Kenfig during the Second World War

Nowhere was left unscathed by WW2. Kenfig Dunes became an encampment for US troops prior to D-Day. Traces can be found of the huts where they were housed near the Nature Reserve. Sker Point and the sea nearby were used as target areas for the trainee air-gunners
But the two major developments were 

The Carbide Factory, and

Stormy Down Aerodrome

Traces of both can still be found today, if you know where to look!
Fortunately we have be able. to obtain the full story for both of these war-time developments.
Click on one of the buttons below to find out more.
A book by former employee Denis H Jones. When the plant closed in 1966 he was requested to write up its history. With full access to all the records he produced an excellent and very readable record of this unique factory.

Lavishly illustrated with photos of industrial processes and many of the personnel. Note: for reasons of webspace a text-only is available here. If you would like a version with pictures please request it using the Contact form above


Denis was the Assistant Works Cashier in 1961, a position he held for six years and which brought him into close contact with almost everyone in the factory. He acquired an intimate knowledge of the plant and its  personnel. These qualifications combined with a literary bent and a passion for local history made him well suited for the job.

​This book is the result of many hours of work delving into the factory archives, and spending a great deal of his own time writing and meeting ex-Kenfig personnel.

His story will stir the memories of all one-time carbide
workers, and places on record much of the character of Kenfig Carbide Factory which made it unique in the activities of the D.C.L. Industrial Group.
By Raymond Cotterel, a local journalist, A detailed account reflecting his thorough knowledge of this aerodrome.
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​Here's how he introduces it:

"All but forgotten now, the Royal Air Force aerodrome on Stormy Down served a very important role in the training of both air and- ground crews during the 1939-45 war.

By modern standards the grass airfield was tiny. The. longest landing run was just 1010 yards. ,
Never-the-less, more than 7,000 Air Gunners were trained there on courses lasting from three to seven weeks, depending upon the weather. At a conservative estimate at least 10 percent of them did not survive the war.

Early in the war 400 Air Observers also trained there. Later some 2,000 Flight Engineers training at St Athan did a short ground gunnery course at Stormy Down. There were also a number of short refresher courses. In total more-than 10,000 aircrew passed through the school.

That figure does not include pilots, many of the Fleet Air Arm, who underwent the armament phase of their advanced training before qualifying for their wings. 
          
For 18 months from June 1940 a Ground Armament School was also based on the camp. It trained 1,800 RAF and WAAF armourers as well as several hundred sailors destined to become Telegraphist Air Gunners with the Fleet Air Arm.      

​Towards the end of -the war when it ceased to be a flying station it parented a Free French Air Force depot.