Sommerfeld tracking

<h2 id="use">Use</h2>
<p>The ground was cleared and, if swampy, a layer of <a href="/facts/Coir/gtUSs3vq">coir</a> (also known as <a href="/facts/Coco_peat/gtUSs3vq">coco peat</a>) or coconut matting laid down. The Sommerfeld tracking was unrolled over the ground, pulled tight by a tractor, bulldozer, or similar vehicle, then fastened to the ground with angle-iron pickets.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> A typical runway made of Sommerfeld tracking was 3,000 feet (910 m) by 156 feet (48 m).
</p><p>It would appear that this method did have some limitations and there are various reports of airfields being out of use during heavy rainfall due to mud, and the fact that the tracking would lift off the ground. There are also anecdotal reports of it causing damage to aircraft, such as wheels being torn off.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Marston_Mat/LCg7r9gz">Marston Mat</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="notes">Notes</h2>

<h2 id="bibliography">Bibliography</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1944/1944%20-%201549.html">"Airfield Roads and Runways"</a>, <i>Flight</i>, vol. XLVI, no. 1857, pp. 101–102, 27 July 1944 – via Flightglobal Archive</li>
<li><a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1943/1943%20-%200901.html">"North African Runways"</a>, <i>Flight</i>, vol. XLIII, no. 1789, p. 367, 8 April 1943 – via Flightglobal Archive</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?3002-Sommerfeld-Tracking.Rod-amp-Bar-etc.&p=29026&viewfull=1">Photo of Sommerfeld Tracking</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2338785.pdf">United States Patent US2338785 showing Sommerfeld's design</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.tracesofwar.com/thewarillustrated/189/magic-carpets-help-to-keep-our-forces-moving.asp">'Magic Carpets' Help to Keep our Forces Moving, The War Illustrated, September 15, 1944.</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Smith, David J. "Britain's Military airfields 1939-45" <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Sommerfield Tracking Claim", Flight, p. 506, 24 April 1953 – via Flightglobal Archive <a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200510.html" target="_blank">http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200510.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Flight 1944 p 101 <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"Sommerfield Tracking Claim", Flight, p. 506, 24 April 1953 – via Flightglobal Archive <a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200510.html" target="_blank">http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200510.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Flight 1944 p 101 <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>"Reverse Lend-Lease", Flight, p. 585, 1 June 1944 – via FlightGlobal Archive <a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1944/1944%20-%201123.html" target="_blank">http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1944/1944%20-%201123.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Smith, David J. "Britain's Military airfields 1939-45" <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Sommerfeld tracking open-in-new

Sommerfeld tracking