RAF Pembrey

image

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

RAF Pembrey started as a training station for anti-aircraft gunners in 1936/7 with the 280 Ground Defence Squadron. In 1938 plans were drawn up for an airfield and the station was operational in 1939. The majority of buildings were in wood and the main (important) buildings in PB or TB (Perminent/Temporary Brick) construction.
By the time of the Battle of Britain, Pembrey came under 10 Group (HQ RAF Box). Spitfires were stationed here for defence of the area.
In 1941 it became No.1 Air Gunnery School with Wellingtons, Fairy Battles and Blenheims us for training air gunners and Spitfires for "Fighter Affiliation".
1945 Fighter Command came back here with 233 Operational Conversion Unit flying Vampire's and Hunters and by 1957, it was closed and the last flight out was Princess Margret in a Valletta.

image

Army Bofors AA gun.

image

Vickers Wellington.

image

de Havilland Vampire.

RAF Pembrey

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
RAF ----------------------------------------------------------------- AM 3925/48

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

A very good air photo of RAF Pembrey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Air Ministry plan 3925/48 of the airfield.
1 - Workshop shed - S frame/A sheeting - 1988/34.
3a-3b-3c&3d - F type sheds - S frame/A sheeting - 2725/36.
16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.
24 - MT sheds & office - B Type - 1683/38.
25a - Squadron HQ - (ex watch office).
25b - Watch tower - TB - TD1308.
25c - Watch office - TB - 12098/41
30 - Gas defence centre - PB - 8632/37.
66a-66b&66c - VR1 hangars - S frame/A sheeting - FT 507-527.
82 - Sleeping shelter 23man - PB - 11049/41
95 - Dome trainer TC - 73/42.
97 - Battle head quarters - B - 11008/41.
163to165 - Dispersal pens (Blenheim type) - 7151/41.
166to187 - Blister hangar - enlarged over type - 12532/41.
188to189 - Aircraft dispersal hard standings.

TB/C - Temporary Brick/Concrete.
PB/C - Perminent Brick/Concrete.
ST - Steel.
T - Timber hutting.
                                                                                                                                    C - Corrugated Iron hutting.
                                                                                                                                    A. - Asbestos hutting.
                                                                                                                                    N - Nissen hutting.

image

 

image

 

image

 

RAF Pembrey

image
Fly Wales

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Fly Wales, Pembrey Airport.

RAF Pembrey

image
RAF

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Spitfires at RAF Pembrey in the summer of 1940 they came here to defend South Wales.
Many air battles were fought over this area and the pilots were being controlled by 10 Group HQ at RAF Box.

image

WAAF fighter controllers.

image

No.92 Squadron 18 June 1940

image

 

RAF Pembrey

image
Fly Wales

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Fly Wales, Pembrey Airport.
A good photo of the old accommodation aria and the airfield sites. Two large hangars 'F' type sheds still exist. The bases of two 'VR' sheds, dome trainer, fire tender garage, WAAF institute,the gas defence centre (decontamination block), station armoury, bulk petrol installation, fuel compound and a few more buildings.

RAF Pembrey

image

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Crossing the railway line.

RAF Pembrey

image

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Anti tank defences all along the railway track. These defences have no relevant to the airfield defences and were placed here to stop enemy tanks. After landing on the beach from moving in land.

image

Three different pillbox defences around Pembrey. Anti-invasion.

image

 

image

Part of the of the manufacturing of munitions at Pembrey.

RAF Pembrey

image

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

The main entrance into the airfield.

RAF Pembrey

image

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Motor racing track.
PEMBREY CIRCUIT.

image

PEMBREY CIRCUIT.

image

Track.

image

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Squash court and tennis courts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35- Officers Mess - B type hutting - 1620/38.
36 a&b - Officers quarters - B type hutting - 1620/38.
37 - Officers quarters & Batman - B type hutting - 1620/38.
87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
195 - Squash court - TB - 16589/40.
197 - Tennis courts (2 No.).

image

details

image

Squash court - TB - 16589/40 at RAF Dunkeswell.

image

Squash court.

RAF Pembrey

image

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

A very unknown building.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

A very unknown building.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

The stream/river that runs through the airfield site.

image

River.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
This building was for the WAAF to use as a comfortable place to relax, eat, socialise, write letters, etc.

image

 

image

 

image

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think this is the kitchen area,

image

Plan.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
The connection between the two sides of the building.

image

Plan.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
Cupboards.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
Water tower
Note the steel ladder cut off now, but would have continued up to the water tank in the top. There was also a boiler and hot tank at the bottom.

image

Water tanks.

image

What a boiler would have looked like.

image

A hot tank, covered in asbestos would have looked like.

RAF Pembreyimage

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
Electrics on the wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crittall window.

image

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
Main hall.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.
Toilet block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base for a coke/coal stove.

image

Coke/coal stove.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

87 - WAAF Institute Type 301-350 - TB - 627/42.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View from a window.

image

Plan.

image

 

image

 

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Modern buildings unknown.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Modern buildings unknown.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Modern buildings unknown.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Modern buildings.
This cold be an Evans - Bevan Ltd, SkewenCwmdu brickworks, Skewen, Neath, West Glamorgan .

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

This whole area would have been full of wooden hutting.
Wooden Hutting.
Taken from 'British Military Airfields' by Paul Francis, and excellent book for this subject. He states on page 206 all about Air Ministry hutting.
Type 'A' hutting - Was to have a life span of 10/15 years. Roofs in corrugated asbestos.
Type 'B' hutting - Was to have a life span of 5 years. Roofs in timber and felt covering.
Each section was to be built in panels and bolted together and to threads sticking out of concrete foundations to hold them down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3d - "F" Type Shed - S. Frame A. Sheet - 2725/36.
4 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - B Type hutting - 5746/37.
5 - Sick Quarters - B Type hutting - 5746/37.
17 - Instruction Block - A Type hutting - 1625/38.
19 - Main Store - B Type hutting - 1624/38.
31 - Turret Instructional Bldg. - B Type hutting - 265/39.
34 - Guard House & Fire Party - B Type hutting - 5742/37.
35 - Officers Mess - B Type hutting - 1626/38.
40 - Works service building & Boiler house - 1627/38.
44 - Station Armoury - B Type hutting - 1627/38.
53a - Link Trainer - A Type hutting - 7100/38.
91 - Ammunition Storage Shelter - TB.
95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.
96a - Ammunition Storage Shelter Type C - 5495/42.
AS - Air Raid shelter.
TC - Temporary Concrete.

image

Stanton air raid shelter.

image

Link trainer.

image

Sick quarters.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.
Dome trainers were built for Anti-Aircraft Gunnery Training. Built to Air Ministry Drawing Number 73/42.

image

40mm Bofors gun.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.
To find out how these worked, you have to go to Prepare for takeoff!!! Langham Dome.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
IWM

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.
A member of the Royal Air Force Regiment under instruction in a dome anti-aircraft teacher at RAF Leuchars where a WAAF projects the film of the targets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

95 - Dome Trainer - TC - 73/42.

image

 

image

 

image

 

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

All the buildings visited so far.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Gradually moving closer to the hangars.

image

The two remaining hangars in yellow.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

River and 33 - Fire tender garage - TB - 5748/37.


image

The area from above.

image

From the plan only one building remains and I cannot read its number so cannot identify it.
32 - Station HQ - B type hutting - 1623/38.
33 - Fire tender garage - TB - 5748/37.
34 - Guard house & fire party.1623/38.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Impressive main entrance & Station HQ Area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The office.

image

From the plan only one building remains and I cannot read its number so cannot identify it.
32 - Station HQ - B type hutting - 1623/38.
33 - Fire tender garage - TB - 5748/37.
34 - Guard house & fire party.1623/38.

image

 

image

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
RAF Kemble 20 March 2005-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RAF Kemble 20 March 2005

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

How the Station HQ may have looked, this hut was at RAF Kemble and probably long gone now.
This is just to give an idea of what the wooden hutting would have looked like and I think its 'A' Type Hutting with a wood and felt covered roof. It should have only lasted five years. So in 2005 it would have been 60years old..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rear of the RAF Kemble hut.

image

Plan of the RAF Kemble hut.

image

Detail of building.

image

Detail of windows.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

33 - Fire tender garage - TB - 5748/37.

image

Fire tender

image

Trailer pump.

image

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

64 - Barber, shoemaker & tailors shop - TB - PL 4GT.

image

In the field.

image

Nissen barbers shop.

image

P/O Lewis needs a haircut.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

64 - Barber, shoemaker & tailors shop - TB - PL 4GT.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

9 - Institute - B Type Hutting - 142238.
16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.
24 - MT Sheds & Office - B Type Hutting - 1622/38.
30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.
34 - Guard House & Fire party - 5748/37.
51 - Office Block - B Type Hutting - 1173/38.
151 - Class room - B Type Hutting - 14540/39.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.

image

Nurses decontamination

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
16698/39 ARG ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16698/39 ARG

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.

16698/39 ARG (from Airfield Research Group) is a smaller version than 16711/39.
I would call 16711/39 as a four bay type and 16698/39 as a two bay type. Both will be very alike in principle.
An entrance for wounded and unwounded, wounded would be undressed and treated. Next coming into an undressing room/reception, then on to the Bleaching room/showers. Bleach was used to wash off Mustard gas paste and as an agent to counter the gas/paste. Wounded treated in the first aid room. After showering/scrubbing down, clean towels and clean cloths would be issued. All used cloths would be placed through flap type windows and dropped into bins out of the side walls .'B' on the plan.
Then on one side a dressing room and exit through an air lock door and the other side a boiler room and air conditioning room.

image

Yellow - Bins.
Red - windows/shutters,

image

Dressing & Boiler rooms.

image

Showers.

image

Air conditioning system.

image

Hot water tank.

image

.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.
Four entry air locks. The building is over pressured to stop the ingress of gas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The railings are to help gassed and wounded to enter.

image

Entrance area.

image

Reception area.

image

Undressing area.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.
Unsure if these are windows or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angled frames?

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.
Reception/undressing area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reception/undressing area.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.
Note the curtain rail over the entrance to the bleaching room.

image

Bleaching and shower area.

image

Electrical box.

image

Internal lighting.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.
These buildings were never used, thank goodness. Some later on in the war were used as a shower block and just storage.

image

Bleaching and shower area.

image

Exit door & light at RAF Kemble.

image

Chimney and air intake RAF Kemble.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

30 - Decontamination Centre - Type H (or M?) - TB - 16711/39.
The chimney is to allow fresh clean air (air above a gas cloud) to enter the filtering system to the air conditioning.
The large block at the rear, is for a very large water tank to allow the free flow of water through the shower system.

image

Water tank at RAF Little Rissington.

image

Air intake RAF Kemble.

image

Boiler house entrance and smaller chimney.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.

image

Good South Wales coal.

image

Coal wagon.

image

The type of gates that would have been fitted here.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.

image

 

image

A large fuel compound.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.
Why this part had such a strong roof, I have no idea, It was just to store coal. The pipe fittings were placed there by a farmer as a Cow byre.

image

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.
Coal was brought here, weighed and recored and placed in piles between the walls, Then an amount was issued out weekly to a hut, depending on how many fires that were in the hut. Also for the main heating plant and all institutes and Messes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central heating chamber in B type hutting. Very like the one that was here and heated by coal.

image

 

image

Boiler house.

image

 

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.
Office in the end, now has added tin on its roof.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

16 - Fuel compound - PB - 2597/38.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

24 - MT Sheds & Office - B Type Hutting - 1622/38.
Usually an MT (Motor Transport) garage came in (small) two or three bays. (large) 26 bays of two rows of 13 each. At least one would have a vehicle inspection pit. An office was also provided. Some had doors to close off the garages, but others were open. The floor was beaten earth and concrete lanes for the lorry tyres to drive over.

image

9026/40 plan

image

Vehicle service pit,

image

A wash down/loading/unloading ramp would be provided.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air 20/747

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

Details14a - Central boiler house - B Type Hutting - 1627/38.
26 - Petrol tanker garage - B Type Hutting - 1623/38.
27 - Bulk petrol installation - Type A (60,000gal) - 12219/38.
29 - Gas chamber - 10ft x 10ft - B Type Hutting - 5746/37.
30 - Gas defence centre - B Type Hutting - 8632/37.
40 - Works service building & boiler house - B Type Hutting - 1627/36.
55 - Turret Instructional Building - Type A - B Type Hutting - 14539/39.

image

Albion fuel bowser.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

26 - Petrol tanker garage - B Type Hutting - 1623/38.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27 - Bulk petrol installation - (Aviation) - Type A (60,000gal) - 12219/38.
Bulk petrol installation (aviation) was the fuel for the aircraft, tankers from POL (Petroleum Board) a nationalised petrol distributor. Delivered to the BPI and then RAF bowsers would run the fuel out to aircraft all over the airfield.

image

A Type hutting with an asbestos roof at RAF Honeybourne 2009. This is how the garage may have looked but with open doors each end.

image

POL.

image

POL articulated tankers.

image

900 gal. Brockhouse Mk2 trailer bowser.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

27 - Bulk petrol installation - Type A (60,000gal) - 12219/38.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three plinths for the pump assemblies.

image

Pump.

image

Pump house plan 9846/41.

image

Gauge.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

27 - Bulk petrol installation - Type A (60,000gal) - 12219/38.
Holes in the wall for pipes to go through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi armoured steel doors were fitted.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

27 - Bulk petrol installation - Type A (60,000gal) - 12219/38.
Pipes coming up from the ground tanks.

image

Underground fuel tanks.

image

Heavy pipe work in a pump house.

image

 

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

3a - 'F;' Type - Synthetic Trainers - St frame A sheeting - 2725/36.
St - Steel.
A - Asbestos sheeting.
This hangar was used as a synthetic trainer, training bomber gunners to fight.

image

Plan.

image

Two remaining hangars.

image

Free gunnery trainer.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

3a - 'F;' Type - Synthetic Trainers - St frame A sheeting - 2725/36.
Two pictures of the roof structure, we could not enter the second hangar unfortunately.

image

 

image

 

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

'F;' Type - Synthetic Trainers - St frame A sheeting - 2725/36 one of the 'F' types was used a the MT garage post war..

image

AEC Matador crane.

image

K48001 Austin ambulance.

image

Land Rover

RAF Pembrey

imageimage

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

A row of Vampires lined up on the ASP (Aircraft Servicing Platform).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probably a little later in the 1650's a row of Hunters on the ASP showing nearly all of the 'F' type hangars in the background.

image

de Havilland Vampire.

image

Hawker Hunter.

RAF Pembrey

imageimage
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details

3a - 'F;' Type - Synthetic Trainers - St frame A sheeting - 2725/36.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3b - 'F;' Type - Synthetic Trainers - St frame A sheeting - 2725/36.

RAF Pembrey

image
15 March 2009

Information

RAF Pembrey

Details