Abbey leisure decking high ercall, site 2, hangar b, old airfield. An airfield history hardcover january 1, 1989 by col. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. Eerie pictures show inside abandoned raf base in shropshire. Volume 1 isbn 9780956171702 by graham buchan innes. The wartime airfield was initially called childs ercall but was renamed peplow in 1943 perhaps to avoid confusion with high ercall airfield, also in shropshire. Royal air force station high ercall or more simply raf high ercall is a former royal air force station situated near the village of high ercall. Surreys most secret airfield, 194292 first edition by mccue, paul isbn. The history and archaeology of this event was covered by the time team episode siege house in shropshire series 9, episode 8. Originally constructed from october 1940 onwards as a relief landing ground for raf hixon, the base at wheaton aston was completed six months before hixon was. Royal air force wheaton aston or more simply raf wheaton aston was a royal air force station located just outside of the village of wheaton aston in staffordshire, england.
Atcham airfield 23 rd october 1941 sj5710 a british spitfire registration p8546, belonging to 1 sqn raf tryddyn, crashed while attempting to force land on the airfield after engine failure. 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 airfield was equipped with three concrete runways and aircraft hangars of type t2 and type b1 designs. Any claims for death or injury to these had to be settled separately. A former world war two airfield, opened in 1941 and closed in 1949. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Harris, flight 1456, flight 1456 high ercall, flight lieutenant disney july 7, 20 march 7, 2020 3 minutes. Atcham 19411946, raf 9th grp, 8th af, 495th ftg fighter base then training. Raf catterick was largely rebuilt in 1935 under the expansion programme with many of the 1920s buildings being cleared away except the original watch office which still stands.
That is the old raf peplow airfield which on the latest half mill chart is shown as active. Directory of abandoned, forgotten and little known airfiels in europe. These eerie images reveal the abandoned remains of a former raf airfield that was set to be an immigration centre raf high ercall is a former royal air force station situated near the village of. Books multiple airfields history of manston airfield.
My father answered a call for fitters, and did a course at letchworth before being posted to wellington. Construction of the airfield began in 1938, it was partly complete by 1940, though work on the airfield buildings continued into 1941. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of high ercall. Eerie images show the abandoned buildings and equipment left behind at the disused raf high ercall near shrewsbury, shropshire. The village also contains some almshouses of 1694, built in brick with small dormer windows. Raf high ercall in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Royal air force raf high ercall took over around 300 acres of farmland, the airfield was constructed in 1940 and finally disbanded in 1964. High ercall airfield battle hq subterranea britannica. Airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression.
Historical research project on woodley aerodrome, reading. The first variant was an unarmed, highspeed, highaltitude photoreconnaissance aircraft. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the mosquitos use evolved during the war into many roles including low to mediumaltitude daytime tactical bomber, highaltitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighterbomber, intruder. Construction of the airfield began in 1938 and was mostly complete by 1940. High ercall airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Haunting images of high ercalls wartime airfield revealed. 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. He checked later on and found the airfield was really unused.
Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. Grif has just landed a flight control job as did bettys dad who sends air mail. The 1st of september 2019 is the wartime memories projects 20th birthday. Obsolete spitfire 1s were quickly superseded by the uptodate spitfire vb. Raf wheaton aston was one of two bases which were insured three times over the other being raf little rissington because of the high casualty rate and inexperience of aircrews. This summer month, shes in texas with her aunt clo and uncle grif. List of former royal air force stations military wiki. Our objective on this page is to share the good news about the rus with landowners who have airfields that are currently private use only. Sep 26, 2017 two of the groups squadrons were based at raf atcham, and one at raf high ercall. Military aerodrome hms godwit originally known as no. Approximately 80 percent of the roughly 6,000 pilots trained to fly the combat cargo glider received their advanced training and were awarded their g wings at spaaf, as it was known. From 1940 the a raf high ercall, shropshire november 2015. Instead wheaton aston became a satellite airfield of raf high ercall under the auspices of the service flying training school sfts at raf shawbury and a training base for no. I am currently writing a book entitled circuits and bumps at raf high ercall which includes sections relating to 68 night fighter squadron who included.
It was the last major operation launched by the luftwaffe nachtjagdgeschwader night. Handed back to the raf in april 1943, high ercall remained the home of no. High ercall photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. Harrison thyng project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
It appears that 27 mu shawbury stored magisters, masters. Aerodromes include small general aviation airfields, large commercial airports, and military airbases the term airport may imply a certain stature having satisfied certain certification. British airfield buildings of the second world war vol1. We built this site to share information about airfields not generally available to the.
The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 01092011. 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. Airfield is not just a beautiful place with a remarkable history, its a social and charitable hub, investing in people and initiatives that reach every corner of. High ercall airfield is now in use by telford model aircraft club contribute to ukga. Renamed to raf peplow to avoid confusion with high ercall airfield. Raf catterick in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. The base was actually in the hamlet of little onn which is 1. Bicester, oxfordshire, built as a bomber station from 1924 and retains grass airfield, airfield defences, bomb stores, perimeter track and hardstandings added during the second world war biggin hill, london borough of bromley, britains most celebrated fighter station retains. This list of former raf stations is a list of all stations, airfields, and administrative headquarters previously used by the royal air force. Today high ercall s wartime airfield, from where many young men flew to do battle, and to which many were never to return alive, is a ghostly spectacle. Raf catterick in the second world war 19391945 the.
Raf high ercall ercall magna a journey through time. High ercall continued in use but closed in 1962, and sleap had a. Aerial photograph of high ercall airfield, looking north, the airfield code is at the bottom, 9 may 1946. Abbey leisure decking, high ercall, site 2, hangar b, old airfield, composite and upvc decking for your home or holiday retreat kits for diy no maintenance decking and skirting ideal for patios verandahs spas and hot t. The first variant was an unarmed, high speed, high altitude photoreconnaissance aircraft. The historic airfield was once home to the us air forces 309. List of former royal air force stations military wiki fandom.
Betty has lived part of each year with one of her three aunts, rotating among them every few months. Most of the buildings there today date from this period. Written by mike tucknottiain taylor on 18 march 2011. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Arriving at its new base at high ercall without aircraft on june 11, the squadron began flight training on spitfire v fighters provided by the raf beginning june 26. If you feel that any of these airfields are incorrectly listed or that there might be omissions, please let us know. Apr 28, 2014 south plains army airfield in lubbock, texas, was a major training base for us army air force glider pilots during world war ii. Royal air force station high ercall or more simply raf high ercall is a former royal air force station situated. Just some 12nm the north west is the navel air station of hinstock and some 5nm to the south west is the high ercall airfield. It is prudent to regard much of the records kept by the raf, in ww2 especially, with a healthy degree of sceptiscm. Alecs new shropshire airfields book takes flight shropshire star. The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 31102019. Two of the groups squadrons were based at raf atcham, and one at raf high ercall.
History high ercall airfield disused other items articles events links news surveys tips other users feedback ukga membership about ukga. In 1946, a halifax bomber stationed at high ercall was purchased by australian pilot geoff wikner who used the plane to fly home. We hope to encourage you to make access to those airfields public, or at the very least allow pilots to use these resources with permission. A british beaufighter registration r2029, beonging to 68 squadron raf high ercall, crashed for unknown reasons. Raf high ercall is a former royal air force station situated near the. This first picture is standing close to 29 threshold and looking down towards walton.
Royal air force station high ercall or more simply raf high ercall is a former royal air force station situated near the village of high ercall, seven miles northeast of shrewsbury, shropshire, england. Peplow childs ercall airfields of britain conservation. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the mosquitos use evolved during the war into many roles including low to mediumaltitude daytime tactical bomber, high altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighterbomber, intruder. Childs ercall airfield shropshire is it still operational. The stations are listed under any former county or country name which was appropriate for the duration of operation. Unternehmen gisela was the codename for a german military operation of the second world war. This remarkable work pulls the lid off one of the legendary air forces in history at the very peak of its powerunveiling the and machines as they truly existed daytoday, underneath the propaganda of their own regime and the scare stories of their enemies. Gisela was designed as an aerial intruder operation to support the german air defence system in its night battles with raf bomber command during the defence of the reich campaign. A short distance from the village is a world war ii airfield which as raf high ercall was the home of 29 mu. On formation of the royal air force on 1st april 1918 it became raf catterick and 49 training depot station. Dyce, ternhill, arbroath, calveley, dalcross, duxford, high ercall, marston moor, peplow, peterhead, tilstock, evanton, stretton and ringway to name but a few. This is how ex raf high ercall runways are looking today. All these were taken on the 01 june 2007 between about 1630 and 1800.
Airfield then on care and maintenance until closure 51946. The airbase was initially run by raf maintenance command and. From 1942 the airfield was also used by the united states army 8th air. The history of chilbolton airfield february 21st, 8pm talk by alan crisp. Hey have a museum at sleap airfield and details are at. A few years later, the airfield was reopened for training purposes, and aircraft based there painted. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. Lee author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Raf childs ercall peplow shropshires history advanced search. A lost pilot recalled flying over disused airfield in the 1930s and saw it operational, with yellow raf aircraft on the ground these did not exist at the time. British airfield buildings of the second world war guide 1 book 9781857800265. A new book is telling the story of how in the days after pearl harbor, the. Today high ercalls wartime airfield, from where many young men flew to do battle, and to which many were never to return alive, is a ghostly spectacle. The starspangled spitfires which flew from shropshire shropshire. If youre interested in recreational aviation and backcountry flying, youve come to the right place. A full list of airfields from the first and second world war granted listed status by the government in 2005. It is published by bridge books of wrexham isbn 9781844940875. British airfield buildings of the second world war vol1 ebay. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to ww2 you may have at home. Greenhous village high ercall aerodrome moortown unofficial local name motec high ercall raf high ercall usaaf station 346. Flight 1456 high ercall 20 july 1942 30 august 1942 pierre lagace fo r.
Media in category raf high ercall the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. I cant add any more history im afraid, because i was born in september 1939, and we lived in wellington from 1941 until 1948. An aerodrome commonwealth english or airdrome american english is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither. Wikner also charged a number of passengers to embark on the flight with him. Raf childs ercall peplow shropshires history advanced. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. Raf high ercall in the second world war 19391945 the. The starspangled spitfires which flew from shropshire.