Dunkeswell Aerodrome | |||||||||||||||
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 Aerial photograph of Dunkeswell airfield, 22 April 1944 | |||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Air Westward Co. Ltd. | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Dunkeswell,Honiton | ||||||||||||||
| In use | 1943-54 (Military) | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 839 ft / 256 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 50°51′36″N003°14′05″W / 50.86000°N 3.23472°W /50.86000; -3.23472 | ||||||||||||||
| Website | www.dunkeswell.co.uk/ | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  EGTU Location in Devon | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Sources: UKAIP atNATS[1] | |||||||||||||||
Dunkeswell Aerodrome (ICAO:EGTU) is anairfield in EastDevon,England. It is located approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) north of the town ofHoniton and 14nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) northeast[1] ofExeter. It is a busy civilian airfield with a mix oflight aircraft,microlights and occasionallywing walking. It used to offer skydiving opportunities with Skydive.buzz but they were forced into mandatoryadministration following the death of two individuals in a tandem skydiving accident where the parachute failed to open correctly.[2]
Nearby (1 NM (1.9 km; 1.2 mi)) to the southwest is North Hill, an airstrip run by the localgliding club.
Dunkeswell Aerodrome has aCAA Ordinary Licence (Number P674) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Air Westward Limited). The aerodrome is not licensed for night use.[3]
Dunkeswell Airfield Heritage Centre, is situated to one side of the large propeller memorial.
Dunkeswell Airfield was built between1942 &1943 byGeorge Wimpey and Co,[4] and opened in1943 during theSecond World War, asRAF Dunkeswell. The station was originally planned as aNo. 10 Group,RAF Fighter Command, then aNo. 19 GroupRAF Coastal Command airfield, but was transferred for use by American units.[5]
It was first used by the AmericanUnited States Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command,479th Antisubmarine Group, as a base of operations to fly antisubmarine missions over theBay of Biscay using specialisedConsolidated B-24 Liberator bombers from August until November 1943.[6][7][8]
In November, the United States Army Air Forces turned over the antisubmarine mission to theUnited States Navy and its Liberators were reassigned to Navy Patrol Bomber SquadronVPB-103, Fleet Air Wing 7, which continued aerial antisubmarine operations from the station, the AAF aircraft being redesignated under the USN/USMC system of the time asPB4Y-1 Liberators. This was the first United States Navy unit to train with the RAF, later followed by VB-105 and VB-110. The Naval antisubmarine squadrons moved toRAF Upottery in November 1944.[5][9][10]
With the departure of the Americans, the RAF used the airfield from August 1945 to April 1946 for ferrying aircraft to theMiddle East byNo. 16 Ferry Unit RAF, RAF Transport Command. After September 1946, the station was put on care and maintenance status until the end of 1948, when it was sold by the Ministry of Defence.[5]
The following units were here at some point:[11]
On 13 June 2025, a male skydiving instructor and a female participant were killed in a tandem skydiving accident at the airfield.[16]
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