Hard runways in WWII

[kitplane01]

Did either the Allies of the Axis have many hard paved runways in operational combat use?

As a silly example (and please don't move this to what-if) did the Allies/Axis have the sort of runways we would now use to operate an F-16/B-52? Were they really landing DC-4s or Constellations on grass? And where ever they were landing DC-4s or Constellations, did they run combat ops out of those bases?

 

[EwenS]

Did either the Allies of the Axis have many hard paved runways in operational combat use?

As a silly example (and please don't move this to what-if) did the Allies/Axis have the sort of runways we would now use to operate an F-16/B-52? Were they really landing DC-4s or Constellations on grass? And where ever they were landing DC-4s or Constellations, did they run combat ops out of those bases?

RAF class A airfields

Class A airfield - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[kitplane01]

RAF class A airfields

Class A airfield - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

OK. Awesome and thanks. But how many Class A Airfields were there? Wiki implies at least 8 but maybe more.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Did either the Allies of the Axis have many hard paved runways in operational combat use?

As a silly example (and please don't move this to what-if) did the Allies/Axis have the sort of runways we would now use to operate an F-16/B-52? Were they really landing DC-4s or Constellations on grass? And where ever they were landing DC-4s or Constellations, did they run combat ops out of those bases?

Understand that F-16s can use 5,000 or so foot runways, and a fully-loaded B-52 probably needs more like 7-8,000 foot, so while both sides had many paved runways in WWII, that's not to say they could accommodate those jets, necessarily.

No doubt the UK and/or Germany had -- in 1945 -- the highest numbers of long concrete airstrips, with some able to handle jets. But the Japanese and Americans both had healthy hard-paved air bases, at Munda, Rabaul, and the Marianas, too. Andersen AFB in Guam handles B-52s, B-1s, and B-2s to this day (though it may have been extended, not sure).

But to answer your first question, yes, both sides had hard runways.

 

[yulzari]

The British program of building hard runway airfields with all the support buildings, services etc. for the RAF and USAAF was the largest civil engineering project they had ever undertaken. Previously, although there were some hard runways, the assumption for even heavy aeroplanes was that operations would be from grassed airfields and was written into the design requirements. Given the issues of drainage on grass airfields in NW European weather simple airfields on dry hard ground in parts of the Empire could actually be better operationally.

 

[EwenS]

OK. Awesome and thanks. But how many Class A Airfields were there? Wiki implies at least 8 but maybe more.

In 1939 there were about 100 permanent airfields in Britain. By 1945 that had risen to over 700.

The first hard runways for the RAF were constructed in 1938 at Odiham & Gosport, two sites that were proving particularly wet with only grass strips. Each received two runways (700 yards long for Odiham & 350-400 yards long for Gosport). By autumn of 1938 hard runways were recognised as essential, and development started with 8 fighter stations receiving two 800x50 yard hard runways. By Dec 1940 bomber airfields were being designed with three hard runways of at least 1,100x50 yards. Then in 1942 the Class A airfield became the standard operational airfield as described in the article I linked, to which standard all new construction was undertaken. Most training airfields, aircraft storage units etc had been built by then and had or did not have hard runways as appropriate to their role. Then in 1944/45 several airfields were developed beyond Class A standards, with a view to accomodating later generations of aircraft (main runway 3,000x100 yards with two subsidiary runways of 2,000x50yards).

Many earlier airfields had their runways brought up to Class A standard by laying hard runways (e.g. Scampton in 1943/44) or by increasing the length of existing runways (visible by runways and perimeter tracks extending beyond the original perimeter track around the airfield) or completely rebuilding existing runways to take later, heavier, generations of aircraft. A handful of airfields were built specifically for the Royal Navy and had 5 hard runways (better for naval aircraft with narrower landing gear tracks to land into wind).

Exceptions were the temporary Advanced Landing Grounds built in southern England to support the various tactical air forces in the run up to D-Day, which received metal track runways of one type or another.

Construction materials varied over time and the part of the world airfields were being built in. Concrete was best but wasn't always available. Bitumen was also used. But in the CBI stone & gravel was used and on Pacific islands crushed coral.

Some of the largest airfield complexes built were in the Mariana Islands to support B-29 operations. 8,000-8,500 ft runways often 4 in parallel. North & West Fields, Tinian, & North & North West Fields on Guam.

If you want to understand airfield development for the RAF here are a couple of titles of interest:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Military-Airfield-Architecture-Airships/dp/185260462X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LQT6H17Z3ZK7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YsMVxtryjkPsaVJ2ZGr1l9sNVrpv-ouDCryBDFIBi0s.fgrBhBJ2Q6-y59TPWf7MkF5s46WIqqkKjWuLzs0n3Bc&dib_tag=se&keywords=british+military+airfield+architecture&qid=1721812410&s=books&sprefix=british+military+airfield+architecture%2Cstripbooks%2C81&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bases-Air-Strategy-Construction-Antecedents/dp/1840370092/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BVDDCAOF0HX6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.78JXQrEtyVvWYLhy1fDkPcEGFgyTl5mlJyed-TietcjGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.AhxXKPyuCanYaxYeJEjhXxTJbPQfoUJtyfGd_oUcEkI&dib_tag=se&keywords=bases+of+air+strategy&qid=1721812449&s=books&sprefix=bases+of+air+strategy%2Cstripbooks%2C67&sr=1-1

Videos showing construction of B-29 airfield in China by hand:-

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqaEb7GxZ3A

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEoX3kOtS4k

The attached article will give you an idea of what was involved.

 

[yulzari]

The Luftwaffe kindly provided a lot of the hardcore upon which to lay the concrete in many cases. The airfield at my home town of Plymouth could only take Gladiators so a flight of these was maintained there during the daylight Blitz. Much as the early airfields off the RAF in France could only take Gladiators until somewhat improved in length and drainage. The lack of a large airfield in the South West led to RAF Harrowbear being built, principally for Coastal Command, upon the rubble of the early bombings of Plymouth nearby. The later clearances after the last bombing is 1944 filled in Lipson Creek which now houses a large school and it's grounds etc.Older locals will tell you that the Americans disposed of a lot of munitions in there too. As to the truth of that I cannot say but I have heard first hand tales from older residents.

OT but current Plymouth City centre improvements are being delayed by finding the post war clearances had imperfectly filled in the cellars etc. of the old city leaving voids and the hasty installation of new post war services were very badly mapped so they keep finding mains where there should be none and have to work around them. Curiously I am not aware of unexplored bombs in the centre but the clearances hopefully saw to that problem. No one wants a 1,000kg bang amongst Christmas shoppers. An interesting anomaly is that, in Germany, the German government will cover the cost of rebuilding damage from discovered bombs going off but in Britain the property owner is left to fund it themselves with building insurance companies writing their contracts to not cover war damage.But I digress from the OP.

 

[MikeMeech]

Did either the Allies of the Axis have many hard paved runways in operational combat use?

As a silly example (and please don't move this to what-if) did the Allies/Axis have the sort of runways we would now use to operate an F-16/B-52? Were they really landing DC-4s or Constellations on grass? And where ever they were landing DC-4s or Constellations, did they run combat ops out of those bases?

Hi
The 1987 publication 'Military Airfields, in the British Isles 1939-1945 (Omnibus Edition)' by Steve Willis and Barry Holliss, has details of 654 airfield (including small plans showing runway layouts, plus appendices with consolidated information.
The introduction includes the following info:

Appendix 'N' gives detail of materials used for the runways:

Also a sample of main body info on airfields:

I hope that is of use.

Mike

 

[kitplane01]

Wow y'all much thanks! I'm impressed!

 

[MikeMeech]

Wow y'all much thanks! I'm impressed!

Hi
The Official History for RAF construction is 'The Royal Air Force Builds for War, A History of Design and Construction in the RAF 1935-1945', HMSO 1997 (although first published as a classified history in 1956). Extract reference runways:

It also has a chart of some of the aircraft requirements in relation runway design:

Mike