RAF Warmwell, Dorset.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Details

The Air Ministry Board needed an aerodrome in the south of England as an Armament Practice Camp. Combined with the taking over of many acres of the Fleet (Chesil Beach) as an air and ground practice range in 1937. Named RAF Woodsford after the parish, it opened with a brass band of the RAF marching from the railway station to the camp. Part of the RAF's expansion scheme due not to the rise in Germany of Hitler but that France had more bombers than we did. Three grass runways were laid out for aircraft of the No.6 Armament Training Camp. In 1938 the mix of planes were HP Harrows, Hawker Hinds, Boulton and Paul Sidestrand & Overstrands and Hawker Henley III´s. They all had their undersides painted with black and yellow stripes to donate they were target/training aircraft. They towed aerial banners behind them as targets to train pilots and gunners to shoot at.
Squadrons would fly in for summer camps to hone their bombing, air fighting skills.

When war broke out, there was a great need to expand the airfield and that meant, where do we put the Sargent's and airmen. Oh and the W.A.A.F.'s, don't forget them. Several dispersed sites to the south were added with hutting and Sergeant's mess's and men's institutes.

Here I am concentrating on the south side, the communal, living sites.

 

 

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Details

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Dispersed sites

Details

Six sites plus a sewage works. This is where the Sergeants, airmen and W.A.A.F.'s lived. The Officers lived on the main airfield site in what was the old pre war buildings. Lucky them.

W.A.A.F.'s.

US airmen.

RAF airmen.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal - 32
Site No 2 - 47.

Details

32 - Gymnasium - 14604/40 &14606/40.
47 - Airmens Latrines - PB.

Plan.

Airmens Latrines plan.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

32 - Gymnasium - 14604/40 &14606/40.
The gymnasium had a three fold use. First and foremost an indoor area where personnel could come and keep fit. Then the open space could be used for church services and this one had an attached chancel, for Church of England and Roman Catholic. The third use was purely recreation, as in. Dances, parties and films. A full cinema projection room was added to the back wall and not only service films (training and propaganda) but full length latest movies.

 

 

Church service.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

32 - Gymnasium - 14604/40 &14606/40.
The side extension is the officers and mens changing rooms. Also a store cupboard for chairs/tables and churchy things.

RAF Chaplains cap badge.

 

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

32 - Gymnasium - 14604/40 &14606/40.
The plan of a 14604/40. The numbers chop and change, if they have a projection room or a chancel, etc. The drawing numbers are slightly different.

RAF gymnasium.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

32 - Gymnasium - 14604/40 &14606/40.
Chancel end. This is a single chancel end.

When we visited RAF Macmerry in East Lothian, Scotland. We found all the gymnasium's roof air vents in the projection rooms, generator and switch room.

Another type of asbestos air vent.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

32 - Gymnasium - 14604/40 &14606/40.
Cinema projection room end.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

16428/40 RAF Macmerry.
The cinema projection room.
After a visit to RAF Macmerry, Scotland. We managed to walk the whole Gymnasium and its two ends, projection room & chancel.

Chancel end with Church of England and Roman Catholic.

A 1912 projection room.

RAF gymnasium.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

This site may have been predominantly a Womens Auxiliary Air Force (W.A.A.F.) site.
The guard room No2 on the small plan, is where all personnel would sign in and out of the sites. To know how many people were there in the case of a bombing attack. They would need to account for everybody. Also security. 3 & 4 were clothing stores where uniforms could be exchanged if worn out (good luck with the store man).
Then the main site a Communal, meaning a site where you could eat and socialise. There was, 14 a W.A.A.F. and airmens mess. 15 a Navy Army Airforce Institute (N.A.A.F.I.) canteen. Where a cup of tea and a wad (a bun) could be purchased, listen to music, write letters and just socialise. Many a marriage made in heaven and the N.A.A.F.I. happened throughout the war.
13 a Clarification room. What was that??? 20 a bath House.32 the Gymnasium, 12 Potato Room and Cloaks. Cloaks meaning Cloak room, to hang up cloths. 11 a messing office and store, W.A.A.F. rest room, plus all the safety with 11 blast shelters and two emergancy water supplies.

Plan.

Just off the main plan is:
2 - Guard room. Tailor & Shoemakers Shop.
3 & 4 Clothing stores.

 

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

Main entrance to No 1 site, on the right:
14 - W.A.A.F & Airmens Mess - WML1333(S.D. Drg).

Main entrance..

14 - W.A.A.F & Airmens Mess.

Airmens dinning room 8221/40 plan.

Canteen staff..

A dinning room 8221/40 on another airfield.

Airmens dinning room 8221/40 design RAF Honeybourne.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

06 - Blast Shelter - 2360/41.
For 32 men.

Plan.

Blast plan[2360/41].

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

5 - Water Storage Tank - 2178/41.
Base of the water tower & it maybe like the one below.

This plan/elevation is a Water Storage Tank 2433/42.

Plan.

Fittings in the concrete base.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

5 - W.A.A.F. Bath House - 13970/39.

Plan.

RAF bath.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

Drainage. A full sewage system was in place and if some huts were not plumbed in, a septic tank or chemical buckets were used.

BRITS ENGLAND AB brand.

Elsan bucket at RAF Hurn..

Sewage works, now in the camping site...

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

9 - Emergency Water Tank - 4100/40 Type C.

Plan

 

Trailer pump.

US Jeep fire tender.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

24 to 31 - Blast Shelter - 2360/41.
For 32 men. Or here probably 32 women as it was mostly WAAF's that were here. So ten blast shelters equates to a minimum of 320 people that used this site.

Plan.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

On the left:
15 - N.A.A.F.I. Canteen, Personnel quarters, Grocery shop & store - WML1333(S.D. Drg).
20 - Bath-house - 12970/39.
21 - Ablutions & Latrines - 12970/39.
22 - Boiler House - (Local Design).
23 - Ablutions & Latrines - 12970/39.
On the right:
24to29 Blast Shelters.

details

15 - N.A.A.F.I. Canteen, Personnel quarters, Grocery shop & store - WML1333(S.D. Drg).

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Details

15 - N.A.A.F.I. Canteen, quarters, grocery, store - WML/1522(S.O.Drg) 4200/40 type C.

Plan

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Details

20 - Bath-House & Drying Room - 12970/39.

Plan.

This is a 12971/41 type of bath house plan.

Bath.

Bath rooms and showers..

Washing places.

How it may have looked.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

Stove base.

Pot bellied stove on a concrete base.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal

Details

18 - Emergency Water Supply - 4100/40 Type C.

Found in a spoil heap.

Plan.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 1 Communal.

Details

Blast shelter plan for 32 men [2360/41].
This could be 28, 29, 30 or 31. There are so many down here at the bottom of the site.

Blast shelter plan for 32 men [2360/41].

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Details

The view from the public right of way.

Plan.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Details

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 6.

Details

140 - Sergeants Mess - WML/1235.(S.D. Drg).
141 - Rest Room - WML/1235.(S.D. Drg).
142 - Ablutions - WML/1235.(S.D. Drg).
143 - Pay Accounts - FCW/4494. to the north of the house.
144 - Blast Shelter - 2360/41.
145 - Blast Shelter - 2360/41.

Canteen staff at an airfield.

Spud pealing.

Detail of how it may have looked.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 6.

Details

All that is left at Site No 6 today, a pile of broken concrete where the Sergeants mess and two air raid shelters stood.

 

 

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 2 & Site No 3.

Details

This site was a quarters site where there was living accommodation for Sergeants and airmen. On the plan, the longer red huts are quarters. They were 100ftx20ft in size. The green marks are air raid shelters. Blue are emergency water supplies. Only one air raid shelter is left out of these two sites.

Plan.

Plan.

100' x 20' barrack huts.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 2.

Details

37 - Shelter for 25 Persons - (Girling).

Plan.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 2.

Details

37 - Shelter for 25 Persons - (Girling).
A Girling shelter, very like a Stanton but more rounded at the top.

Entrance.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 2 & Site No 3.

Details

The left of the field was Site No2 and the right side Site No 3. As you see there is nothing left to see. The picture was taken on a guided tour that I took in 2019. Mostly Sergeant's and airmens barracks.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

Mostly Sergeant's and airmens barracks again in 100'x18' huts. Latrines. A sewage pump house, emergency water supply and several Girling air raid shelters.
91 on the plan is the only surviving hut.

 

 

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

91 - Sergeants and Airmens Ablutions - 16315/41 Type. 3.

 

 

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

91 - Sergeants and Airmens Ablutions - 16315/41 Type. 3.
The chimney would have had a water tank in the top and a boiler and hot water tank underneath.

Boiler and a hot tank.

Water tank.

How the water tank would have fitted in the tower.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

91 - Sergeants and Airmens Ablutions - 16315/41 Type. 3.

Concrete wash stands and a concrete washing sink. There would have been many of these in the hut.

Top of a pot bellied stove.

Old tail fin box.

 

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

91 - Sergeants and Airmens Ablutions - 16315/41 Type. 3.

 

 

Concrete sinks.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

91 - Sergeants and Airmens Ablutions - 16315/41 Type. 3.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

91 - Sergeants and Airmens Ablutions - 16315/41 Type. 3.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

85 - Shelter For 25 Persons - (Girling).
There were enough shelters for 200 persons. So that is possibly how many were on this site.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

85 - Shelter For 25 Persons - (Girling).

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

85 - Shelter For 25 Persons - (Girling).
Escape hatch inside.

Escape hatch outside. There would have been a hinged steel plate to close off the hole and hinged for easy opening.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

85 - Shelter For 25 Persons - (Girling).
The molded concrete escape hole.

The way out.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

Unknown remains.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

93 Emergency Water Supply - 4100/40. Type. C.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 4.

Details

93 Emergency Water Supply - 4100/40. Type. C.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.
Site No 5.

Details

Very much like Site No4, with was airmen & sergeants barracks in 100'x18' huts. Latrines. Several Girling air raid shelters and an emergency water supply.

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Information

RAF Warmwell communal sites too the south.

Details

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© 2013 Richard Drew