The interior of an officer’s Nissen hut
Photograph of the interior of an officer’s Nissen hut at the RAF station on Tiree in World War II.
Courtesy of Mr Mike Hughes
This photograph shows the inside of an officer’s Nissen hut on Tiree during World War II. The Reef, the central area of the island, was requisitioned by the Ministry of War in 1940 to build the RAF Station which became operational in 1941.
Some four thousand RAF personnel were housed in hundreds of Nissen huts around Crossapol and Hough. The Nissen hut was designed in 1916 by Peter Nissen, a Canadian mining engineer, and was used extensively by the Allies in World War II in the construction of new facilities.
The hut consisted of sheets of corrugated steel bent into half a cylinder and closed at the ends with semi-circular masonry or wooden walls. Because the curved sheets stacked easily together, one hut could be packed on to a three ton truck. Six men could assemble one in four hours, although the record time was 1 hour 27 minutes.
Black and white photograph of the inside of Nissen hut during World War II.
The inside of an officer`s Nissen hut on Tiree during World War II. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Black and white photograph of two airmen on a beach in Tiree during World War II.
An RAF officer and Australian RAAF officer relaxing on a beach on Tiree during World War II. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Black and white photograph of Gott Bay pier during World War II.
Photograph of a dinghy with passengers taken from under the pier during World War II. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Black and white photograph of an RAF Halifax crew.
RAF crew from 518 Squadron based on Tiree in the `rest area` of a Halifax on ops over the Atlantic during World War II.
Black and white photograph of a Halifax crew during World War II.
Crew from RAF 518 Squadron working on a Wellington aircraft at Tiree areodrome in 1942 during World War II. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Polish airmen from RAF 304 Squadron in 1942
Photograph of Polish airmen from RAF 304 Squadron in 1942.
Courtesy of Mr Mike Hughes
Polish airmen from RAF 304 Bomber Squadron are shown here taking a break from servicing their Wellington aircraft. After the Nazi-Soviet victory in Poland in 1939, a large part of the Polish Air Force was evacuated, eventually being withdrawn to the United Kingdom.
Polish pilots were among the most experienced in battle, most of them having fought in the 1939 September campaign in Poland and the 1940 Battle of France. In addition, pre-war Poland had set a very high standard of pilot training.
Created in 1940, 304 Squadron was based briefly on Tiree in the spring of 1942, flying Wellingtons on anti-submarine duties. The squadron was one of fifteen in the RAF manned by Polish airmen, the most famous being 303 Squadron which claimed the highest number of enemy kills during the Battle of Britain.
Black and white photograph of a Polish aircrew in 1942.
Polish aircrew from RAF 304 Squadron based on Tiree in 1942 take a break from servicing the Wellington aircraft in the background. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Black and white photograph of servicemen at Gott Bay pier during World War II.
Group of airmen and others at Gott Bay pier during World War II. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Black and white photograph of Denis Snow from ENSA in 1942.
Denis Snow from ENSA in 1942, the first man to bring moving picture shows to Tiree. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Black and white photograph of RAF officers during World War II.
Large group of RAF officers relaxing and drinking beer during World War II. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Black and white photograph of an RAF Concert Party in 1944.
RAF Concert Party in 1944. L-R: Fred MacKeown, Fred Parratt, Jessie MacQueen, Denis Guest, unknown, Bryn Lewis, Nan Hogarth, Frank Murphy, Dodo Leslie, Jack May, Jean Hind, Jim Worthington, Nettie MacFarlane, Harry Smith, Harry Barr, Paul Blomley. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
