 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Fowlmere Airfield | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NearRoyston,Hertfordshire in England | |||||||||
 Aerial photograph of Fowlmere airfield 31 May 1944, taken by 13th Photographic Squadron, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group | |||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
  Fowlmere Airfield Shown within Cambridgeshire | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 52°04′57″N000°03′31″E / 52.08250°N 0.05861°E /52.08250; 0.05861 | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1939 (1939)/40 | ||||||||
| In use | 1940- | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 38 metres (125 ft)AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Fowlmere Airfield (ICAO:EGMA) is a small airfield located 4.2 miles (6.8 km) northeast ofRoyston,Hertfordshire and 8.8 miles (14.2 km) southwest ofCambridge,Cambridgeshire,England. It was previously aRoyal Air Forcesatellite station,RAF Fowlmere.
Flying at Fowlmere originated in 1918 when the airfield was used byRoyal Air Force
Flying cadets of theAir Service, United States Army were trained at Fowlmere by RAF instructors, prior to their deployment to theWestern Front in France.[2] After theFirst World War ended, the hangars were all demolished along with the assorted buildings by 1923.
With the eruption of theSecond World War, Fowlmere was intended to be a satellite forRAF Fighter Command at nearbyRAF Duxford and was used by 19 Squadron withSupermarine Spitfires[3] along with:
When the airfield was turned over to the USAAF, Fowlmere was expanded to meet the requirements of a complete fighter group. The airfield was assigned USAAF designation Station 378 It was allocated to theUnited States Army Air ForcesEighth Air Force fighter command.
USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Fowlmere were:[16]
The339th Fighter Group arrived at Fowlmere from Rice AAF,California on 4 April 1944. The group was under the command of the 66th Fighter Wing of the VIII Fighter Command. Aircraft of the group were identified by a red/white chequerboard pattern.
With the departure of the Americans, Fowlmere was used briefly byNo. 11 Group RAFRAF Fighter Command until January 1946 then closed and placed into care and maintenance status. It was eventually sold back to local farmers in 1957. With the end of RAF control, the concreted areas and buildings of Fowlmere airfield were largely ground into aggregate and sold for local construction projects.
The airfield is in active use, with new management as of November 2020.[19] It is home to the British Aerobatic Academy and the Modern Air flying club. There is a grass runway 07/25, with PPR (Prior Permission Required) necessary to land.
Fowlmere Airfield Museum is on-site, open one Sunday per month.
| Formations and units |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branches and components | |||||||
| Reserve forces | |||||||
| Equipment | |||||||
| Personnel | |||||||
| Appointments | |||||||
| Symbols and uniform | |||||||
| Associated civil organisations | |||||||
