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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1439.PDF
JULY 91H, 1942 FLIGHT 4" WORK SERVICE FLIGHT AT WORK Portable Runways Laid at Speed : Bomb Craters Obliterated in Minutes (Illustrated by "Flight" photographs) :**%c- / 1 f. J M >L * * W J 'ht The first stage in laying a portable metal runway. Rolls of wire mesh- side on the ground. each 25 yd. long by 10ft. wide—are laid side by IN the issue of Flight dated May'7th this year we dealt fully with the origin and employment of the R.A.F. Work Services Squadrons. Briefly, they are the R.A.F. equivalent of the Royal Engineers of the Army, and they have actually taken over the work from the R.E.s who used to be responsible for the construction and maintenance of airdromes in the field.. The R.E.s will still be employed on airfields operated by the R.A.F. Army Co-operation Command, but, with this exception, all the other Commands at home and abroad will have their quota of R.A.F. Works Services. In the ordinary way, while only routine main tenance has to be carried out, a W.S. Flight of some 70 or 80 personnel is stationed at each airfield. If, however, big constructional work is in hand, the necessary number of extra men are posted, complete with living quarters, field kitchens and all the necessary plant, for the work in hand. It was back in the days of the Battle of Britain that the urgent need for the new service was first felt acutely. The attempt by the Luftwaffe to ground our fighters by continual bombing of our forward airfields meant day-and-night work to keep them in usable con dition. Works Services Units It was this battle which decided the R.A.F. to form its own engineering corps, which officially came into being in February, 1941. The official designations and scope of the various sub-units are : — Works Squadrons.—These have already greatly increased in numbers, and, in step with the programme of air expansion, further developments are planned for the future. The increasing strength of these units, and added ex perience, are producing the capacity to carry out larger services, both in new construction and in maintenance, which is their normal occupation. Plant Squadrons.—These are equipped with modern civil engineering equip ment—giant bulldozers, diesel rollers, heavy mobile cranes and American-type scrapers. These and repair wagons manned with R.A.F. personnel, and are highly mobile, constitute a shock The second stage in laying a portable metal runway. The 25-yd. lengths of wire netting are linked together by strips of steel threaded through the wire reinforcing rod ends.
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