RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

This section covers the Communal Sites of 2,3,4,5 & 6 and the sewage site No.2.

After this you will understand why they would have needed so many bikes as transport around the airfield.

RAF Institute bike park.

Hutting.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

This is the site plan for the area covered, the track ways only slightly conform to the tracks that are there today and I will admit I did get confused with Site No.5. I thought I had visited it, when actually I had not. Missed by a few hundred yards. Might as well have been a mile.
There are very little remains left, but if you copy the plans and walk out there, its a lovely walk and you can at least get an idea where British, Commonwealth and American airmen, lived, ate and slept. In the middle of nowhere.

The Google plan is the route taken on the day. Remember Site No.5 is further across than it looks on the Site plan and maps, its also further on than the animal underpass on the A31.

Institute in Temporary Brick.

Dinning room.

16ft Nissen hut.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

The track to the Communal sites of 2,3,4,5 & 6.
I parked at Cadman's Pool car park, which is easy to find and is part of the bomb store of S.C.

Plan.

Crew.

American crew.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Communal Site No.2
409 - Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41. Here would be stored just enough coal/coke not to be able to keep everybody warm. An RAF ploy. Coal would be issued per week and had to be collected and stored in your hut. More hidden in your hut , as thievery was rife when it came to coal. Each hut would have its allotment of fires, large Pot Bellied Stoves. They could be made to glow red hot and still never gave off enough heat for all the people in the hut.

Plan of 409 - Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41.

Coal.

A compound on another airfield.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Communal Site No.2
407 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
408 - Airman's Ablutions - TB - 6498/42.
409 - Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41.
410 - Airman's Latrines - TB - 14397/41.
411 - Water Tower - S - (Braithwaite).
412 - Sergeants Mess - N - 5329/42.
413 - Grocery Store - N - 12876/41.
414 - Institute - N - 2064/42.
415 - Sergeants Shower Block - TB - 6493/42.
416 - Boiler house for Officers & Sergeants - TB - 6505/42.
417 - Off. Shower Block - 6491/42.
418 - Ration Store - TB - 9041/41.
419 - Officers Mess - N - 12867/41.
420 - Education Block - TB - 9887/41.
421 - Dining Room - N SCB/261.
422- 427 - Static Water Tanks - PB.

PB - Permanent Brick, TB - Temporary Brick, S - Steel , N - Nissen.
This is the Communal site where all the feeding and any spare time relaxing could be spent.
414 - Institute - N - 2064/42. for the men with the lowest ranks.
412 - Sergeants Mess - N - 5329/42. for Sergeants only.
419 - Officers Mess - N - 12867/41. For Officers only.

The difference between the three buildings, Men had the minimum area per man, the Sergeants had slightly more area per man and the Officers had more area per man. Yes the class system was still in existence.

414 - Institute - N - 2064/42. for the men with the lowest ranks. Made of 24' Nissen huts.

This is a 13049/41 Institute but gives an idea what it looked like.

Sergeants Mess plan 5329/42.

Sergeants Mess Christmas 1943 RAF Ludford.

Officers Mess plan 12867/41.

Officers Mess.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Communal Site No.2
From this air photo, you really get a good idea of what was there. The main buildings are made of Nissen huts and down through the middle Temporary Brick. At the top right side is the Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41. At the bottom R/H is the Static Water Tank.

Nissen hut.

Temporary Brick.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

415 - Sergeants Shower Block - TB - 6493/42. All that is left is the outside drain, which took the water down to the Sewage Works No.2.

Plan of a 7665/39 in Temporary Brick construction.

TB ablutions in an RAF camp.

How it may have looked.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

The track to the right did not exist in WW2. Continuing on down to No.5

Plan.

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.6
This is probably the best site for Sergeants and airmen.

Plan.

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.6
580 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42
596 - Static Water Tank - PB.
597 - Fuel Compound - PB -5108/41.
Most of the other buildings were Hutting type A & B 2965/42. All accommodation hutting was of the Nissen Hut type.

 

 

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.6
Mostly Nissen huts as sleeping accommodation.

 

 

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.6
597 - Fuel Compound - PB -5108/41. Another fuel compound, a low brick wall with steel fence posts with wire mesh between and barbed wire on the top, to keep thieving Erks out.

The fuel store and you can see the piles of coal/coke up against the walls..

Gates of a fuel compound.

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.6
Express Dairy´s bottle.

Express Dairy.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.6
595 - Sergeants Ablutions - TB - 9274/42.

 

 

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Track to the Sewage Disposal Site No.2.

Plan.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Track to the Sewage Disposal Site No.2.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

On the left side is the pipe that connects all the dispersed sites to the Sewage works.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Sewage Disposal Site No.2
624 - Layout - 15988/41.
625 - Tool House - TB - 9559/40.

Sewage plant.

 

RAF Grove Horsfall Destructor No3.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Sewage Disposal Site No.2
The square tanks can be seen in the air photo and still be seen on the ground today..

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Sewage Disposal Site No.2
Plan of a 5964/41.

RAF Grove tool house..

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Sewage Disposal Site No.2
Two rotary settlement tanks.

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Sewage Disposal Site No.2
Sludge tanks.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Sewage Disposal Site No.2
Outflow into the stream and still flowing.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Sewage Disposal Site No.2
The stream bed.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Walking back up the hill towards Site No.6.

Plan.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Heading for site No.4.

Plan.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.4
480 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
502 - Latrines - TB - 6504/42.
Most of the huts are either Officers, Sergeants & Airman's quarters, hutting.

 

1580/42 Picket Post at RAF Bibury.

Plan.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.4
The connecting foot paths show up well on this picture, again all Nissen hut accommodation.

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.5 I thought was inside the woodland, actually it was outside.

 

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.4
I was really hoping for a 1940's bit of wood carving. Disappointed.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.4

TB hut.

 

Nissen hut.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.4
I think this is the site of the 491 - Static Water Tank - PB.

Static water tank at RAF Charmey Down.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.4
Lots of bits of cement asbestos chips probably from the huts walls and ceilings..

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Heading back to Site No3.

Plan.

Heating inside a hut.

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Lovely skies out on the Plain.

Inside a Nissen hut.

Wooden hut.

Coat hangars.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.3
430 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
441 - Officers Latrines - TB - 6504/42.
442 - Transformer Plinth - PB. (M&E Plinth).
443 - Drying Room - TB - 9274/42.

M&E plinth. Transforms the electric down from I think 440v to 250v to supply the huts with lighting.

Hot tank on the left and a small boiler used to heat water, a standard RAF item on most airfields of the time. Hot water would be passed through pipes to hang damp clothing on to dry..

Water reservoir in the tower above a drying room or ablutions block, to supply water to the building..

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.3
430 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
441 - Officers Latrines - TB - 6504/42.
442 - Transformer Plinth - PB. (M&E Plinth).
443 - Drying Room - TB - 9274/42.

Blast Shelter for 32 men 2360/41.

Blast Shelter for 32 men 2360/41.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.3
On the side of the track are two drains.

Plan.

Light switches.

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.3
On the side of the track are two drains.

 

 

 

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.3
Lump of Tarmacadam possibly left over from WW2.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

The walk back.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Back to the main track.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.5
need to re visit and this time find Site No.5.
530 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
574 - Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41.
575 - Static Water Tank - PB.
The rest are Officers, Sergeants and airman's quarters in Hutting.

RAF Stoney Cross,
USAAF Station 452, Hampshire,
Communal Sites 2,3,4,5 & 6

Details

Site No.5
RAF Stoney Cross, USAAF Station 452, Hampshire Menu

© 2013 Richard Drew