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 20th Century Military
Archaeology - Paul Francis
Airfield Defences
20th Century Military Archaeology is a new
thematic-style part-work which we (ARG) hope will inform and encourage the
reader to carry out further research and fieldwork to enhance their own
knowledge.
Although still in the planning stage, it is hoped that following this one, the
next eight issues will each loosely correspond to a chapter in my ‘British
Military Airfield Architecture’ book, published in 1996. It is also planned to
include a ‘guest’ author for each book. Other books in the series might include
'War Diaries', the first of which could be Northolt, followed by Scampton and
then Oakington.
Each issue will be limited to 500 copies only, will only be available through
AiX / ARG via this forum or its web sites or from ARG organised events. A
percentage of the profit will go towards the AiX-ARG Archive and towards funding
the next issue.
This first issue is Airfield Defences, containing twelve independent parts, most
of which are based on old archaeology reports. Steve Thompson (cptpies) is the
guest author of Issue 1.
Issue 1
This book is A4, perfect bound, soft cover 128 (plus eight) pages, illustrated
with photos, diagrams and airfield site plans. It examines through field work
and primary sources, the planning and operational aspect of airfield defence. It
also includes an in-depth study based around defence schemes of RAF Shawbury and
RAF Jurby plus another more general one of airfields around London.
Parts:
1: World War Two Defences
2: Airfield Plans – Armed Defence & Passive Air Defence Definitions
3: Through Thick and Thin
4: Airfield Defence Scheme Organisation - RAF Shawbury
5: The Lifting & Turning Fort at RAF Middle Wallop
6: Defence of London District ADGB Aerodromes
7: Ground Defences at Exeter Airport – A Case Study
8: Commanding Officer’s Battle Headquarters & Station Control
9: FC Construction & FW3/22 Pillboxes at RAF Oakington
10: RAF Culmhead Airfield Defences – A Case Study
11: Defence of RAF Jurby
12: Defensive Fighting Positions at RAF Upper Heyford |
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AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION SERVICE
Anthony Betts - (Airfield Research Publishing)
Behind the day to day story of the activities
of the Royal Air Force is the little known story of the men who
built the landing strips and airfields; of men who did not fight
with guns but with theodolites and bulldozers. Without the
contribution from these Airmen of the Airfield Construction
Service many of our aeroplanes would not have got into the air
to offer air cover for our ground forces.
The book deals with the formative years of the Airfield
Construction service from it's inception in 1939 through to the
close of the war with the partial disbandment of the ACS. It
includes eye witness accounts along with details extracted from
official records, newspapers and magazines published at the
time. A theme throughout the book is the late father of the
author who served with 5202 Plant Squadron driving a Galion
Grader during the period 1943 to 1946.
The Airfield Construction Service constructed airfields using
both temporary and permanent construction and all the required
services in Iceland, The Azores, the Middle East, Malta,
Singapore, Hong Kong as well as on the continent very soon after
D Day. They were the first allied troops to liberate Hong Kong
after the surrender of the Japanese.
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