RAF Riccall, Operations Block, Yorkshire.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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43 - Operations Block TB (PB) - 15589/40.
Here all operational planning and received & transmitted messages critical to the running of the airfield passed through here.

Operations Block 15589/40.

A group of sergeants being briefed in an ops. room.

Route out and back.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Airfield plan.
The yellow arrow is pointing at the site of the Operations Block.
1658 HCU with Halifax I/II & III.

Halifax prototype, Mk I & Mk III.

Halifax.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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42 - Station HQ - TB - 8208/40.
43 - Operations Block TB (PB) - 15589/40.

It says Temporary Brick, but I think its in PB - Permanent Brick.

42 - Station headquarters.
43 - Operations block.
Blue - not mentioned on the site plan.

 

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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A Heron Flew Over the Ops Block.
Due to the large drainage ditches in the area its a Herons paradise.

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block north entrances.
There are several doors all the way around and they would have had a blast wall covering them.

Plan.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Ops Block west side.

Airman's barrack huts in the distance.

Plan.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block.
One of the side entrances to block.

The plan was kindly given to me after my visit to Riccall, so I have placed the pictures as best as I can in relation to the plan. The plan although a 15589/40 number may differ internally as at the time and since walls, door, entries & windows may have been removed/replaced or adjusted.

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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The first room I entered.
In one of these rooms a secure line teleprinter would receive a message from Group who intern received their message from Bomber Command HQ. The message gave the target and planes that were to be used. In here officers would draw up lists of crews & planes and mark a black board with all the details in a bomber station, here it may sort out training routines and who will be flying.

Plan.

WAAF's using a teleprinter.

Ops board..

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations block.

Plan.

Some form of heating.

A wall covering, may be chalking boards.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Electrics.
A mix of modern & old, or old and older.
Crews would be called in and briefed about the target and routes. Then the different crew members would be split up and go to separate briefings on radio's, navigation, bombing, gunnery, etc. .

Operations board with squadron, aircraft number, pilot, target, take off time, route, TOT, ETA, ATA, remarks..

Early wartime map.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block.
A lot of original detail here..

The arrow showing the corridor and at the end a blast wall covering the exit..

 

Crew whistle.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block another corridor.

Plan.

Air vent. There would have been a form of air conditioning and an over pressure in the building to keep gas out if there was a gas attack.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Some heavy concrete beams in the roof.

Plan.

An electrical mains inlet cable.

Crew briefing.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block.

Plan.

Mix of electrics.

Double switch.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block.

Plan.

Window catch.

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block.
Continuation of the larger rooms. This is a 1940 plan and was designed for 1940's planes and operations. By 1942 things had changed. 1940 one and two engined bombers with two to four crew, by 1942 heavy four engined bombers with seven and eight man crews and also the aircraft in a squadron increased and the amount of squadrons per airfield increased.

Plan.

Single switch.

Radio operators badge.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Main entrance Porch.
This is a modern look to this design Art Deco almost.

Plan.

Library of aircraft types.

Photo interpretation..

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Heating/air conditioning chimney.

Plan.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Heating/air conditioning chimney.
Air conditioning was used because the building was sealed against a gas attack and the air had to be kept fresh and at a higher pressure to stop the ingress of any gas. There was usually a heating and an air conditioning plant room. Here there only seems to be the air conditioning chimney left.

Part of a blackout curtain fixing. Blackout curtain was weather a heavy dark material or a shutter board painted black to stop light showing out of the windows at night.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Pipes in main corridor.
Two photos from both sides of the main corridor wall allowing several entries of pipes and an air vent. I have no idea what the pies were for.

Plan.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Heating or air-conditioning plant.

Louvered wall air vents.

Louvered door.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block.

Plan.

Door.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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You can only wonder what happened here.

Plan.

 

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Another outside view.

Some information here.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Temporary Brick Hut Blue on plan this building may have been added as a briefing room?

The hut blue on plan is not marked on the 5116/45 RAF site plan. It may have been added at any time and could have been used as an extra briefing room as the airfield increased in size and as the war went on..

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Temporary Brick Hut.
It looks like an 8208/40 TB hut..

One of the Crittall windows.

 

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Temporary Brick Hut.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Stanton Air-Raid Shelter.\\\\\\\

This is the entrance and a Rabbit would have a few problems getting in?
Hard to see in the thick undergrowth but it is there equidistant between the three buildings. It would have held about 30 people but more could cram in.

 

An other Stanton air-raid shelter inside.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Stanton Air-Raid Shelter.
Looking down the escape hatch and full of water.

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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42 - Station Head Quarters - TB -8208/40.
This is where the whole airfield and all its complement of men and WAAF's would be smoothly run.

42.

8208/40 TB hut.

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Station HQ two front doors.

Sink fitting in the corner.

Office.

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Station HQ.

 

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Station HQ double doors.

8208/40 TB hut plan.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Operations Block and Station HQ..

Operations Block and Head Quarters.

Airfield plan.

Operations block.

RAF Riccall, Operations Block.

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Sunset at Riccall.

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RAF Riccall MENU

© 2013 Richard Drew