Movatterモバイル変換

[0]ホーム
URL:

Jump to content
WikipediaThe Free Encyclopedia
Search

RAF Blakehill Farm

Coordinates:51°37′20″N1°53′20″W / 51.62222°N 1.88889°W /51.62222; -1.88889
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Former RAF airfield southwest of Cricklade in Wiltshire, England, operational 1944 - 1952

RAF Blakehill Farm
Cricklade,Wiltshire in England
Dakotas ofNo. 233 Squadron RAF lined up on the perimeter track at RAF Blakehill Farm, for an exercise with the6th Airborne Division, 20 April 1944
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Transport Command
Location
RAF Blakehill Farm is located in Wiltshire
RAF Blakehill Farm
RAF Blakehill Farm
Shown within Wiltshire
Coordinates51°37′20″N1°53′20″W / 51.62222°N 1.88889°W /51.62222; -1.88889
Site history
Built1943 (1943)
In use1944–1952 (1952)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Airfield information
Runways
DirectionLength and surface
00/00 Concrete
00/00 Concrete
00/00 Concrete
Aerial photograph of RAF Blakehill Farm, 17 July 1943. The technical and barrack sites are to the right (east) of the airfield.

Royal Air Force Blakehill Farm or more simplyRAF Blakehill Farm is a formerRoyal Air Force station southwest ofCricklade inWiltshire, England, operational between 1944 and 1952.

History

[edit]

The station was originally allocated to theUnited States Army Air ForcesNinth Air Force but not used.[1] It opened in 1944 and was home for transport aircraft ofNo. 46 GroupRAF Transport Command. In 1948 the airfield was a satellite ofRAF South Cerney, and was used by training aircraft until the airfield closed in 1952 and was returned to agricultural use. The site is now aWiltshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve.[2]

Units and aircraft

[edit]
UnitFromToAircraftVariantNotes
No. 233 Squadron RAF5 March 1948 June 1945Douglas Dakota[3]
No. 271 Squadron RAF26 February 194410 August 1945Douglas Dakota
Harrow		Detachment fromRAF Down Ampney[4]
No. 437 Squadron RCAF1 September 19447 May 1945Douglas DakotaFormed here[5]
No. 575 Squadron RAF24 November 194531 January 1946Douglas Dakota[6]
No. 22 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF19451945Waco HadrianI[7]
No. 2 Flying Training School RAF[8]
No. 109 (Transport) OTU RAF[8]
No. 1528 (Radio Aids Training) Flight RAF[8] Became No. 1555 (Radio Aids Training) Flight RAF
No. 1555 (Radio Aids Training) Flight RAF[8]

The following units were also here at some point:[8]

Post-war intelligence role

[edit]

In 1967,GCHQ set up an "experimental radio station", a secret research facility, on the site. The site was still active in some capacity until the mid-1990s,[9] and traces of the former communications mast bases can still be seen on aerial photographs.[10] The most remarkable object of the facility was a 240-foot (73 m) tall wooden lattice tower, which was one of the tallest objects in the United Kingdom built of wood. It is possible that this tower was a relic of the wartimeChain Home network, although its lattice pattern is of another type.[10] The tower was demolished on 26 January 2000.[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

  1. ^American Museum in Britain – Blakehill Farm
  2. ^"Blakehill Farm including Stoke Common Meadow, Cricklade". Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved18 May 2016.
  3. ^Jefford 1988, p. 75.
  4. ^Jefford 1988, p. 82.
  5. ^Jefford 1988, p. 92.
  6. ^Jefford 1988, p. 97.
  7. ^Lake 1999, p. 129.
  8. ^abcde"Blakehill Farm (Cricklade)".Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved2 June 2016.
  9. ^McLachlan, Richard (27 November 1998)."Cricklade Radio Site".Subterranea Britannica. Retrieved14 November 2022.
  10. ^abPovey, Vincent."The AN/FLR-9 Type Antenna".RAF Station Blakehall Farm. Retrieved14 November 2022.
  11. ^"The Radio Mast".RAF Station Blakehill Farm. Retrieved15 November 2022.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C G (1988).RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912.Shrewsbury: Airlife.ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Lake, Alan (1999).Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing.ISBN 1-84037-086-6.

External links

[edit]

Media related toRAF Blakehill Farm at Wikimedia Commons

Formations
and units
Units
Stations
Regiment
Branches and
components
Reserve forces
Equipment
Personnel
Appointments
Symbols and uniform
Associated civil
organisations
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RAF_Blakehill_Farm&oldid=1180912463"
Categories:
Hidden categories:
[8]ページ先頭
©2009-2025 Movatter.jp