Aerial shots of military runways in Ireland

[Fouga]

Regarding Operational Security... Some of the maps are publically available on the OSI website which is a Government department so I don't think they would have published them if there was a genuine security concern.

Id give your OSI post 10 seconds on IMO before it would disappear in its entirety!

[CK]

If they did not want the photos up on the web they should have told the OSI. And for security why have they, their whole fleet shown on their website.

[pym]

Now for the real dunderheaded question:

What is the purpose of the circular tarmac patches on the sides of the runway ends? They seem a bit on the small side for an aircraft to do a turn (maybe not Cessna's or the PC-9's) - but is that their purpose? Or for vehicles... or maybe that emergency braking net they use at other military airfields abroad?

I had understood that these were originally provided as "alert pads" to allow aircraft to be positioned for rapid takeoffs.  However I've never seen anything to state this authoritatively and as Ireland has not, for several decades, had any aircraft that could be described as an interceptor, I wonder if they have ever been used for this purpose.

Alert pads? 

Crikey. 6 Vampires. 6 Magisters.

18 pads - not counting the taxi slips.

I wonder whether they were actually meant for someone elses use in an emergency...

[Frank]

AAA positions... Just in case a cocky invader decides they can just land troops at Bal without softening up the area first? You know, shoot down the transports as they turn on finals???

[pym]

AAA positions... Just in case a cocky invader decides they can just land troops at Bal without softening up the area first? You know, shoot down the transports as they turn on finals???

A plan cunning enough for Dr. Evil himself...

The concrete slides back to reveal AA lasers 

What was the purported invasion plan during WW2 - park aircraft across the runway?

[Irish251]

AAA positions... Just in case a cocky invader decides they can just land troops at Bal without softening up the area first? You know, shoot down the transports as they turn on finals???

What was the purported invasion plan during WW2 - park aircraft across the runway?

I think Baldonnel's runways were built in the 1950s.

http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0143/D.0143.195312090011.html

[CK]

That was the plan in WW2 to park the planes on the runway to block it and have pilots take up fire arms in a nightmare situation.

[Tony Kearns]

Short finals is quite correct, the runways were completed in 1955. The picture (hopefully)attached show Avro XIX no 141 positioning to make the first take off from the completed runway on 12 February 1955 flown by Capt Henry Howard. It was not by the way, the first landing on the new runway.
 
To attempt to clarify CK's posting. In 1941 it was proposed to transfer all Air Corps personnel to other units due to shortage of aircraft and equipment. The British were concerned at this suggestion and agreed to supply Hawker Hectors and other stores to facilite the repair of aircraft awaiting spares.
All the airfields were staked, some with runway clearance but equipment at readiness to completely block the airfields as a quick reaction.
Tony K

[Frank]

Hi Tony,

Thanks as always for the information. Do you happen to know what the pads at the end of the runways are?


Regards,

Frank.

[Tony Kearns]

Hi Frank,
You are welcome, not sure about the pads possibly for vehicles....rescue and holding aircraft during tuition.
A shot in the dark really, must look into it.
Tony K