Class A - numbers and costs?

Can the gurus here tell me just how many Class A airfields were built in the UK during WWII? I can't find a definitive figure anywhere.

And is the (circa) £1 million cost of each one still regarded as about right? I'm trying to get my head round the total cost of the building programme in 1940s money - on the assumption the airfields were built 'at cost price', without any profit element for the contractors.

Thanks,
sumter

I suppose what I really want to find out is how many three-runway airfields, like the Class A pattern, were built during the war years - a ball-park figure for the average non-expert Joe to understand.

I've just had a look at David J. Smith's book Britain's Military Airfields. Those of you who've read it will know it says the government (specifically, the AMDGW) spent £600 million on airfields (and other related construction) during the war years.

That translates to about £24 billion in today's money - although "what-it's-worth-today" comparisons depend on lots of different criteria, and can be misleading. I suspect the true like-for-like figure for, quote, "the largest construction programme in British history" is considerably higher.

Another way of looking at it might be to ask what the equivalent of a wartime 'Class A' bomber station would cost to build today - relative to other modern public works such a stretch of six-lane motorway, a new school or a hospital. Of course, a profit element would have to be factored in for the airfield - something that was absent from the contractors' invoices in WWII.

I'd still like to find an approximate figure for the number of what I'd call 'proper' airfields built in the war years; i.e., Class A-type, or others, with paved runways. David J. Smith's book details a total requirement of 740 airfields of various sorts for the Allied air campaign. Did they all see the light of day?

I just happen to think "the largest construction programme in British history" should be proclaimed and bolstered with some of the mind-boggling stats about it that remain hidden!

Is the definition of a class A airfield one with three runways?? I know Leuchars was only built with two, and both are still in use.

Yes, but surely Leuchars - along with most RAF bases active today - is a pre-war airfield with permanent structures - part of the RAF's expansion period of the 1930s (including, Canberra, Marham!).

I'm interested in those built during the war, and referred to by some as 'emergency' airfields.

Yes it is of course pre war along with Marham, but as I said what is the definition of a class A airfield?????? Would for instance Lossiemouth with three runways be a class A airfield and if so what defintion would Leuchars have?

Simply stated, it was a WWII specification for a temporary airfield comprising three intersecting paved runways and a connected perimeter track, with associated hardstands. The vast majority of disused military airfields in the UK are of this type.

As PNK says above, the specification changed incrementally.

See here . But I imagine the AiX top brass have much better definitions......

I doubt this helps, but St Mawgan, a large three runway airfield built in 1942-43 cost 2 million pounds, this was the amount charged by the contractor - Costains.
I do not know what was included, such as parts or lighting etc, but would guess it did cover everything as specialist contractors would come under the main contractor and pricing normally.