shropshire) and never realised the significance of the place!

Cheers
Tim

Tim

Just a nudge. Did the booklet arrive from Amazon and did it have any useful information?
A list of aircraft used at Mill Meece and their eventual fates would be nice.

Richard

I can see the second Wildcat now, is that a second Hurri in the nearest of the two LH hangars with the Fulmer in the next one.

Yes, it is.

…a group of WAAFS having removed the 8 guns from a Hurricane….

They are Wrens – Women’s Royal Naval Service. Even says so in the original caption[/pedantic]

I see a book was published in 2003 called Fledglings: The Story of HMS Fledgling by G Bebbington, does anyone have a copy because none seem to be for sale anywhere.

Richard

We must have been thinking along similar lines?!

Managed to get a used copy as in “New Condition” from Amazon, although there was only one left in stock!

Hopefully will be delivered at some point next week, so will give it a read and post the main points of interest regarding HMS Fledgling!

Drove through Millmeece (Mill Meece) many times on the way to Stafford from Newport (Shropshire) and never realised the significance of the place!

Cheers
Tim

Second Wildcat is just visible behind the second Barracuda on the right hand side – prop, top of cowling and one wing only to be seen.
I assume that the Fulmar is the aircraft at top left though I can’t get a lot of detail even enhancing the photo.

I can see the second Wildcat now, is that a second Hurri in the nearest of the two LH hangars with the Fulmer in the next one.

I see a book was published in 2003 called Fledglings: The Story of HMS Fledgling by G Bebbington, does anyone have a copy because none seem to be for sale anywhere.

Richard

I am unable to see the Fulmers or the second Wildcat

Second Wildcat is just visible behind the second Barracuda on the right hand side – prop, top of cowling and one wing only to be seen.
I assume that the Fulmar is the aircraft at top left though I can’t get a lot of detail even enhancing the photo.

Could it be a gun harmonizing butt? It looks similar to ones i have seen elsewhere..
Ian

I stand corrected – you are absolutely right!

Says here there is also a Fulmar in the piccy.

http://royalmilitary.tumblr.com/post/21602549050/tennozan-hms-fledgling-in-staffordshire-in

HMS Fledgling. Generally known as Millmeece http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?6252-Military-Establishments-near-Stone-Staffs

I found this picture taken at HMS Fledgeling http://www.cairdpublications.com/scrap/seafire/seafire.htm (its the third image down) of a group of WAAFS having removed the 8 guns from a Hurricane, it would seem to be a fair assumption that after refitting them they would then test fire them using the butts as Wellington285 suggests.
Presumably in the original image that started all this it is possible to see the other aircraft mentioned, I am unable to see the Fulmers or the second Wildcat.
Lots here about shooting in butts http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?4995-Machinegun-Testing-Butts
Richard

Could it be a gun harmonizing butt? It looks similar to ones i have seen elsewhere..
Ian

I may be wrong but I suspect it may be all that’s left of the control tower. It certainly seems to be a sandstone building as seen on far right in first photo and it appears to have had a balcony – see the shadow in photo 2. Farmer appears to have converted it to a shed 🙁

[ATTACH=CONFIG]221879[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]221880[/ATTACH]

All joking aside about buried stuff – I’d love to have a poke around that site with a metal detector!

Think that the person who took the photo was standing on this building. What is the building?
Ian[ATTACH=CONFIG]221874[/ATTACH]

Says here there is also a Fulmar in the piccy.

http://royalmilitary.tumblr.com/post/21602549050/tennozan-hms-fledgling-in-staffordshire-in

Yes, a very good and interesting thread.
Good knowledge as always.

Will the photo be at ?

I think in fact as it is expected of him, we are all bound to leave the comment to him. It’s almost his prerogative!!:D

But I have to echo an earlier comment about the sleuthing here. Fascinating and absorbing from the point of view of a humble onlooker. Mind you I expected nothing less on this forum!!:)

you couldnt resist Andy could you. everyone else wanted to say it but held back you little :dev2:

I think they are being readied for burial in those last images, Propstrike. You can clearly see the crates.