Please note, my old guest book has closed down due to html gear shutting. Royal air force upwood or more simply raf upwood is a former royal air force station. Upwood marks the final end of a flying era which began as far back as 1917. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique singlevolume illustrated reference book covering all of the rafs frontline airfields in. The airfield was later used as a home defence 1st class night landing ground for be2 aircraft of. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. For mail order please get in touch using our contact dahg form.
He was also one of the justices inoyer and tenures for huntingdonshire. In june 1919 the grass airfield was returned to its former use as farmland. The airfield used by raf bomber command for 20 years between 1937 1 and 1957 2 and saw most of its operational life during the second world war. To upwood but was in trouble immediately and crashed at bury, 7 miles nne of huntingdon. Warboys wartime airfield 1941 to 1946 was the home of 156 squadron, also known as the pathfinder squadron, until it moved to upwood in march 1944. Raf upwood is a former raf base located next to the village of upwood, cambridgeshire. Discovering our aviation history, and double listings. The new station was designed to accommodate 2 medium bomber squadrons with room for a 3rd. After we leave warboys, we head to her sister station to the west, and an airfield with a history going back to world war i. The airfield was closed in late 1941 and rebuilt as an raf bomber command airfield with paved runways and equipped for night operations. Upon opening, there were no permanent buildings at the airfield. In september 1917, the royal air force started work on raf upwood, a large airfield near the village used. Aircraft at upwood this website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket.
Raf upwood has a prestigious operational history with 2 bomber sqaudrons and a pathfinder squadron. Perhaps the single biggest personal discovery i made in researching this book concerns the history of ballooning in the uk. It had three grass runways, used primarily by airspeed oxfords of no 15 service flying training school from raf kidlington. Raf upwood news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2012 learn. It is a massive travesty that it should be allowed to fall to ruin and be vandalised by local chavs who clearly have no respect or knowlege of the fallen. Squadrons 90 and 53, equipped with bristol blenheims, replaced 52 and 63 squadrons by february 1940 their main mission to train raf personnel for bombing missions. The airfield was later used as a home defence 1st class night landing ground for be2 aircraft of 7 squadron, royal flying corps. Lincoln from raf upwood 1955 the royal air force returned to upwood airfield in january 1937 when squadrons 52 and 63, equipped with hawker hind and audax biplanes, were located there.
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. A rundown of usaf activities at alconbury during the early 1990s meant that upwood was needed less and the airfield was returned to the ministry of defence. At the end of the second world war, 156 squadron was relocated at wyton whilst 9 squadron remained at upwood. On 27 february 1937, the 1st flying unit arrived at raf upwood. The history is intended to become a living document, with additional information to keep it accurate and up to date. The glenn miller museum is located in the restored control tower and features displays about glenn miller, raf twinwood farm. Raf barford st john project gutenberg selfpublishing. Sep 11, 2009 the airfield, by now named bury ramsey probably didnt have any permanent buildings, but by summer 1918 some huts and five 170ft x 100ft hangers were erected. The gliders involved in the most classic cugc adventures, such as the olympia that was ditched in the sea twice. Upwood was teeming with about 2,500 crewmen and other staff during world war two and was one of more than 70 bases in the east of. Raf hemswell project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Raf ludham hms flycatcher geograph britain and ireland. This website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket.
A camp of permanent buildings where built in the southwest corner adjacent to the village of bury. Raf warboys became one of the original pathfinder force stations. A book on military airfield architecture written by me was published by haynes in 1996 which was based on the 1994 research carried out for english heritage, although at the time and outside of arg there was still very little interest in airfield architecture and history so accordingly the book was quickly remaindered. John granville escourt evans aus418527 raaf age 22. It was originally a royal flying corps grass landing strip on this site in world war i, and before the usaaf arrived the raf had been using it for training, during that period it was known as raf elmswell. Raf upwood was the home of the 423rd medical squadron. Our museum is open to the public on various dates during the year. The book of dene, deane, adeanea genealogical history. Upwood is in the civil parish of upwood and the raveleys the village lies along the high street which runs parallel to the main road from great raveley to ramsey. Commissioned by bernard and richard clarkson and dedicated to all air and groundcrew who served at raf station upwood.
Five hangars were built, and around 100 other buildings of varying sizes. 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. During the raf expansion period in the mid 1930s the airfield was expanded drastically. The hope for the history is to create a complete and interesting record of the clubs history from 1935 to the current day, with notable flights and members exploits and achievements and mishaps recorded for posterity. Royal air force upwood or more simply raf upwood is a former royal air force station adjacent to the village of upwood, cambridgeshire, england in the united kingdom it was a nonflying station which was under the control of the united states air force from 1981, and one of three raf stations in cambridgeshire used by the united states air forces in europe usafe. Lancaster nd476 took off from raf upwood in cambridgeshire at 22. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Upwood bury ramsey airfields of britain conservation.
As part of the raf expansion programme this airfield was in dire need of revamping, the grasssurfaced and had some 250 acres. Jun 28, 2015 upwood was teeming with about 2,500 crewmen and other staff during world war two and was one of more than 70 bases in the east of england given over to the bombing campaign. Starting in 1935, cugc members flew a variety of interesting gliders and even designed and built their own granta glider. Great ashfield airfield is still in private use although much reduced in size. History of warboys with warboys village history and warboys.
Raf upwood in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Both villages have a long and interesting history going back to prenorman times when upwood was the home of earl ailwine, the founder of ramsey abbey. The airfield, by now named bury ramsey probably didnt have any permanent buildings, but by summer 1918 some huts and five 170ft x 100ft hangers were erected. Raf upwood airfield upwoods watch office for all commands, 34343 c. It is now a nonflying facility, operated by the united states air force as a communications centre with many large communications aerials, and is a satellite of raf croughton. School of education is currently situated, was first established in 1917 when the airfield was used for the training of aircrew destined for night flying duties at the western front. The royal air force returned to upwood airfield in january 1937 when squadrons 52 and 63, equipped with hawker. The airfield was named upwood, having previously been known as bury ramsey airfield, and henceforth it came under the control of the 6th. In 1 he sat in parliamentat lincoln for eight days as knight of thoseshires. The airfield was then renamed upwood, and came under control of the 6th brigade, midland area, of the 47th home defence wing. Haunting images of the uks redundant raf bases bbc news. Little raveley existed as a separate parish, based on the church of st james now converted to a private residence, until it joined the other two villages when the civil parish of upwood and. This is the facebook page for the parish of upwood and the raveleys. Raf station upwood opened on 26 january 1937 and finally closed in march.
The royal air force returned to upwood airfield in january 1937 when squadrons 52 and 63, equipped with hawker hind and audax biplanes, were located there. Upwood lies approximately 7 miles 11 km north of huntingdon, near bury. For the following three months, the airfield was used by nos. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916.
On a chilly and breezy april morning we were once again thrilled to have a fantastic turn out of people as we led a walk through history around the historic airfield at ridgewell, home to the 381 st bomb group of the 8th usaaf during world war two the day saw 80 people and once again quite a few dogs explore their local airfield, led by our community archaeologist. Raf upwood was once a key base for world war two bomber squadrons photo credit steve hurst starting life as a noneflying airfield of the royal flying corps in 1917, bury ramsey airfield in cambridgeshire was initially used as a night landing and satellite airfield for the nearby elmswell, over the border in suffolk, who were flying be2cs. The squadron operated a medical complex which housed outpatient and dental care facilities for activeduty, dependents of active duty, department of defense civilians, and retired military personnel stationed in the tribase area. The airfield sits alongside upwood caravan park near the worth valley steam railway and haworth. From this time forward, upwood airfield was home to 9 squadron equipped with mosquitoes as well as 156 squadron with lancaster bombers. It is owned by the andersons, a keen aviation family that operate the organic farm in which tiffenden airfield is situated. Upwood is in the civil parish of upwood and the raveleys. Derelictplaces is a forum for people with an interest in the history and documentation of disused, derelict and abandoned. The 423ola medical facility at raf upwood provides outpatient medical services for the tribase community. Raf upwood opened in 1917 as a satellite field for raf elmswell. Upwood is a village in the nonmetropolitan district and historic county of huntingdonshire, england, although in the administrative county of cambridgeshire. Raf upwood also has housing for dod enlisted military families. The airfield was closed in 1946 and in 1961 the air ministry land was sold to the norfolk county council, and soon returned to agriculture.
Raf barford st john was opened on 30 july 1941 as a training facility for raf flying training command. The airfield was built to relieve the congestion at raf upwood for the use of no. Images of raf upwood today february 2014 the webmaster accidently disrupted a paintball war game to take these pictures. Hms flycatcher left ludham in midfebruary 1945 and the airfield returned to raf fighter command. Warboys railway station was closed to passengers in 1930.
A pictorial history is available for purchase in the raf museum and at the national trust shop. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. This is a sister ship of the airplane that douglas bader was flying when he crashed at woodley aerodrome, 14 december 1931. David mansfield upwood is a gliding site, with permission for cable launch to 2000 feet so should be avoided by other ga traffic below this height for safety reasons.
Young men that died in the service of their country lived in the officers mess there. It really is a most fascinating period in the 19th century, and has continued ever since. Royal air force barford st john or raf barford st john is a royal air force station just north of the village of barford st. The completion of barbed wire around strategic areas, and three aa gun positions with one.
The first cricket match was held on the new sports field on 6 july 1946 between warboys xi and g gifords xi. Royal air force in 1939, feeling that war with germany was imminent, bader applied to. Its origins date back to world war one when the royal flying corps requisitioned farmland near the village of upwood in 1917. Lingering american use saw the last usaf family moved out of upwood housing in 2005, while the medical complex run by the 423 rd medical squadron finally closed in october 2012. By 1936, construction had begun in earnest with 2 of 5 ctype hangars started.
The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the. Later used again by raf bomber command as a nuclear ballistic missile base during the cold war it closed to military use in 1967. Upwoods first watch office was a fort type 20736 which was demolished in 1943 anyone have a photo. The royal air force returned to upwood airfield in jamary 1937.
Canberra wj648 came in with no wheels john lane crew in attendance. In 1933, beatty hangs out at the airport where her pilot father flies mail. Taking off from raf upwood in cambridgeshire at 00. Airfield by jeanette ingold meet your next favorite book. Raf station upwood opened on 26 january 1937 and finally closed in march 1981. Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. Shortly after opening, a few hangars and buildings were built.
Nene valley gliding club ltd, marshals paddock, ramsey road, upwood, cambs, pe26 2ph clubhouse 01487 862 launch point 07761 478417 nene valley gliding club is a community amateur sports club. Upwood was listed in the domesday book in the hundred of hurstingstone in. The first airfield on the site was opened in 1918 by the royal flying corps and called rfcs harpswell after the village of that name just across the a631 road during the first world war it was used as a night landing ground and two night flying training squadrons were established there. The site is now home to the twinwood arena, a large natural amphitheatre which plays host to various music festivals promoted by twinwood events including the rhythm festival. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique singlevolume illustrated reference book covering all of the rafs frontline airfields in the uk during world war 2. History of full sutton airfield 1944 2004 mike usherwood on. It was one of three bases used by united states air force and was a nonflying station from 1981. Upwood is a village in the nonmetropolitan district and historic county of huntingdonshire. Squadrons 90 and 53, equipped with bristol blenheims, replaced 52 and 63 squadrons by february 1940 their main mission to train raf personnel for bombing. The views expressed in this website are not necessarily those of nvgc ltd or the webmaster. Royal air force in 1939, feeling that war with germany was imminent, bader applied to the air ministry for reinstatement. 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.