Airfield Runways in Norway

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, guys.

Was a bit surprised myself by parts of this discussion.

With regards to the translations I feel we should divide the runway types used in Norway in the following way:

Sand-filled 'egg-carton' (German Eierkasten) type. This was a construction based on wooden grids which was laid on leveled ground and then filled with sand, thus being kind of a wooden psp plating runway

Concrete runways - no further explanation necessary

Wooden plank runways - just large wooden planks placed side by side on wooden support beams

I believe the combined concrete/planked runways as described was a result of the necessity to extend some of the runways (for example at Vaernes near Trondheim) faster than possible with concrete. The ground were the extensions were constructed was simply to uneven or the drainage system took too long to lay down, so as a temporary solution a wooden plank runway was constructed. We have photos from Vaernes showing that this runway was indeed at places constructed at a level well above ground level and the runway planking supported by large timbers, at several places substantially above ground level.

Regards,
Andreas B

[SES]

Hi,
We know the precise composition of the concrete used to build bunkers right down to DIN standards, but runways - I'm not sure we have the documentation. However on the airfields in Denmark the runways seems to have been constructed sub-surface. The three runways at Grove (1.200 x 80 m) were laid in less than three month using a moving concrete mixer.
bregds
SES

[Larry deZeng]

This afternoon I received a much appreciated reply from Knut Kinne of kff (Kjeller flyhistoriske forening) in Oslo regarding betong rullebanen med treseksjoner. Below is a paraphrase of his key paragraph, which I do because I did not ask his permission to quote from his e-mail. If anyone would like to know his exact words, PM me and I will contact him for permission. The paraphrase faithfully represents what he said.

“Your second to last paragraph ("A combination of concrete and wood.........") makes the most sense so far of all the explanations that have been offered. I think the word treseksjoner in this context does indeed mean a grid or cross-hatch of wooden squares using 2' x 4' (two-by-four) boards into the center (centre) of which the concrete was poured. This method gave the concrete squares support on all four sides and allowed the concrete to expand and contract in warm and cold weather and prevented upheaval and cracking.”

He did not say that this is the absolutely definitive answer, but he thinks that it is what is meant by using treseksjoner with a concrete runway.

Thanks Andreas B. for your description of some of the construction methods, and thanks SES for that super photo of the tracked cement mixer! I just knew they must have had some sort of machine to speed up the pouring of all that concrete. At Bardufoss, an 1,180 x 80 meter runway was quickly completed in 1941 using two companies of Lw. construction troops and 1,558 Norwegian laborers. That's pretty fast without one of those machines, but just look at how labor-intensive it was!

L.

[Brian Bines]

There appears to be a few of possibilities with this one including the use of timber as a shuttering into which the wet concrete is poured, permanent use as the main running surface or in the short term during the construction stage.. As Kjetil has said wooden runways were in use which were not liked by Luftwaffe aircrew, this suggests the use of heavy timbers to support the weight of an aircraft. These timbers one would assume would be placed over a more solid sub-base, ie concrete or gravel (aggregate). The other use of timber could be in the short term to protect the concrete after its initial pour. After it is first laid the concrete has to be protected from either drying out too quick or from frosts, in the UK damp hessian has been used to achieve this. After an intial set of a few hours or less fresh laid concrete could support a light weight timber covering to protect it from the elements.
Interesting one both from the aviation and construction side.

[Larry deZeng]

Yeah, Brian, you are right on as it does seem like there are a growing number of possibilities as you more knowledgeable guys begin peeling back the outer layers of this question and take a look at the various options. The decision on what to use must have been made after a careful survey of the land by engineers and construction supervisors and was based on the pecularities prevailing at each location. Building a 1,550 x 80 meter runway was no small undertaking as it required a lot of resources. So I doubt if there was one pro forma method of constructing a concrete runway that was used for all locations.

L.

[SES]

Hi,
The Wehrmacht indeed had a group of land survey experts "Wehrgeologen" who surveyed the environment before any construction was contemplated.
bregds
SES

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by SES

Hi,
The Wehrmacht indeed had a group of land survey experts "Wehrgeologen" who surveyed the environment before any construction was contemplated.
bregds
SES

True, but the survey work for Bardufoss and Banak was carried out by personnel from Luftgaukdo. Norwegen's Bauamt and the regional Lw.-Bauamt at Trondheim. They had civilian ranks, e.g., Reg.Bau-Inspekteur, etc., but they were Luftwaffe civilian employees. It could be that they relied on the geological survey work done by the Norwegians before the war because both of those airfields already existed prior to the arrival of the Luftwaffe in fall 1940.

L.

[Kjetil Aakra]

Hi all.

As far as the nature of runways in Norway are concerned I think we ned to look at a few photos to see what they looked like.

First, some photos showing the construction and storage (and what I beleive are containers of wooden nails?) used to contruct these so-called "Eierkisten" Andreas mentioned.







These photos come from the aformentioned website and there were many more showing the same scenes, even how the wood aririves by boats! The presence of Bf 109Es from II./JG 77 date these photos to no later than November 1940, if memory serves.



Secondly, here's the Eierkisten in use, note how the space is filled with dirt. Photo from Herdla, probably in 1943-43.



Part of the runway at Herdla showing the unpopular wooden planking (this would be the "plankedekke"). There may be a concrete part of the runway in the upper left corner but it is hard to make out.

As parts of the runways at Herdla still exist it is know that they were concrete and I would beleive they were covered with these wooden elements. At least that's how the Luftwaffe pilots remember Herdla!

We all have much to learn about runway construction in Norway, but I for one are swamped with a few other projects at the time so I guess any in-depth studies and/or books must wait for the time being. Attending the Norwegian aviation literature seminar at Gardermoen this weekend didn't exactly lessen my workload!!!

All the best,

Kjetil

[Larry deZeng]

Your photos are impressive, interesting and instructional, Kjetil! The grid squares are about the size I would have imagined but the wood is much thicker and stronger and the spacing much closer together than I thought. It must have taken at least 4 men and more probably 6 to 8 to lift one of the sections and carry it a short distance. They were very sturdy creations and must have been good for many years if placed on a solid foundation. Very interesting, indeed.

When you are able to get through some of your accumulated work and can find a little time, a photo or two and some information on the building of the concrete runways would be great.

Thanks again,

L.

[Brian Bines]

Kjetil,

Thanks for posting the photos. The Eierkisten laid on the ground with the holes filled with soil would certainly minimize water run-off. the soil infill would help stabalise them and stop differential settlement between adjacent panels. Would the Planking system be used on apron/parking areas or was it also used on runways ? The photo of the FW190 on Eirkisten looks like the panels were finished to ground level runways? while the planking photo seems to show use as a hard standing area by the concrete? runway,

Regards

Brian Bines