WW2 Langham training dome restoration complete

Chaps,

This just popped up on the radar, as it were..

'Restoration on an at-risk World War Two building which was used to train anti-aircraft gunners has been completed.
Langham Dome in north Norfolk, one of only six remaining training domes in the country, was built in 1942 and sits on the edge of a former RAF base. Film of enemy planes was projected onto its walls for target practise.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-28704885

CS

 

Very interesting CS.

There was a similar 'dome trainer' at Hornchurch airfield until I think the 1970s when it was demolished with explosives. See attached copy from an airfield plan published by After The Battle magazine. The dome trainer is just below the Good Intent pub in the centre of the view, very popular with both air and ground crew during WW2! I used the ATB plan to produce a CAD drawing of the whole airfield.

The associated 'reference' document gives drawing numbers for the dome as '10 WA drawing number 1590' and 'AM or FCW drawing number 73/42'. Many of these drawings are still available in DORIS, at the RAF museum, Hendon.

Local rumours before the Hornchurch dome was destroyed was that it was some sort of radar device or a bombing trainer but that is now known to be incorrect.

Glad to see one has been restored.

 

Thanks, Mike, I had no idea one had survived at Hornchurch. Ironic, really, as few years ago I spent days poring over aerial photographs of Hornchurch trying to see 'interesting' stuff.

If the restored dome at Langham has a working AA training projector then I would be very keen to visit.

CS

 

CS,

Thank you for the very informative post.

I was aware of several Training methods, but not this dome projector type.

Regards
Tom

 

A pleasure!

CS

 

Hi,

Talking of Dome Trainers.

When I served on 1 (LLAD) Sqn RAF Regiment armed with Bofor L40/70 in 1967 we used an inflatable Dome Trainer. A Bofor Gun was placed in the centre of the Dome and a Cine Projector used the inside of the Dome as a screen to practice laying against various types of target.


Regards, Mick D.

 

According to 'First Things First' by Eric Smith the dome trainer at Hornchurch was 60 feet diameter and could simulate aircraft approaches by engine noise. Strangely no mention of any visual projection but I am sure it would have been used, otherwise I can't see the need for a hemisherical building.

Attached screenshot of the CAD plan of the whole airfield. Suttons School top, St Georges Hospital top right and No2 and 3 flightways crossing Southend Road left just below centre. Compare it to the fairly recent aerial view.

Not much of the airfield left now, after being used for gravel extraction most of it was made into a country park. Some pillboxes and a dispersal bay exist (the dispersal bay is now the country park car park) and reputedly the largest surviving number of Tett turrets in the country. The Officers Mess is now a health centre and several other Officers and NCOs houses are now privately owned.

 

Hi Mike L,

Thanks for that gen.

Our Dome Trainer had the 16mm Projector sat behind the gun and the gun crew could carry out their drills as well as the layer/s depending if the test team suddenly cut the power to the Gun and the order "Set to Manual" was given.

Also it was bloody noisey inside the Dome which was set up in a hanger. A Medows generator running outside the dome and even the clatter of the cine Projector was noisy. The testers could project a spot of light onto the inside of the dome to check if the lay would be effective.


Regards, Mick D