Hangar identification

[NigeF-51]

Hi,
I recently obtained a copy of the AM drawing for RAF Steeple Morden (No. 1916/45) and one of the buildings is listed as an "Aircraft Shed" and under the construction details it states "Strausler-Fleming". I've never heard of this type before and googling returned no results.
Can anyone help with any info/drawings photos etc, please?
I am currently trying to model the airfield for FSX and would like to get it as correct as possible.

Regards,
Nige

[norwichpaul]

New on on me!

[REF]

I have site plans for Steeple Morden at home so will check later and let you know what I have on my plans.

Sadly I have no internet at home (until thursday anyway!) so I am relying on bringing the laptop up to the folks place once a day to check aix!!!

[CDP]

Whilst no drawing number is given for the Strausler Flemming aircraft shed, just a thought, it's not some US-design is it? Blister perhaps?

Chris

[papabravo]

Can't see it on the [undated] site plan in the Steeple Morden book by Ken Wells - one T2 and several Blisters are all that is shown.

[CDP]

papabravo - it's on (well, was) the west side of the airfield behind Lower Gately Farm, roughly here on what looked like a large-than-usual frying-pan dispersal.

Hope that helps a little. Not much to go on though, I'm afraid.

Chris

[PETERTHEEATER]

Hi,
I recently obtained a copy of the AM drawing for RAF Steeple Morden (No. 1916/45) and one of the buildings is listed as an "Aircraft Shed" and under the construction details it states "Strausler-Fleming". I've never heard of this type before and googling returned no results.
Can anyone help with any info/drawings photos etc, please?
I am currently trying to model the airfield for FSX and would like to get it as correct as possible.

Regards,
Nige

This company possibly:

During the period 1928-33 Nicholas Straussler's company Folding Boats and Structures Ltd was enaged in design of bridging equipment and devices to make tanks float. Following these activities Straussler concentrated more on vehicular developments but soon after the outbreak of war he invented a brilliant construction to convert existing tanks to amphibians which upon landing could shed all this equipment and engage in combat. It comprised a collapsible rubberised canvas screen - held rigid by compressed air in tubes - and a propulsion system. The invention became known as DD for Duplex Drive.

'Folding Boats and Structures LTd' so at some point he may have turned his hand to simple hangar construction using rubberised canvas. Just a thought.

Wiki has this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Straussler

[historymadd]

hi there

just wondered if you all knew of this link to defence eststes website

http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/publi ... dmg_24.pdf
http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/publi ... dmg_25.pdf

cheers

[papabravo]

Interesting Chris.The plan shows a round pan type dispersal just North of that farm - the same size dispersal elsewhere has a blister hangar the width of the diameter. That particular one has the same symbol [a black square] on it but only taking up half the width of the pan.
There is a larger square shaped pan on the same stretch of peritrack but just South of the farm which has nothing upon it.
The book says that 55 concrete hardstandings were constructed in 1941 with some pierced steel plank ones later. The T2 ,seven blisters and the control tower were constructed in 1943.
The plan is rather difficult to read precisely as the blisters,although labelled as such, are shown as black squares as are other structures which might or might not be the same - if they are there are at least 23 that I've counted.

[P Bellamy]

I'm sure I've seen photo's of USAAF Fighter Groups in the 8AF using canvas hangars, maybe one of those types?

PB