Quite right. I think I meant it’s a disgrace for these locations to be rotting away when they could be preserved. There were painting on the walls by the pilots which have been lost. Such a shame
Okey, but by whom? Who do you think is predestined to put money off to preserve those old barracks? If the answer is - the government, then which one? And also - the government doesn't have his own money. Perhaps a private sector could take over, do some fixings , then make advertising and keep it running by selling tickets. If ask me - it's the only reasonable way to preserve it for next generations. Because nor the government, nor the army haven't it as a objective to keep it good shape - it's obsolete. God bless!
I went in USAF in 61 and there were still Army Air Corp around. They had learned in Korea that you can't count on the Army or Marines to protect our position and you better have that foxhole ready and prepared to live in :(
It reminds me of RAF Edzell in Scotland. My father was stationed at the US Navy base there in 1963-65. As a kid we used to play in them. WW2 was over for only 18 years.
I had a cousin who just died at age 99 a couple of years ago who served in the RCAF Women's Auxiliary in London during WW2. She saw V-1s and V-2s land all over the place, and was almost shot down by anti-aircraft guns when she first arrived by transport aircraft! In any event, she grew up in a log cabin on the western Canadian frontier that has been built in the previous century, that is to say the 1800s. Margie used to be able to make the best of any situation and was cheery and positive almost all the time. I miss her.
@@thehistoryexplorerMargie worked in the basement of what is now Harrods Department Store in London during WW2. One of the V-1s or V-2s she talked about landed not far from there.
@@thehistoryexplorer Yes, I don't even know why I mentioned it, LOL! She was assigned to doing something with the parachutes used by RCAF aircrews. Harrods was basically used to support the war effort and even built parts for the Lancaster. I don't know exactly what kind of rocket landed in the area but it was apparently not terribly far away. Very hard to sort that last bit out but yeah, Margie Parsonage spent her war effort in the basement of Harrods. My great grandfather and Margie's grandfather, Everett Parsonage, was born in Ilford in 1856, which I believe is in the northeast part of London now. He came to Canada with his father Abraham in the late 1850s or early 1860s and then Everett came West in 1875 at 19 years of age. 🤠
@@ToddSauvewhat a amazing story. V1 and V2s were so deadly. We should never forget the stories of the past. Canada and the RCAF are so over looked. There were lot of RCAF crew in the Battle of Britain.
The Army barracks on.Cap Cod were used in the early 60's to house Cuban refugees By then the wood was dry kindling and they were warned not to cook or smoke inside
A Quonset hut /ˈkwɒnsɪt/ is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel with a semi-cylindrical cross-section. The design was developed in the United States based on the Nissen hut introduced by the British during World War I. Hundreds of thousands were produced during World War II, and military surplus was sold to the public. The name comes from the site of their first deployment at Quonset Point at the Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center in Davisville, Rhode Island. - Wikipedia
This brought back memories. My grandfather owned a farm adjacent to Bourne Airfield in Cambridgeshire from the 1930s until the late 1970s, he had two Nissen huts, one was use as a barn and one as a house. My memories as a small boy are a little clouded now but I think his were bigger in every way to the ones you showed, the one he lived in was very basic but cozy, just inside the front door to the left was an adequate kitchen and to the right a bedroom then further in was the living / dinning room and right at the back was the main bedroom. The front of the buildings were of wooden construction with corrugated tin over the top. I don't know whether he acquired them by fair means or foul, he was a bit of a rogue, a real life Del boy.
Wow thank you so much for sharing. I wish I could get inside the ones being used for housing at Old Buckenham. I visited that airfield and made another video recently
I'm presently 6 months into a major project, building what I hope will be the world's most accurate RAF Bomber Command airfield for flight sim. Hundreds of individual buildings as well as the equipment, lighting.
The ones in nissen/quanset huts were the fortunate ones. Many of the enlisted lived in wood floored tents. Once they got to the coninent, then they were all in tents. 20 years ago, I deployed to Oman. Guess what shelter we had? That's right, tents.
I’m in the Army myself and have stayed in far worse accommodation, but the point really is these fantastic old buildings are rotting away and won’t last for much longer
Very true, but the point is they had 12 man huts with a stove in the centre. They all shared a single shower block and latrine. Many people think of them as having more money and a much more comfortable war than British troops but I wanted to show the reality. I hope you enjoyed the video
During WW2, my 19-year old Dad, in the US Army Air Force, accompanied a bomber unit throughout northern Africa, up into Italy and finally Paris by war's end. He was an armorer and took care of all the guns on the bombers -- cleaned them and made sure they were in good working order. Desert sand could get into the guns and so they needed constant cleaning. He also loaded bombs in the bombers. He and his buddy lived in a tent for years. They would dig a hole and erect the tent over the hole. In winter the desert can get cold, so they rigged up a heater that ran on bomber fuel to provide warmth in their tent. At one point there were heavy rains and their tent flooded. He had many good stories like these. So these men in quonset huts had it pretty good -- they were dry and somewhat warm. If your socks are dry and you have sufficient sweaters and long johns, you can get along OK. Dad would have LOVED living in such a hut. Much better than a tent.
Come to Elvington Air Museum near York. Apart from the restored aircraft there are plenty of restored buildings from the WW2 airfield and the Control Tower too. It was an RAF site also used by two Free French Squadrons and at the end of the war the runway and hard standings were vastly extended for the future nuclear force. In the end it was actually put down to be used as an emergency Space Shuttle landing site as the runway is that long.
75% of the air man did not make it back so a roof for the last few weeks of there life wasn't such a bad thing and they were all heroes no matter where they lad there head.
OHHH, BOO HOOO !!!! I had two uncles who were combat infantrymen - one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. They would have KILLED to get roofs over their heads!
My father was stationed at one of the bases in East Anglia. He never complained about the accomodations. He was proud to have served his country. I am sure your uncles were just trying to make it out of the war alive and not worrying about other people who had it better.
Robertn 75% of them air man only had them roofs for a few weeks and then they were dead so maby your uncle's wouldn't have been so glad to have a roof there all heroes roof or or no roof..
In 1980 we came to the UK to find my father’s old field in Horham, the home of the 95th BG. They looked these you are showing - however- now the 95th has fixed up the ones we saw and now they are totally restored.
Have to agree, the title is mis-leading. These huts, as basic as they were, offered shelter and a degree of comfort, often the aircrew slept in some of their flying kit . . Post-war saw breeze blocks being used to separate a small hut as shown, into two 'houses' to ease the shortage of accommodation for families. The open shelter was known as a 'blast shelter' not an air-raid shelter.
NIssen huts had an interior metal structure while Quonset huts did not. The Anderson shelter, constructed in many UK gardens (backyards to Americans) was built on the same principle. For the Anderson you were to dig a rectangular hole over which the corrugated metal arc was placed. Then the soil that you dug from the hole was used to pack around, and even over the entire shelter. These would never survive a direct hit but would protect you from shrapnel, flying bricks, etc. Better than no protection at all. Much like an underground dug out shelter from tornadoes in the middle USA.
The point of the video was to correct the notion that the US troops were much more comfortable that their British counterparts. Their living conditions (12 man rooms etc) might surprise some viewers. I hope you enjoyed the video
Great series and the follow on documentary movie. They were the greatest generation. I hope that the current generation would step up as well. History repeats itself if we ever forget it.
Cool vid! honestly though it could have been worse :) They had roof over thier head, a stove and a mess hall every day of the week. Not too shabby compared to other units. Although some had it alot better aswell. Thanks for sharing what you found! Cheers!
Thank you buddy, really appreciate it. I suppose I meant it was a shame these buildings have been left to rot away. I’ve got a few more masters of the air videos coming up
Many aircrew, indeed many soldiers and sailors as well, had similar accommodation. And they were born into and grew up in this kind of housing, especially on farms. Many people just don't know that the world we have enjoyed for decades and decades since WW2 did not exist previously except for the fortunate. So housing like that shown was not really a step down for many Allied service men and women. Let's tell our Maker that we appreciate and are thankful for all we have because the majority of the world has much, much less. 😉💖
@@thehistoryexplorer Oh yes, I understand. They just did the best they could with what was available and didn't worry about it. As long as you woke up the next day and had food and clothes, you counted yourself blessed.
This is so cool! Makes me feels sad I’m so young, by the time I’ll be able to go out to see these things for myself, they likely won’t still be standing. I’m so envious of people getting to see these sort of locations.
The fact these buildings still exist 80 years later speaks to the quality of their construction. And when new, they sure beat what I had in Afghanistan.
@thehistoryexplorer It was a 2 week summer camp in 1980 with the Cadets and we were housed in the Nissan huts 🛖 and even though it was summer it was cold 🥶 we had a stove in the centre but no fuel as we wasn't allowed to use it. Just 2 sheets and two itchy blankets. We also spent two nights in the field with nothing at all not even a blanket but I got to fire a flare one night which was nice. We had 303 rifles and 10 rounds each on the Range as well something I am so happy to have experienced at 12 years old :) I eventually joined up at 16 in 1984 and left the military in 2014 all of which was in Germany 🇩🇪 other than Tours of course.
@thehistoryexplorer Unfortunately that era has gone :/ I was very lucky to experienced the Old BAOR lifestyle with the Border Patrols along former East/West Germany and have some great photos 📸 Then when the wall came down I drove with my German wife to Eisenhuttenstadt to visit long lost relatives and the Russian troops were still there;) and hadn't withdrawn yet. A few years later after the 1st Gulf War the mass redundancies started and the reformation of Troops in Germany 🇩🇪 Quite a few camps closed ie Wolfenbuttel, Hildeshiem some in Dortmund etc etc Then it was regular Tours to Bosnia 🇧🇦 then Kosovo and before we knew it Gulf War 2 with the OP Telics & Afghanistan. All the time with changes to the Military structure. And eventually the Withdrawal from Germany 🇩🇪 altogether. It was a good time but quite busy time flies :)
I must add In 1990 we carried out a large exercise which was basically a run through of the Plans if Russia had started the War :) with our Brigade occupying defensive positions near the Elbe and the process of a fighting withdrawal exercised as it was the long standing belief this is what would have happened in reality if the Cold War would have actually started, loved it at the time and very interesting to look back on as well. Another note it Seems we have unfortunately gone full circle with Russia 🇷🇺 With the old Cold War formations removed. And now a New Cold War has unofficially begun with NATO scrambling to establish lines much further forward in Poland Estonia & other former Communist Countries. Interesting times ⏲️ 🤔
I honestly do not see why its shocking. Many of us livid in those billets and survived!! Something to consider for you. When I was in the RAF we lived in tin huts with just a single ceiling fan (no air con) all over the middle and far east.. where it got very hot indeed and if you thinks thats bad you should try living in a Tent with 100 humidity and 120 in the shade..
Great episode! I liked exploring with you all that is left of those buildings. Do you suppose we will have anything left standing to remember all those men? Surely some of our history should remain and not bulldozed to the ground? I'd like to think it would! ❤
Lots a real shame and I have to say I don’t think it will be there in 2-5 years time unless they choose to preserve or repair them. Thank you so much for your kind comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the video
Another interesting video, I remember sleeping in one of these style of Nissin huts in the 1970’s with Air Training Corp somewhere in Surrey. Bloody cold even with pot belly stove on. How times have changed with health and safety too
The ‘disgrace’ comment applies more so to the state of the accommodation. Had this place have been in the US it might be preserved or made into a museum. Just a thought
@@thehistoryexplorer probably because American wasn’t bombed for years and would have had the manpower and resources to repair bombed homes. Although it would have been nice to keep stuff like that around, i assume resources that would be used for the upkeep of sheds were put into building temporary homes and new housing.
@@thehistoryexplorer that's a pretty big "might have been". Far more important and consequential airfields and their structures have become disused or taken down in the years since. It's not what I'd call a disgrace but it is disappointing.
I was in United States Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, California Wing, Groups 5 and 23, Squadrons 76, 26 and 141 from 1972 to 1994, as a Cadet from 1972 to 1978(final rank Cadet Lieutenant Colonel) and as a First Lieutenant then later Captain from 1978 to 1994. Our headquarters was located at the Chico Municipal Airport(a former WWII Army Air Force base) in what had been the Base Recreation Hall. My last assignment before I retired in 1994 was Deputy Commander(equal to Executive Officer) of our Squadron. There were many activities of a training nature as well as active Civil Defense and Search and Rescue Missions for missing aircraft. We worn standard Air Force uniforms with rank insignia but also distinctive Civil Air Patrol insignia to enable people to know who we were unlike the Corporate Uniform that present-day members have to wear by order of a government that for the past thirty years has chosen to forget our service and sacrifice but see us as a reminder of a "nationalistic, patriotic, racist and sexist past" that they look forward to eliminating in order to establish "the New World Order." We were valued assets of the defense establishment, more so then today. Oh well, that's life. I will discuss one of our activities... the Hawaii Wing Flying Encampment in Oahu, Hawaii. When we were taking part in the two week Flying Encampment at Dillingham Field(a former WW II Auxiliary Field for B-29s) we lived in huts similiar to Nissen Huts and took mess in a WWII Mess Hall. There was a control tower exactly like those in WWII air bases as well as a headquarters, training hut, a shower/restroom building and revetments where the aircraft were kept, each on a concrete hardstand. The hardstands were connected to a taxiway that lead to the runway. There was an area equipted with a fueling area and an area to wash the aircraft. My responsibility as Power Flight Operations Officer was to get up at 0600(6 am) along with the rest of the personnel and make sure that the aircraft were washed, fueled and inspected then go to breakfast at 0700(7 am). After breakfast, I expected to have available a list of those who would be flying with instructors that day(including myself). Flying continued from 0800 to 1200(8 am to 12 pm)n broke for lunch at 1200 and resumed at 1300 until 1700(1 pm to 5 pm). Most of the flying ended at 1700 unless there was night flying being conducted. After dinner at 1700 there was a critique of the day's activity and then I was required to make out a report of the day's flying usage and send it to national headquarters...most of the time I was awake until 2400(12 midnight) and then had only only six hours sleep. we would occasionally go into the small town of nearby or rarely into Honolulu/WaiKaiKai. When I went back to Dillingham in 1992, most of the field had changed. The huts were gone and the control tower, training building, shower building and headquarters were all locked and I had been told were only occasionally used. Standing there, I remembered memories of events and of people, thinking about why I was still amongst the living when many of them were not and while being grateful for all that I had experienced in my now 66 years of life(I was 21 then), I also felt a feeling of disappointment in how the sacrifice of so many to preserve our country and the peace of the world has been wasted by many of those who today benefit without having to sacrifice or who willing sacrifice what was so dearly preserved. I know that when my time to die comes, that I will cross over to join my family, friends and comrades in service in heaven. George E Frei, Formerly Captain, USAF Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, 1972-1994.
It’s a shame you’ve chosen the title you have, it’s a good video that is informative and should be shown. But it’s far from a disgrace! All service personnel regardless of colour or creed had to sleep in Nissen huts, they’re not sheds!
@@thehistoryexplorer that I completely agree with, unfortunately the way the title reads and the intro leads viewers to think that the disgrace is putting up foreign forces in such bad accommodation
@@johnwhittle.22well according to the caricature the British painted about how bougie the Americans were when they got to the UK, these accomodations would be a disgrace to house the rich, arrogant service members of a foreign country who Churchill literally begged to come help him and his countrymen from being destroyed by the Germans. You can't have it both ways. Either the Americans were oversexed, over paid, and over there . In which case these accomodations are a disgrace or the truth that most of those kids were poor to middle class kids from modest means who came over there to sacrifice their lives for people they didn't know. In which case these accomodations were perfectly fine to house those heroes in .
Gale “Buck” Cleven was my dad’s first cousin. I was sure surprised when I found out about the mini-series and it featuring Gale. We are used to having our last name mispronounced, but it is actually pronounced as Cl + even.😁
As I watched this, I had to laugh. The US Marines, the heroes of the Pacific during World War II, lived worse than this. As a marine from 1965 to 70 we lived in Quanset huts very similar to these. If we think of all those heroes of World War II that lived like this, while looking at what they’ve did, that’s what is impressive. We should all reflect on all the comfort of home that today’s military has in both the UK and the US. We should wonder if today our military can do as well as those World War II heroes?
During operation pedestal one of the American merchant marine ships crew carry food/fuel to literally starving Malta went on strike because they only had one egg in their breakfast. The RN liaison threatened to shoot them.
So? British servicemen were also housed in similar accommodations - that there was a war on at the time may have had something to do with it, don't you think? Do you think that there were luxury hotels available at places where air bases were situated?
I'm guessing these buildings were built by the US military in good time prior to the men arriving? I wonder if they used local builders and materials or if they brought their own construction workers and materials?
I see. The specification and budget I suppose would have been set by the US military: I don’t expect they would have just said: we need accommodation for 300 servicemen: make it so! My point is: the standard of accommodation was not administered by people on the ground in England: forward parties of US engineers and Airforce staff would have organised that: not the English
@@thehistoryexplorer control tower some of the tec site one t2 hanger and some of runway and perry track. It’s worth a look .Regards thank you for replying back👍
Well I mean they had it better than the infantry LOL, but as many airfields that needed building and as quick as they needed not really going to build them a chateau will they. They had wood stoves in all the huts and plenty of hot food.
I see what you’re saying, my point is there were dozens of these buildings still left in (reasonably) good condition up until the 90s and now they have rotted away to nothing. They could have been preserved for future generations to see, just a thought. I don’t suspect these will be around in 10 years time
I am very disappointed with this series compared to the previous two, Band Of Brothers and The Pacific. Nowhere near as well done, written nor historically fleshed out. Tom Hanks was misguided in the production and scriptwriting of this series of his.
I'm affraid this series, why quite compelling. Treats the British horribly. From the RAF guys getting a bashing on the first episode. To the non mention, or even an odd Spitfire or Lancaster making an appearance, as there would be hundreds of them flying about at the time. The worst is at the end though. Where they obviously (and probably reluctantly) have to show British, and Commonwealth POW's in the prison camp. Who had very crap uniforms, and hats. Then the German flag gets removed, and the Stars and stripes replaces it. FFS.
I lived in exactly this type of accommodation at Cultybraggan, Perthshire, Scotland, whilst training in the Army Cadet Force as a boy in the early 1970's. The only thing "SHOCKING" about these buildings is your description of them as such. What dreadful clickbait tactics. Cultybraggan is an ex-prisoner of war camp, still standing and in use to this day. If viewers want to get a far better idea of the conditions "US Army Airforce Heroes Lived" in, they'd do better looking "Cultybraggan camp" up on the internet than viewing this sad video.
What made you want to comment such poison? I honestly hope life gets better for you as you. What is shocking is that these buildings, once home to Cleven and Rosenthal, are left to rot and now cannot be conserved or left for future generations. They are lost.
Apologies, ive come over as rather curt on looking back at my comment.I really dont know what i was thinking even saying such a thing. Of course it could quite easily be my pad,and i havnt checked on other sytems.so i will check others and get back to you.
@@fraserm803 it could well be my camera so I’d be interested to know what issue you’ve identified. I use a £150 camera so I am looking to upgrade in the near future
@@thehistoryexplorer Ok HE i am so embarrassed to report back that after viewing your😊 vid on ipad it was perfect.My older samsung had settings that needed adjusting. Red face imogee.
A lit of people had it far worse in Britain at that time. Aside from their terrifying day job, these crews had it pretty damned sweet compared to the rest of the country and armed services.
@@thehistoryexplorer I get that, I'm just responding to the op who seems to be commenting on the idea of living in those huts or general life on an airfield at the time. I enjoyed the video, I live right by an old ww2 airfield where all the original buildings are gone, except for 2 of the hangers. Don't get me wrong, I understand that your video isn't saying nissen huts, or the like were a disgrace.
@@HistoryHaty I never said they didn't like the airmen, what are you getting at? I'm talking about their quality of life in comparison with the average citizen.
I was at the Spanish fort in st. Augustine …it’s been there 200 plus years . I was in an ammunition room . Someone had carved graffiti into the walls …I was so angry 😡! Untilllll as I looked at it close I realized it was made by union soldiers being held prisoner in the room in 1863 during the civil war . A paradigm shift …all of a sudden I was thinking wow…that’s so cool !
Nice video …good job , very interesting . Shame they are forgotten . I think the new generations have no interest in ww2 unfortunately. Thanks for the video .
You are most welcome. I think it’s fair to say there is much less interest in the younger generations but then again I never became truly interested until my late 20s
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Better than a fox hole or trench I would say. It's wartime, dont expect the ritz or savoy do you ?
Quite right. I think I meant it’s a disgrace for these locations to be rotting away when they could be preserved. There were painting on the walls by the pilots which have been lost. Such a shame
@@thehistoryexplorer that would have been a better description for sure. I agree 100%, very sad to see history rot.
@thehistoryexplorer Probably should have stated that in the beginning. Certainly, it should have been title.
Okey, but by whom? Who do you think is predestined to put money off to preserve those old barracks? If the answer is - the government, then which one? And also - the government doesn't have his own money.
Perhaps a private sector could take over, do some fixings , then make advertising and keep it running by selling tickets.
If ask me - it's the only reasonable way to preserve it for next generations.
Because nor the government, nor the army haven't it as a objective to keep it good shape - it's obsolete.
God bless!
I went in USAF in 61 and there were still Army Air Corp around.
They had learned in Korea that you can't count on the Army or Marines to protect our position and you better have that foxhole ready and prepared to live in :(
It reminds me of RAF Edzell in Scotland. My father was stationed at the US Navy base there in 1963-65. As a kid we used to play in them. WW2 was over for only 18 years.
I had a cousin who just died at age 99 a couple of years ago who served in the RCAF Women's Auxiliary in London during WW2. She saw V-1s and V-2s land all over the place, and was almost shot down by anti-aircraft guns when she first arrived by transport aircraft! In any event, she grew up in a log cabin on the western Canadian frontier that has been built in the previous century, that is to say the 1800s. Margie used to be able to make the best of any situation and was cheery and positive almost all the time. I miss her.
Thank you for sharing Todd. Different times. Such a shame these buildings have been allowed to disappear
@@thehistoryexplorerMargie worked in the basement of what is now Harrods Department Store in London during WW2. One of the V-1s or V-2s she talked about landed not far from there.
@@ToddSauveno way?! I know it well. My dad was based at Hyde park barracks and so I lived nearby
@@thehistoryexplorer Yes, I don't even know why I mentioned it, LOL! She was assigned to doing something with the parachutes used by RCAF aircrews. Harrods was basically used to support the war effort and even built parts for the Lancaster. I don't know exactly what kind of rocket landed in the area but it was apparently not terribly far away. Very hard to sort that last bit out but yeah, Margie Parsonage spent her war effort in the basement of Harrods.
My great grandfather and Margie's grandfather, Everett Parsonage, was born in Ilford in 1856, which I believe is in the northeast part of London now. He came to Canada with his father Abraham in the late 1850s or early 1860s and then Everett came West in 1875 at 19 years of age. 🤠
@@ToddSauvewhat a amazing story. V1 and V2s were so deadly. We should never forget the stories of the past. Canada and the RCAF are so over looked. There were lot of RCAF crew in the Battle of Britain.
Cool. Great to see what's still around. Bearing in mind that these buildings were built to last five years, they've done remarkably well.
Yea that’s very true. I don’t think anyone expected them to be around in 80 years time
The Army barracks on.Cap Cod were used in the early 60's to house Cuban refugees
By then the wood was dry kindling and they were warned not to cook or smoke inside
I see some concrete or cement block walls which will last quite a long time after wood and metal have deteriorated.
A Quonset hut /ˈkwɒnsɪt/ is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel with a semi-cylindrical cross-section. The design was developed in the United States based on the Nissen hut introduced by the British during World War I. Hundreds of thousands were produced during World War II, and military surplus was sold to the public. The name comes from the site of their first deployment at Quonset Point at the Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center in Davisville, Rhode Island. - Wikipedia
Very good, thank you
This brought back memories. My grandfather owned a farm adjacent to Bourne Airfield in Cambridgeshire from the 1930s until the late 1970s, he had two Nissen huts, one was use as a barn and one as a house. My memories as a small boy are a little clouded now but I think his were bigger in every way to the ones you showed, the one he lived in was very basic but cozy, just inside the front door to the left was an adequate kitchen and to the right a bedroom then further in was the living / dinning room and right at the back was the main bedroom. The front of the buildings were of wooden construction with corrugated tin over the top. I don't know whether he acquired them by fair means or foul, he was a bit of a rogue, a real life Del boy.
Wow thank you so much for sharing. I wish I could get inside the ones being used for housing at Old Buckenham. I visited that airfield and made another video recently
I'm presently 6 months into a major project, building what I hope will be the world's most accurate RAF Bomber Command airfield for flight sim. Hundreds of individual buildings as well as the equipment, lighting.
The ones in nissen/quanset huts were the fortunate ones. Many of the enlisted lived in wood floored tents. Once they got to the coninent, then they were all in tents. 20 years ago, I deployed to Oman. Guess what shelter we had? That's right, tents.
I’m in the Army myself and have stayed in far worse accommodation, but the point really is these fantastic old buildings are rotting away and won’t last for much longer
Glad your back, History Explorer. Never forget the Second World War or any history for that matter.
Hello buddy. I’ve got a series coming up from Normandy again later this month- 13 videos looking at WW2 locations 👌
@@thehistoryexplorerGreat ,can’t wait.
Even the fanciest mansion left abandoned is going to look terrible 80 years later.
Very true, but the point is they had 12 man huts with a stove in the centre. They all shared a single shower block and latrine.
Many people think of them as having more money and a much more comfortable war than British troops but I wanted to show the reality. I hope you enjoyed the video
During WW2, my 19-year old Dad, in the US Army Air Force, accompanied a bomber unit throughout northern Africa, up into Italy and finally Paris by war's end. He was an armorer and took care of all the guns on the bombers -- cleaned them and made sure they were in good working order. Desert sand could get into the guns and so they needed constant cleaning. He also loaded bombs in the bombers. He and his buddy lived in a tent for years. They would dig a hole and erect the tent over the hole. In winter the desert can get cold, so they rigged up a heater that ran on bomber fuel to provide warmth in their tent. At one point there were heavy rains and their tent flooded. He had many good stories like these. So these men in quonset huts had it pretty good -- they were dry and somewhat warm. If your socks are dry and you have sufficient sweaters and long johns, you can get along OK. Dad would have LOVED living in such a hut. Much better than a tent.
Thank you so much for sharing, just marvellous
Come to Elvington Air Museum near York. Apart from the restored aircraft there are plenty of restored buildings from the WW2 airfield and the Control Tower too. It was an RAF site also used by two Free French Squadrons and at the end of the war the runway and hard standings were vastly extended for the future nuclear force. In the end it was actually put down to be used as an emergency Space Shuttle landing site as the runway is that long.
I’d love to visit!
Every infantryman is saying “a roof! Lucky bastards”
I think the point is the state of the accommodation
75% of the air man did not make it back so a roof for the last few weeks of there life wasn't such a bad thing and they were all heroes no matter where they lad there head.
I bet there's plenty of British rough sleepers that would appreciate such accomodation, as was.
As I say in the video, the displaced and homeless were accommodated in these buildings long after the war
Impressed that these buildings and roadways are even still standing given they were probably built quickly. Enjoyed this tour.
I don’t think they were designed to last 5 years, let alone 80! So glad you enjoyed the video
OHHH, BOO HOOO !!!! I had two uncles who were combat infantrymen - one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. They would have KILLED to get roofs over their heads!
The point is it’s a disgrace these buildings have been allowed to rot away
@@thehistoryexplorer Then change the title of your video. It's misleading and you know it.
My father was stationed at one of the bases in East Anglia. He never complained about the accomodations. He was proud to have served his country. I am sure your uncles were just trying to make it out of the war alive and not worrying about other people who had it better.
Robertn 75% of them air man only had them roofs for a few weeks and then they were dead so maby your uncle's wouldn't have been so glad to have a roof there all heroes roof or or no roof..
Another very interesting episode. Good to document what is left if these buildings while there is a chance
I don’t think j they are going to be around for much longer! Thanks for the feedback
@@thehistoryexplorer you're welcome. Still really enjoying your channel.
In 1980 we came to the UK to find my father’s old field in Horham, the home of the 95th BG. They looked these you are showing - however- now the 95th has fixed up the ones we saw and now they are totally restored.
I visited Horham when making this series and will post a video of the restored hospital including the morgue
Great video. Very atmospheric. I have memories of sleeping in a Nissen Hut at Ballykinlar Camp in the 1970's which was freezing
Ballykinlar! I’ve been there. Good little training area
Have to agree, the title is mis-leading. These huts, as basic as they were, offered shelter and a degree of comfort, often the aircrew slept in some of their flying kit . . Post-war saw breeze blocks being used to separate a small hut as shown, into two 'houses' to ease the shortage of accommodation for families. The open shelter was known as a 'blast shelter' not an air-raid shelter.
It is not intended as misleading. The poor state of repair of these buildings is frankly a real shame
NIssen huts had an interior metal structure while Quonset huts did not. The Anderson shelter, constructed in many UK gardens (backyards to Americans) was built on the same principle. For the Anderson you were to dig a rectangular hole over which the corrugated metal arc was placed. Then the soil that you dug from the hole was used to pack around, and even over the entire shelter. These would never survive a direct hit but would protect you from shrapnel, flying bricks, etc. Better than no protection at all. Much like an underground dug out shelter from tornadoes in the middle USA.
I don’t think the sheds looked like that back in the day..
The point of the video was to correct the notion that the US troops were much more comfortable that their British counterparts. Their living conditions (12 man rooms etc) might surprise some viewers. I hope you enjoyed the video
I remember the Quonset huts at RAF Bentwaters in 1980. Didn’t have to stay in them thank heaven. They were still being used for storage.
I finally got Apple+ and will watch the series this week (theres a free trial!) thanks for making these tours.
Let me know what you think!
Loving thee tours of WW2 locations in the UK. Thanks rob, keep it up!
Most welcome buddy
Great series and the follow on documentary movie. They were the greatest generation. I hope that the current generation would step up as well. History repeats itself if we ever forget it.
Let’s hope it doesn’t repeat itself buddy! Thank you for the feedback. Really appreciate it
Cool vid! honestly though it could have been worse :) They had roof over thier head, a stove and a mess hall every day of the week. Not too shabby compared to other units. Although some had it alot better aswell.
Thanks for sharing what you found!
Cheers!
Thank you buddy, really appreciate it. I suppose I meant it was a shame these buildings have been left to rot away. I’ve got a few more masters of the air videos coming up
I'm staying tuned in for that :)
Keep up the good work!
Fantastic video Rob! Love the overlay of old image on new!
Thanks Rob! So glad somebody enjoyed it 😂
Truly a disgrace that this history has been allowed to rot away. Surprised any of it is left at all.😊
Many aircrew, indeed many soldiers and sailors as well, had similar accommodation. And they were born into and grew up in this kind of housing, especially on farms. Many people just don't know that the world we have enjoyed for decades and decades since WW2 did not exist previously except for the fortunate. So housing like that shown was not really a step down for many Allied service men and women. Let's tell our Maker that we appreciate and are thankful for all we have because the majority of the world has much, much less. 😉💖
Sorry buddy, I mean it’s a shame these have been allowed to rot away
@@thehistoryexplorer Oh yes, I understand. They just did the best they could with what was available and didn't worry about it. As long as you woke up the next day and had food and clothes, you counted yourself blessed.
The crates used to ship Waco CG-4 Gliders were converted to living quarters.
This is so cool! Makes me feels sad I’m so young, by the time I’ll be able to go out to see these things for myself, they likely won’t still be standing. I’m so envious of people getting to see these sort of locations.
You are very welcome and I’m glad you enjoyed it
The fact these buildings still exist 80 years later speaks to the quality of their construction.
And when new, they sure beat what I had in Afghanistan.
I think the point is these buildings have been left to rot when they really should be preserved. But you can’t preserve everything I guess
I was accommodated in a Nissan hut in the 80's we only had a tiny wood stove in he centre sheets and itchy blankets.
I bet it was cold in the winter and full of condensation!
@thehistoryexplorer It was a 2 week summer camp in 1980 with the Cadets and we were housed in the Nissan huts 🛖 and even though it was summer it was cold 🥶 we had a stove in the centre but no fuel as we wasn't allowed to use it.
Just 2 sheets and two itchy blankets.
We also spent two nights in the field with nothing at all not even a blanket
but I got to fire a flare one night which was nice.
We had 303 rifles and 10 rounds each on the Range as well something I am so happy to have experienced at 12 years old :)
I eventually joined up at 16 in 1984 and left the military in 2014 all of which was in Germany 🇩🇪 other than Tours of course.
@@Kris155mm brilliant! I loved in Germany while my dad was serving. Never got to be posted to Germany myself.
@thehistoryexplorer Unfortunately that era has gone :/
I was very lucky to experienced the Old BAOR lifestyle with the Border Patrols along former East/West Germany and have some great photos 📸
Then when the wall came down I drove with my German wife to Eisenhuttenstadt to visit long lost relatives and the Russian troops were still there;) and hadn't withdrawn yet.
A few years later after the 1st Gulf War the mass redundancies started and the reformation of Troops in Germany 🇩🇪
Quite a few camps closed ie Wolfenbuttel, Hildeshiem some in Dortmund etc etc
Then it was regular Tours to Bosnia 🇧🇦 then Kosovo and before we knew it Gulf War 2 with the OP Telics & Afghanistan.
All the time with changes to the Military structure.
And eventually the Withdrawal from Germany 🇩🇪 altogether.
It was a good time but quite busy time flies :)
I must add
In 1990 we carried out a large exercise which was basically a run through of the Plans if Russia had started the War :) with our Brigade occupying defensive positions near the Elbe and the process of a fighting withdrawal exercised as it was the long standing belief this is what would have happened in reality if the Cold War would have actually started, loved it at the time and very interesting to look back on as well.
Another note it Seems we have unfortunately gone full circle with Russia 🇷🇺
With the old Cold War formations removed.
And now a New Cold War has unofficially begun with NATO scrambling to establish lines much further forward in Poland Estonia & other former Communist Countries.
Interesting times ⏲️ 🤔
However stark the accommodations were in the ETO, the airmen I sympathize with were those in the Pacific theater, living in tents, etc. Thx!
I honestly do not see why its shocking. Many of us livid in those billets and survived!! Something to consider for you. When I was in the RAF we lived in tin huts with just a single ceiling fan (no air con) all over the middle and far east.. where it got very hot indeed and if you thinks thats bad you should try living in a Tent with 100 humidity and 120 in the shade..
Great episode! I liked exploring with you all that is left of those buildings. Do you suppose we will have anything left standing to remember all those men? Surely some of our history should remain and not bulldozed to the ground? I'd like to think it would! ❤
Lots a real shame and I have to say I don’t think it will be there in 2-5 years time unless they choose to preserve or repair them.
Thank you so much for your kind comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the video
Another interesting video, I remember sleeping in one of these style of Nissin huts in the 1970’s with Air Training Corp somewhere in Surrey. Bloody cold even with pot belly stove on. How times have changed with health and safety too
They must have been freezing!
Great video AGAIN 👍🏻
So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the feedback?
@@thehistoryexplorer no worries matE
Hello my Friend's I'am Brasil congratulations, good movie....
Thank you my friend!
Wouldn’t say it was a disgrace.
The ‘disgrace’ comment applies more so to the state of the accommodation. Had this place have been in the US it might be preserved or made into a museum. Just a thought
@@thehistoryexplorer probably because American wasn’t bombed for years and would have had the manpower and resources to repair bombed homes. Although it would have been nice to keep stuff like that around, i assume resources that would be used for the upkeep of sheds were put into building temporary homes and new housing.
@@thehistoryexplorer that's a pretty big "might have been".
Far more important and consequential airfields and their structures have become disused or taken down in the years since.
It's not what I'd call a disgrace but it is disappointing.
I was in the Civil Air in the 60s and 70s and our Quonset hutcwss ok but cold during the winter
Thanks for the insight. I had thought it would be freezing in the winter with very thin corrugated covering
I was in United States Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, California Wing, Groups 5 and 23, Squadrons 76, 26 and 141 from 1972 to 1994, as a Cadet from 1972 to 1978(final rank Cadet Lieutenant Colonel) and as a First Lieutenant then later Captain from 1978 to 1994. Our headquarters was located at the Chico Municipal Airport(a former WWII Army Air Force base) in what had been the Base Recreation Hall. My last assignment before I retired in 1994 was Deputy Commander(equal to Executive Officer) of our Squadron. There were many activities of a training nature as well as active Civil Defense and Search and Rescue Missions for missing aircraft. We worn standard Air Force uniforms with rank insignia but also distinctive Civil Air Patrol insignia to enable people to know who we were unlike the Corporate Uniform that present-day members have to wear by order of a government that for the past thirty years has chosen to forget our service and sacrifice but see us as a reminder of a "nationalistic, patriotic, racist and sexist past" that they look forward to eliminating in order to establish "the New World Order."
We were valued assets of the defense establishment, more so then today.
Oh well, that's life.
I will discuss one of our activities... the Hawaii Wing Flying Encampment in Oahu, Hawaii.
When we were taking part in the two week Flying Encampment at Dillingham Field(a former WW II Auxiliary Field for B-29s) we lived in huts similiar to Nissen Huts and took mess in a WWII Mess Hall. There was a control tower exactly like those in WWII air bases as well as a headquarters, training hut, a shower/restroom building and revetments where the aircraft were kept, each on a concrete hardstand. The hardstands were connected to a taxiway that lead to the runway. There was an area equipted with a fueling area and an area to wash the aircraft. My responsibility as Power Flight Operations Officer was to get up at 0600(6 am) along with the rest of the personnel and make sure that the aircraft were washed, fueled and inspected then go to breakfast at 0700(7 am). After breakfast, I expected to have available a list of those who would be flying with instructors that day(including myself). Flying continued from 0800 to 1200(8 am to 12 pm)n broke for lunch at 1200 and resumed at 1300 until 1700(1 pm to 5 pm). Most of the flying ended at 1700 unless there was night flying being conducted. After dinner at 1700 there was a critique of the day's activity and then I was required to make out a report of the day's flying usage and send it to national headquarters...most of the time I was awake until 2400(12 midnight) and then had only only six hours sleep. we would occasionally go into the small town of nearby or rarely into Honolulu/WaiKaiKai.
When I went back to Dillingham in 1992, most of the field had changed. The huts were gone and the control tower, training building, shower building and headquarters were all locked and I had been told were only occasionally used.
Standing there, I remembered memories of events and of people, thinking about why I was still amongst the living when many of them were not and while being grateful for all that I had experienced in my now 66 years of life(I was 21 then), I also felt a feeling of disappointment in how the sacrifice of so many to preserve our country and the peace of the world has been wasted by many of those who today benefit without having to sacrifice or who willing sacrifice what was so dearly preserved.
I know that when my time to die comes, that I will cross over to join my family, friends and comrades in service in heaven.
George E Frei, Formerly Captain, USAF Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, 1972-1994.
It was wartime, NOBODY lived in luxury. However, US airmen, especially the officers, lived much better than enlisted infantrymen.
Rob, watch a movie called 'Catch 22' circa 1971 with Alan Arkin, if you have not already seen it.
Not heard of it but will check it out
@@thehistoryexplorer Oh, do watch it then. It's a dark comedy. Watch the original from 1971.
Very interesting info on this
.
Glad you think so!
Luxury compared to a tent!
Yes absolutely
It’s a shame you’ve chosen the title you have, it’s a good video that is informative and should be shown. But it’s far from a disgrace! All service personnel regardless of colour or creed had to sleep in Nissen huts, they’re not sheds!
Exactly. Terrible choice for a title. Believe me its no by accident.
The disgrace is the more to do with the fact the accommodation has been allowed to rot away
@@thehistoryexplorer that I completely agree with, unfortunately the way the title reads and the intro leads viewers to think that the disgrace is putting up foreign forces in such bad accommodation
@@johnwhittle.22well according to the caricature the British painted about how bougie the Americans were when they got to the UK, these accomodations would be a disgrace to house the rich, arrogant service members of a foreign country who Churchill literally begged to come help him and his countrymen from being destroyed by the Germans. You can't have it both ways. Either the Americans were oversexed, over paid, and over there . In which case these accomodations are a disgrace or the truth that most of those kids were poor to middle class kids from modest means who came over there to sacrifice their lives for people they didn't know. In which case these accomodations were perfectly fine to house those heroes in .
Gale “Buck” Cleven was my dad’s first cousin. I was sure surprised when I found out about the mini-series and it featuring Gale.
We are used to having our last name mispronounced, but it is actually pronounced as Cl + even.😁
Ah brilliant! Thank you for sharing. You must be so proud of the connection to the series and his exploits
@@thehistoryexplorer I sure am. I used to hear stories from my dad (he was Navy in the Pacific).
As I watched this, I had to laugh. The US Marines, the heroes of the Pacific during World War II, lived worse than this. As a marine from 1965 to 70 we lived in Quanset huts very similar to these. If we think of all those heroes of World War II that lived like this, while looking at what they’ve did, that’s what is impressive. We should all reflect on all the comfort of home that today’s military has in both the UK and the US. We should wonder if today our military can do as well as those World War II heroes?
During operation pedestal one of the American merchant marine ships crew carry food/fuel to literally starving Malta went on strike because they only had one egg in their breakfast. The RN liaison threatened to shoot them.
Wow! A different time
They didn't look like that when in use. You can find abandoned grand hotels that now look like garbage.
Yes of course. But they haven’t been cared for at all and are very likely to be gone in the next 5 years. So sad
@@thehistoryexplorer It's all about funding.
@@barneyfyfe8313 It's all about ingratitude and selfishness. That's what it is about!
@@GeorginaFrei And lack of funding.
So? British servicemen were also housed in similar accommodations - that there was a war on at the time may have had something to do with it, don't you think? Do you think that there were luxury hotels available at places where air bases were situated?
There is today 😂 have you met any RAF officers recently?
Top video thanks
You’re very welcome, glad you enjoyed it
They were there to do a job, not on holidays.
Correct. But still this accommodation might surprise alot of people
The operative word is WW2.
Limited resources.
I'm guessing these buildings were built by the US military in good time prior to the men arriving? I wonder if they used local builders and materials or if they brought their own construction workers and materials?
They were built by local contractors
I see. The specification and budget I suppose would have been set by the US military: I don’t expect they would have just said: we need accommodation for 300 servicemen: make it so! My point is: the standard of accommodation was not administered by people on the ground in England: forward parties of US engineers and Airforce staff would have organised that: not the English
I would rather be in a fox hole than a ball turret.😢😢
That’s what many say, although the ball turret was one of the safest positions statistically speaking. You wouldn’t catch me in one though!
I wouldnt say it's a disgrace. Infantry have to sleep in far worse, and they diodnt have a bar and local girls swooning all over them
Can someone do something on R.A.F LAVENHAM it play a major role but is not recognised so sad really annoyiny😂
I have no expertise in the RAF or USAAF. Does Lavenham still have lots of buildings?
@@thehistoryexplorer control tower some of the tec site one t2 hanger and some of runway and perry track. It’s worth a look .Regards thank you for replying back👍
Imagine returning and to the empty beds.
Yes that would have been horrible. Imagine returning to an empty block!
showing a building in disrepair 75 years later doesn't mean much.
I think the point is this is where people like Buck and Rosie lived. And it’s been left to rot. It’s now too late to conserve for future generations
Well I mean they had it better than the infantry LOL, but as many airfields that needed building and as quick as they needed not really going to build them a chateau will they. They had wood stoves in all the huts and plenty of hot food.
Meh !…………During Reforger 88 as an AirCav pilot I slept in a WWII shelter half without a floor. I would have killed for something that “nice” !
The point is these buildings are decaying to dust. That’s the disgrace
@@thehistoryexplorer
Well so are most of the structures that used to be famous castles in the U of K. Why aren’t those being rebuilt ?
I see what you’re saying, my point is there were dozens of these buildings still left in (reasonably) good condition up until the 90s and now they have rotted away to nothing. They could have been preserved for future generations to see, just a thought. I don’t suspect these will be around in 10 years time
80 years on and still standing. Not sure what he’s trying to tell us with this ……
They are barely standing
And what you are not telling is that they lived much better then the enlisted men!
I think the point is these buildings with such legacy (where Cleven and Rosie lived) are now rotting away and not looked after
I am very disappointed with this series compared to the previous two, Band Of Brothers and The Pacific. Nowhere near as well done, written nor historically fleshed out. Tom Hanks was misguided in the production and scriptwriting of this series of his.
No worse the the Brits Canadian Australian Kiwi
I'm affraid this series, why quite compelling. Treats the British horribly. From the RAF guys getting a bashing on the first episode. To the non mention, or even an odd Spitfire or Lancaster making an appearance, as there would be hundreds of them flying about at the time. The worst is at the end though. Where they obviously (and probably reluctantly) have to show British, and Commonwealth POW's in the prison camp. Who had very crap uniforms, and hats. Then the German flag gets removed, and the Stars and stripes replaces it. FFS.
I thought it was slightly anglophobic I must say
And a lot of then died at Omaha Utah beach etc must remember that.
but it wasn't just the US aircrews, was it!
Sure. When did I say only US aircrews stayed in this type of accommodation?
I lived in exactly this type of accommodation at Cultybraggan, Perthshire, Scotland, whilst training in the Army Cadet Force as a boy in the early 1970's. The only thing "SHOCKING" about these buildings is your description of them as such. What dreadful clickbait tactics. Cultybraggan is an ex-prisoner of war camp, still standing and in use to this day. If viewers want to get a far better idea of the conditions "US Army Airforce Heroes Lived" in, they'd do better looking "Cultybraggan camp" up on the internet than viewing this sad video.
What made you want to comment such poison? I honestly hope life gets better for you as you.
What is shocking is that these buildings, once home to Cleven and Rosenthal, are left to rot and now cannot be conserved or left for future generations. They are lost.
omg what is wrong with your camera
Why don’t you tell me what you think is wrong with my camera then I might be able to help you
Apologies, ive come over as rather curt on looking back at my comment.I really dont know what i was thinking even saying such a thing.
Of course it could quite easily be my pad,and i havnt checked on other sytems.so i will check others and get back to you.
@@fraserm803 it could well be my camera so I’d be interested to know what issue you’ve identified. I use a £150 camera so I am looking to upgrade in the near future
@@thehistoryexplorer Ok HE i am so embarrassed to report back that after viewing your😊 vid on ipad it was perfect.My older samsung had settings that needed adjusting.
Red face imogee.
BTW....I love this sort of content,and your commentary is first class.
Terribly clickbait misleading title
How so? Did you watch the video?
Yes. And I’ve visited the accommodation
Sound like horrible living.
A lit of people had it far worse in Britain at that time.
Aside from their terrifying day job, these crews had it pretty damned sweet compared to the rest of the country and armed services.
@@phillydelphia8760I think my comment refers to the fact these buildings have been left to rot away. I hope you enjoyed the video
@@thehistoryexplorer I get that, I'm just responding to the op who seems to be commenting on the idea of living in those huts or general life on an airfield at the time.
I enjoyed the video, I live right by an old ww2 airfield where all the original buildings are gone, except for 2 of the hangers.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that your video isn't saying nissen huts, or the like were a disgrace.
@@phillydelphia8760 the People of Britain loved the US airmen in their country.
@@HistoryHaty I never said they didn't like the airmen, what are you getting at?
I'm talking about their quality of life in comparison with the average citizen.
I was at the Spanish fort in st. Augustine …it’s been there 200 plus years . I was in an ammunition room . Someone had carved graffiti into the walls …I was so angry 😡! Untilllll as I looked at it close I realized it was made by union soldiers being held prisoner in the room in 1863 during the civil war . A paradigm shift …all of a sudden I was thinking wow…that’s so cool !
Outstanding! Thanks for sharing
Just say no to clickbait arrows.
He’s back!
Nice video …good job , very interesting . Shame they are forgotten . I think the new generations have no interest in ww2 unfortunately. Thanks for the video .
You are most welcome. I think it’s fair to say there is much less interest in the younger generations but then again I never became truly interested until my late 20s