1942 plans,i like the sound of that,iv looked at aerial photos but doesnt tell whats what,i think a visit to the hospital is a good idea,if the tett rumour is true
i needed a bunker hit so i popped down the road to the viaduct at wakes colne,part of the eastern command line, a couple of large vickers ?pill boxes,2 mortar spigots and anti tank blocks,the clylinders where the same as the one at river near car park at hornchurch,but had been moved from original location (possibly either side of the river,round base under new footbridge, this marks the spot of the road block ,another pillbox and block on the other side of the road, edit, found this
Griffon, wasn't aware of the 'cylinder', do you know what it was for? The steel 'pin' on the spigot mortar post always amazes me - I have yet to see one that doesen't look like it was made yesterday. Mike
funny you should say that mike,the pin on the other one is not the same steel, its rusty the cylinder in photo was removed from the river after the war,so i guess the one at hornchurch was in the river too edit: photo of hornchurch cylinder
Ah, I think I have seen that Griffon, didn't realise it was part of the defences. I thought it might have been something to do with water storage or drainage. Mike
Rob/Griffon, are we still on for this Saturday? If so we need to arrange time and place. Probably best by PM. Mike
hello mike,sorry for late reply,i totally forgot .please accept my apology. if we can re schedule ,i wont let you down duxford next weekend,so apart from then but can do tomorrow 4th
Griffon65, No problem mate, see notifications. Can reschedule for another date as long as it is a weekend (Saturdays best). In fact after yesterday's tour might be better for a winter visit, less vegitation. Might be best to talk by PM/email if you have dates in mind. Thought you had dropped off the radar! Mike
Found this site today, whilst googling for maps of RAF Hornchurch, because I'm confused by the pics I've seen already! Does anyone know for sure, if the officers mess was opposite the main entrance?
Hi Tallyho Mike L has a copy of the plans for the site and should be able to confirm what you want to know. Regards - Rob
Hi Tallyho. Officers Mess still exists, it is very close to former main site entrance along with senior ranks and some married quarters (also existing). As Rob (Ramacal) has suggested I have a 1942 plan of the airfield and detailed list of buildings then present. If you have specific questions post here or PM me and I will try to answer them. Be advised though within the boundary of the main site very few structures exist apart from a few Tett Turrets, pill boxes, and an E-Pen and gun position. There are a couple of foundations for Radar and guns slightly off-site but accessible if you know where to look. Mike
Can anyone put me in touch with Richard Smith? I'm working on a film script about Robert Stanford-Tuck and have a question about Hornchurch. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!
Hi Aero and welcome. I will send Richard C Smith's address and phone number (the ones I have for him anyway) to you in a PM. Cheers, Mike
This may be of interest. BBC - Archive - WWII: The Battle of Britain - Two Men in a Trench | The Battle of Britain
Aero, Checked the plan and list of buildings I have (1942) and 'messes' are listed below: Bldg 11 Officers Mess & quarters (existing). Bldg 18 Sgts Mess. There is no apparent indiction that there were seperate Messes for two squadrons. There are, however, two buildings listed as 'Dining rooms': Bldg 23 Dining room & cookhouse (304). Bldg 95 Dining room for 360. Both quite close to the parade ground. And two 'pilots rooms': Bldg 43 Pilots room No1. Bldg 44 Pilots room No2. but due to the small scale of the plan I cannot identify the locations of the latter two. There are over 200 'buildings' listed on the plan including Parade Ground, tennis courts etc as well as defensive, Admin, technical bldgs etc. So there is some evidence that seperate facilities were provided for two squadrons, but not messes. Hope that is of some help If you still want me to (after your PM) I will contact Richard Smith on your behalf and ask the relevant questions. Out of interest can you shed a little more light on your Stanford Tuck film script? Mike
Oh, don't know if anyone may be interested but my father found himself stationed at Hornchurch sometime between 1944-46, he was a Lancaster bomber pilot in 5 Group Bomber Command so not sure quite why one of his posting's was to a fighter field... but he was at some point, either during flight training or whatever... perhaps post hostilities on care & maintainance? I clearly remember him telling me there was a recurrent phenomenon in the watch house of a panic stricken German voice coming through on the R/T, from a pilot obviously about to crash or in bitter aerial combat.... but when no kites (theirs or ours) were flying! This disembodied voice used to cry "Mutti, Mutti" amongst other things, but that's what stuck in my mind from him telling me. So dreadfully sad Mike
My dad lives on Berry Close, which is literally on top of where the first airstrip was (by the spitfire fighter pen which is now the main country park car park. I've spent the most of this year researching the airfield and reading the books by Richard C Smith, and was fortunate to catch him at the Military show over at Damyn's Hall in Upminster this summer. I grew up in a house in the surrounding area, Jersey Road, which according to my neighbour, was pretty scary as the spitfires would literally be 10 meters - if that, above the houses, however at the time he was 92 by the time and i moved out at age 7, so unfortunately i had little interest or knowledge of the war at the time - as i was too busy running round in circles or being distracted by jelly! but regardless, the area is practically my home! Anyway, I've spent countless hours over the park exploring, and only recently started taking proper notice of everything that's still there - my friends are already bored of my guided tours and knowledge of Tett Turrets or Type 22 Pillboxes. I know this post is 5 years old, however it's something i'm constantly interested in and would love to chat about with anyone who shares the same interest for it! Cheers, Looking forward to any responses! Nick
