Field capacity to repair, overhall, reconstuct, and build airplanes in W.W.I.I.

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
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"Nick Pedley" wrote in message
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"John Freck" wrote in message
om...
A question has come up on anoouhter thread: Did airbases during
W.W.I.I have mini-factories near-by able to assemble airplanes from a
combination of recylced parts, mini-milled machine parts (ferrous
parts and aluminium parts, but not organic parts), and new spare
parts?

Here's a couple of things I've picked from books and museums....

The 'Block and Cube' test at RAF Halton ....


I did this as part of my mechanical fitters apprenticeship
for ICI in 1968. Its bloody har work and takes a LOT
of man hours.

I'm impressed. I had trouble believing the old boy on his display stand at
an RAF Halton event last year. Just looking at the rough lumps of metal made
me wonder!

I assume any damaged remains would have been taken away for further
repair/disposal at a different location when time allowed, as suggested
by
other people here. Marshalls of Cambridge were involved in this and IIRC
there was a small airstrip somewhere in Anglia purely for a repair
factory,
allowing previously damaged aircraft to fly out.

Nick


Marshalls are based at Cambridge Airport, the runway
can handle aircraft of all sizes, the refurbish 747's and
Tri-Stars there.

Keith

Sorry, should have made myself clear. From reading books like 'Airfields of
the Eighth Army Air Force/9th AAF/Bomber Command/Fighter Command' etc, I
recall reading about a repair location which was little more than a barn
converted into a hangar with a bit of flat field, near a road. Not sure
where it was but am certain it wasn't the Marshalls operation at
Cambridge...

Nick