Charlton Horethorne

**PNK** · 08-03-2011, 13:28

1947 aerial photo coverage available on the photo layer at this site

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/map.asp?flash=true

You will have to navigete to ther correct location first then turn on 1947 layer and turn off all others. I think most of the airfield and surrounding area has full coverage.
It can be a bit fickle so you may want to go to it via a query.

**Carnaby** · 08-03-2011, 15:23

Some additional data from ADM 239/362 (1944)

Sick Bay in central camp site. RN Auxiliary hospital in Sherborne - 3.5 miles south.

Living quarters - 3 sites about 0.5 mile south of airfield for:

62 officers, 457 Chiefs, POs and ratings, 73 WRENs + 1 Officer.

2 Squadron hangars 60 x 84 x 17 foot high, door width 55 foot.
4 Super Blisters 91 x 45 x 20 foot at centre.

Explosives - for 0.5 TBR and 2 FF Squadrons.. Armouries for 2 squadrons

(Torpedo Bomber, Recce and Fleet Fighter ?)

No bombing or firing ranges.

I remember from somewhere (TNA) the Navy urgently needed another station in this area and were considering building one at Hornblotton a few miles to the north-east.

**Carnaby** · 08-03-2011, 16:22

Originally Posted by PNK

1947 aerial photo coverage available on the photo layer at this site... It can be a bit fickle so you may want to go to it via a query.

Cant' get the maps to work at all on this site, Peter. Just get blank squares, or 'Waiting for...' I've downloaded the user guide, registered and tried IE and Firefox - even dropped the Virus and firewall for a short period.
The ResponseMX link below the map also gives me a 'Can't find server...' message.

Meanwhile one domestic site, plus sewage works is here

And this is interesting

**PNK** · 08-03-2011, 17:22

Oh dear, the Somerset Maps seem to be broken again. I seem to recall this happens everytime Flash updates (IMHO a pile of poo (Flash that is) that always causes me problems). It might be worth trying in a few days. Incidentally if you register you can get more information about sites, usually the non military stuff, but I think it also enables a closer zoom on the APs - when working!

**Richard Drew** · 08-03-2011, 19:46

I have covered most of CH on my website.

http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlant...tml/page01.htm

The site of the Sherborne hospital is still there with the isolation ward still in place but all other hutting removed bar a couple. The water tower a massive brick built large type was removed by my last visit and I never did get any photos of it. Ended its life as a Polish resettlement camp. 16Lwowski Baon Strz.Haydon Park Camp, Sherborne, Dorset

**Carnaby** · 08-03-2011, 20:44

Excellent coverage there, Richard.

**Richard Drew** · 08-03-2011, 20:55

Thank you it took me a long time to get a handle on it. The black & white air photo was printed in all the books upside down, then there was the control tower that actually is a private house and always has been & that it was supposed to be a hidden RAF airfield. After several visit I noticed the stone walls, there are no stone walls in the area. They are made from the rubble of the peri track. It is also very dispersed and there are buildings that look RAF all over the south side. Nice to see the standby set house in reasonable condition. Every time I visit I find more.

Richard

**PETERTHEEATER** · 09-03-2011, 01:54

I think that you may be right Graham, I forgot to check a post-war storage connection. I must find where I saw that aerial photo......!

**Annek** · 02-07-2011, 13:59

My father was stationed at Charlton Hawthorne [HMS Heron 2] from 1942 to 1944 with 790 Squadron RNAS. From there he flew mainly Fulmars but also Oxfords.