R.A.F. AERODROMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 270, 15 November 1945, Page 6

R.A.F. AERODROMES

QUERIES ABOUT FUTURE FARM LANDS NEEDED There is much speculation in agricultural circle as to the future use of aerodrome land, writes a special correspondent of the London Sunday Times. When our own mounting programme of bomber offensive was augmented by lhe great American fleets of aircraft based in this country, an enormous acreage of land was macle into airfields. Indeed, when Hying over most of the eastern arid southern part-; of England nowadays, there seems always to be at leas: three air stations visible from 7000 ft on a clear day. Much of this land was taken from farmers. The amounts involved can be judged from the fact, that some of the concrete runways are as much a 2000yds long, and. being disposed diagonally, occupy with the perimeter track nearly 1000 acres in some case.;. This is the equivalent of two averagesized farms. Obviously al) these aerodromes will not be needed for peacetime training; in any event, the buildings and hutments are mostly of a wartime standard and unsuited for permanent occupation. The farmers from whom the land was requisitioned, who could economically work it. again, want to know if the i unways are to be broken Gp and the surface land made good, or if they are expected to farm it in the shape it is to-day. It* js understood that, although the very thick concrete strips laid down for (he heavy bombers are difficut to remove, the lighter types can be broken up by dropping heavy weights, ( as from a piledriver, and carting awav the subequent aggregate and j rubble. In either event the farmers j will deserve compensation for loss of j fertility for, in the aerodrome build-

ing processes, much of the 1 opsoil was disturbed and removed. It will take years of good husbandry to make rich the new surface earth, although it has already grassed and weathered for several months.