RAF Clyffe Pypard, Wiltshire

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard was one of the early WW2 airfields. Designed and built purely for training purposes. The ground was picked and then the planners laid out the flying field, the hangar area with the communal area.Then the barracks following on behind. There were four Bellman steel hangars in a group and fifteen Blister hangars, placed around the perimeter. In 1941 there was still the chance of an invasion, so a comprehensive defence system was added. With a Battle HQ & pillboxes and light anti-aircraft guns spaced out around the flying field.

Accommodation in wooden huts. Communal and technical huts in Temporary Brick (TB). The planes were, to start with DH Tiger Moths, later monoplanes were added with Magisteres and much later after the war, Austers. A new pilot would turn up at the man gate after arriving from Wootton Basset railway station, book in and be sent to his accommodation. From there to the training huts and then an air experience flight with an instructor. Gradually he (and it was usually all He's then) would learn the art of flying, navigation, weather, etc. To be classed as either a fighter, bomber, or transport, pilot.

Opened in August 1941 as No. 29 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School). A grass airfield. And closed in 1947. But the accommodation was used until the 1960's by RAF Lyneham as a transit camp and the Army also used it for battle practice.

De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth.

High flight.

Pilot & instructor.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Photo taken in 1946.
History : RAF Clyffe Pypard was used throughout the war for pilot training with DH Tiger Moths.
Opened in 1941. Messrs. Marshall's of Cambridge were contracted as the operating company. Its main role in World War Two was as a training airfield for Number 29 ETFS. Although the airfield had only grass landing surfaces, there was a concrete perimeter track. In 1942 The airfield was expanded in size by 30%, despite this the training program was so busy that other airfields, such as RAF Alton Barnes & Manningford RLG, had to be used for courses. Being run my Marshall's of Cambridge, that meant a lot of the staff were civilian instructors with the RAF running the camp and admin.

DH82a Tiger Moth.

Miles Magister

Fairey Battle trainer at Netheravon.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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The D.G of W. site plan 5666/45 showing the layout, all the buildings and airfield.

Hangars.

Bellman hangar.

Over Blister hangar.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Main entrance and to Nemo Farm . First there was a guard room and then the fire tender shed.

  8 - Workshops - TB - 9031/40 & 9037/40.
13 - AMWD Works. - TB - .
20 - Link Trainer Building 2 Units - TB - 7790/40.
21 - Link Trainer Building 1 Unit - TB - 7790/40.
24 - Gas Chamber - TB - 9032/40.
30 - Station Office - TB - 9032/40.
31 - Guard House - TB - 9032/40.
32 - Fire Tender Garage - TB 9032/40.
34 - Air Raid Shelter for 30 - PB - Local design.
35 - Air Raid Shelter for 30 - PB - Local design.
36 - Cycle Shelter.
37 - Grocery and Local Produce Store - TB - 9032/40.
40 - Institute & Sergeants Mess - & NAAFI Qtrs. - TB -9024/40& CP115.
108 - Air Raid Shelter for 30 - PB - Local design.

TB - Temporary Brick construction. PB - Perminent Brick.

Sergeants Mess .

Guard room.

Station Office.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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30 - Station Office - TB - 9032/40.
31 - Guard House - TB - 9032/40.
Looking back at the entrance. The guard room on the left and the station office on the right.

A station HQ.

How it may have looked. A TB - 9032/40.

Fire trailer pump.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Between the guard room and the last remaining Bellman hangar was another Bellman, the Armoury, Works Dept store, several air raid shelters, boiler house, dope shop etc.

There were four runways marked out in the grass and one nearest to the watch office had electric lights, others used goose-neck flares. As it was getting dark these would be laid out both sides of the runway in use and filled with paraffin, the wick would then be lit. A horrible job for an Erck to do, he would stink of paraffin afterwards. Also if there was an air raid, all the lights had to be extinguished. That meant going around and replacing the small cap over the hot wick.

Goose Neck Flair..

Guard house in TB.

9026/41 fire tender house.

Later in the war, Jeeps were used as fire tenders and could tow a fire pump.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Looking down at the technical site. MT section straight ahead, main store centre, Bellman Hangar on the right.
To the left side:
14 - Temporary Airmens Married Qtrs 2No. - 9033/40.
27 - M.T. Petrol Instillation 5,000gal. - 4619/40.
36 - Cycle Shelter.
38 - Barbers Taylors & Shoemakers Shop - 9032/40.
39 - Dining Room Civilian & RAF for 552 - 9024/40+FTCW272/41.
94 - Sub-Station-Metal - Brick blast wall - (better known as an M&E Plinth.
To the right side:
    8 - Workshops - TB - 9030/40+FTCW277/43.
    9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
  11 - Parachute Store - TB - 17865/39.
  17 - Link Trainer Building - 2 units - TB - 7790/40.
  18 - Gas Clothing & Respirator Store - TB - 9032/40.
  22 - Bulk Petrol Installation 20,000gal (SD type) - PB - 10946/40.
  23 - Bulk Petrol Installation 25,000gal - Puddled clay - 11270/40.
  25 - M.T. Sheds 15bay - TB - 9026/40.
  26 - M.T. Offices - TB - 9026/40.
  27 - M.T. Petrol Instillation - 5,000gal. - P. Clay - 4619/40.
  28 - Technical Latrine Female - TB - 9032/40.
105 - Air Raid Shelter for 50 - PB - Local.
106 - Library for Hunt Trainer Building reused - N - 7202/43.
107 - Boiler House for Dope Shop in Workshops - TB - FTCW/277/43.
108 - Air Raid Shelter for 50 - PB - Local.

PB -Perminent Brick. TB - Temporary Brick. St - Steel. N - Nissen.

Hunt trainer.

900gal fuel trailer.

PB permanent brick air-raid at RAF Culmhead built as Local.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Not too clearer air photo. Sport and fitness was taken seriously and one hangar was a gymnasium and also a football field added..

1942 saw army glider pilots being trained for future use in the up and coming invasions of Africa & Europe using the Tiger Moths.  By 1943 Manningford RLG was also used as an Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) and around this date the Tiger moths were increased to 108 and the Magisteres were withdrawn. 1944 saw the Royal Navy using Clyffe Pypard with No.1 Naval grading Course.

Gymnasium.

Miles Magister.

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Main Store.

9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
11 - Parachute Store - TB - 17865/39.
18 - Gas Clothing & Respirator Store - TB - 9032/40.
105 - Air Raid Shelter for 50 - PB - Local.

Parachute store .

11 - Parachute Store - TB - 17865/39.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Main Store looking north.

Tyre's in store.

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.

Constant paper work.

Store man.

Store counter.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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 9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
The first main store building, a large long hut with no partitions. A connecting passage to the other stores via a large door on the left in font of the blue trailer.

9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
11 - Parachute Store - TB - 17865/39.
18 - Gas Clothing & Respirator Store - TB - 9032/40.
105 - Air Raid Shelter for 50 - PB - Local.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Now looking from the front door with the passage on the right connecting to the other stores and an offices at the far end.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
The centre section from the front. The main office.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
The connecting doors. There are several of these large doors allowing bulky items to be moved around the store.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Now in the east side with several passages and stores with the original paint on the walls.

 

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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   9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Office or small store room.

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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   9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Office or small store room.

Where the store man ruled.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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 9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
East side, passage with stores & offices either side.

Box found on the floor.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
The original colour on the walls and light fittings.

Light switches, sign. "No unauthorised Persons Beyond this Point".

Hat and coat rack.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Falling to pieces now I'm afraid.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
Falling to pieces now I'm afraid.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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9 - Main Store - TB - 13043/40.
The view the store man would have had.

Outside.

Crittall window frames.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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25 - M.T. Sheds 15bay - TB - 9026/40.
26 - M.T. Offices - TB - 9026/40.
27 - M.T. Petrol Instillation - 5,000gal. - P. Clay - 4619/40.
There was another M.T. shed opposite that mirrored this one but had an office in one end.

details

Plan of an MT Sheds 15Bay 9026/40 with MT Office.

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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25 - M.T. Sheds 15bay - TB - 9026/40.
26 - M.T. Offices - TB - 9026/40.
27 - M.T. Petrol Instillation - 5,000gal. - P. Clay - 4619/40.
Individual parking bay with earth floors and concrete lanes for the tyres Each bay was numbered (inset).

AEC Matador.

 

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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25 - M.T. Sheds 15bay - TB - 9026/40.
26 - M.T. Offices - TB - 9026/40.
27 - M.T. Petrol Instillation - 5,000gal. - P. Clay - 4619/40.
Individual parking bay with earth floors and concrete lanes for the tyres.

Each bay was numbered (inset).

details

 

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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25 - M.T. Sheds 15bay - TB - 9026/40.
26 - M.T. Offices - TB - 9026/40.
27 - M.T. Petrol Instillation - 5,000gal. - P. Clay - 4619/40.
A new barn has been placed over where the other MT shed & office stood.
P. Clay - Puddled clay. Set in clay.

M.T. Petrol Instillation - 5,000gal..

MT workshop inspection pit.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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96 - M.G. Range 25yds - PB - 2904/36&3292/39.
Why a rifle range. Back in 1912 at the start of the Royal Flying Corps, all men being soldiers. Had to fire a rifle. By the outbreak of WW1, all airmen were armed and some had to sleep under the aircraft to guard them with their rifles. By WW2, now the RAF. Aircraft and airfields had to be defended. Although the Battle of Britain was won, there was still the threat of invasion. And by 1941, defences were starting to be built on most airfields. So the Airmen needed to be able to handle a rifle and defending his airfield.
Other uses for the range was to fire the machine guns to check they are OK and also to give airmen machine gun experience.

 

 

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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1 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
2 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
3 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
4 - Hangar Used as Gymnasium Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
(3) - Flight Office - TB - 9031/40. (seems an error in the plan.)
5 - Flight Office & C.F.I. Clerical Staff - TB - 9031/40.
6 - Locker Room & Battery charging room - 9031/40&3037/40. (again an error, I think 6 are the three sheds by hangar 4).
7 - Temporary Airmens Married Qtrs 2of. - TB - 9031/40&3037/40.
16 - Fire Tender Shed - TB - 9032/40.
15 - Watch Office - TB - 9036/40&CP111.
98 - 2 pdr. AA Ammunition Store 5,000 rounds - Concrete - 9895/39.

ST - Steel construction.

There were so many aircraft on these ETFS's that they needed three hangars, the fourth they used as a gymnasium. There were also fifteenl Blister hangars where aircraft could be lightly serviced and stored for the night. If Hangarage was not available, picketing out by either tyeing them to a screw picket or a concrete weight.

Bellman hangar.

 

Blister hangar and a Miles trainer at RAF Hullavington.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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2 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
The base of No.2 hangar.

Door of a Bellman.

Blister hangar.

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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1 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
2 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
3 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
The area of three of the hangars.

 

 

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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1 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
A really good view of a Bellman with all its detail.
4 x Bellman hangars, 1 x Blister, 14 x Standard Blisters.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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1 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.
A 1937 transportable hangar, many hundreds were built and sent all over the world.

Frame structure.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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1 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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1 - Hangar Bellman - St - 8349/37&CP128.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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(3) - Flight Office - TB - 9031/40. (seems an error in the plan).
This could be a flight office, I am not sure what the concrete plinth on the floor was for. Either some engineering purpose for a generator or other piece of machinery, or a dais to stand on and lecture??

details

NAAFI wagon.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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39 - Dining Room Civilian & RAF for 552 - TB - 9024/40&FTCW272/41.
40 - Institute Sergeants Mess & NAAFI Qtrs. - TB - 9025/40&CP115.
41 - Ration Store & Cooling Room TB - 9024/40&CP117g.
42to46 - Barrack Block For 1 NCO & 47 Airmen 90'x18' - 9023/40. (These are all two huts added together to make one large hut).
47 - Officers Dining Hall (converted airmens Barracks) - 2 x Huts - 9023/40
48to53 - Temporary Married Airmens Qtrs. - 9023/40.
54 - Airmens Ablutions & Latrine Block - TB - 9023/40&FTCW194.
56 - Showers & Drying Rm. Sergeants & Airmens 18showers - TB - 9023/40.
57 - Sergeants Qtrs. for 19 60'x18' - Laing - 12292/40.
58 - Cycle Shelter - None.
59, 91, 92,109, 110, 111, 115, 116, 117, 118, - Air Raid Shelters - PB - Local.
60to 65 Civilian & Airmens Barrack Huts - "Y"Hut - 9023/40.
66 - Ablutions -TB - 9023/40.
67 - Male Civilians Bath House & Ablutions - TB - 9023/40.
68 - Civilian Institute for 267 - "Y"Hut - 9022/40.
69to72 - Civilian & Sergeants Qtrs. 60'x18' - "Y"Hut - 12292/40.
73 - Female Civilian Ablutions - TB 9023/40.
75&76 - Male Civilian Qtrs. 60'x18' - Laing - 12292/40.
77 Sick Quarters for 5 Or's & 1 Officer 5+1 beds - TB - 9027/40 &CP99.
78 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - TB - 9027/40.
79 - Gas Decontamination Centre - TB - 10397/40&14016/40.
83 - Officers Mess for 31 - TB - 9020/40.
84to88 - Officers Qtrs. for 8 70'x18' - "Y"Hut - 9021/40.
89 - Officers Bath House & Servants Ablutions, Latrines - TB - 9021/40.
90 - Servants Dormitory & Workroom - TB - 9021/40.
99 - Old Water Res. Farm.
100 - High Level Water Tank 60,000gal - ST - 17233/39.
101to104 Static Water Tanks 20,000gal - PB - 4100/40.

PB - Perminent Brick. TB - Temporary Brick. St - Steel. "Y" Hut - a wooden type hut. Laing - A type of plaster board & Tarred paper hut.

"Y" Hut.

'Y' hutting (from P Francis).

'Laing - A type of plaster board & Tarred paper hut.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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The round plate, looks part of a scaffolding type hand rail, the only one used here would be in the 79 - Gas Decontamination Centre - TB - 10392/40+14016/40.
The British were geared up pre war for a gas attack, all civilians were issued gas masks. Even working horses. The military had specialist buildings to deal with casualties. On larger airfields a four entrance type would be used, three a smaller and as it goes down to wo

79 - Gas Decontamination Centre - TB - 10392/40+14016/40.

Railings in the front, to allow wounded to hold onto them as they enter the building.

16696/39 type. Gives an idea what it would have looked like.

Heating plant room and there was also an conditioning plant room..

Nurses under training.

Shower room..

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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79 - Gas Decontamination Centre - TB - 10392/40+14016/40.
100 - High Level Water Tank 60,000gal - St - 17233/39.
Water supply, I remember seeing a high level Braithwaite water tower many years ago as kid when we passed it by. And also the black wooden huts.

Braithwaite water tower.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Looking back.

Plan.

Blister hangar

Blister hangar with curtains.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Looking forwards.

Plan.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Battle Head Quarters.

Plan.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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133 - Battle Head Quarters . - Brick&concrete - 11008/41.
134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.

Battle Head Quarters.

Cupola.

View inside.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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133 - Battle Head Quarters . - Brick&concrete - 11008/41.
Entrance steps down to the BHQ.
Battle Head Quarters made of brick construction, with a large concrete cupola on the top. A viewing slit 360° to allow full coverage of the airfield surface. By 1940 with an invasion imminent, the ground defence of an airfield was imperative. The Germans in France, Belgium and later in Crete. Had landed paratroopers on to airfields to capture them. So the Air Ministry decided a full defence scheme must be in place. The BHQ was the centre of any defence. Manned by the Officer Commanding the camp and a picked crew of a Warrant Officer, signals man & several runners. The BHQ would be wired in to the camp electrics and the phone system PBX (Private Branch Exchange). Manned on a call from RAF HQ, all staff would rush out to the BHQ, airmen and any defence troops to Pillboxes. There would be a plan in place for what to do with aircraft as well. If and when paratroopers were seen, the commander would order attacks via the PBX phone system and if that did not work, runners would be sent out. Probably using bicycles to get around. All RAF staff would be armed and civilian staff would probably have a plan and would congregate in a safe area. First there would have been a glider/parachute assault and then follow up troops in transport aircraft would land and discharge their troos and cargo.

This was still happening around D-Day 1944, as preemptive attack by paratroops was thought possible.

 

A station Warrant Officer.

PBX exchange.

German paratrooper about to fling himself out..

 

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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133 - Battle Head Quarters . - Brick&concrete - 11008/41.
Inside corridor with the toilet at the far end.

Toilet seat.

Elsan toilet.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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133 - Battle Head Quarters . - Brick&concrete - 11008/41.
Under the cupola.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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133 - Battle Head Quarters . - Brick&concrete - 11008/41.
Escape from the BHQ.

Man hole cover, covering the escape.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.
Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington now hidden in the hedge. FC Construction with a tubular ring supported two Vickers machine guns which could be moved to cover any approach.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.
Entrance into the pillbox.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.
The entrance.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.
Oakington pillbox inside. A tubular ring runs right around the pillbox so a medium machine gun can pivot all the way around.

Vickers K gun.

Oakington elevation.

.303 Vickers K Gun.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.
Shelf brackets, to hold ammunition.

K gun Magazine.

Box of magazines.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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RAF Clyffe Pypard

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134 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.
The view onto the airfield.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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Perimeter track looking west.

Plan.

 

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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The view back to the MT section over the airfield

72 Tiger Moths were on charge and 36 Magisteres. They would use Alton Barnes RLG for daytime training as well with 'A' & 'B' flight, flying out in the morning to Alton Barnes, returning in the evening and 'C' 'D' 'E' & 'F' using Clyffe Pypard.

 

Training for night flying.
The canopy pulled over in day time to simulate night flying.

 

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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154 - Mushroom Pillbox MkII Oakington - Brick&concrete - 9882/41.
Another Oakington pillbox in the far hedge. I think there are about three left here. The area around the pill boxes would have been cleared to allow a 360° view of the area.

Plan somewhere here?

Plan somewhere here?

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War Artist Eric Ravilious 1903 - 1942. He served as a war artist, and was the first British war artist to die on active service in World War II when the aircraft he was in was lost off Iceland.
DH.82A Tiger Moth Z-4749 over Wiltshire. These pictures could have been painted at RAF Yatesbury.

The RAF training program was structured thus: three months at Initial Training School (ITS), two months at Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS), four months at Service Flying Training School (SFTS) and two months at an Operational Training Unit (OTU). And each flight would have around 18 aircraft.  there were five small flight huts dotted around the perimeter and two larger ones by the hangars to accommodate the Chief Flying Instructors CFI and his staff.

History: De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth MSN 84952; Taken on charge as T6638 at 51 MU RAF Lichfield, Staffordshire 02.09.41. To 29 EFTS RAF Clyffe Pypard, Wooton Bassett, Wiltshire 11.09.41. Written off when collided with Tiger Moth T7459 and crashed at Clyffe Pypard, Wiltshire 13.10.41. Both crew - Sergeant H T Weller-Poley (Instructor) and Leading Aircraftsman A T Batman (Pilot Under Training) - survived but injured. Struck off charge 21.10.41 as FACE (Flying Accident Cat. E). (From Aviation Safety Network).

Tiger Moth T6638.

de Havilland aircraft production website.

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RAF Lyneham in the distance.

RAF Lyneham tower.

RAF Lyneham technical area.

RAF Lyneham main runway.

RAF Clyffe Pypard

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© 2013 Richard Drew