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The AiX-ARG Archive
Limited Company owes its formation to a discussion that originated
on the Internet forum ‘The Airfield Information Exchange’ (AiX). -
Membership of the forum is diverse. Many well known names in the
military research world, including authors and noted experts in
their own particular field have been brought together. Forum
membership also includes individuals/representatives of interest
groups (museums, collections, for example. AiX amalgamated with the
Airfield Research Group (ARG) and the forum was re-named AiX - The
Public Forums of the Airfield Research Group.
It became apparent that the private archive collections of some of
the older members (with collections dating back to the early 1970s
and in some instances, earlier), had great historic significance. A
major concern was that these archives could be lost as people age
and pass away. The general feeling was that something must be put in
place as soon as possible to guarantee the survival of these
historic archives for future generations. It was also decided that
it was important to bring these collections together, provide and
manage a secure and safe environment for donated archives and to
enable the collections to be used as an educational and research
facility. The
AIRFIELD RESEARCH GROUP was formed thirty years ago in 1978 by a
small nucleus of enthusiasts. Coincidentally this was the same year
that the first book dedicated to airfields appeared (‘Airfields of
the Eighth - Then and Now’). It was also a year before the first
Action Stations book was launched.
The aims of the Group are to research, collate and disseminate
material relating to the history, development, architecture, current
status and uses of current and disused, civil and military airfields
of the United Kingdom.
The Group publishes the Airfield Review four times a year - around
120 issues have appeared to date (a previous editor and chairman
have included Norwich Paul). Contributors have included a number of
respected aviation related authors, and recent issues have covered
in-depth reports regarding Flying Boat bases, Fleet Air Arm
stations, OTU Organisation, the First Hard Runway in the UK, and
Satellite Landing Grounds. A large number of airfields, some
virtually unknown have been extensively researched.Associated
subjects have included Ammunition Depots, Flying Control and
radar/radio aids, control caravans, railway systems, and the RAF
Maintenance Organisation. |
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The Guardroom at the former RAF Upwood
The Proposed Site For The Permanent Archive.
Our Aims & Objectives:
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To collate and digitise collections of negatives and to
catalogue photographs, books, reports, maps and plans of the UK
and European 20th Century military archaeology / architecture
and history relating to airfields.
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To collate and digitise collections of negatives and to
catalogue photographs, books, reports, maps and plans of the UK
and European Civil airports and airfields.
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To record digitally in the 21st Century the former military
landscape, extant structures and surviving infrastructure.
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To record digitally in the 21st Century Civil
airports and airfields both in service and disused
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This data will form a unique collection of photographs, books
and paper-medium archive that we believe is important in a
National context.
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The information will be made available by digital means to
organizations or individuals such as universities, schools or
researchers.
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To make the physical archive available to researchers,
universities and schools.
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