History of the airfield a little about its wartime history. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. The airfield was used extensively during the second world war, being opened in july 1942 and was immediately occupied by no. Very friendly and helpful airfield and a mecca if you love vintage aeroplanes, especially austers. Cheshire airfields of the second world war british airfields of world. British airfield buildings of the second world war aviation. We hope to build a record of just some of those people that are a significant part of the history of the aerodrome. As part of the aviation heritage trail series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular. Written in 1982, robert coles book on the history of beaulieu airfield was the first authoritative book to document the history of the 1910 new forest school of.
This book tells the story of the aerodrome of raf kenley from 1917 until the end of 1940. The definitive history of the raf airfield fro 1917 to 1940. I went to the airshows and i was there the day after the raids on libya. Staffordshire airfields in the second world war airfields series. The airfield version of the mirror landing sight involved a large yellow wheeled chariot which was usually jacked up on a permanent concrete base well clear of the left hand side of the runway.
Since 1990, he has been a professional indexer of books and journals in history mainly. Three hudsons lost on missions to germany april 1945. It was subject to regular, perhaps daily calibration. It was originally built for the americans as a jumping off point for france during ww1, a facility that they never utilised because the war ended. It continued as a military airfield for a while before becoming a base for commercial flying and farm land. Gunn is a lecturer in history at further education college.
Dropped into eggesford in tiger moth ganfm to refuel on our way to and from the west country, and also to see old friend richard webber. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country. The wartime work of the airfield is commemorated on the inside of a barn on the airfield. The aim of the dunsfold airfield history society dahs is to preserve those features of dunsfold airfield that have significant historic or architectural interest, in order to retain for posterity the unique contribution of the airfield to our national aerospace heritage. The site was opened as a satelliterelief landing ground for raf hixon, 7. The main runway was 0321 at 2,030 yards, the 1432 runway at 1,400 yards and 1129 at 1,430 yards. In may 1942, training was also started on the airfield for the glider pilot regiment. At the outbreak of the second world war, croome court and its surrounding estate was requisitioned by the ministry of works. It exists to research and make public the history of what has been. Welcome to uk airfields, this website is to show my photography of airfields, aircraft and aviation related memorials around the uk and overseas.
This is described below in the transcript of alan bonsers excellent talk given in 2008 on the history of the desford airfield. Raf upper heyford base tour aircraft, airfields and airshows. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british flying. Many former ww2 airfield sites are within easy reach along with important aviation heritage sites. It was mostly sold and returned to agriculture in the 1960s70s.
Farm cottage accommodation this self catering cottage is a 2 minute walk from the airfield. British aviation archaeological council research topics. The airfield was handed back to the raf in 1945, and it became a civil airfield in 1947 to the 1960s. An appeal has been put to the secretaryof state in respect of the foregoing on the 8 january 2009 on the grounds of nondetermination by planning services of stafford borough council. Including books on bomber command, ww2 airfields, raf pathfinders and victoria cross. Airfield research group airfield histories arg forum. Blyton airfield various sections of the station continued to be soldoff over the following years, until 1963 when the entire airfield had been sold. The borders gliding club moved back to milfield in 1992 by which time the remaining part of the airfield had been levelled and grassed over. After the raf closed the airfield in 1947 it was later taken over by boultan paul for advanced aircraft development purposes. I recall whilst going through the thornaby orb a long time ago discovering such mostly prewar gems as off the top of my head. In november 2000 i had moved from hampshire and now keep two aircraft based here at eggesford in mid devon. If the airfield service could be perfect, stapleford would be an example.
Watch office with ops room for bomber satellite stations 734541, 7941. The arg archive was established around a core of research notes and materials from a number of arg members who authored airfieldrelated books in the 1980s and 90s. Headcorn lashenden aerodrome has been in existence since the 1920s when the local landowner flew from here with his friends, until the outbreak of world war ii when all civilian flying ceased. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of shotton airfield. Books multiple airfields history of manston airfield. Blyton airfield was constructed in 1942 between the blyton and northorpe villages and is now bordered by the b1205 to the south and the a159 to the west side. Apr 01, 2017 dunsfold was second home to a lot of people in the last 70 years. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of north weald airfield. His job was to man the radio of a gun pit on the edge of the airfield. Raf tempsford was perhaps the most secret airfield of the second world war. I used to go there during the mid 1980s and watch the f111s as they carried out their routine training. Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. Very interesting book, lots of local history of where my father worked at cranage airfield building aircraft.
Seighford is sometimes described as the forgotten airfield and for good reason. I have started my ppl here, and was surprised by the choice of aircraft, they also have a simulator and own doctor on site, so i didn. Brief history of the airfield, construction and use including. Dahs dunsfold airfield history society home facebook. Chronology of test pilots dunsfold airfield history society. In the years since, it has grown into what is possibly the largest archive of 20th century uk military history reference material outside of the various national collections. However, evidence shows that they only stayed for two. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. It records the brave deeds of the men and women of every nationality, who flew from this wartime airfield to the forces of the resistance in france, norway, holland, and other countries during the years 1942 to 1945. Egsg is an operational general aviation aerodrome in the epping forest district of essex, england, near the village of abridge.
Over the coming years as the airfield fell in to disrepair, the buildings began to disappear and even the hangars were demolished. Raf coningsby was the first airfield to receive the tornado and was the first to receive its replacement, the eurofighter typhoon. This book describes the history of each airfield and highlights the varied and essential role they played in britains overall war effort. Raf milfield was a royal air force station which operated during the second world war, located near milfield, northumberland. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Disused open prison arg forum ford this page last updated on. The boxted airfield historical group was founded with the aims of educating, as well as promoting and preserving the history of boxted airfield, including its association with the various usaaf and raf groups that were based here during and after world war ii. Churchills most secret airfield oconnor, bernard on. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. This series of books provides a fresh userfriendly look at the military airfields of. The history is a little older circa 1915 when it was built as an air board acceptance park for the delivery by road of military aircraft. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The arg archive was established around a core of research notes and materials from a number of arg members who authored airfield related books in the 1980s and 90s.
Beautifully situated in mid devon between dartmoor and exmoor. Our history stapleford flight centre london england. Tempsford airfield harrington aviation museum carpet bagger. Jun 23, 2009 steeped in history for more than 85 years, north weald airfield is an ideal place to start your aviation heritage tour. A series of books on aviation history during the second world war. Dunsfold airfield history society limited dahs is a notforprofit society.
We will be adding more information over the coming months additional information and corrections most welcome. Tempsford airfield digitised resources the virtual library. Ludford magna airfield focus pamphlet includes 30 photos and 2 maps and goes into depth about the history of the development of the airfield, 101 sqns operations from the airfield and its subsequent thor role. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book. I have been researching airfields and aviation memorials for a long time and i have. The manor of eggesford is not recorded in the domesday book of 1086.
Our museum is open to the public on various dates during the year. The airfield opened on 26 january 1942, hosting no. The airfield grew in importance when an original company building aircraft at the h. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the early days of bomber command training and on to when the airfield became the secret home of the telecommunications flying unit. Steeped in history for more than 85 years, north weald airfield is an ideal place to start your aviation heritage tour. It is such an important part of our history, and the book features many. The caterpillar neovia site was a really important airfield from 1935 to 1953 and most particularly during world war 2. Raf seighford is a former royal air force station located 3. The central airfield continued in use by the borders gliding club until the mid1970s, and was briefly used by air anglia for regional flights in 197778. Many socalled airfield histories seem to be regurgitated squadron histories often copied from earlier books. The definitive account of the raf fighter airfield, its pilots.
Churchills most secret airfield first edition by bernard oconnor isbn. British airfield buildings of the second world war. Learn the history of stapleford airfield, home of stapleford flight centre, london, england. The battle of britain was in full swing and although this airfield was a training. It is claimed that boulton paul extended the main 1230 runway but. Raf upper heyford is an airfield which holds fond memories for me. This is my base and a fabulous part of the country. For anyone who finds the history of the raf interesting this book by jonathan faconer tells the stories of the fieldscumairfields the squadrons used to launch. Buy british airfield buildings of the second world war aviation pocket guide s. An application 0810971ful for a proposed driver experience track and facilities reference y3425a092093718. It is claimed that boulton paul extended the main 1230 runway but no proof of this appears to exist. Dunsfold was second home to a lot of people in the last 70 years.
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