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 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)
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 RAF 518 Squadron`s crest.
The crest of RAF Squadron 518 based on Tiree 1943-1944. (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 a Halifax aircraft over the Caledonian Canal.
An RAF 518 Squadron Halifax based on Tiree on an air test over the Caledonian Canal during World War II. (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Flight Lieutenant Max Bacon and his aircrew from RAF 518 Squadron
Photograph of Flight Lieutenant Max Bacon and his aircrew from RAF 518 Squadron.
Courtesy of Mr Mike Hughes
Flight Lieutenant Arthur ‘Max’ Bacon (4th left) and his aircrew from RAF 518 Squadron are pictured beside their Halifax which was lost on operations over the Atlantic in January 1945.
RAF 518 Squadron arrived on Tiree in September 1943 to fly weather reconnaissance missions in long-range Halifax aircraft. Twice a day flights ‘Bismuth’ and ‘Mercer’ left Tiree for a ten-hour-long trip out into the Atlantic at either 20,000 or 50 feet.
Pressure to fly was relentless and in 1944 518 Squadron flew every day but two. Often icing and waves 100 feet high made this dangerous. 518 Squadron lost twelve aircraft during their spell on Tiree. That night in January, Max and his crew disappeared without trace.
Black and white photograph of Flight Lieutenant Max Bacon and his aircrew during World War II.
Flight Lieutenant Max Bacon (4th left) and his aircrew from RAF 518 Squadron beside their Halifax which was lost on operations over the Atlantic on 21/1/1945. Far right: F/Sgt Tony Porazka (Met. Air Obs., Polish). (Photograph from Mike Hughes in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
1943 ENSA concert party
Photograph of an ENSA concert party in 1943.
Courtesy of Mr Angus MacLean
ENSA, the Entertainments National Service Association, was set up in 1939 to provide entertainment for the British armed forces during World War II. Operating as a part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute (NAAFI), it was affectionately known as ‘Every Night Something Awful’.
This photograph is of a travelling concert party which performed in front of the RAF base personnel in October 1943. Concerts consisted of a couple of hours of singing, comedy and sketches, some good and some not so good.
Their spirit and dedication was admired and appreciated, even on return visits of the same concert party when the show had been seen before.
Black and white photograph of a wartime revue.
Wartime revue at RAF Tiree on 15/10/1943. (Original in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1: 1997.178)
Black and white photograph of a group at RAF Tiree.
Unknown group of three and one woman at RAF Tiree.
Black and white photograph taken outside the Post Office sorting hut in 1943.
RAF group outside the Post office sorting hut, 1943. L-R: Sid Grimes, Corporal Atkins, unknown.
