| RAF Welford USAAF Station AAF-474  .svg)  | |||||||||||
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| Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) | |||||||||||
| NearWelford, Berkshire in England | |||||||||||
 RAF Welford | |||||||||||
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| Site information | |||||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||||
| Code | WF | ||||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force (1943,1945–1948,1995-present) United States Army Air Forces (1943–1945) United States Air Force (1955—present) | ||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||
  RAF Welford Shown within Berkshire | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°28′06″N001°24′13″W / 51.46833°N 1.40361°W /51.46833; -1.40361 | ||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||
| Built | 1943 (1943) | ||||||||||
| In use | 1943–1948, 1955—present | ||||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||||
| Garrison | 420th Munitions Squadron | ||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||
| Elevation | 147 metres (482 ft)AMSL | ||||||||||
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Royal Air Force Welford or more simplyRAF Welford is an activeRoyal Air Forcestation inBerkshire, England.[1] The station is located approximately 6 miles (10 km) northwest ofNewbury, and about 50 miles (80 km) west ofLondon
Opened in 1943, it was used during theSecond World War by both the Royal Air Force andUnited States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a transport airfield. After the war it was closed in 1946 and placed in reserve status. As a result of theCold War, the station was reopened in 1955 as a munitions depot by theUnited States Air Force.
Today it is one of the largestammunition compounds for the United States Air Force in Western Europe for heavymunitions.[2]
RAF Welford is located inWest Berkshire with a dedicated but rarely usedaccess road leading to the station from the eastboundM4 motorway halfway between junctions 13 (A34, Newbury) and 14 (A338, Hungerford).[3] The access road from the M4 is signposted "Works Unit Only". The 1 mile marker sign has the distinctivered border of a defence establishment.[3][4]
In October 1943 the airfield was allocated toNinth Air Force IX Troop Carrier Command (TCC). While under USAAF control, Welford was known asUSAAF Station AAF-474.[5]
The315th Troop Carrier Group arrived at Welford on 6 November 1943 fromRAF Aldermaston flying C-47s and C-53s. Its squadrons and fuselage codes were:[6]
The 315th TCG was part of the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing. On 7 February 1944 the group was transferred toRAF Spanhoe.[6]
As part of theIX Troop Carrier Command's desire to have its C-47 groups commence training with paratroops of the101st Airborne Division deployed in theSalisbury Plain area, the squadrons of the435th Troop Carrier Group arrived at Welford on 25 January 1944 fromRAF Langar flying C-47s and C-53s. Its squadrons and fuselage codes were:[7]
The 435th TCG was assigned to the53d Troop Carrier Wing. In early February 1945 the group was moved to an Advanced Landing Ground at Breigny France (A-48).[7]
After being placed on a care and maintenance basis after the war, the station re-opened as the home of the 7531st Ammunition Squadron in September 1955.[8]During April 1995 the base was handed back to the RAF, only for it to be returned to USAF control.[9] In 2009 USAF staffing at Welford was reduced as part of USAF-wide budgetary adjustments.[10][11] The munitions base's function is described as "at its busiest when the US government deploys bombers to a forward air station at RAF Fairford".[12] The bombers at RAF Fairford can include B-1, B-2 and B-52.[13][14]
In May 2019, the USAF moved 450,000 pounds (200 tonnes) of explosives to RAF Welford, then the second largest ammunition store inUnited States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE).[15]
On 31 March 1944, at 5.00am aLancaster DV290, after returning from a flight toNuremberg, Germany as part of anAirborne Cigar (ABC),electronic countermeasure mission, crashed on the airfield killing all eight occupants. A report says, "on their way back to Welford Airfield and having not responded to any air traffic controller's calls, [they] were considered the enemy. The runway lights were turned off and in the darkness the plane crashed on landing killing all on board".[16] The aircraft had also sustained, "severe battle damage".[17] The crew of this aircraft included an eighth airman - a German speaking radio-operator - who broadcastradio interference matching the German night-fighter, radio frequencies and also transmitted messages to send the fighters in different directions to clear a path for the Lancaster bombers.[16] An annual memorial service is held at the airbase to remember those airmen.[18][19]
Welford is now under the command of the420th Munitions Squadron, and comes under the command of the501st Combat Support Wing, with headquarters atRAF Fairford, which provides support to the Geographically Separated Units (GSUs) in the United Kingdom.[20]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
RAF Welford has reached a steady state following a similar transformation process last year. Now aligned under the 422 ABG, its future is secure.
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Part of theUnited States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) | |||||||||||||||
