Whilst looking at some TNA files I copied some years ago I noticed one on SLGs whose reference is AVIA 15/696. It contained a few interesting items.
Fund approval for SLG improvemts
January 1942 - A 'T' shaped concrete hardstasnd for jacking purpose was required at Rudbaxton, Berrow, Chepstow, Stavithis and Lennoxlove. Up to that time only Barnsley Park had one.
February 1942 - Petrol compounds required at Rudbaxton and Chepstow. Petrol compounds were requested for all SLGs in January 1942.
February 1942 - Test butts to be constructed at "several" MAP SLGs and the drawings quoted were 12312/41 and 1226/41.
Unknown SLGs never completed
Calmsden, Gloucestershire
Kayshill, Ayrshire (we have a thread on this one)
Picton, Pembrokeshire
Air Ministry (AM) Involvement in SLGs
This is from the period up to June 1941 and before some SLGs were upgraded to full airfields.
Bodorgan - Landing ground constructed by the AM.
Ollerton - Landing ground partly constructed by the AM
Findo Gask - AM had used part of the site as a landing ground for a while but carried out little or no work on the airfield.
Blidworth - Same as Findo Gask.
Winterseugh - Little or no work carried out by AM.
Bush Barn - A small amount of work had been carried out by the AM.
Townsend - A certain amount of work was carried out by the AM, having been used as a an LG for some time.
Brinkley - Same as Townsend.
Note: As with all official documents the dates can be misleading as they can be the correct date, the date a key memo was written, or the date of the meeting where the subject was discussed. Often only the last two versions are recorded.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
I gather the Imperial War Museum has a folder of aerial photographs from 1941/2 of many SLGs, has anyone viewed these and if so are they worth getting copied?
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
My recollection is that SLG's as a whole were first mentioned publically in Aviation News, back in the seventies. Having just flicked through the AHB book "Maintenance" I see there is a list of all the SLG's along with build dates. As this was published in 1954 was this not publically available until the seventies? Or was my recollection based on the first time I personally saw them mentioned?
The past seems to get muddier as I get older and although I can recall more events and places I cannot always place them in a time context.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
I know that the field which became Bridleway Gate SLG in Shropshire - between Shawbury and Sleap - is still pretty much exactly the same shape and format that it was during WW2. Many of the concrete hardstandings for Blister Hangars scattered around the perimeter appear, indeed, to still be in situ. The buildings appear to have gone, though, replaced by a more modern dwelling. The driveway for that house, however, is probably WW2 vintage in location, if not construction.
Unfortunately, I'm now too far away from it to do a photo recce on it, but if anyone is interested enough, I may be able to enlist the assistance of my father, who still lives in the area, once restrictions ease?
Was the term Satellite Landing Ground (SLG) used in any other context? I know that ALG, RLG and ELG were used pre-war and cannot be used to imply a certain type of airfield or period of airfields.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
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