RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

With an aerodrome established, the station was now divided into two distinctive parts with public
roads separating the two. The reason for this unsatisfactory situation, was that there were still a
number of properties in private hands and access to them was required along Grenville and
Tennyson Roads.
Rebuilding work was to be carried out during 1932 and the retention of some existing station
buildings also formed part of the recommendations. The ultimate aim, was to have a station
large enough to accommodate the following units:
• Coastal Area Headquarters & Station Headquarters
• Headquarters School of Naval Co-operation (with workshops, MT and a Training Flight)
• Telegraph Air Gunners Flight
• Two Flights of Fleet Air Arm aircraft
• A Co-operation and a Communication Flight
The most significant addition on the aerodrome site, was the erection of the largest type of
aeroplane shed then available (the type ‘A’). A site was also reserved for another, should it be
required and both were planned to be built just north of Grenville Road. Opposite here and on the
other side of this road, a new but shortened Hinaidi aeroplane shed, was to be used as a
temporary main stores. The old one situated in a former WWI Royal Flying Corps 1913 pattern
aeroplane flight shed, would now function as a temporary aircraft repair section shed.
New domestic accommodation included a large combined officers’ mess & quarters in the
grounds of Westcliffe House. Also a single, two-storey type ‘E’ barrack block was to be built next
to the northern row of single-storey dormitory blocks. The only other new building proposed at
this time was a dining room & cookhouse to replace the existing WWI building. A connecting
road joining the new barrack blocks with the dining room & cookhouse was also constructed at
this time.
The Second Stage proposals of the 1931 RAF Building Committee and details (shown in italics)
of the actual building construction taking place c1934-1935 formed the first building contract and
is as follows:
• Two new aeroplane sheds
Technical Buildings
A single type ‘A’ aeroplane shed, was erected slightly further north of the proposed site, but
erection of the second shed was not proceeded with. (As the number of aircraft in a squadron
had now been reduced).
• It was proposed to double the length of the Hinaidi aeroplane shed to enable it to become
the new aircraft repair section shed.
The construction of this was actually carried out in one stage to its full design length and also
included brick-built annexes. It was actually built on the north side of Grenville Road behind the
type ‘A’ aeroplane shed.
• New MT sheds and yard.
These were not built. The existing MT shed was extended instead.
• A new station offices was planned to be built on part of the site of the old MT shed.
The construction of the new station offices in 1935, actually took place on a green-field site close
to the station sick quarters.
• A new main stores and parachute store was proposed.
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