Airfield Dumps

I've been buying Flypast since 1981,within one of these early editions was an article about airfield dumps. An un-named chap wrote in to tell of his attempts to dig one of these at an American airfield in Bedfordshire. Apparently the americans dug massive holes and literally bulldozed everything in-to it then laid flat sheets of corrugated from the huts,covered it with soil and left for home as fast as possible. Who can blame them!!! This chap removed layer upon layer of this sheeting then gave up.... or so he reported? I have asked some of the 8th Air Force veterans I've met over the years about these dumps,''We just wanted to get the hell outta here, bury it all and go home'' is more or less what they said. I know of one of these dumps, also in Bedfordshire, though whether or not it's the same one I've no idea. Over the years it's been picked at many times,I've got a few pieces from there. Also Thame/Haddenham airfield produced quite a few items when they were digging the foundations for a new warehouse. Mostly knives and forks,an ink bottle that was half full, or empty. Had that for years along with some RAF plates, though chipped and cracked.

I had the pleasure of taking part in the dig of Stansteds Dump before the expansion in the 1980's.
All I am going to say is that it was mind boggling as to the amount, and nature, of the items dumped.

Yes they were large deep trenches, but not coverd with sheeting as I remember, filled and topped with earth. They took on the appearance of the berms you see in old bomb dumps.