Military Towers before 1945

The role of  wartime and pre 1939 Flying Control personnel is very under reported, although the Airfield Research Society and its predecessor have published some excellent material. We have published some great memories by Eric Mathews (FLYING CONTROL WW2) and a selection of anonymous photos but would like even more information. Again  using material from Barry Davidson’s collection, here are a couple of wartime stations, plus one or two from other sources via John Levesley.

two links to photos in the IWMs collection

RAF Linton on Ouse  This seems to show the Units Ops Block/Plotting Room also being used for air ground wireless communications.

Here are some photos for inspiration, please send us Flying Control Stories.

RAF Colbey Grange

RAF Desford 1928

RAF Desford 1935 or later

RAF Beaulieu 1945 (Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment)

RAF Stoney Cross 1945 – 46

Stoney Cross Runway caravan and a 46 squadron DC-3 landing

DC-3 KG770 of 46 Squadron at Stoney Cross along with three Airspeed Oxfords from different units.

Stoney Cross sports day, non-standard starting gun

Our Friends at the Control Tower site have asked for more input on the following 3 towers.

MT1a a USAAF manned tower on an airfield with a runway 06. One vehicle (second right) is a Command Car usually reserved for high rank officers.

MT1e Terry Clark suggests “I’ve found 3 towers with this ‘full width’ VCR added, Coleby Grange, Tangmere and Weston Zoyland. The first two appear to have the stairs to the roof/VCR on the wrong side, so I would suggest it’s Weston Zoyland with an additional post war ‘scaffolding’ holding the anemometer, (photo I found was dated 1954) the airfield remaining in flying use until 1958”.

MT1f  One suggestion is Snetterton Heath in which case the home squadrons flew B-26s and B-17s? There is one Mustang parked up far right but the other indistinct aircraft look more like B-24s, twin fin, high wing. Looking through the B-24 allocations with the Eighth Airforce the tower doesn’t match any I can find photos of,  the number of slit windows and lack of a high stairwell at the back make it distinctive. There are three that are not recorded photographically so far as far as I can establish;  Boxted, Cheddington and Mendlesham. Of these three the last two had B-24 units so maybe its one of those?