Where (and what) is this ?

Ooo! The motherlode! Is anyone going to make a visit soon? Airfield aerial photographs marked "secret" etc

Just a mad thought, but could it be an illustration of a WWII temporary or remote protected watch office proposal? As in similar to the post-war standby locals?
The building looks small and more shelter design type than a proper watch office, and is earth bank protected, the pole and wires providing temporary communications to it, the runway heading board lying against the bank, and the bowser possibly supplying fuel to a generator for power, maybe the globe on legs was to provide visiting pilots guidence as to where the facility was?

mawganmad;69476 wrote:

... the globe on legs

Nearest I can find is from Royal Naval Air Traffic Control Regulations, (BR1899) 1949 (ADM 234/449)

A double disc bright orange signal, made from station resources, is to be carried by all powered vehicles employed regularly in the landing area. The signal is to be supported from a mast fitted to the vehicle and at a height visible to a pilot in the landing area.

Drawing shows a pole mounted two-foot diameter pair of discs at 90 degrees.

If you think the above image is a little "suspect" try this one:



The caption with it, and I quote it exactly:
"Hugh Casson, waterclolour of a yellow airfield, 1940. The field has probably been treated with sulphuric acid, which has also affected the grassed hangars. The small vehicle is possibly a paint dispersing tank"

Excellent Milan - more more .

Might make good desktops !

Note he did some work at Aston Down.

Carnaby;68998 wrote:

What is the yellow lollipop thing?

Seems to be Control Tower related, there's a photo of something very similar in front of Duxford's tower:



(Sorry Tommy, using your existing photo from the DX thread was quicker than me re-doing it)

EDIT:

norwichpaul;17409 wrote:

Ground to ground signalling post, not satellite dish!

All the best,
PB

Thanks PaulviaTommy/TommyviaPaul. those disc/globes do exist then. Hard to tell though if it's a vehicle globe or a building one.
Now, I've heard of yellow snow (Frank Zappa anyone?) but yellow airfields? Was acid actually used in this manner?

Yes and also in the late 1970s during the tactical cold-war period.
There's a thread on it somewhere but have given up using the search facility here!

Certain weedkillers such as Sodium Chlorate used in solution were tried to check the growth of grass without destroying it. I should have thought that Sulphuric Acid, whatever the dilution, would eventually lead to destruction of grass. Then there would be the problems of handling and spraying it. Does the little tanker in the painting have a porcelain lining?

Just found this when looking for something else:

www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/194....html?search=radlett