Page 7 - Cranwell Photographs
P. 7
Right: The first aeroplane to be delivered to Cranwell was B.E.2 No.3999 which made the journey from Chingford on 15th January 1916. The B.E. series, which had its origins in 1912, became the most widely used training aeroplane at Cranwell during the Great War. This is a typical example. No.3999 was reduced to instructional use on 8th May 1916.
Below: With construction forging ahead the camp begins to take shape. Taken in September 1916, this aerial view shows huts yet to receive roofs as well as bell tents still in use to house the workforce. The South airfield hangars are visible to the top right of the photograph. By the following May, squads of parading ratings had replaced the bell tents on the parade square and aeroplanes were operating from the South airfield. Soon afterwards the first pair of two-storey barrack blocks were erected just to the right of the white roofed building in the top left of this photograph. Also, a Bessonneau hangar, said to house a Maurice Farman biplane, was soon to occupy the open area in the top left of this photograph. A site plan, as at 1918, is featured on page 12.
First Arrivals 7
