Aircraft Fighter Pens Discussion Thread

[PNK]

That type is/was quite common and on RSP's showed now earthworks. I don't know the official name. Also I can't seem to find examples! If I do I will post them.

Edit: Kenley had a few I think

[RWC]

Right! I see where you are now, there are no signs of there having been any earthworks but I will make enquiries & let you know.
Mike

I was referring to the three hardstandings on the south east perimeter track, immediately north of the two hangers there. The shape suggests fighter pens but no evidence of earthworks remains to confirm that.

http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepat...&gz=17&oz=7>=1

[ranger]

Happy New Year Guys

Does anyone have any of the drawings of the various fighter pens, I am looking for copies of either 11070/40 or type A, would be most grateful for any help. regards Ranger

[norwichpaul]

No chance, 11070/40 does not exist anymore - anywhere.

[Mr. Jericho]

Just read the list of fighter pen sites and noticed that there is no mention of RAF Fairwood Common. The airfield had nine twin engine fighter pens (type B FCW4513 drawing No. 7151/41) of which 5 survive, while there were 6 single engine fighter pens (11070/40), of which possibly three are still extant, though heavily overgrown.pen4.jpg

[tigger]

Kenley & Fairwood Common details added to the audit post.

St Eval, Valley and Wrexham added as 'unknown'

[mawganmad]

Thanks for adding them Tigger, sorry I wish I had the knowledge to be more precise,
but going from vertical images:
Valley 6 twin engine & 6 single engine size A or B types
Wrexham 6 A or B
St Eval, 11 seen - possibly 12 twin engined, A or B types, plus smaller straight wall ('E'?) types. They don't show on the 1944 RSPs.
Valley and St Evals pens don't seem to have even lasted the duration of the war, being levelled with various runway and taxiway works, Wrexhams survived the war, but obviously the whole airfield has since been eradicated.

[mawganmad]

Llanbedr needs to be added as well, 6 twin engined fighter type A or B.

By the way is there an easy way of telling an A from a B in vertical images?
In fact is there a definitve guide (hopefully illustrated!) to different types of fighter pens, I'm finding all sorts of odd types some 'U', 'V' and 'E' shaped in planform.

[norwichpaul]

I think Type A (12590/39) are those with straight sides and which were only built on the pre-war stations. The others with slightly curved walls are type B (11070/40, 7151/41, FCW 4513). Yes other shapes include V (tail bays) plus other shapes (even a C shape).So Llanbedr are all type B.

[mawganmad]

Thanks Paul, that sounds about right. I'm surprised at how many airfields had them which I hadn't realised they had before now.
For scale I'm using the runway widths as a guide, ie if the pen has the same span as the runway width (150 ft generally) it's a twin engined type, if slighty greater than 3/4rs of the width its a smaller single engined type - would this be correct?