RAF Stoney Cross, USAAF Station 452, Hampshire. Communal Sites of 2,3,4,5 & 6 and the sewage site No.2.

This is the site plan for the area covered, the track ways only slightly conform to the tracks that are there today and I will admit I did get confused with Site No.5. I thought I had visited it, when actually I had not. Missed by a few hundred yards. Might as well have been a mile.
There are very little remains left, but if you copy the plans and walk out there, its a lovely walk and you can at least get an idea where British, Commonwealth and American airmen, lived, ate and slept. In the middle of nowhere.

The Google plan is the route taken on the day. Remember Site No.5 is further across than it looks on the Site plan and maps, its also further on than the animal underpass on the A31.

The track to the Communal sites of 2,3,4,5 & 6.
I parked at Cadman's Pool car park, which is easy to find and is part of the bomb store of S.C.

Communal Site No.2.
409 - Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41. Here would be stored just enough coal/coke not to be able to keep everybody warm. An RAF ploy. Coal would be issued per week and had to be collected and stored in your hut. Each hut would have its allotment of fires, individual Pot Bellied Stoves. They could be made to glow red hot and still never gave off enough heat for all the people in the hut.

Communal Site No.2
407 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
408 - Airman's Ablutions - TB - 6498/42.
409 - Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41.
410 - Airman's Latrines - TB - 14397/41.
411 - Water Tower - S - (Braithwaite).
412 - Sergeants Mess - N - 5329/42.
413 - Grocery Store - N - 12876/41.
414 - Institute - N - 2064/42.
415 - Sergeants Shower Block - TB - 6493/42.
416 - Boiler house for Officers & Sergeants - TB - 6505/42.
417 - Off. Shower Block - 6491/42.
418 - Ration Store - TB - 9041/41.
419 - Officers Mess - N - 12867/41.
420 - Education Block - TB - 9887/41.
421 - Dining Room - N SCB/261.
422- 427 - Static Water Tanks - PB.

PB - Permanent Brick, TB - Temporary Brick, S - Steel , N - Nissen.
This is the Communal site where all the feeding and any spare time relaxing could be spent.
414 - Institute - N - 2064/42. for the men with the lowest ranks.
412 - Sergeants Mess - N - 5329/42. for Sergeants only.
419 - Officers Mess - N - 12867/41. For Officers only.

Communal Site No.2.
From this air photo, you really get a good idea of what was there. The main buildings are made of Nissen huts and down through the middle Temporary Brick. At the top right side is the Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41. At the bottom R/H is the Static Water Tank.

415 - Sergeants Shower Block - TB - 6493/42.
All that is left is the outside drain, which took the water down to the Sewage Works No.2.

Site No.6.
This is probably the best site for Sergeants and airmen.

Site No.6.
580 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
596 - Static Water Tank - PB.
597 - Fuel Compound - PB -5108/41.
Most of the other buildings were Hutting type A & B 2965/42.
All accommodation hutting was of the Nissen Hut type.

Site No.6.
Mostly Nissen huts as sleeping accommodation.

Site No.6.
597 - Fuel Compound - PB -5108/41.
Another fuel compound, a low brick wall with steel fence posts with wire mesh between and barbed wire on the top, to keep thieving Erks out.

Site No.6.
Express Dairy´s bottle.

Site No.6.
595 - Sergeants Ablutions - TB - 9274/42.

Sewage Disposal Site No.2.
624 - Layout - 15988/41.
625 - Tool House - TB - 9559/40.

Sewage Disposal Site No.2.
The square tanks can be seen in the air photo and still be seen on the ground today.

Sewage Disposal Site No.2.
Two rotary settlement tanks.

Sewage Disposal Site No.2.
Sludge tanks.

Sewage Disposal Site No.2.
Outflow into the stream and still flowing.

Sewage Disposal Site No.2.
The stream bed.

Site No.4.
480 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
502 - Latrines - TB - 6504/42.
Most of the huts are either Officers, Sergeants & Airman's quarters, hutting.

Site No.4.
The connecting foot paths show up well on this picture, again all Nissen hut accommodation.

Site No.5.
I thought was inside the woodland, actually it was outside.

Site No.4.
I was really hoping for a 1940's bit of wood carving.
Disappointed.

Site No.4.
I think this is the site of the 491 - Static Water Tank - PB.

Site No.4.
Lots of bits of cement asbestos chips probably from the huts walls and ceilings..

Site No.3.
430 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
441 - Officers Latrines - TB - 6504/42.
442 - Transformer Plinth - PB. (M&E Plinth).
443 - Drying Room - TB - 9274/42.

Site No.3.
430 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
441 - Officers Latrines - TB - 6504/42.
442 - Transformer Plinth - PB. (M&E Plinth).
443 - Drying Room - TB - 9274/42.

Site No.3.
On the side of the track are two drains.

Site No.3.
On the side of the track are two drains.

Site No.3.
Lump of Tarmacadam possibly left over from WW2.

Site No.5.
I need to re visit and this time find Site No.5.
530 - Picket Post - TB - 1580/42.
574 - Fuel Compound - PB - 9108/41.
575 - Static Water Tank - PB.
The rest are Officers, Sergeants and airman's quarters in Hutting.

Site No.5.