In 2014, the grass surface was replaced with a 3g synthetic pitch. Some very interesting detail and a number of photographs of the airfield as it looked in the past as well as. The role of the aas was to train armament officers, air gunners and air bombers so extensive use was made of the nearby bombing ranges on the coast. By 1943, over 3,500 american troops were stationed there and the local economy was booming because of it. Pages 117 a short history of each airfield in potted form. 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. Flying started from the site in 1941 as raf edgehill. 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. Raf cluntoe is a former royal air force airfield located 1 mile 1. In 1926, the war department repurchased the land and reopened the airfield, which was used generally as a training base, being home to a number of squadrons until 1957.
The war department however retained the hangars which were leased to local businesses. Well maintain traditional airport information like latlong, elevation, ownership and usage, and frequencies. A pictorial history of the royal ulster constabulary which includes some. Cluntoe was built for the raf in 194042, before being handed obver to the eighth air force. Originally planned as an raf bomber otu, construction started 1240 but not completed until 0742. Initially wellington bombers used the airfield for flying practice, but occasionally supplying aircraft and crew for operational bombing raids. An article about the creation of a wwii airfield in ardboe co tyrone. Manchester airport sutton s photographic history of aviation scholefield, r. Perhaps the single biggest personal discovery i made in researching this book concerns the history of ballooning in the uk. Ardboe was finally on a map even if it was hitlers. The airfield is now the site of the annual kent county show, but two memorials stand as poignant reminders of the epic events that transpired in this otherwise sleepy corner of britain. County tyrone part 1 the second world war in northern ireland.
Our history stapleford flight centre london england. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. We built this site to share information about airfields not generally available to the public. He was stationed at cluntoe airfield in ardboe, co tyrone, and, up until then, relations between the soldiers and local were pleasant and harmonious.
It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. The furthest group of buildings were the experimental fight shed, while the others were the flight sheds where new aircraft were prepared for delivery to the raf and aircraft for cat4 repairs were dealt with. Airfield publications publish books on uk airfields, recent publications include raf kirton in lindsey, burtonwood, woodvale and 611 west lancashire squadron, royal auxiliary air force, raf brampton and raf waterbeach. Traditionally the november meeting is a members evening when members of the society, rather than a guest speaker, make a. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. From the book british military airfields by david j.
Discovering our aviation history, and double listings. Learn the history of stapleford airfield, home of stapleford flight centre, london, england. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. Report derelict rafusaaf cluntoe airfield, ardboe ni 25108. These books tell the personal stories of men from northern ireland and what they endured. The breadth of research published is immense, with major series having covered flying boat bases, fleet air arm stations, cold war fighter stations, world war two operational training unit organisations. This history of cluntoe airfield consists of just over 200 pages. The site of fontana airport is located southeast of.
Cramps book on british midland mentions the 748 demonstrator paying a visit. It really is a most fascinating period in the 19th century, and has continued ever since. He was stationed at cluntoe airfield in ardboe, co tyrone, and, up until then, relations between the soldiers and local were pleasant and. I read that it was quite wet, and positioning argonauts left large ruts. The runways have been used to build industrial units but you can still make out odd bits of airfield structure here and there. Manchester airport suttons photographic history of. Castle archdale into the history books within months of its opening. It is an a4 format book and some of the photos are not very well produced at all. Church fenton church lawford church stanton cleave cluntoe clyffe pypard cocos. Brockworth airfield the black buildings at the far end gloucester end were the gloster flight department.
Blyton airfield various sections of the station continued to be soldoff over the following years, until 1963 when the entire airfield had been sold. Bbc blogs about the bbc writer barry devlin on bbc one. Over the coming years as the airfield fell in to disrepair, the buildings began to disappear and even the hangars were demolished. Welcome to uk airfields, this website is to show my photography of airfields, aircraft and aviation related memorials around the uk and overseas. In 1933, beatty hangs out at the airport where her pilot father flies mail. Official aerial photograph of long kesh airfield, 28 july 1942. It was used as a combat crew replacement centre for the training of crews, and was also home to the 311th ferrying squadron. 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. A memorial stone is situated near the entrance to the kart circuit. United states army air force bomber crew at cluntoe airfield. The airfield was closed in 1920 and the land sold back to a local farmer. According to the book front cover, the book purports to be an illustrated history of the usaf twin base complex in east anglia. The marshall airfield at teversham is also included in this entry. The kart club shares the airfield with the present shenington gliding club.
History of aerodrome dunsfold airfield history society. Dunsfold site timeline 1942 dunsfold aerdrome established for use by royal canadian air force. The squadron had mixed feelings about this move as raf newton was a. Tyrone and it has left me more than a little confused. The airfield officially opened in august 1938 and within days had its first residents, no. The gliders involved in the most classic cugc adventures, such as the olympia that was ditched in the sea twice. Raf elsham wolds opened as a heavy bomber station as part of 1 group bomber command in mid june 1941 and 103 squadron moved to their new base soon after with its vickers wellington bombers. Before the aerodrome dunsfold airfield history society. Cluntoe was known by the united states 8th air force as aaf 238 combat crew replacement centre b. County tyrone part 1 second world war in northern ireland. November 2007 meeting report keyworth local history society. Amenities like swimming, hiking, mountain biking, camping, lodging, horseback riding. Starting in 1935, cugc members flew a variety of interesting gliders and even designed and built their own granta glider. Find out when dig ww2 with dan snow is on tv, including series 1episode 3.
The original structure has the usual blast walls and ventilation system but also appears to have many window as part of the original design. Theres a history of the various airfields in northern ireland in a book called action stations by david j smith 1983. The largest and best equipped airfields were cluntoe, toome. The definitive history of the raf airfield fro 1917 to 1940. Dear all i have been looking at the ops block at cluntoe co. The mcaully flying group have operated from little snoring for over 50 years, and has excellent facilities at the airfield, comprising a private hangar and a large. Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. Some of the nations most famous fighter pilots have also served there, its history is rich with heritage and character. Military raf aerodrome later royal naval air station 1948 books of hms gannet.
The impact of this has been long lasting, changing the area forever. Manchester airport sutton s photographic history of. Moors exhaustively researched book is the first to tell the full story of the part detling played in the defence of the realm and the history of flight. Usaaf station 238 cluntoe airfield was a combat crew replacement centre which trained b17 and b 24 pilots to fly in the cloudy skies over europe. The gi was stationed at cluntoe airfield in ardboe, co tyrone, and, up until then, relations between the soldiers and local people were good.
Operations room 1558640 at cluntoe airfield research group. For this reason an airfield building programme was commenced in northern ireland. Ardboe ardboe business park raf cluntoe usaaf station 238 county. Meet the authors at iwm duxford at 1100 on saturday 4 april 2020 for a book signing event. A 2016 aerial view looking south at the site of fontana airfield showed no trace remaining of the airport yet another piece of aviation history covered by americas seemingly insatiable appetite for suburban housing.
It was originally supposed to be an operational training unit for bombers and site construction began in 1940 making it one of the earlier airfields of the time. Well also take advantage of galen hanselmans calculations for relative hazard index rhi for each airfield and present an rhi for each runway and approach. The airfield, also known by its sponsored name as the hollingsworth group international airfield, is a football stadium in broughton, flintshire in wales. The history of manston airfield site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916 it is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Originally opened as a satellite airfield as raf ingham, it became a substation on 3 jul. Trip to toome, ballymena in august ireland reaching out. Today, privately owned, set a few miles from the beautiful north norfolk coast and surrounded by uncontrolled airspace, little snoring airfield is an aviators paradise made manifest. Having lived close to dunsfold airfield as a boy and young man, 1953 to 1965, this wonderful record of its beginning imparts a wealth of knowledge and history hitherto unknown to only those working within the airfield. It was closed after being handed back to the raf, and reopened in 1953. The first oc raf elsham wolds was gc h a constantine who arrived at the airfield on the 29th june 1941 and assumed command.
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