During construction it was decided to extend the runways which in turn lead to the closure of both the a18 to the west of kirmington, and a minor road running to the north of the village. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. Notably there is a piece of preserved wall art from the airfield featuring a b17 at the imperial war museum at duxford. The total area used for the entire airfield covered some 575 acres. My interest is the history of the base, and the missions flown from there. If you like local 2nd world war history, i highly recommend this book.
Raf oakington was an expansion period aerodrome constructed in 1939 and placed under bomber command during world war ii. Oakington was quite a large village in the middle ages with 55 residents counted in the domesday book and 100 by 1279. This rat run should never have been closed cambridgenews. The history of harrington airfield harrington aviation. One of the greatest changes in warfare during 20th century was the growth of military aviation. Kirmington airfield with control of the airfield now in civilian hands, very little use was made of the remaining runways, only the occasional visit by crop spraying aircraft.
History of the airfield the kart club shares the airfield with the present shenington gliding club. Many former ww2 airfield sites are within easy reach along with important aviation heritage sites. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the. Books manston specific history of manston airfield. Cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail further reading. Buy bovingdon airfield focus 1st edition by simons, graham m. Steeped in history for more than 85 years, north weald airfield is an ideal place to start your aviation heritage tour. If you feel that any of these airfields are incorrectly listed or that there might be omissions, please let us know. Further reading cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail. Royal air force oakington or more simply raf oakington was a royal air force station located. In this context, probably the most useful books to start with are. The kart club shares the airfield with the present shenington gliding club.
The black death decimated the population in the 14th century wiping out half the tenants of the largest manor. 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. This was the squadrons first loss since forming at downham market on 7th april 1944 and moving two weeks later to oakington. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british. Oakington airfields of britain conservation trust uk. A memorial stone is situated near the entrance to the kart circuit. Jun 23, 2009 steeped in history for more than 85 years, north weald airfield is an ideal place to start your aviation heritage tour. Hi, the following comes from the air britain series of books.
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. Raf airfields in norfolk during the second world war. Jun 01, 2018 harrison sherwood, 85, is not happy that airfield road between longstanton and oakington is now closed image. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. The history of harrington airfield harrington aviation museum. The barracks closed in 1999 and half of the site is now a rather notorious immigration reception centre used to house illegal immigrants facing deportation. Raf oakington, in 1942 written by emden operation dad wrote a book of stirlings and stalags. The definitive history of the raf airfield fro 1917 to 1940. This resulted in a sudden loss of height and the mosquito crashed at 02. Raf oakington airfield defences after the war, the base became home to a variety of training and transport facilities before becoming an army barracks for the royal anglia regiment. Raf station oakington was built on a meadow 5 miles from cambridge, it opened with a full station status on july 1st 1940. This summer month, shes in texas with her aunt clo and uncle grif. This continued until august 1967 when air links chauffeurs started to fly cessna aircraft from part of the disused runway.
The battered remnants of 218 squadron arrived on july 17th from france. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. During the 1950s raf oakington was an advanced flying training school, no. In the summer of 1943 342 squadron raf arrived with their boston aircraft. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. Schofield conyers nesbit arctic airmen 2005 p ward airfield focus booklet gms 1994 sutton bridge. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war. Raf oakington project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Oakington existed at the time of the doomsday book 1086 being recorded. Bomber bases of world war 2, airfields of 1st air division usaaf. Oakington airfield was the original home of the short stirling, the first four engined. Podington airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Buiilding survey of the former raf oakington by the airfield research group.
Do you have more uptodate information about oakington. Keith jones i was a bit surprised at that time of night it was that much slower. Jan 01, 1999 airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british flying. The airfield was built in 193940 and was a premier raf station for 35 years.
In april 1962 the auster was at last permitted to use the main runway and the aero club began to enrol members from the general public. Suttons farm 19151919 click here interwar years 19201938 click here the war years 19391945 click here post war. Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. 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 site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916.
Raf oakington in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Raf oakington was a bomber command base during ww2, sited 5 miles nw of cambridge and housing blenheims, stirlings and lancasters, plus a few spitfires. Within it you will find advice on their conservation and how you can contribute your knowledge to a growing body of knowledge on first and second world airfields. Oakington raf oakington airfield control tower updated 10062017. Initially wellington bombers used the airfield for flying practice, but occasionally supplying aircraft and crew for operational bombing raids. Betty has lived part of each year with one of her three aunts, rotating among them every few months.
History of harrington airfield harrington airfield, known as station 179 during ww2, was built by the 826th and 852nd engineer battalions of the us army as a class a airfield intended for heavy bomber use, the main runway length being approximately a mile. Eight cantilevered pillboxes at the former raf oakington. In the later summer of 43 the facilities at great massingham were enhanced by the installation of new, extended concrete runways, t2 and other hangers plus new personnel quarters and operational facilities. First day of astronomical spring, and a fine, blue, shiny sunday morning it is. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As a national service sac engine mechanic, i well remember being detached to raf valley early in 1954, when we carried out the acceptance checks on the three new vampire t 11 trainers, destined to replace the meteor 4s and 7s at number 206 afs at raf oakington. Posts about oakington airfield written by dawnpiper. It appears that nothing was set down to enable this happening in a binding contractual and legal framework. After the war, the base became home to a variety of training and transport facilities before becoming an army barracks for the royal anglia regiment. From 1950 it was part of training command before being transferred to the army in 1975 and then used as an immigration reception centre between 1999 and 2010. History oakington airfield disused other items articles events links news surveys tips other users feedback ukga membership about ukga. The airfield was built to the standard at the time consisting of three concrete runways. Isbn 9781870384230 9781870384230 softcover, gms enterprises, 1993 military aviation in malta g. The british parliament were not consulted, let alone the british public, and yet we potentially all ended up on the.
The club was able to operate an auster autocrat from the former grass landing area at the southern end of the airfield and a temporary clubhouse was installed in the old wartime control tower. This website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. 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. This book tells the story of the aerodrome of raf kenley from 1917 until the end of 1940. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to ww2 you may have at home. Buy cambridgeshire airfields in the second world war reprint by graham smith isbn. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. Bomber command, as well as squadron and station operational record books orbs. Welcome to forces reunited the place where you can find information and friends from raf oakington we are the largest and fastest growing community of uk forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members. If you would like to send us a present, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
Airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression. Buy cambridgeshire airfields in the second world war reprint by smith, graham isbn. X9752 214sqn crashed 1m sw of oakington, engine cut on ferry flight and crashed in forced landing. Below you will find the history of hornchurch aerodrome through the years. This title offers an account of the countys 28 airfields during the last war, including duxford, oakington.
Flying started from the site in 1941 as raf edgehill. 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. The 1st of september 2019 is the wartime memories projects 20th birthday. British aviation archaeological council research topics.
Raf oakington in the second world war 19391945 the. Great common farm in the west and highfield farm in the east were eventually taken over for the airfield which was not completed until the winter of 194142 although it is reported to have been used by oakington during the summer of 1941. The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 01092011. The royal air force in cambridgeshire, part one the histories of raf oakington and raf bourn by john f. Oakington airfield was the original home of the short stirling, the first fourengined heavy bomber to enter service, as well as other aircraft such as blenheims, wellingtons, stirlings, lancasters, and mosquitoes. Book of 1086, and continued to exist for many centuries.
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. Today the control tower is now a house and some other airfield buildings remain. E of b1050, n of a604 and oakington village, 5nm nw of cambridge. Harrison sherwood, 85, is not happy that airfield road between longstanton and oakington is now closed image. The airfield officially opened in august 1938 and within days had its first residents, no. I live fairly nearby, and thanks for the data on the pru. Schofield conyers nesbit arctic airmen 2005 p ward airfield focus booklet. Grif has just landed a flight control job as did bettys dad who sends air mail. This section is about the study and conservation of modern military airfields. Listed as hochinton in the domesday book of 1086, the name oakington means estate of a man called hocca. Originally built as an raf bomber command station 194142. Search the history of over 429 billion web pages on the. On 26th october 1996 at all saints church, longstanton in.
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