Special hangar construction

[Regulus]

Hi,

We have discussed hangar construction several times in the past over here. However at Nieuwmunster aerodrome and also on the one at Gistel there were a number of special constructions. I have posted them on my photoalbums site. The link is below, go to Album 10, last three photo's on page 1.
I've only seen the one that looks like the Zeppelin hangar construction at Nieuwmunster and the other one has also a smaller type brother at Gistel in the West-Flanders area.
Does anyone know who constructed them ? And why they were made in this form that was not repeated afterwards in the war for planes to my humble knowledge ?

http://skynetphotoservice.wistiti.be...473751:Regulus

Thanks and best from Johan

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Johan:
I think the first is an airship hangar as is the third photo. The second with the Fokker E Type is a aircraft hangar as seen on permanent bases.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Cigogne]

There were a number of different hangar designs. Also, the Bavarians also had some designs of their own in their air service.

The Hallenbau Abteilungen would travel around and build/set these up. I've seen some photos of Jastaschule II hangars being built.

[Regulus]

Dan-San,

Exactly my idea. Nieuwmunster was very close to the coast line, and used by the naval units, as you know, so that launches the idea that the Kaiserliche Marine played with the idea to make it an airship base... There is nothing of the kind on their other early airfields, such as Gistel or Mariakerke aerodrome. Very interesting for a new theory, now it is to find some proof on the matter.
Also very bizarre is the fact of the other large plane hangar. Nothing of the kind at the two other mentioned aerodromes. Although I must say that Gistel had also a larger and higher hangar than we usual see. Which can be seen on the first two photo's of Album 10.
If we look at Mariakerke aerodrome there are just smaller wooden and more classic plane hangars.

Cigogne,

It is that what makes me curious, who was responsible for the construction of these hangars, and who normally constructed the airship hangars ? These constructions were made very early in the war. As far as local sources report, the first one constructed was the 'zeppelin' hangar. There can't have been many construction units that were able to make these so early in the war...

Thank you gentlemen !

Best from Johan

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Regulus:
In the German Army there was an organization that was responsible for the construction of aircraft sheds and hangars, it was Hallenbau-Kompanie Nr.1 and Nr 2. established 5 April 1916
In the Bavarian Army was the Bayern Flieger-Bau Batl. composed of Zelle-Bau Trupp 26,27, 57, 58, 59 und 60. established 17 April 1917.
Sheds built by the Hallenbau had flat plain boarded fronts, The sheds built by the Zelle-Bau Trupp had an open truss work across the top front of the shed.
These units set up these sheds and when the field was closed they took down the sheds and moved them to the new field.
I would imagine that there was a simular organization in the Navy. The airship hangars were built by civilian contractors. I think the Zeppelin Werke had a Hangar Construction Company too.
The Tent hangars were set up by personnel within the unit. Generally each Flying unit would have two personnel for the maintenance of the tents. The aircraft ground crew pitched in in setting-up the tent hangars. The hangars and work sheds were lighted with electric lights. Power was provided by the engine driven generator truck(lorry).
Blue skies Johan,
Dan-San

[drIace]

Dan San,

Any chance of the plans for the hangars being available ( especially of the smaller wooden hangars just big enough for one A/c)? and a picture of a generator Truck ?

[Regulus]

Dan-San,

Thanks ! Now I know what I have to chase ! This part of the Kaiserliche Marine (Zeppelin hall construction etc) is unknown territory for me, so guess I have to do a recon flight !

Best from Johan

[Regulus]

Hi,

Just finished the first part of my recon flight

Very curious is the fact that one hangar looks indeed from the front, and if only partially seen in a sideview as a Zeppelin hangar. This made me optimistically think that there might have been any ideas for the use of them at the Belgian coast, however taking a closer view on a number of aerial photo's I is very clear that the hangar is simply not large (read long) enough to be used for a Zeppelin.
I may have given 'parking'space to about ten planes or so, not counting one more or less.

This leads to another question. What was the issue of constructing such a high hangar, for such low planes ?
Of course there is the possibility of a change of plans during construction...

I have seen another, however not similar, construction that was almost equally high on the Gistel aerodrome.

Any thoughts / idea's ?

Thanks and best from Johan

A shot in the dark, if I may? It might be a wild guess..but?
These hangars are accepted to be abnormally tall, and disproportionately short.
If associated with the marine services, might they be erection/ inflation/testing sheds for naval blimps or observation balloons?
The army can test the airtightness etc on land all day, but if kite balloons are to be sent to sea on warships, there would not be room on deck to test or inflate the kites?
Would they then be checked, tested, and examined for airtightness before being sent aboard? Blow them up; check them out, patch them..inflate fully outside, then walk them to the wharf, suitably ballasted....all that sort of thing?

[Regulus]

Neville,

Surprising way to look at it, very interesting. There were indeed a number of observation balloon units of the Kaiserliche Marine active even early in 1914 in our region here.
And as mentioned they were used on torpedoboats out off Zeebrugge, for observation purposes towards the sea and Nieuwmunster - Zeebrugge is not so many miles...
This could shed a whole new light on the hangar construction at Nieuwmunster aerodrome.

Thank you very much !

Best from Johan