RAF Rollestone, Wiltshire Camp

RAF · Wiltshire · England · United Kingdom

RAF Rollestone

1916 RFC No.1 Balloon School. 1918 RAF No.1 Balloon School. 1936 RAF No.2 Balloon Training Centre. 1939 RAF Anti-Gas School. 1945 RAF No.657 (AOP) Sqn. 1946 RAF transferred to Army. 1967 used as an ammunition store (whilst Fargo was being re built). 1980 used as a civilian prison. POW/interned Argentinians. 1970 Shorts used it for target drones. In between the camp is used as a concentration of units forming to exorcise on the Plain.1916 RFC No.1 Balloon School.
1918 RAF No.1 Balloon School.
1936 RAF No.2 Balloon Training Centre.
1939 RAF Anti-Gas School.
1945 RAF No.657 (AOP) Sqn.
1946 RAF transferred to Army.
1967 used as an ammunition store (whilst Fargo was being re built).
1980 used as a civilian prison. POW/interned Argentinians.
1970 Shorts used it for target drones.
In between the camp is used as a concentration of units forming to exorcise on the Plain.

RAF Rollestone

RAF Plan 1931 and still being used for 1945.
1a - Washing Platform.
  2 - Petrol Store.
  3 - M.T. Shed.
  4 - Map & Lecture Rm.
  5 - Church etc.
  6 - Gymnasium.
  7- Main Store.
  9 - Magazine & Water Tank over.
10 - Single Officers Qtrs.
11 - Single Officers Qtrs.
12 - Single Officers Qtrs
13 - Latrines.
14 - Latrines.
15 - Officers Mess.
24 + 30 - Barrack Block.
44 - Institute, Dinning, Cook-house.
45 - Sergeants Mess.
47 - Tennis Courts Hard Officers.
48 - Contractors Shop.
49 Compressor House.
50 - Bottle Rack.
51 Soda & Silicol Store.
52 - Nissen Hangar.
53 - Kite Balloon Hangar Two Bay.
54 + 55 - Garage.
57 - Tennis Courts N.C.O's & Airmen.
58 - Tool Shed.

1308/31/45

RAF Rollestone

Rollestone from the Devizes/Salisbury road looking north.

25 September 2004

RAF Rollestone

Camp.

Google

RAF Rollestone

Air photo looking west taken by Mr Fuller from a Scout helicopter of the Army Air Corps around 1960.

Fuller Amesbury 1960's

RAF Rollestone

Battle Head Quarters in 1939 to about 1942, the RAF decided that their camps and airfields needed a defence against airborne attack, be that parachute or Gliderborne. So elaborate defences were added and also air-raid shelters were built and trenches dug. This is the BHQ where the camp Commandant would control the battle from by directing his defence units. A phone system would be used and runners employed.

06 May 2019

RAF Rollestone

Battle Head Quarters The CO could look out from here and the view would have been a lot better than today. Note the roof has two wells in it. This would have been filled with earth and grassed over. Added camouflage and some protection. You can see the chicane entrance into the bunker.

Nick Mort

RAF Rollestone

Battle Head Quarters Steel struts to hold the concrete roof.

Nick Mort

RAF Rollestone

BHQ on the right and the first air-raid shelter and behind part of the original sewage system.

39 June 2017

RAF Rollestone

Officers Quarters Single Officers quarters 10, 11 & 12 on plan.

16 July 2006

RAF Rollestone

Officers Quarters Temporary Brick hutting.

29 June 2017

RAF Rollestone

Officers Quarters

29 June 2017

RAF Rollestone

Members of the No.1 Balloon School just after WW1 still in their rap around Putties. Just look at the medals. 1943 Gas School at RAF Rollestone.

Anti-Gas School 1943 Gas School at RAF Rollestone.

RAF Rollestone

1939 With the start of WW2 the staff and their families got together with a pile of sand and sand bags to fill and place around the camp. "All hands on deck". The story of the two photos are that they were kindly sent to me by a Mr. John Weeks from Lincolnshire. His father the camps Warrant Officer (black asterisk on the top photo) seen here filling sand bags in 1939. It looks like all ranks of the staff are involved and also wives and children. Even a 'wooden privy' in the back ground. In the second picture it says "My Father and fellow Officers" (white asterisk). So this must be at a later date after WO Weeks became an Officer and I believe became CO of the camp.

Staff and Families 1939 from John Weeks Staff from John Weeks

RAF Rollestone

Latrine. There are two here on the plan. 13 - Officers Latrines & 14 - Batman's Latrines.

16 July 2006

Looks very like this 9026/41 wartime airfield latrine.

RAF Rollestone

Old wooden huts. They maybe RAF wooden huts

16 July 2006

RAF Rollestone

Second or northern Gate The entrance into the camp, loads of CCTV and barbed wire.

30 May 2015

RAF Rollestone

Mr. Fuller Amesbury's 1960's photos Red crosses - all have all been removed. ARS - Air-Raid Shelters. EWS - Emergency Water Supply.

Fuller Amesbury 1960's

RAF Rollestone

24ft Nissen huts Dining room & kitchen.

00-00-0029 June 2017

RAF Rollestone

24ft Nissen huts dining room.

30 May 2015

RAF Rollestone

Army wooden huts. I am sure in the past these were wooden huts, on the next picture they are shown as Hand Craft huts.

30 May 2015

RAF Rollestone

Hand Craft Huts These huts were made of asbestos/cement angled corrugated sheeting and bricked up ends.

Fuller Amesbury 1960's

A photo of Mr Fuller from the Scout helicopter.

RAF Rollestone

Army, Prison, POW, these huts have had a varied use.

30 May 2015

RAF Rollestone

1932 coupled balloon sheds The two Bay Kite balloon hangar. After conference held at the Air Ministry in 1932, approval was given for a low altitude balloon barrage section to be formed in 1934. Three new balloons in 1935 of (LZ) type were sent to Larkhill (Rollestone) to form a barrage flight. The (LZ) Balloon was 62ft long, 25ft diameter and filled with 19,000 cu. ft. of Hydrogen. (from Military Airfield Architecture by Paul Francis).

27 December 2016

RAF Rollestone

1932 coupled balloon sheds Two doors each side and all opening right up the allow large barrage balloons access. Throughout the 1920's Rollestone had been associated with balloon training. In 1932 the balloon storage hangars of Bessoneau type, which were easily damaged in the wind, were replaced by a large double shed capable of holding two inflated balloons. The unit was named No.2 Balloon Training Unit, which was transferred from No.22 Group to No.24 Group, Training Command, in December 1936. The unit moved to Cardington on 1 February 1939. In the following June, with the building of additional accommodation, the camp was re opened as the RAF Anti-Gas School, providing training for specialist RAF personnel and all unit and flight commanders throughout the war. From "The Royal Air Force; Re-Armament 1939 to 1939"

22 February 2015

RAF Rollestone

Balloon area The two balloon hangars and to their right a (double bomb store?) The original reason that Rollestone was used by the Army as a balloon school was that the balloons could be pushed into gaps in the trees to protect them from prevailing westerly winds.

Fuller Amesbury 1960's

RAF Rollestone

1932 coupled balloon sheds I am not sure what they are used for now. The doors have been filled in and one has a roller shutter door fitted.

16 July 2006

RAF Rollestone

Rollestone (Larkhill) 1918 No.1 Balloon Training School (S.W. Area : No. 2 Balloon Training Wing). There are three oblong sections cut into the woodland called Balloon Beds, where balloons could be stored out of the wind. Function: - Advance training of Officers as Balloon Observers. Subject taught: - Advanced map-reading, Artillery Co-operation. Length of Course - 1 Month. Pupil capacity - 24. Pupil output - Max. 24 per month. Establishment: - 300 Staff. 24 Motor Transport.

No.1 Balloon School 1918

A British balloonist jumping over the trenches.

RAF Rollestone

Army Balloon School Part of the original Army Balloon School.

Balloon School

RAF Rollestone

Salisbury Plain An early balloon out on Salisbury Plain where Army Officers could be trained as observers. Ballooning for artillery support started before the American Civil War. British Army Officers, visited both sides of the American armies and took ballooning on board. The first time they were used in real anger was in the Boer war

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