RFC Rendcombe

The main gate to the aerodrome today, the hangars (sheds) were 3 to the left and three to the right.

A pure WW1 Royal Flying Corps Aerodrome.
Opened in 1916 when 48Sqn arrived from Netheravon. 38TS (Training Squadron) was formed by August 1916 and the site started to develop with hangars along the road and a domestic site to the fields in the north east.
1918 42 TDS (training Depot Station) was formed in Aug. 1918, and six 1915 pattern flight sheds had been constructed. It closed around 1920.

1915 side opening shed (hangars were called sheds). A large wooded shed with two large opening doors where planes could be pushed in and stored over night.

42 TDS (training Depot Station) 1918.
Six 1915 pattern aircraft sheds with concrete aprons leading out onto the flying ground. Barracks, Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess, Men's Institute.

The aircraft sheds today are all modern ones but maybe the red brick building was the original Officers mess.

Modern aircraft shed, made to look authentic.

I believe this was part of the original Officers Mess.

In 1939 the Air Ministry looked at reopening Rendcombe but opted for a better site at RAF Chedworth.

WW1 derelict building.

Rendcombe later in the war.
https://afamilyhistoryblog.wordpress.com/tag/rendcomb/ James Hope Walker, RFC, 1896 - 1917.

I was at the Science museum in London and they have a very good collection of Aero Engines. I can just imagine the mechanics scrapping bearings checking magnetos, adjusting tappets and the smell of Caster Oil.