RAF aerodrome by Alan Sorrell

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Owen, Jun 22, 2017.

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  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  2. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    When I first saw the painting,it occurred to me that it was an typical airfield with 3 runways but one,as the war progressed, appeared to have had its main runway extended as seen left bottom.

    The odd point with the airfield is that an industrial process is on the site as portrayed by the smoking chimney and other smoking chimneys are in the vicinity of the airfield.

    No success in identifying the airfield and cannot make out the usual accommodation buildings,ie,domestic sites which normally for a wartime airfield would be remote from the operational areas.
     
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  3. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Further thoughts on the airfield...I think that Sorrell's painting depicts a typical wartime airfield and not a painting of an actual airfield....UK Art might have further information on the painting.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Last edited: Jun 23, 2017
  5. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    I do like artwork like this. It's different.
    Reminds me of this kind of aviation artwork.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Blutto

    Blutto Banned

    Spent an hour or so reading through anything I could find on-line, but zilch. The only one I found with an identified location is the FIDO painting.
     
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  7. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    As to identity, I think it's a case of artist's licence, possibly "security" considerations.

    The top of the picture is probably north, the wind is conveniently blowing strongly south-west, the sun is in the east.

    The layout is not quite right for Stansted Mountfichet but there are a couple of features which suggest that Alan Sorrell had seen the OS. Map and had been to site. The decision to proceed with the aerodrome was taken in 1941 and it opened in late 1943, having been built and then operated by the Americans.

    The path to the south bordering the writing "Army in occupation" and leading to the end of the runway looks similar, but the main feature is the semi-circle to the right ( east ) which could be the old moat of the old "Bassingbourn Hall" ( note, not the place of that name near Royston ) and its relationship to the then current Bassingbourn Hall in the painting ( see the cross in the circle ( not made by me ! ). Map found on MAF/140/7 at Kew.

    As to the artist, thanks for pointing him out, I was unaware of him, and the picture of Spitfires.

    Bassingbourn Hall.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2017
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  8. Blutto

    Blutto Banned

    Having lived nearby for years and worked there for a few, I initially looked at Stansted as a possibility, but angles were not right and building locations didn't seem correct. However, I wouldn't argue against that artistic licence may have given it a little 'eau de Stansted'.

    Attached from Wikipedia is a 1947 aerial photo of Stansted. Lots of dispersals, but not so many buildings.
     

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    Last edited: Jun 25, 2017
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  9. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    The artist was employed by the RAF to help camouflage airfields: he did a good job with this painting.
     

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