RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

Built of 11in cavity wall construction and built in a typical RAF station offices style, with two
projecting gables. A single-storey annexe at the rear may have been an operations room.
In more recent times a flat-roofed modern two-storey accommodation block has been added to
the front elevation and the whole complex is now known as Frobisher Block.
� NGR: SU 5608 0122 (142)
4. 4.53 4.
Station Sick Quarters (SSQ) AL 100 100-AL 100
AL 102/41 102/41 (146)
(146)
This building replaced the earlier SSQ and was of an unusual layout with a ‘T’-shaped plan-form.
Although its design was first drawn up in 1931, it was not actually built until 1935. Originally with
a hipped-shaped roof, it was remodelled in 1941 when the roof above the front section was
removed and replaced with a pre-cast concrete one. A central entrance led to an octagonalshaped
hall with a ‘T’-shaped corridor branching off. Rooms included the following:
• office
• consulting room
• theatre
• waiting room
• treatment room
• kitchen
• bathroom
• hospital ward.
Also in 1941 a single-storey decontamination centre, of unusual design, was added at the rear
and although it was separate from the SSQ, they were connected together by a corridor. This
was for wounded casualties so that they could get treatment for both gas contamination and
conventional wounds. This had its own protected entrance and separate female and male
undressing areas. A wide corridor connected from a waiting room to another waiting room in the
SSQ.
� NGR: SU 5612 0125 (146)
4. 4.54 4.
RNAS Bellman Aeroplane Shed 2270/39 (Overlord Hangar) Hangar) ( (153, ( 153, 154 154 & 155 155) 155
The Bellman aeroplane shed was designed by the Air Ministry Directorate of Work’s structural
engineer, NS Bellman, as a temporary hangar capable of being erected or dismantled by
unskilled labour with simple equipment and designed to be easily transportable. Commercial
manufacturing rights were acquired by Head Wrightson & Co of Teesdale Iron Works, Thornabyon-Tees.
The shed was constructed on a unit system of rolled steel and lattice sections, both walls and
roof using the same component parts. The junction of wall and roof was closed by a standard
corner unit. RAF hangars had a clear span of 87ft-9in and were normally 14-bays long, while the
Naval version was larger with a clear span of 105ft and were erected in 15-bays.
Five Bellman sheds were built at Lee-on-Solent but two were destroyed by enemy action (or
possibly removed and erected elsewhere).
� NGR: SU 5608 0142 (154)
71