Bellman hangar
Encyclopedia
The Bellman Hangar was designed in the United Kingdom in 1936 by the Directorate of Works structural engineer, N. S. Bellman, as a temporary hangar
capable of being erected or dismantled by unskilled labour with simple equipment and to be easily transportable. Commercial manufacturing rights were acquired by Head Wrightson & Co of Teesdale Iron Works, Thornaby-on-Tees. By November 1938, 10 had even been supplied to Russia.
and for some time after, the only successful transportable hangar design was the Bessonneau hangar
. This could be very quickly erected and secured to provide adequate shelter for a few small aeroplanes. But with post-war increases in the number and size of aeroplanes, the need for larger transportable accommodation soon became apparent. The Air Ministry
therefore issued a specification in 1936 covering the dimensions and requirements for a light transportable shed for use in war. It had to be end-opening with doors at both ends, be capable of mass production and have interchangeable parts to permit rapid erection and dismantling with minimal permanent foundations. This specification was submitted to various designers and eventually two different designs were presented - the Bellman and the Callender Hangar.
An example of each was erected at two demonstration sites (airfields) in the north-east: at RAF Thornaby
an Air Ministry design was built (later to be known as the Bellman hangar) and at RAF Usworth
a Callender Cable & Construction design was built (later to be known as the Callender-Hamilton hangar). Eventually, in 1938, the Bellman design was chosen as the standard Air Ministry wartime transportable shed, but Callender-Hamilton hangars were also purchased in small numbers for Royal Naval Air Stations until superseded by a new hangar type in 1943.
As a result of the bad winter of 1937 when a number of Bellman hangars at Thornaby were damaged after a heavy to severe fall of snow, production Bellmans were modified slightly to have steel-framed and steel-clad doors.
During the period 1938-40 some 400 Bellman hangars were built in the UK, some 230 others were manufactured in Australia and presumably more were produced under licence in other Commonwealth countries too. Pre-war examples are known to have been built at Brooklands (one for Hawker Aircraft Ltd was supplied by January 1939) and at Croydon Airport (one was provided there for the Air Ministry).
Bellmans proved to be invaluable in the early part of the war and met an increasing demand not only to supplement permanent hangars, but also to provide the total hangar requirements for many temporary Armament Training, Elementary Flying Training, and Air Navigation Schools.
Hangars were purchased in bulk and in 1938 a central parts, storage depot was established at No. 3 MU at Milton, Oxfordshire. The parts for 40 Bellmans were stored in two specially built Bellman sheds for issue in the event of war. When all the hangars had been dispatched, these sheds were used for storing spare parts.
and St Athan airfields.
Two examples are currently preserved in UK aircraft museums - one at AeroVenture
near Doncaster, South Yorkshire and another at Brooklands Museum
in Surrey. The latter was designated a Grade 2 Listed building in 1999, was one of ten erected at Brooklands between 1938 and 1944 and is the UK's only Listed example.
Others survive at UK civil airfields such as Booker(4), Fairwood Common (Swansea Airport
) (1), Halfpenny Green, Stoke Orchard (1) and White Waltham (2). Further survivors can be found away from airfields in a variety of alternative uses.
Bellmans were also produced in Australia from c.1939–1945. They are often stated to have been made by Lysaght
, but a recent history on Comeng (Commonwealth Engineering) reports that that Waddington Engineering made over 200 Bellmans of a total of 283 ordered by the Air Ministry in Australia. They were designed as easily transportable, temporary hangars which could be erected using unskilled labour. They were used on war-time airfields constructed across Australia, particularly training airfields.
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
capable of being erected or dismantled by unskilled labour with simple equipment and to be easily transportable. Commercial manufacturing rights were acquired by Head Wrightson & Co of Teesdale Iron Works, Thornaby-on-Tees. By November 1938, 10 had even been supplied to Russia.
Origins of Transportable Hangars
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and for some time after, the only successful transportable hangar design was the Bessonneau hangar
Bessonneau hangar
The Bessonneau hangar was a portable timber and canvas aircraft hangar used by the Royal Flying Corps during World War I.-History:In about 1908, the Bessonneau hangar was designed and manufactured by the French rope and canvas manufacturer Etablissements Bessonneau, headed by Julien Bessonneau and...
. This could be very quickly erected and secured to provide adequate shelter for a few small aeroplanes. But with post-war increases in the number and size of aeroplanes, the need for larger transportable accommodation soon became apparent. The Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
therefore issued a specification in 1936 covering the dimensions and requirements for a light transportable shed for use in war. It had to be end-opening with doors at both ends, be capable of mass production and have interchangeable parts to permit rapid erection and dismantling with minimal permanent foundations. This specification was submitted to various designers and eventually two different designs were presented - the Bellman and the Callender Hangar.
An example of each was erected at two demonstration sites (airfields) in the north-east: at RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby was a former RAF Station located at the Teesside town of Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire. The station was created in the mid 1920s and came under the control of No. 18 Group, RAF Coastal Command in 1939. Being used mostly for reconnaissance work, anti shipping strikes, and attacks on...
an Air Ministry design was built (later to be known as the Bellman hangar) and at RAF Usworth
RAF Usworth
RAF Usworth was a Royal Air Force station near Sunderland. In 1958 the station was closed and the airfield became Sunderland Airport. Following the closure of the airport in 1984, the site has since been redeveloped as a manufacturing facility for Nissan cars.- Early history :In October 1916, the...
a Callender Cable & Construction design was built (later to be known as the Callender-Hamilton hangar). Eventually, in 1938, the Bellman design was chosen as the standard Air Ministry wartime transportable shed, but Callender-Hamilton hangars were also purchased in small numbers for Royal Naval Air Stations until superseded by a new hangar type in 1943.
Construction
The Bellman hangar was constructed on a unit system of rolled steel sections, both walls and roof using the same standard units joined at the junction of wall and roof by a standard corner unit. The time taken for 12 men to erect the hangar at Thornaby, including levelling the ground, laying door tracks, erecting the steelwork, and fitting oiled canvas Callender doors, was 500 man-hours. Two light jib derricks using timber poles were required to erect the fabricated and side members. The roof trusses were assembled on the ground before being lifted into position.As a result of the bad winter of 1937 when a number of Bellman hangars at Thornaby were damaged after a heavy to severe fall of snow, production Bellmans were modified slightly to have steel-framed and steel-clad doors.
During the period 1938-40 some 400 Bellman hangars were built in the UK, some 230 others were manufactured in Australia and presumably more were produced under licence in other Commonwealth countries too. Pre-war examples are known to have been built at Brooklands (one for Hawker Aircraft Ltd was supplied by January 1939) and at Croydon Airport (one was provided there for the Air Ministry).
Bellmans proved to be invaluable in the early part of the war and met an increasing demand not only to supplement permanent hangars, but also to provide the total hangar requirements for many temporary Armament Training, Elementary Flying Training, and Air Navigation Schools.
Hangars were purchased in bulk and in 1938 a central parts, storage depot was established at No. 3 MU at Milton, Oxfordshire. The parts for 40 Bellmans were stored in two specially built Bellman sheds for issue in the event of war. When all the hangars had been dispatched, these sheds were used for storing spare parts.
Surviving Examples in the UK
There are believed to be about 100 Bellman hangars still in RAF/MoD service in the UK - including Chivenor, CosfordRAF Cosford
RAF Cosford is a Royal Air Force station in Cosford, Shropshire, just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton.-History:...
and St Athan airfields.
Two examples are currently preserved in UK aircraft museums - one at AeroVenture
AeroVenture
AeroVenture is an aviation museum located at Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It occupies the former site of RAF Doncaster.-Aircraft collection:...
near Doncaster, South Yorkshire and another at Brooklands Museum
Brooklands Museum
Brooklands Museum is an independent charitable trust, established in 1987, whose aim is to conserve, protect and interpret the unique heritage of the Brooklands site. It is located south of Weybridge, Surrey and was first opened regularly in 1991 on of the original 1907 motor-racing circuit...
in Surrey. The latter was designated a Grade 2 Listed building in 1999, was one of ten erected at Brooklands between 1938 and 1944 and is the UK's only Listed example.
Others survive at UK civil airfields such as Booker(4), Fairwood Common (Swansea Airport
Swansea Airport
Swansea Airport is an airport located at Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula west south-west of Swansea, Wales.-Operations:Swansea Airport has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee...
) (1), Halfpenny Green, Stoke Orchard (1) and White Waltham (2). Further survivors can be found away from airfields in a variety of alternative uses.
Bellman Hangars in Australia
Bluescope Lysaght
John Lysaght Pty Ltd was founded in 1918. The company pioneered modern steel coating technologies . Its coated steel building products were sold under the ‘ORB’ brand and contributed to Australian architectural style.-History:...
, but a recent history on Comeng (Commonwealth Engineering) reports that that Waddington Engineering made over 200 Bellmans of a total of 283 ordered by the Air Ministry in Australia. They were designed as easily transportable, temporary hangars which could be erected using unskilled labour. They were used on war-time airfields constructed across Australia, particularly training airfields.
- RAAF Base WaggaRAAF Base WaggaRAAF Base Wagga is located in the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill.The RAAF no longer controls the airfield which, although still owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, is currently leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council...
(Forest Hill) has some 14 surviving Bellman Hangars. - One survives at Maryborough Airport, Queensland.
- About six were at Tottenham RAAF stores - but may have been removed by now.
- At least three were at Point Cook (RAAF WilliamsRAAF WilliamsRAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
). - Three at Fishermen's Bend (Victoria) at the site of the Commonwealth Aircraft CorporationCommonwealth Aircraft CorporationThe Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation was an Australian aircraft manufacturer. The CAC was established in 1936, to provide Australia with the capability to produce military aircraft and engines.-History:...
factory. These are believed to be about to be demolished (April 2007). - One at Benalla AirportBenalla AirportBenalla Airport is located east of Benalla, Victoria, Australia.Benalla Airport is the home of the Gliding Club of Victoria...
,(Victoria) - Two at RAAF Base TownsvilleRAAF Base TownsvilleRAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No...
, re-clad - One at RAAF Base Fairbairn, Canberra Airport
- Three at Macrossan Stores Depot near Charters Towers (Queensland)
- One at Jezzine Barracks, Townsville
- Three at Parafield AirportParafield AirportParafield Airport is on the edge of the residential suburb of Parafield, South Australia, 18 kilometres north of the Adelaide Central business district and adjacent to the Mawson Lakes campus of the University of South Australia. It is Adelaide's second airport and the fifth busiest airport in...
, Adelaide, two re-clad, but one which houses the Classic Jets Fighter Museum is in original condition - Two in the General Aviation area at Cairns Airport, one which houses the North Queensland Aero Club in near-original condition, another housing Skytrans, more altered
- One at Mount Gambier AirportMount Gambier AirportMount Gambier Airport is an airport in Mount Gambier, South Australia.Located north of Mount Gambier, it is situated on the Riddoch Highway, and is the only commercial airport servicing the south east of South Australia...
, re-clad - One at Port Pirie AirportPort Pirie AirportPort Pirie Airport is an airport that serves Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia. The airport is owned by the Port Pirie Regional Council.-History:...
, in original condition - Four at HMAS Albatross (air station)HMAS Albatross (air station)HMAS Albatross, also known as Naval Air Station Nowra , is an airfield operated by the Royal Australian Navy , in support of the RAN's aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm...
believed erected when used by the RAAF in 1944 - One at the Army Aviation Centre, Oakey (Queensland)
- One owned by the Darling Downs Aero Club http://www.ddac.com.au at Toowoomba (Queensland)
- One owned by Chrisair Maintenance in Mackay Queensland
- One occupied on Temora Airport, NSW, by the Temora Aero Club
- One was dismantled and transported from Parkes, NSW and set up at Vung Tau Air Base by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron (5ACS) during the Vietnam war and may still exist