RAF Davidstow Moor, Cornwall, Airfield Site

RAF Davidstow Moor is situated on the north-west corner of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. To get there, driving south on the A39, turn left after the junction with the A394. This small B-road will take you right across the airfield.

Early in 1941, a Mr Hicks arrived to survey the site from the Ministry of Works, Directorate Offices. Here, a massive airfield was to be built with an airfield site and 18 dispersed sites. Buildings and drainage contracts were given to Taylor Woodrow; runways and dispersals to LJ Speight. Built 970ft above sea level, the highest in the country, the site featured three runways, fifty aircraft dispersals, and three T2 hangars.

The airfield opened in October 1942 and closed in 1945. During its operation, it served under Coastal Command.

• RAF personnel: 2748
• WAAAF: 512
• T2 Hangars: 3
• Aircraft dispersals: 50
• Dispersed sites: 18
• Runways: 3 (2000yd main runway)

Red - extant buildings and the sites of the three T2 hangars.

Yellow - buildings on the site plan.

Green - bomb store.

50 aircraft heavy bomber dispersals.

217 - Showers Offices - C.B. - 14438/41.

The museum dedicated to the RAF and Davidstow Moor airfield is run by Mr & Mrs Keast; you can contact them on 01840 213266, and their website is RAF Davidstow Moor.

The first building on the airfield site that remains is the electrical sub-station which would have directed electricity around the airfield and via the M&E plinths (more of those later).

The following schedule details the electrical sub-station:

• 2: Site plan number
• Sub-Station: Name of building
• P.B.: Type of construction (Permanent Brick)
• 13241/41: Ministry plan number and year drawn

Building methods are as follows:

• P.B.: Permanent Brick
• C.B.: Concrete Block
• T.B.: Temporary Brick

These were three connected huts: a drying hut to dry out flying clothing on heated rails, a locker room to store all flying clothing and equipment, and finally the rest room where crews could relax and assemble before missions.

There was a coal-fired heating plant in the smaller hut, with pipework running around the drying room and providing heating for the other rooms.

In the event of a fire, these Emergency Water Supplies (EWS) were located all around the airfield, ready to be used by the airfield fire services.

This is a schedule of the Motor Transport facilities.

• 69 - M/T Office - C.B. - 1949/42
• 70 - M/T Shed - C.B. - 12775/41
• 71 - M/T Bulk Petrol Store - 5000gal - (no number)

• 70 - M/T Shed - C.B. - 12775/41.

Motor transport, the office would run all the motor transport of the airfield, from a staff car for the CO to the bowser lorries. Very like a small village garage, there would have been a petrol pump, a three-bay workshop with a vehicle inspection pit, and an office to keep all the records.

• 70: M/T Shed - C.B. - 12775/41
• 71: M/T Bulk Petrol Store - 5000gal - (no number)

I have added a petrol pump to show how it may have looked.

• 71: M/T Bulk Petrol Store, 5000gal, (no number).

There are even four threads still sticking out of the concrete base to bolt down the petrol pump.

One of the side entrances.

• Site Number: 21
• Building Name: Latrines RAF Technical
• Construction Type: T.B. (Temporary Brick)
• Ministry Plan Number: 9026/41

A standard latrine block used to serve the technical site.

• Building Number: 22
• Function: Photographic Block
• Construction Type: Concrete Block (C.B.)
• Plan Number: 4782/42

Tiles on the floor in the processing room indicate where photographs from camera guns, bomb release, and air-to-ground reconnaissance were printed.

• Building Number: 23
• Name: Double Turret Instructional Building
• Construction Type: C.B. (Concrete Block)
• Ministry Plan Number: 11023/40

23 - Double Turret Instructional Building - C.B. - 11023/40.

As an air gunner, you would come here to practice your skills in a simulator; these were not computerised, but were instead entirely electrical and manual.

24 - A.M. Bombing Teacher - P.B. - 1130/42.

The Air Ministry Bombing Teacher is a fascinating building; I would like to see one in working condition.

At the top is a projector pointing down onto the floor; under it is the bomb aimer's position, and under him is the pilot's position. The picture of a target is shot onto the floor; the bomb aimer directs the pilot to the target and drops the bombs.

• Site Number: 24
• Building Name: A.M. Bombing Teacher
• Construction Type: P.B. (Permanent Brick)
• Drawing Reference: 1130/42

This shows the front of the building, featuring the heating plant and chimney.

• Site Number: 24
• Building Name: A.M. Bombing Teacher
• Construction Type: P.B. (Permanent Brick)
• Plan Number: 1130/42

The floor where it all came together.

• Building Number: 24
• Description: A.M. Bombing Teacher
• Construction Type: P.B. (Permanent Brick)
• Plan Number: 1130/42

Looking up into the roof at the projection hole.

• Building Number: 24
• Building Type: A.M. Bombing Teacher
• Construction: P.B. (Permanent Brick)
• Plan Number: 1130/42

All together. Like the pilots that needed to sharpen up their flying techniques, bomb aimers also needed that edge. They would come in here quite regularly to make their aim better.

The technical site features the following instructional buildings:

• 23 - Double Turret Instructional Building - C.B. - 11023/40
• 24 - A.M. Bombing Teacher - P.B. - 1130/42

Abstract: From 1939 to 1945, RAF Coastal Command played a crucial role in maintaining Britain’s maritime communications, thus securing the United Kingdom’s ability to wage war against the Axis powers in Europe. Its primary role was in confronting the German U-boat menace, particularly in the 1940-41 period when Britain came closest to losing the Battle of the Atlantic and with it the war. The importance of air power in the war against the U-boat was amply demonstrated when the closing of the Mid-Atlantic Air Gap in 1943 by Coastal Command aircraft effectively brought victory in the Atlantic campaign. Coastal Command also played a vital role in combating the German surface navy and, in the later stages of the war, in attacking Germany’s maritime links with Scandinavia.

By Professor John Buckley

• 58: Aircraft Shed T2 - St - 8271/40.
• St: Steel.

Hangars used to be used for aircraft storage in the old days; now most aircraft are metal-skinned. They could stay out on dispersal and only come in to the hangar for maintenance or repair.

60 - Turret Repair Shop - T.B. - 8933/40.

The plan states this was a Nissen hut, but actually it's built in temporary brick style with concrete blocks and a corrugated cement/asbestos roof.

• Site Number: 63
• Building Name: Aircraft Shed T2
• Construction Type: St (Steel)
• Plan Number: 8271/40

These were the fittings for the steel supports.

• Site Number: 63
• Building: Aircraft Shed T2
• Construction Type: St (Steel)
• Drawing/Plan Reference: 8271/40

• Building Number: 44
• Description: Squadron Offices & Flight Offices
• Construction: C.B.
• Plan Number: 4730/42

56 - Crew Rest, Locker & Drying Room - C.B. - 1452/43.

Heating plant room.

Heating plant room.

• Building Number: 56
• Description: Crew Rest Locker & Drying Room
• Construction Type: C.B. (Concrete Block)
• Drawing Reference: 1452/43

Heating plant room. Inside, there was a wall between the coal hole (as we called it) and the boiler area. Now all gone.

87 - Control Tower/Watch Office - C.B. - 12779/41.

This was the most important building on the airfield; from here, all flying in or out would be monitored and controlled.

There were steel steps up the right side and more from the balcony to the roof. Steel banister rails would run around the roof and the balcony.

The most important building on an airfield; from here, all flying in or out would be monitored and controlled.

There were steel steps up the right side and more from the balcony to the roof. Steel banister rails would run around the roof and the balcony.

• 87 - Control Tower/Watch Office: C.B. - 12779/41
• Entrance: The rear entrance.

• Building Number: 87
• Function: Control Tower/Watch Office
• Construction Type: C.B. (Concrete Block)
• Plan Number: 12779/41

87 - Control Tower/Watch Office - C.B. - 12779/41.

• 87 - Control Tower/Watch Office: C.B. - 12779/41
• Room: Signals office

• Site Number: 87
• Function: Control Tower/Watch Office
• Construction: C.B. (Concrete Block)
• Plan Number: 12779/41

Control Room.

• Site Number: 87
• Function: Control Tower/Watch Office
• Construction Type: C.B. (Concrete Block)
• Plan Number: 12779/41

Control Room.

• 87: Control Tower/Watch Office - C.B. - 12779/41.
• Room: Control Room.

• 96: Bulk Petrol Installation - type 'C' - 9846/41
• 93: M & E Plinth

96 - Bulk Petrol Installation - Type 'C' - 9846/41.

Pump room.

96 - Bulk Petrol Installation - type 'C' - 9846/41.

You can see the bomb store in the distance.

• 101: T2 Hangar - St - 8274/40. Lead off from the perimeter track to the third T2 hangar.

This is a schedule of the remaining technical site buildings and their construction types:

• 97: Latrine - C.B.
• 98: General Purpose Hut - H.C. (Handcraft hut)
• C.B.: Concrete Block
• H.C.: Handcraft hut

Main E/W Runway 2000yds long x 50yds wide.

Mr. David Keast has written a book and has opened a museum; his telephone number is 01840 213266 for more information.