Bognor ALG
The article below was produced in 2004 and as a result of information, questions and enquiries, it was decided to produce a book on the subject.

The book is 100 pages, A4 single colour printed, containing information, details, extracts from Squadron Logs, memories, photographs, maps and plans.

Entitled "IT STARTED WITH A MAP" tells the story of the ALG during the 2nd WW.  The publication is available and now costs just £7.50, (in addition postage/packing is £1.75) which includes a DVD on the production of the book. You can also purchase the book sperately for just £5.00 or the DVD for just £2.50. There are discussions with people who were there. A section on Lec Refrigeration has been included to dispel the myth that they were on the same site. You can order your copy by email to sylvia@endacott.eu or via this website , giving your name and address, cheques payable to S. Endacott. Or order online via the buttons below:
Book Only £5.00
DVD Only £2.50

Both Book and DVD £7.50

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION,  Please send it to me, so that it can be added to this website.

Sylvia Endacott

New information supplied since the publication of 'It started with a map.'

BOOK REVIEW FROM AVIATION NEWS JAN. 2006 MAGAZINE

SOURCE
CONTENT
P. Amos new information found in the ORB for Shoreham, West Sussex

16.4.44 Advance Party 2765 - A.A. Squadron moved to Bognor Regis - Flying Officer Stephens (121721) i/c

18.4.44 Main Party 2765 A.A. Squadron moved to Bognor Regis - Flight Lieutenant A O'Reilly (118360) i/c
Letter from Alan Chambers of Crawley

He was a 6 year old evacuee in North Bersted.'

There was an airfield where we used to go and talk with the pilots of the spitfires till they had to go and fly their planes.   They made us crosses out of old perspex and other items.

PETER AMOS

Jan. 2006

CAN ANYONE HELP WITH THIS ENQUIRY.

Perhaps you have information that would help to finally confirm the origin of the hangar.

 
I am now more firmly convinced than ever that the Lec blister hangar came from Shoreham! I have been speaking with my friend who distinctly remembers seeing two blister hangars on the north side until about 1948, then one suddenly vanished! The airfield plan also confirms the existence of two. The other one has survived and is still in use, although it has been extended somewhat. 
He also remembers that the Lec Auster and Messenger used to call there regularly for fuel and customs, so it all makes sense. They would have seen all the blisters on their frequent visits and would probably have put in a bid for one of them, which would have been the one on the north side furthest away from habitation and unlikely to have been used by the civilian owners

Aviation News - July 2004.

Letter from Graham Butler, Beckenham, Kent.
 'I hope this may be of interest! My brother and I were working bringing in the cereal crop beside Bognor A.L.G. in late August 1944, Flying bombs regularly flew past us on their way to Portsmouth. One clear sunny day we saw tiny puffs of exploding ack-ack (anti-aircraft gunfire) over Portsmouth (24 miles away) at a very high altitude, as we watched there was a spiral of smoke with a flame.  I read after the war in "War Illustrated" that an Me 109 escorted by two Fw190s was engaged in reconnaissance to evaluate damage done by the flying bombs to harbour installations and was flying at 37,000 ft when it was shot down. It was the highest aircraft ever shot down by A-A fire. As this feat was not claimed by the Royal Artillery in their history it can reasonably be presumed as having been to the credit of the Royal Navy, whether shipborne or land-based.'
Sylvia Endacott presenting a copy of the book to John Mikal Kvistad, Counsellor (EU Affairs) who was representing the Royal Norwegian Embassy at the North Weald Remembrance Day Service on 13th November 2005.

Lec Refrigeration airstrip which has long since discontinued to be used. Photo taken Oct. 2005

Further information on the existence of this airstrip wail be added to the site in the coming months.  There is a complete chapter in the book about Lec and their numerous aircraft. New page added to articles concerned the Ice House and Lec
Anon During the launch of the book a lady told of someone who had worked on the airfield, interviewing people who returned from the field, who had to be interviewed regarding their exploits.

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This article is about the Bognor Advanced Landing Ground (Bognor ALG) - a display that caused quite a stir when it was first seen at the Jubilee Hall, North Bersted, during the Festival of Local History 2004 and where we were honoured to have with us Inge Ovstedal - one of the Norwegians who was stationed there during the war.

The actual story started in 1942, but for me it was in February of this year when I first saw the map of the area in question, north of Chalcraft Lane and covering an area, which crossed the B2166. The Activities started during the 2nd World War, after the Battle of Britain when plans commenced for the invasion of France. It soon became apparent that many more airfields were required than those operated by the RAF. The plans came under the title of Operation Hadrian and initially there were

plans for 82 Advanced Landing Grounds, in the South of England. Ultimately 26 were constructed, of which 7 were in Sussex, and these were actually satellite stations from Tangmere airfield. There was a master format used, with each airfield being intended for 50 aircraft, only a few buildings, with two runways that crossed each other. Each runway was 50 yds wide (45.7m), one strip at 1,600 yds long (1,463m) and the other 1,400yds long (1,280m).

The land used in most cases had previously been used for agriculture, but once acquired it had to be leveled, trees and hedges removed and a temporary surface installed with concrete bases for aircraft stands. In the case of the Bognor A.L.G. the land used, north of Chalcraft Lane, had in fact been used for agriculture.

When travelling along Chalcraft Lane between the Royal Oak and the roundabout junction of the B2166 there is a large section of the hedge missing just after the entrance to the cemetery. This was where one of the runways crossed over into the West Meads area.

It is also known that numerous people have come across concrete bases in their gardens over the years, when planning extensions. These more than likely were the hard standing for the aircraft. The surface used for the airfield was known as Summerfeld Tracking, which was a metal mesh, and again several people have told me how over the years they have found pieces of mesh or metal pegs in their gardens or fields.

The Canadian Royal Engineers carried out the work as part of a training exercise and some of the Canadians remained on hand to remove the tracks etc., when the airfield was no longer required. The initial specification for the required work was £20,500. The final layout requirement was produced only two months before the required completion date.

However the work was completed and the first planes did arrive, as planned, on the 1st June 1943. The final cost was £49,448 and 90% of bonuses were paid under the payment by results&Mac226; scheme.

Who used the airfield, I am sure is one question? There were a number of British Squadrons, for

example 66 Squadron., 602 City of Glasgow Squadron., 19 Squadron, also 350 Belgian Squadron. Finally two Squadrons from Norway, 331 and 332 Squadrons.

At the time this airfield was in operation, the local men were away in various service occupations, so many of the memories come from people who were children, mostly boys and young men who were quite excited to have their own airfield, just down the road. There have been a number of people who have recalled watching the planes. Many families invited officers to tea on a Sunday, others allowed the men to use their bath, instead of the showers on the base. One person remembered that his mother used to do some washing of clothes for the men, on a Monday.

The records we have found to date indicate that Morells Farm was used as the Officer’s Mess, that a number of their barns were used for storage and as the telephone exchange for the airfield.

On the other side of the airstrip, the Old Chapel Forge as it is known today, was used as the paymaster’s office, and also their disused chapel in the grounds was used as a store, where for a time, Spitfire engines were repaired.

During the time that the Norwegians were here, Crown Prince Olav visited his men and slept under canvas with them in a field near the junction of the B2166 and Hewitts Lane. It was his practise, to live in a tent, whenever he visited the many sites of the Norwegians.

A range of planes including Mustangs, Typhoons and Spitfires used the airfield and it is incredible, today, to appreciate that at the height of its use nearly 100 planes regularly used the airfield. Avro Anson's were also brought in to deal with the

casualties from D-Day and also to carry plasma to Normandy. There were approx. 100 tents used for the injured service personnel before they were ferried to various hospitals in Chichester, Petworth and Midhurst.

The airfield was finally closed in September 1945, stripped of all its fixtures and fittings and the land returned to the landowners again for its previous agricultural usage. I am aware that at the exhibition about the airfield in North Bersted many people had memories of its existence, but due to the number of people present I was unable to gain all of this information.

• TELEPHONE 01243 823 820
• EMAIL: info@bognor-local-history.co.uk