RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Gloucester

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Details

When the RAF started their expansion Scheme 'A' 1934 and continued through to 'M' 1938. The airfield design was quite a tight knit unit. As in the picture of Dishforth. Three, four or five hangars in a semi circle to the landing ground and behind the technical site, with two fuel installations each side, a bomb store out on the perimeter and behind the technical site the living or communal site. With Officers, Sergeants Mess's. Mens Institute, H barrack buildings. Etc. With the start of the war and the real threat of bombing, the RAF had to re design their ideas and here they had their technical site and Instructional by the airfield but their communal sites a long way back and also hidden in woodland.

RAF Dishforth expansion period.

RAF Wyton expansion period..

RAF Southrop WW2.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Details

Each dispersed area was named and numbered. The main area was the Communal site where the Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess, and Institute.
Our route (in 2004) we came in from the north and walked down the main track and worked our way to the Sewage Site in the south. Site No1, No.2 and the WAAF Site we did not visit on this trip.

50 - Officers Mess Type '68' - TB - 2440/41 + 10216/42.

52 - Sergeants Mess - TB - 3441/41 + 10217/42.

56 - Institute & NAFI Staff Qtrs. - TB - 3446/41 + 10219/42.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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Macaroni Wood.

 

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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The walk in on a lovely Autumn day.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Stanton air-raid shelter

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Stanton air-raid shelter.

 

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Stanton air-raid shelter

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Brick entrance.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Stanton air-raid shelter

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Escape.

 

 

Escape.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Stanton air-raid shelter

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A complete shelter.
They would hold around 30/32 people and if you count the shelters, multiply by about 30 and you have the number of men/women stationed in the area.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Site No 3
242 - Officers Ablutions & Latrines - TB

Details

Inside how it may have looked.

RAF Charmy Down.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Site No 3
242 - Officers Ablutions & Latrines - TB

Details

Base for a pot bellied stove, to keep the airmen worm in their showers.

Stove on its concrete plinth.

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, No 3
242 - Officers Ablutions & Latrines - TB

Details

One of the wash rooms.

Plan of baths & showers in a 7665/39.

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Site No 3
242 - Officers Ablutions & Latrines - TB

Details

Sink shelf for washing.

A concrete sink would have sat on the top.

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Site No 3
230 - Picket Post - TB - 3443/41

Details

Picket Post for Site 3, this post is where every serviceman/woman who entered the site or left the site, would have to sign in & out.

Plan of a Picket Post.

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Details

Details
50 - Officers Mess Type '68' - TB - 34404/41 + 10216/42.
51 - Officers Bath House & Latrines - TB - 3449/41.
52 - Sergeants Mess Type '199' - TB - 3441/41 + 102177/42.
54 - Dining Room Type '673' - TB - 3445/41 + 10218/42.
56 - Institute & NAAFI staff Qtrs. - TB - 3446/41.
58 - Airmen´s Showers & Ablutions - TB - 3449/41.
62 - Stand-by Set House - B - 10883/41.
63 - WAAF Rest Room 10215/42 + TO4929.
64 - High Level Water Tank 30,000gals - St - TD. 4094.

Braithwaite water tower.

Officers mess.

Institute.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
59 - Airmen´s Latrine - TB -3443/41

Details

.An elongated 3443/41 latrine with possibly a washing area added on.

Plan.

Plan.

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Hypholoma fasciculare (Sulphur Tuft)

Details

These are widespread throughout the UK and are found in woods and forests on dead or decaying wood. Vomiting and stomach aches are just two of the consequences of eating this type of poisonous mushroom. Their stems are curved and the cap is sulphur yellow, while being orange towards the centre.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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Unknown.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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Unknown.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Nissen Hut

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Nissen Hut but I cannot find it on the plan? As far as the plan is concerned, there is no Nissen hut in Macaroni Wood??

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Nissen Hut

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Inside about half way along.

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Nissen Hut

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Old bed irons.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Nissen Hut

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Wood Beds.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Nissen Hut

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The far end.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
63 - WAAF Rest Room 10215/42 + TO4929

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This could be the Women´s Auxiliary Air Force could relax.

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
63 - WAAF Rest Room 10215/42 + TO4929

Details

details

details

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
63 - WAAF Rest Room 10215/42 + TO4929

Details

I believe this may have been a re settlement camp post war.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
50 - Officers Mess Type '68' - TB - 34404/41 + 10216/42.

Details

An Officers Mess was to feed and rest Officers. As for sleeping, they would go to their huts in one of the sites. There was no Officers site, each site had a mix of Officers, Sergeants and men.

 

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
50 - Officers Mess Type '68' - TB - 34404/41 + 10216/42

Details

It would have been very comfortable inside with open fires and soft leather chairs, a bit like a Gentleman´s club. Their would be Mess servants to serve your food on white table cloths and to get a drink if that is what you wanted.

 

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
50 - Officers Mess Type '68' - TB - 34404/41 + 10216/42

Details

Plan of the Officers Mess.

Hillman Staff car.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
50 - Officers Mess Type '68' - TB - 34404/41 + 10216/42

Details

 

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
50 - Officers Mess Type '68' - TB - 34404/41 + 10216/42

Details

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
62 - Stand-by Set House - B - 10883/41.

Details

Stand-by Set House is the generator house. It had two heavy diesel generators and large dynamos to power all the buildings. Its own diesel fuel tanks.
All the huts would have had mains supply, if the power was interrupted. The Stand-by Set House would cut in. If there was no mains, the Stand-by Set House would produce all the electricity.

Plans

2 Sets, diesel engines & generators.

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
62 - Stand-by Set House - B - 10883/41

Details

Now used as a garage (in 2004) they were welding a car, when it caught fire.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
62 - Stand-by Set House - B - 10883/41

Details

The Officers Mess is to the right.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
51 - Officers Bath House & Latrines - TB - 3449/41.

Details

The water tank in the brick tower and steel ladder to reach it. There would be heating from a coal boiler, heating a large water tank so a bath/shower could be taken.

Hot water tank, covered in asbestos lagging.

 

Boiler.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
64 - High Level Water Tank 30,000gals - St - TD. 4094

Details

Water supplied from a bore hole, probably under the water tower would be pumped up into the tank and distributed around the camp. The tank is a Braithwaite tank. Made of individual panels bolted together and placed on a high steel tower.

Braithwaite tank.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
230 - Picket Post - TB -3442/41

Details

Interesting, all the Picket Posts on the plan are numbered 230??. This one was the Communal Sites post..

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
230 - Picket Post - TB -3442/41

Details

Inside showing what it looked like, the colour scheme is exactly what it would have looked like.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
230 - Picket Post - TB -3442/41

Details

Cupboard and second picture a window with fittings for a black out curtain. These stopped any light showing outside at night.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
230 - Picket Post - TB -3442/41

Details

The electrics for the post.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
230 - Picket Post - TB -3442/41

Details

In a cupboard it still had what to do in a fire. These posts not only saw people in and out of their respective sites but also were there in case of fire, and would walk around at night as a guards, but also as fire pickets.

Makers name, unreadable.

Fire buckets.

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
230 - Picket Post - TB -3442/41

Details

Wash stand.

Concrete sink.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
60 - Airmen´s Showers, Ablutions & Decontamination - TB - 3448/41

Details

Decontamination is from a gas attack. If any airmen were suffering from a gas attack, he/she could be brought inside, stripped of all clothing, showered and scrubbed clean and using a bleach solution as well. Quite a traumatic time when you also may be suffering other injuries.

WW1 gas injuries.

Nurses treating a patient.

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
58 - Airmen´s Showers & Ablutions - TB - 3449/41

Details

details

More Brylcream.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
58 - Airmen´s Showers & Ablutions - TB - 3449/41

Details

Water tank in the tower.

Boiler and the chimney runs up the side of the tower.

Boiler & hot tank.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
58 - Airmen´s Showers & Ablutions - TB - 3449/41

Details

Plan.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
53 - Sergeants Showers, Ablutions & Latrines - TB - 3445/41

Details

Plan.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
59 - Latrines - TB

Details

Plan.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
59 - Latrines - TB

Details

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)

Details

230 - Picket Post (type3) - TB - 1580/42.
420 - Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF) - S - 3851/43 + 4473/43.
421 - Sick Annexe (type B) - S - 3851/43.
422 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - TB - 660/42.
423 - Sgts & Orderlies Qtrs (1Sgt:32A/M) S - based on 2969/42.
424 - Latrines & Drying Room. (Sick QTRS) - TB 9086/41.
425 - Static Water Tank (20,000galls) - St- TD.4094 .

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)
420 - Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF) - S - 3851/43 + 4473/43

Details

Basically a small hospital.

Hospital ward.

 

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)
230 - Picket Post (type3) - TB - 1580/42.

Details

Picket Post.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)
422 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - TB - 660/42

Details

Ambulance garage usually in the front and the mortuary, a small room in the back.

details

details

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)
422 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - TB - 660/42

Details

 

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)
422 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - TB - 660/42

Details

Inside where the ambulance was parked.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)
423 - Sergeants & Orderlies Qtrs (1Sgt:32A/M) S - based on 2969/42

Details

Made by Uni-Seco.
In February 1941, Bernard Brunton and Rolfe Gilbert Booth, both of 6 Woods Mews, Park Lane, London submitted applications 1821/41 for a patent in support of their invention with regard to wall and roof panels for huts. In January 1942 the two inventors submitted a further two designs 9144/42 and 745/42 this time for patents in support for their invention of a prefabricated building having hollow box-like beam members that are supported on the upper edges of the exterior walls. The walls being constructed of timber frame clad with asbestos sheeting and the void filled with insulation material. It is believed that the applications were made before Selection Engineering and Uni-Seco Structures Ltd had been registered as companies. The design which incorporated all aspects of the above applications became Seco Mk. I System of unit construction.
From https://www.prefabmuseum.uk/content/history/the-history-of-uni-seco-structures-guest-blog-post

Uni-Seco Structures.

Elevation.

RAF Kingston Bagpuize.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sick Quarters (10 RAF - 4 WAAF)
423 - Sergeants & Orderlies Qtrs (1Sgt:32A/M) S - based on 2969/42

Details

Sergeants & Orderlies Qtrs (1Sgt:32A/M).

Plan.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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Towards the Sewage Works Site.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Sewage Works Site

Details

90 - Tool House - TB - 7493/40.
91 - Bucket Emptying Platform - TD.3816.
92 - Water Supply (Borehole) Pump House - TB - S.P.161.
93 - Sewage Works (48ft Dia Filter) - S.P.116.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Information

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sewage Works Site
91 - Bucket Emptying Platform - TD.3816.

Details

Where there was no flush toilets, Elsan buckets were used. These had to be emptied and washed out. Not a pleasant job. Usually carried out by airmen that were in trouble for being late or not saluting an officer, any minor infringement and then they would go around collecting buckets and pushing them in a trolley all the way down to the Sewage site and empty and clean them out. Then return and replace them in the huts.

Bucket emptying platform RAF Ramsbury.

Bucket emptying platform RAF Culmhead.

Elsan toilet bucket.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,
Sewage Works Site

Details

Parts of settlement tanks.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sewage Works Site
93 - Sewage Works (48ft Dia Filter) - S.P.116.

Details

Large arms would rotate and waste water would be sprinkled over a base of clinker, the by product of burning Coke/Coal.

details

RAF Grove.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sewage Works Site
93 - Sewage Works (48ft Dia Filter) - S.P.116

Details

MS Farrer LTD R+Engineers Birmingham a& London.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sewage Works Site

Details

D. G. of W plan No. 5964/41.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sewage Works Site
90 - Tool House - TB - 7493/40

Details

The tool shed, where civilian workers would have been employed to run the sewage works. Also there would be a stove or destructor burner, where items could be burnt.

Type 2
Size 0
Horsfall Destructor
No. 3 Type
73701
New
Destructor Co, Ltd.
Pershore England. at RAF Grove.

Tool Shed RAF Grove,

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site, Sewage Works Site
90 - Tool House - TB - 7493/40.

Details

Pencilling on the wall.

Sewage workers.

RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

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RAF Southrop RLG, Communal Site,

Details

© 2013 Richard Drew