Interesting BoB photo

[first-things-first]

Hi All

Found this photo whilst searching the net.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~no...2-603-spit.jpg

(from http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~no...l/spitfire.htm).

The interesting point is the steam (traction?) engine in the background.

I assume it was used as a road roller to flatten any filled in damage on the airfields or tarmac? Did they roll the ground to keep it flat as possible as Hornchurch was only a grass airfield?

The thought that came to mind was that it would have been very interesting trundling along in a steam roller at 8 mph when an air raid was on!

Cheers

Andrew

[rakinroll]

Good story mate, thank you.

[hellbomber]

Cool Story Bro!

[Davedog74]

a great shot,i lived in hornchurch for my first 24 years ,the part of the airfield pictured is still there,but looks a lot different,never really thought about that but reckon the two runways were rolled,but it did recieve bomb damage so could be for that too

the cogs in my head are turning now,your name,its motto,are you from hornchurch ?

[first-things-first]

@Davedog74

Bingo! Indeed I am.

The "airfield" (what was left of it) was my playground in my younger years.

The country park is great for unwinding.

Hornchurch was the second most bombed airfield in fighter command during the battle (behind Biggin Hill) so I am sure there were a lot of holes to fill!

Cheers

Andrew

[Davedog74]

i thought so,yep used to camp out,airgun fights etc,over there,ii went to abbs cross,lived in warren drive,devonshire rd,still got pals there,have you been to the aa gun site near moby dick,chadwell heath ?if you havnt,take a look,and purfleet museum,go on the right day and you can meet pilots and ground crew.

[first-things-first]

Sanders for me.

Never knew about the aa gun site (fascinating link on the Barking & Dagenham website about it and its' listing). Thanks! Looks like an island on Google maps with all the gravel extraction around it!

Been to Purfleet many times and met many of the veterans. Strangely, a man that used to sell insurance to my parents was a fitter for 54 sqn. and we never knew until we saw him on an open day!

Duxford Flying Legends has been great for meeting the veterans. Nice to have met some of the "other side" such as Gunther Rall as well.

Cheers

Andrew

[Davedog74]

purfleet is a good little place,v,interesting yes,the barracks has been excavated(found 1000kg bomb) its all fenced off now but have a chat with the guys there and they might let u have a butchers,i think they have open days,i took shots but doesnt do it justice.

have you got the richard smith hornchurch books?

[brando]

Yes, the vehicle shown is indeed a steam-roller, as opposed to a steam traction-engine which is a different beast altogether. Traction is the key word, as the smooth-wheeled 'roller' couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding It was very effective at compacting infilled bomb-craters though.

Steam-powered vehicles were still common in this era. Steam traction engines were used to power threshing machines at harvest times - and usually towed these threshers from farm to farm. When I was young it was still possible to find signs where road-bridges crossed railways, warning of the maximum speed for 'locomotives' crossing the bridge. I think they were limited to 4 miles per hour.

[first-things-first]

@Davedog74

Thanks for the picture. Shame it is in such disrepair. It needs some replica guns to show the context and hopefully it will get some support as it seems there is a "ZE1" support group in the area (according to the council website).

The google maps satellite image shows it in much better shape undergrowth wise - looks like green grass not brambles!

@brando

Thanks for the clarification - was surprised that steam was still in use on a modern airfield - would have expected a roller pulled by a truck or similar.

I will not go down the route of asking for steam rollers in SoW - can you imagine the flame wars about the wrong type of steam or Arkwrights grundle whatsit