Hello all - need some help identifying these buildings - and the base...

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My grandfather was an Australian navigator with 59 Sqn during WW2 and this is one of the photos that I haven't been able to identify a place or time...

He served at RAF North Coates, Thorney Island and he instructed at Manby in the UK. I'm leaning more towards Manby because all those pictured seem to be either Nav/Obs or W/op.AG... The man third from the left, front row appears to have some medals, so I'm thinking it wasn't during his training, unless it was common to have pictures taken with your instructors when you qualified? This being the case... could this base be in Canada, either Pennfield Ridge or Fingal? I'm also thinking that this base was more likely to be in the UK because (other than the airfield itself) it was likely to be surrounded by country side, as the buildings appear to be camouflaged...

Any ideas or help will be greatly appreciated, Thanks in advance,

Lorenzo.

Agree with Paul, probably not a BCAPT airfield from the pisctures I have seen most camp buildings were all wooden construction, both Fingal and Penfield can be found in this link www.flightontario.com/bcatp-main.htm . I also have a suspicion that camoflague schemes were not applied in Canada, certainly no need in Ontario, although I can see a possible case in the Maritimes

Hello Aussie 59,

There is a photograph on page 131 of Action Stations 2 taken in exactly the same location. The caption being: Bombing Leaders' Course at Manby June 1943.

Bingo!

That's taken in the smaller of the two courtyards in what is now Tedder Hall, the former Instructional Block at Manby, facing northwards.
The arched window just visible on the extreme right of the photo matches those on the eastern wing.

The bombing teacher is long gone, but what may be the corner foundation pads are visible in the GE views.

All the best,
PB

Hello all,

Sorry for the late reply... My wife and I have had our third child since I posted, so I've been very busy on nappy and hugs patrol! Many thanks for the responses, and for confirming Manby and also all the extra bits of info! This image must have been when he was instructing there after his tour. Thanks again!

Kind regards,

Lorenzo.

What was your grandfathers name and do you know when he was at Manby? I ask because I have a list of bunks with names from mid 1941 from the Sgts Mess at Manby.