RAF Talbenny

RAF Talbenny is situated on the Pembrokeshire coast about ten miles SW of Haverfordwest on the B4327. Being one of a group of airfields out on the west coast of Britain, it made it ideal to be used as a Coastal command airfield in the war against the U-Boat threat. An 'A' class bomber station started in 1941, opened May 1942 with three runways and two T2 hangars, 36 bomber standard frying pan aircraft dispersals, 2 ASP's (Aircraft Servicing Platforms). Several dispersed accommodation sites. Talbenny came under control of No.19 Group Coastal Command. Started as a satellite to RAF Dale on anti U-boat sorties out in the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay. Coastal Command was formed in 1936 with the expansion of the RAF at that time. Coastal never had its own land planes, the ones they acquired were usually twin engined ex bomber Command left overs. Their sea plane fleet by contrast had started to acquire the Short Sunderland. Land planes were at the start of the war, Avro Anson's were used. With the arrival of Lockheed Hudson from the US, this boosted the fleet but better was needed. Next came RAF bomber squadrons strait from bombing operations to take up the new roll and they used Vickers Wellingtons. They became the backbone of Coastal Command and flew throughout the war and RAF Talbenny hosted two of these squadrons one 311 (Czechoslovak) Squadron & 304 (Polish) Squadron. As the threat changed and more modern aircraft arrived, RAF Talbenny was moved to RAF Transport Command in 1943 and continued that roll until closing in 1946. Other units came and went as they did on all RAF stations,

1 May 1942, to 15 December 1946. 2 x T2 Hangars. 36 x Frying pan aircraft dispersals. 2456 Men and 300 WAAF's.

Dispersed sites.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41. 101 - Pigeon Loft - T - 2827/42. 102 - Airmen's Quarters - 16' N - 9024/41. 230 - Picket Post - N - 12404/41. 250 - Transformer Kiosk (M&E plinth). PB - Permanent Brick. T - Timber. N - Nissen.

RAF Pigeon loft. This may be 101 - Pigeon Loft - T - 2827/42. Pigeons were a major part of flying in the RAF and many other services. If a plane were to crash in the sea or on high ground, any where like that. The Pigeon could carry a message back to the loft and help could be sent. They saved many lives.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 Here all the flying would be planned and coordinated with Coastal Command HQ. Each plane taking off would have been assigned an area to search and Coastal Command HQ would send down via a teleprinter the orders and here the routes would be planned and the crews briefed. Manned 24hours, a constant flow of Officers and air staff, then crews arriving for briefing and leaving to go to their planes. Flights would also be taking off in succession to cover a 24hour period. Most flights would be by single aircraft. As the war progressed and more aircraft became available, if a submarine was sighted, a signal sent back to HQ would then arouse a stream of messages out to other planes and ships in the area and you could have a Wellington starting an attack and then a Halifax may arrive and help out. Then a Sunderland could appear. By 1944/45 It was very dangerous to be a U-Boat out in the Atlantic.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 One of the protected entrances with a blast wall.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 Inside the air conditioning ducting still in place.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41. Part of the passage way that runs all the way around the building.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 The main operational room.

A U-Boat entering the harbour at St-Nazaire, France.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 The main operational room.

This picture is from a collection taken at the end of the war of buildings used by the RAF, WO 20/7587.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 view from above. There would have been two chimes, one for the heating plant and the other a taller one, to allow fresh air into the air-conditioning plant. Gas being heavier than air, so it would move down around at a lower level and not get sucked in. The square block on the roof was the water tank, a very large one to run the air-conditioning unit.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 Around the outside of the passage are many rooms.

Again how it may have looked. RAF Operations ad planning.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 Air conditioning ducting.

RAF Kings Cliff decontamination air conditioning plant, the same type would have been used here.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 One of the rooms with a hatchway to pass information through from one office to another.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 Office.

How an office may have looked.

100 - Operations Block - Brick - 2337/41 Telephone exchange fittings. There would be a lot of phones and teleprinter lines. The teleprinter was a relatively safe way of sending secret information to and from HQ. Telephone exchange PBX (Private Branch Exchange). There would would have been many WAAF's working on the switch boards on 24hours. rotors.

100 - Operations Block - Brick - 2337/41 Telephone exchange fittings. There would be a lot of phones and teleprinter lines. The teleprinter was a relatively safe way of sending secret information to and from HQ. Telephone exchange PBX (Private Branch Exchange). There would would have been many WAAF's working on the switch boards in 24hours. rotors.

100 - Operations Block - PB - 2337/41 Brick from the ops block. Emlyn Brick Co Ltd. 61-62 Wind Street, Swansea.

Representing 230 - Picket Post - N - 12404/41. This is a 16ft Nissen hut representing what it may have looked like. Here it was used as a Picket Post. A very important building as all personnel going into and out of the Ops Block, would have to have signed in and out. There would have been either an RAF guard, or an RAF Police guard here. Security would have been very strict.

On my visit in 16 March 2009 we only managed to really see the Ops Block. So I have had to use Google earth for most of these images to show the remaining buildings. 230 - Picket Post - TB - 7125/41. 110 - Officers Mess (for 120to60) - TB - 7118/41. 111 - Officers Bath House & Lats. - TB - 7123/41. 112 - Squash Court - TB - 16583/41. 113 - Sergeants Mess (for 320) - TB - 7119/41. 114 - Sergeants Showers, Lats, etc. - TB - 7123/41. 115 - Dining Room (for 1451to1700) - TB - 7120/41. 116 - Ration Store - TB. 117 - 7121/41 Institute & NAAFI Quarters - TB - 7121/41. 118 - Grocery & Local Produce store - TB. 119 - Gymnasium & Chapel - TB - 4911/42. 120 - Airmen's Showers Abl. & Decontamination - TB - 7124/41. 121 - Airmen's Latrines - TB - 7124/41. 122 - Education Block - SECO - TY490. 123 - Tailor's, Barbers & Shoemakers Shop - TB - 7142/41. 124 - Standby Set Set House - PB - 13244/41. 125 - Fuel Compound 90' x 54' - 2634/41. 126 - C. O.'s Quarters - TB - 9023/41. 127 - Flag Staff - local construction. 141 - WAAF Barrack hut - (A to C) L - 9024/41. 142 - WAAFS Baths and Abl, - TB - TD.769. 250 - Transformer Plinth (Kiosk). TB - temporary Brick construction. PB - Permanent Brick. SECO - construction. L - Laing.

On my visit in 16 March 2009 we only managed to really see the Ops Block. So I have had to use Google earth for most of these images to show the remaining buildings. 230 - Picket Post - TB - 7125/41. 110 - Officers Mess (for 120to60) - TB - 7118/41. 111 - Officers Bath House & Lats. - TB - 7123/41. 112 - Squash Court - TB - 16583/41. 113 - Sergeants Mess (for 320) - TB - 7119/41. 114 - Sergeants Showers, Lats, etc. - TB - 7123/41. 115 - Dining Room (for 1451to1700) - TB - 7120/41. 116 - Ration Store - TB. 117 - 7121/41 Institute & NAAFI Quarters - TB - 7121/41. 118 - Grocery & Local Produce store - TB. 119 - Gymnasium & Chapel - TB - 4911/42. 120 - Airmen's Showers Abl. & Decontamination - TB - 7124/41. 121 - Airmen's Latrines - TB - 7124/41. 122 - Education Block - SECO - TY490. 123 - Tailor's, Barbers & Shoemakers Shop - TB - 7142/41. 124 - Standby Set Set House - PB - 13244/41. 125 - Fuel Compound 90' x 54' - 2634/41. 126 - C. O.'s Quarters - TB - 9023/41. 127 - Flag Staff - local construction. 141 - WAAF Barrack hut - (A to C) L - 9024/41. 142 - WAAFS Baths and Abl, - TB - TD.769. 250 - Transformer Plinth (Kiosk). TB - temporary Brick construction. PB - Permanent Brick. SECO - construction. L - Laing.

115 - Dining Room (for 1451to1700) - TB - 7120/41.

I believe this picture is of the Dining Room at RAF Talbenny.

Sick Quarters 230 - Picket Post - TB - 712541. 130 - Sick Quarters - TB - 7128/41. 132 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - TB - 7128/41. 133 - Barrack Hut - TB - 7122/41. 134 - Ablutions, Lats. & Drying Room - TB - 7125/41. 250 - Transformer Plinth (Kiosk).

Sick Quarters 230 - Picket Post - TB - 712541. 130 - Sick Quarters - TB - 7128/41. 132 - Ambulance Garage & Mortuary - TB - 7128/41. 133 - Barrack Hut - TB - 7122/41. 134 - Ablutions, Lats. & Drying Room - TB - 7125/41. 250 - Transformer Plinth (Kiosk). AM 2536/45

Station Sick Quarters 230 - Picket Post - TB - 712541. 130 - Sick Quarters - TB - 7128/41. The Picket Post is still there, probably used as an office. The central section of the Sick Quarters is still there and behind is the Ambulance Garage, unseen here. Google

WAAF Communal buildings still here. 140 - Officers Quarters - TB - CCW.No.57. 142 - Sergts, & A/W's Lats, Abs. & Drying Room - 'A' - 13047/41. 141 - Air woman's & Sergeants Quarters - TB - 14423/41 (B&C). Lats - Latrines. Abs - Ablutions.

WAAF Communal. 141 - Air woman's & Sergeants Quarters - TB - 14423/41 C. Google

Site No.10 230 - Picket Post - TB - 7125/41. 200 - Officers Quarters - TB - 7122/41. 202 - Officers Lats & Drying room - TB - 7125/41. 210 - Sergeants Quarters - TB - 9025/41. 212 - Sergeants Lats & Drying room - TB - 7125/41. 220 - Airmen's Quarters - TB -7122/41. 222A - Airmen's Lats & Drying room - TB - 7125/41 222B - Airmen's Lats & Drying room - TB - 7125/41. 250 - Transformer Plinth (Kiosk). 200A, 200B, 210A, 210C, 222E, 220D,. 220B extant.

Site No.10 and how it looks today.

119 - Gymnasium & Chapel - TB - 4911/42.

119 - Gymnasium & Chapel - TB - 4911/42.

RAF Macmerry in Scotland also has a complete Gymnasium. Here are photos to show what it would look like inside.

A plan of the Chancel end, with the Chancels. C of E on the left and Catholic on the right. This area would have been shut off with a set of bi-fold doors.

RAF Macmerry. This is the main gymnasium and here, yes it would have had gym equipment, but also lots chairs. Shows and dances would have been held inside. Even maybe a film or two.

Gymnasium plan.

Sewage Works Site. 105 - Destructor House - Brick - 9559/40. 106 - Tool House - TB - 7493/40. 107 - Sewage Works Plant - 9968/41. Well it may not work, but its still there.

Sewage Works Site. 105 - Destructor House - Brick - 9559/40. 106 - Tool House - TB - 7493/40. 107 - Sewage Works Plant - 9968/41.

Crew rest room and drying room. Three sections, a small heating plant, a drying room for wet clothing, a crew rest room and a flight office.

Runway 1100yds x 50yds.