Dunfermline?

On Dave Robinson's COntent Delivery site, there is a link to a location just West of Dunfermline

www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/Dunfermline.html

I asked Dave about this, but he can't recall when or where this info came form. Can anyone help? I'd love to know more about the when/who this was used for aviation, not least as it's about 5 minutes walk from my house!

There is an ex-RN (weapons) storage yard just to the south of the photo centre, which is now used to store caravans - there is a nice German aerial photo of that online (RCAHMS site?) that I can't find now!

There were a number of RN establishments in the area. I have listed:

RN Construction Research Establishment, St Leonards Hill, Dunfermline

RN Supply and Transit Depot: Gask Sidings, Lathalmond, Dunfermline

Townhill Camp, HMS Waxwing (1/7/42 – 31/8/46) Naval Air Depot, Personnel assembly

Part of HMS Merlin, RN Ancillary Repair Depot, Dunfermline

Also Pitreavie Castle and Castland Hill WT station.

Dave,
Whereabouts in the picture? The NCRE was originally in the Devilla Forest, but I haven't heard of an airstrip in the general area. There's an old Bevin Boy camp at Comrie, and a munitions factory at the east end of Crossford which is now an industrial estate-
canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/105848/details/crossford/

The only airfield in the Dunfermline area that springs to mind is Donibristle and thats east of Dunfermline.

The Content Delivery site seems to point to a location just south of Rumblingwell

www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=tbccwmgq90vn&l...y=b&eo=0&form=LMLTCC

My suspicion is it may have been a very early landing ground or even a 'barnstormer' type touring show - I guess a trip to the local Library may reveal something.

The RN Weapons store is seen here - it was later used by BT

www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=tbb40ygq8jwr&l...y=b&eo=0&form=LMLTCC

The Luftwaffe recce photo appears to have disappeared off the web (When RCAHMS took over TARA perhaps?) but I'm sure I have a copy somewhere. There are a few military sites around Dunfermline that are either 'forgotten' or too small to be mapped (e.g. gun emplacements) - the Luftwaffe photos of the attack on the Forth Bridges/RN in the Forth have several of the latter marked.

the_historian;80436 wrote:

D and a munitions factory at the east end of Crossford which is now an industrial estate-
canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/105848/details/crossford/

Ah! That's the one I was looking for! I live in Crossford, so that is particularly fascinating!

Dave,
Think we're talking about the same place! I've also found it listed as an AAOD (Anti-Aircraft Ordnance Depot) and an EOD (Emergency Ordnance Dump).

I had a look yesterday (virtually) at the 'munitions depot' and note that there are four buildings fully traversed to the eaves more typical of late war and post-war structures. Such information as I can find (unqualified) refers to Royal Navy use. I would expect mass concrete roofs for HE storage but these appear to be pitched light construction.

The Lathalmond site still exists it is mainly occupied by the Scottish Bus Museum. I was there 3 years ago- most buildings are in fairly good order.
TED