UK RFC AREODROMES

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

A LIST OF UK RFC AERODROMES


ACTON
AINTREE RACECOURSE
ALDEBURGH
ALDERGROVE
ALLHALLOWS (Sheerness)
ALLOA
ALNWICK (Rennington)
ANDOVER (Weyhill)
ANGLESEY (Llangfni)
ANWICK (Sleaford)
APPLETON WISKE
ARLINGTON (Hailsham)
ASCOT RACECOURSE
ASHINGTON
ATHLONE
ATWICK
AULDBAR (Montrose)
AYR
BACTON
BAINTON
BALDONNEL
BALHALL
BALLYCASTLE
BALLYLIFFAN
BALLYWALTER
BALTA SOUND
BANGOR
BARKING (Creekmouth)
BARKING
BARLOW (Selby)
BARMBY (Pocklington)
BARROW-IN-FURNESS (Cavendish Dock)
BARROW-IN-FURNESS (Walney Island)
BARRY
BATTERSEA PARK
BEACON HILL (Morpeth)
BEAULIEU (East Boldre)
BEAUMONT
BEDDINGTON see CROYDON
BEDFIELD
BEDFORD (Cardington)
BEKESBOURNE
BELHAVEN SANDS
BELLASIZE
BEMBRIDGE
BENTON
BEREHAVEN (Bearhaven)
BERRY HEAD
BEVERLEY
BEXWELL
BICESTER
BIGGIN HILL
BIGGLESWADE
BIRCHAM NEWTON
BIRMINGHAM (Adderley Park)
BIRMINGHAM (Northfields/Longbridge)
BIRR
BISHOPS HATFIELD
BISHOPTON
BLACKBOYS (Uckfield)
BLACKHEATH COMMON
BLACKPOOL SANDS
BLASTON (Uppingham)
BLYBOROUGH
BOGTON
BOSCOMBE DOWN (Red House Farm)
BOURNES GREEN
BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE (Cockshot Point)
BRACEBRIDGE HEATH (Robey’s Aerodrome)
BRACEBY
BRADING
BRAINTREE
BRAMPTON
BRANCROFT
BRENTINGBY (Melton Mowbray)
BRIGMERSTON DOWN
BRISTOL (Filton)
BROAD SALTS
BROCKWORTH
BROOKLANDS
BROOM (Hagley)
BROOMFIELD (Chelmsford)
BROOMFIELD (Herne Bay)
BROOMHILL (Wombwell)
BROUGH
BROUGHTY FERRY
BROXTED
BUCKMINSTER
BUCKNALL (Horncastle)
BUDE
BUNCRANA (Lough Swilly)
BURGH CASTLE
BURNHAM ON CROUCH
BURTON-ON-THE-WOLDS (Loughborough)
BURY (Ramsey)
BURY ST EDMUNDS
BUTLEY
CAIRNCROSS (Reston)
CALDALE
CALSHOT
CAPEL (Capel-le-Ferne/Folkestone)
CARLIN NOSE
CARLTON
CARMUNNOCK (Cathcart)
CASTLEBAR
CASTLE BROMWICH
CASTLE DONNINGTON
CATFIRTH
CATLEY HILL (Trimdon)
CATTERICK
CATTEWATER (Batten Camp)
CHASETOWN (Lichfield)
CHATHILL
CHATTIS HILL
CHEDDINGTON
CHELMSFORD (Writtle)
CHESSINGTON
CHICHESTER
CHICKERELL (Weymouth)
CHINGFORD
CLACTON
CLEADON
CLIFF END
CLIPSTON (Market Harborough)
COAL ASTON
COBNOR
COCKTHORNE (Market Rasen)
COLINTON
COLLINSTOWN
COPMANTHORPE
COTTENHAM
COTTON
COVEHITHE
COVENTRY (Radford)
COWES EAST
COWES WEST
CRAIL
CRAMLINGTON (aerodrome)
CRAMLINGTON (airship station)
CRANWELL (HMS Daedalus)
CRAWLEY
CRICKLEWOOD
CROMARTY
CROYDON (Beddington)
CURRAGH (the Curragh/Curragh Camp)
CURROCK HILL
CUXWOLD (Caistor)
DALMUIR
DELNY HOUSE
DETLING
DIDSBURY (Manchester/Alexandra Park)
DONCASTER
DONIBRISTLE
DOVER (Swingate Down/St Margaret’s)
DOVER (Guston Road)
DOVER (Dover Harbour/Marine Parade)
DUNDEE (Stannergate)
DUNKESWICK
DUXFORD
DYMCHURCH (Hythe)
DYMCHURCH (Redoubt)
EARLS FARM DOWN
EARNLEY
EARSHAM
EASINGTON (Seaham Harbour)
EASTBOURNE (The Crumbles)
EASTBOURNE (St Anthony’s Hill)
EASTBURN (Driffield)
EASTCHURCH (HMS Pembroke)
EAST FORTUNE
EAST HANNINGFIELD
EAST HESLERTON
EASTHORPE
EASTLEIGH
EASTON-ON-THE-HILL
EAST RETFORD
ECCLESFIELD
ECCLES TOFTS
EDGWARE
EDZELL
ELMSWELL
ELSHAM
ENFIELD
EYNSFORD
FAIRLOP
FARNBOROUGH
FARNINGHAM
FARSLEY
FELIXSTOWE (Landguard Common)
FELIXSTOWE
FELTHAM
FELTWELL
FERMOY
FILEY
FINEDON
FISHGUARD
FLAMBOROUGH
FLITWICK
FLOOKBURGH
FORD JUNCTION (Yapton)
FORELAND (New Bembridge)
FORT GEORGE
FOWLMERE
FREETHORPE
FREISTON
FRETTENHAM
FRINSTED (Harrietsham)
FYFIELD (Ongar)
GAINSBOROUGH
GIFFORD (Townhead/Gifford)
GILLING (New Malton)
GILMERTON (Edinburgh)
GODMERSHAM PARK
GOLDHANGER
GOLDINGTON (Bedford)
GOODERSTONE (Warren Farm)
GORING-BY-SEA
GORMANSTON
GOSBERTON (Spalding)
GOSFORTH (Newcastle/Duke’s Moor)
GOSFORTH PARK
GOSPORT (Fort Grange and Fort Rowner)
GOSPORT (Marine)
GOXHILL GRAIN and PORT VICTORIA (Isle of Grain)
GRANTON
GREAT BARR (Walsall)
GREENLAND TOP (Stallingborough)
GROVE PARK
GUILTON (Ash)
GULLANE (West Fenton)
HACKNEY MARSHES
HADLEIGH
HAINAULT FARM (Romford)
HALTON (Wendover)
HAMBLE
HANSLOPE
HARLAXTON
HARLING ROAD (Roudham)
HARPSWELL
HARTY
HAWKINGE (Folkestone)
HAYES
HEATON CHAPEL
HEDON
HELENSBURGH
HELPERBY
HENDON
HENLOW
HERTFORD (Ware)
HICKLING BROAD
HIGH WYCOMBE
HILSEA
HOLT
HOLY ISLAND
HOOE
HOOTON PARK
HOPRIG MAINS
HORNDEAN
HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL (Woodcock Field)
HORNSEA MERE
HORSEGATE
HORSEHEATH
HOUNSLOW
HOUTON BAY
HOWDEN
HUCKNALL
HUNTON (Maidstone)
HURLINGHAM
HURST PARK
HYDE PARK (Marble Arch)
HYDE PARK (Rotten Row)
HYLTON (Usworth)
HYTHE
HYTHE (Southampton Water)
IMMINGHAM
INCHINNAN
INVERKEITHING BAY
JOYCE GREEN
KELSTERN (Louth)
KENLEY COMMON
KENNINGTON OVAL
KENSINGTON GARDENS
KETTLENESS
KILCONQUAR
KILLARNEY
KILLEAGH
KILLINGHOLME
KINCAIRN
KINGSBURY (Church Lane)
KINGSBURY (Grove Park)
KINGS CLIFFE (Peterborough)
KINGS HEATH
KINGS HILL (West Malling)
KINGS LYNN
KINGNORTH (Hoo/Chatham)
KINGSWINFORD (Dudley)
KINSON
KIRKLEATHAM (Redcar)
KIRKWALL BAY
KIRTON LINDSEY (Manton)
KNAVESMIRE
KNOWLE (Widney Manor)
LAIRA
LAKE DOWN
LARKHILL
LARNE (White Head)
LAVENDON
LEADENHAM
LEAGRAVE
LEEDS (Roundhay Park)
LEEDS (Sherburn-in-Elmet)
LEE-ON-SOLENT
LEIGH GREEN (Tenterden)
LEIGHTERTON (Bowldown Farm)
LERWICK (Grimista)
LEUCHARS JUNCTION
LEVEN
LEVINGTON
LEYSDOWN
LIDSING (Chatham)
LILBOURNE
LINCOLN (Handley-Page Field)
LINCOLN (West Common Racecourse)
LITCHBOROUGH
LITTLE DOWNHAM (Ely)
LITTLE STAUGHTON (Bedford)
LOCH DOON I
LOCH DOON II
LOCH DOON III (Portmark)
LONDON COLNEY
LONGHORSLEY
LONGSIDE (Peterhead/Lenabo)
LOPCOMBE CORNER
LOUGHBOROUGH MEADOWS
LOUGH FOYLE
LOUGH NEAGH
LOUGHTON
LOWER BEEDING (Horsham)
LOWESTOFT
LOWTHORPE
LUCAN
LUCE BAY
LULLINGTON (Burton on Trent)
LYDD CAMP
LYDD
LYDD (Dering Farm)
LYMPNE
LYMPNE (Hythe)
LYTHAM
MACHRIHANISH
MALAHIDE
MALDON
MANCHESTER (Burnage)
MANCHESTER (Miles Platting)
MANCHESTER (Trafford Park)
MANSTON (Manstone)
MANYWELLS HEIGHT (Cullingworth)
MARDEN
MARHAM
MARKET DEEPING
MARSHAM
MARSKE
MARTLESHAM HEATH
MATTISHALL
MENTHORPE GATE (North Duffield)
MERIDEN
MERIFIELD (Tor Point)
METHILL
METHWOLD
MIDDLETON
MIDDLETON-ON-SEA SANDS
MIDDLETON-ON-SEA
MILFORD HAVEN
MINCHINHAMPTON
MONTROSE (Broomfield)
MONTROSE (Upper Dysart)
MOORBY (Horncastle)
MORETON (Dorchester)
MOULTON
MOUNTNESSING
MULLION
MURTON
NARBOROUGH
NETHERAVON
NEW BEMBRIDGE see FORELAND
NEWCASTLE (Gosforth/Town Moor)
NEWCHAPEL (East Grinstead)
NEW HAGGERSTON
NEWHAVEN
NEW HOLLAND
NEWLYN (Penzance)
NEWMARKET
NEW ROMNEY
NIGG
NORTH COATES FITTIES
NORTHAM
NORTH ELMHAM
NORTH OCKENDON
NORTHOLT
NORTH QUEENSFERRY
NORTH SHOTWICK
NORTH WEALD BASSETT
NORTH WEMBLEY
NORWICH (Aylsham Road)
NORWICH (Mousehold Heath)
OLDHAM (Chadderton)
OLD HETON (Cornhill)
OLD ROMNEY
OLD SARUM (Ford Farm)
OLD WESTON
OMAGH
ORANMORE
ORFORDNESS
ORSETT
ORTON
OWTHORNE
PADSTOW (Trevose Head)
PALMERS FARM (Shenfield)
PAPPLEWICK MOOR
PECKLETON
PEMBROKE
PENSHURST (Chiddingstone Causeway)
PENSTON
PERTON (Wolverhampton)
PETERHEAD BAY
PETT (Hastings)
PHOENIX AERODROME
PLOUGH CORNER
PLUCKLEY
PLUMSTEAD MARSHES
PLUNGAR
POLEGATE
PONTEFRACT RACECOURSE
PONTELAND (High West House)
PORTHOLME MEADOW
PORT LAING
PORTLAND HARBOUR
PORT MEADOW (Oxford)
PORTH MELLON
PRAWLE POINT
PULHAM ST MARY
PUTNEY HEATH
QUEENSTOWN (Cobh)
QUEENBOROUGH
QUENIBOROUGH
RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT
RAMSEY
RAPLOCH (Stirling)
RATHMULLEN
REDCAR
REDMIRES
REGENT’S PARK
RENDCOMB
RENFREW
RENNINGTON (Stamford/Alnwick)
RICHMOND PARK (Beverley Brook)
RICHMOND PARK (Kingston Hill)
RINGMER
RIPON
ROCHESTER
ROCHFORD
ROEHAMPTON
ROLLESTONE CAMP (Larkhill)
ROSTON
ROSYTH
RUDDINGTON
RUNWELL
RUSTINGTON
RYE
SADBERGE
ST ANDREWS SANDS
ST PETER PORT (Guernsey)
SAWBRIDGEWORTH
SAXTHORPE
SCALBY MILLS
SCALE HALL
SCALFORD (Melton Mowbray)
SCAMPTON (Brattleby)
SCAPA
SCARBOROUGH
SCOPWICK
SCOULTON
SEAHOUSES (Elford)
SEATON CAREW I
SEATON CAREW II
SEDGEFORD
SHAWBURY
SHEERNESS I
SHEERNESS II
SHIPTON
SHOOTERS HILL
SHOREHAM
SHOTLEY
SHREWSBURY (Monkmoor)
SIBLE HEDINGHAM
SKATERAW (Innerwick)
SKEGNESS
SLINDON
SMETHWICK
SMOOGROO
SNIPE HOUSE (Alnwick)
SOLE STREET (Crundale)
SOLWAY HOUSE
SOUTH ASH (Wrotham)
SOUTH BELTON (Dunbar)
SOUTHBOURNE (Emsworth)
SOUTH CARLTON
SOUTH CAVE
SOUTHFIELDS (Acklington)
SOUTH KILDUFF (Kinross)
SOUTH OTTERINGTON
SOUTHPORT
SOUTH SHIELDS
SOUTH SHOTWICK (Chester/Queensferry)
SPENNYMOOR
SPITTLEGATE
SPORLE
STANNINGTON
STANSTEAD ABBOTTS
STANTON-BY-DALE
STENNES
STONEGATE (Ticehurst)
STONEHENGE
STOW MARIES
STRATHBEG
STRETTON-UNDER-FOSSE (Rugby)
STUTTON
SUTTON’S FARM
SWINGFIELD
SWINSTEAD (Grimsthorpe)
TADCASTER (Bramham Moor)
TALLAGHT (Cookstown)
TANGMERE
TAVERHAM
TELSCOMBE CLIFFS (Newhaven)
TERNHILL
THAKEHAM (Billinghurst)
THAXTED
THE MALL
THERFIELD
THETFORD
THIRSK RACECOURSE
THORNE
THORNABY (Yarm)
THRAPSTON
THROWLEY
THURGARTON
THURSO
TIBENHAM
TILSHEAD
TINWALD DOWN FARM
TIPNER
TOLLER (Bridport)
TOLLERTON
TORQUAY
TOTTENHILL
TRESCO (Abbey Wood)
TRESCO
TRIMLEY
TURNBERRY
TURNHOUSE
TYNEHEAD
TYNEMOUTH (Cullercoats)
UPAVON
UPPER HEYFORD
UPTON
UPWOOD (Bury/Ramsey)
WADDINGTON
WADDON (Croydon)
WAKEFIELD
WALMER
WATERLOO SANDS
WELHAM
WELTON
WEST AYTON (Scarborough)
WESTGATE (Mutrix Farm)
WESTGATE (St Mildred’s Bay)
WESTON-ON-THE-GREEN
WESTPOLE FARM
WESTRAY (Pierowall)
WEST RUDHAM
WEST TOWN MOOR (Hylton)
WESTWARD HO !
WEXFORD (Johnstown Castle)
WEXFORD HARBOUR
WHIDDY ISLAND
WHITEBURN
WHITLEY ABBEY
WHITLEY BAY
WIGHT (Cowes/Sommerton)
WIGSLEY
WILLIAN (Hitchin)
WILLOUGHBY HILLS
WIMBLEDON COMMON
WINDERMERE (Hill of Oaks)
WINN MOOR (Seacroft)
WINTERTON (Roxby)
WINTON (Talbot Village)
WITNEY
WITTERING (Stamford)
WITTERSHAM
WOLVERHAMPTON
WOODBRIDGE
WOODCOCK FIELD see HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL
WOODFORD GREEN
WOODHAVEN
WOOLSTON
WORMINGFORD
WORMWOOD SCRUBS (HMS President)
WORTHY DOWN
WYE
WYTON
YARMOUTH
YATE
YATESBURY
YELLING
YEOVIL

[gully_raker]

Holy Toledo! I had no idea there were so many.

[Naharaht]

That is quite a list! I think that it includes RNAS stations in addition to RFC because I know that the one at Yarmouth was RNAS.

[flash]

The Eastbourne Aviation Company was established by Major Bernard Fowler in 1909 on land between Eastbourne and Pevensey Bay. During the war they built Avro 504.
His original airfield lies under the present day industrial estate below St Anthony's Mount. In nearby Leeds Avenue an original Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) guardhouse is the sole surviving building from this enterprise, and is now converted to a bungalow.
A seaplane factory was also constructed on the Crumbles shingle beach where the Sovereign Centre swimming pool now stands, so not an airfield as such, more a launching point !

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Good grief man! I have only been to nine of those, and one of those was for a cricket match. The worrying thing is the number I have visited without even knowing there had been a Drome there at all. I will never get round all that lot in my lifetime.
Rob.

[LingSter]

it would be nice to see if we could get a list of what still exists.... aside from Stow Maries......

Also, where they are located... (especially for my mapping potentials)

[Flying Officer Kyte]

it would be nice to see if we could get a list of what still exists.... aside from Stow Maries......

Also, where they are located... (especially for my mapping potentials)

Never stick your head above the parapet John.
It's a good job Kyte's out of the office just now, otherwise you would have got the job.
Rob.

[flash]

This list may not be all the sites but apparently includes flying sites in the UK and Ireland, plus one in the Channel Islands. The sites include manufacturers' aerodromes, balloon/airship stations and landing grounds, as well as aerodromes and seaplane stations.
ARLINGTON (Hailsham) aka Wilmington, EASTBOURNE (The Crumbles - seaplane), EASTBOURNE (St Anthony’s Hill), PADSTOW (Trevose Head - no it wasn't!), POLEGATE (Airships), TELSCOMBE CLIFFS (Newhaven), BLACKBOYS (Uckfield) no longer exist, RINGMER is now a glider airfield if it's the same one, SHOREHAM is a well known civilian field. Some will be better known airfields still in use by RAF or disused eg SCAMPTON (home of the Red Arrows), TANGMERE, BIGGIN HILL of BoB fame; HENDON is the RAF museum.

Have a look here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Flying_Corps and here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_F...orps_airfields to find links, locations and current usage of some of those listed.
This site might help most - it's the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust site & you should find all the sites listed with current mapping.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thank you for your timely input Squadron Leader.
Kyte.

[guthroth]

As a lad we lived backing on to the area occupied by Hounslow aerodrome. It became civil airport for a couple of years after the war ended, before civil flights moved to Croydon.

We also spent a lot of time on the area occupied by Hanworth Air Park which, in 1917, was officially designated an Aircraft Acceptance Park, a location where aircraft were finally assembled and tested before delivery to RFC squadrons.

Both still have large open spaces, and there used to be a plaque at Hounslow celebrating the first London-Paris commercial flight.

['Warspite']

Sedgeford is near me and still has remains. It is now used for archaeological training as part of SHARP, the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/photo_ga...past_1_1455042

Bircham Newton is also near me but - in my back garden - I have a 40-foot long ex-RFC, ex-RAF wooden building. It was formerly the isolation ward of RFC/RAF Bircham Newton during WW1 but was moved to next to my home (Docking) in WW2 to function as a WVS Forces' tea bar for RAF personnel living in Docking Hall. Actors Richard Burton, Robert Hardy and Warren Mitchell, footballer Danny Blancheflower and author James Herriot have all had tea in my hut. Richard Burton had his bicycle stolen just up the road from me and recovered by the village bobby.

It was later a scout and girl guides' hall before becoming redundant and being moved into my garden to serve as a builder's or fisherman's workshop. Currently one end is being used as a workshop, the other end is just storage but I hope to clear it out and renovate it in due course to play Wings of Glory INSIDE a former WW1 RFC building.

['Warspite']

Sutton's Farm became RAF Hornchurch. At some time in its early days it was commanded by Colonel Christie, the then husband of author Agatha Christie. It was much bombed during the Battle of Britain and UXBs still turn up regularly.

Hainault Farm was later RAF Fairlop and was a satellite field of North Weald. When I cycled past there in the 1970s you could still see the RAF dispersal bays. These were later cleared during gravel digging. There were actually two airfields at Hainault Farm, by all accounts the RNAS were on one side of the road, the RFC were on the other. Author Cecil Day Lewis fly Sopwith Camel night fighters out of there 1917/18.

Your list may not be complete as some early UK airfields were very transient and may have only operated for a few months out of tents or local buildings before better sites were found.

[grumpybear]

Cross & Cockade this year have inculed maps of flying sites in the UK and Ireland 1912 - 1920

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Currently one end is being used as a workshop, the other end is just storage but I hope to clear it out and renovate it in due course to play Wings of Glory INSIDE a former WW1 RFC building.

What we would all give to have one of those in our back garden Barry.
Rob.

['Warspite']

What we would all give to have one of those in our back garden Barry.
Rob.

I would not necessarily say it was the prime reason for buying this house but it did 'bulk large' in my list of priorities.

1) Roof
2) Walls
3) Toilet
4) ex-RFC building in back garden which I can play war-games in.
5) former garage which I can play war-games in.
6) fourth bedroom, sorry war-games room, which I can war-game in when it is cold!

[csadn]

6) fourth bedroom, sorry war-games room, which I can war-game in when it is cold!

Because we all know what happens if one tries to bring a space-heater around all the booze _WoG_ players drink:



>;)

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Who mentioned fire? I hope you are going to pick up my new therapy bills Chris.
Kyte.

[Boney10]

I live a couple of miles from Filton airfield. Although it is now officially closed .
Still has a Concorde parked up and RR and Airbus still about but no flying it seems, most likely be a housing estate soon

[Flying Helmut]

I'm a mile or so from RAF Northolt, still an operating military aerodrome.
They do accommodate school visits, but I'm trying to get in WITHOUT any children in tow!

They have a very nice 303 Squadron Hurricane on a 'flying mount' at the main gate, and the Polish War Memorial is just a half mile or so down the road.

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Ashington: Now an open caste.
Cramlington: A huge land sculpture called Northumbriana!
Morpeth: A car boot sale.
Acklington: A prison.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Now we are getting into the minutia of airfields, do you think this would be more appropriate on the U.K. Forum Neil?
Rob.

[Jager]

Nah, it's good here, so us Yanks can see it too.
Karl

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

I think if we should leave it here. Possibly have a format for adding information so all posts are laid out the same.

And if possible make it alphabetical but that would take someone to administer the thread each time someone adds details of an airfield.

Dunno, just thinking out loud and writing as I thunk it.

Neil, thunking away.

Now we are getting into the minutia of airfields, do you think this would be more appropriate on the U.K. Forum Neil?
Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks Neil.We will leave it alone then.
Rob.

[johnbiggles]

Castle Donnington, actually Castle Donington is now East Midlands Airport
In WWI it was a grass strip for emergency landings from nearby training fields. The village museum has some pictures showing a Be2 crashed, awaiting recovery, and a Farman, though which type I can't quite make out
In WWII it was a Ministry of Transport and Supply strip, also used as an emergency field, and briefly a satelite training field for conversion to Wellington bombers.

[OldGuy59]

I'm a mile or so from RAF Northolt, still an operating military aerodrome.
They do accommodate school visits, but I'm trying to get in WITHOUT any children in tow!

They have a very nice 303 Squadron Hurricane on a 'flying mount' at the main gate, and the Polish War Memorial is just a half mile or so down the road.

Also, the location of No. 1 Squadron RCAF, flying Hurries during the Battle of Britain! Got to visit one day! Probably rolled past it in 1987, on a tour bus, unknowingly.

PS: Well, as best I can figure, the closest I've been to RAF Northolt was the M4, or Heathrow, depending on the route of the tour bus (central London to Stonehenge and Bath), or the times I've flown to Europe, stopping at Heathrow.

[Naharaht]

I lived in Beverley in East Yorkshire for something like twelve years without ever hearing about a W.W.1 airbase. I have found this webpage http://www.bishopburton.org.uk/s1/in...401&Itemid=146
As a flying school, it may just have been some tents near a grass airfield. The horse racing track is still there.
There was an R.A.F. base nearby at Leconfield during and after W.W.2., which is now used as an Army Driving School, although there were some Air-Sea Rescue helicopters based there until 1st April 2015.

[Tonx]

RAF Northolt is currently the military air cartography capital of Britain. But also still operational as an airfield - biggest aircraft I have ever seen flying into there was a USAF C-9A (military version of the DC-9-32) transport and that sighting was dated 16th July 1991. Not sure if anything of the MoD Royal Flight (or what once was the RAF Royal Flight) still operates into and out of there. Other than that the Army Air Corps small fleet of Britten Norman Islander CC Mk 1s and the London HEMS (Air Ambulance) which is currently an MD902 Explorer helicopter are the only other things which frequent RAF Northolt these days.

I remember the Polish War Memorial road junction on the A40(M) or Western Avenue as it was once known very well. Not been near Northolt since 2008 when the last of my family's members to live there moved away ...

[Tonx]

One more to add quickly - Doncaster. Now the home of the South Yorkshire Aviation Museum with many original buildings preserved intact as part of the museum. Those attending this year's DONCASTER 2015 event will find themselves on this very airfield which is still landable by helicopter under Visual Flight Rules / VFR weather conditions.

Note: Not to be confused with RAF Finningley which is nearby and the current site of Doncaster Robin Hood International Airport. Though many including myself persist in referring to this airfield as RAF Finningley!

[Klunk]

Im based at RAF Wyton. This station has had an illustrious history as a training establishment before and during WW1, as part of the Pathfinder force during WW2, to a base for the Canberra photo reconnaissance aircraft (when they stopped crashing) to present day as a Joint Forces site housing Europes largest intelligence unit.

The area around Wyton has been associated with aviation since 1912 with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) arriving in 1916. When the Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed Wyton continued to train units for overseas operations as it had done previously for the RFC.

On 1st April 1918 the Royal Air Force was formed and Wyton continued to train units for overseas operations as it had done previously for the Royal Flying Corps.

Several aviation milestones have been recorded from Royal Air Force Wyton. The first sortie of WW2 took off from here as well as the first aircraft of the 1000 bomber raids on Germany. The legendary Pathfinder Force was formed here and Wyton aircraft took part in the last Bomber Command raid on Germany. 1981 marked the retirement from Wyton of the Royal Air Force’s last serving Spitfire Pilot.

In March 1937 the first Blenheim Squadron was formed at Wyton and Empire Day of the same year saw an air display being held on the station.

The Pathfinder Force was created on August 15th 1942 and was composed of units stationed at Oakington, Graveley, Wyton and Warboys. Wyton was situated in the middle of the stations and was chosen to be the headquarters. The role of the Pathfinder Force was to find and mark targets as best they could. The actual end of the war brought no immediate let up in pace for the Station and aircraft crews. It was realised that a stripped down Lancaster could carry 22 men and the aircraft were used to re-patriate prisoners of war. Between 7 - 9 May 1945, Pathfinders carried 2,858 men home. In August 1945 the Pathfinder Force disbanded, Wyton was left without operational aircraft.

Throughout 1951 and 1952 Wyton was used as a transit base for American B-50 bombers. In January 1953 the first Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRUs) arrived, initially with Mosquito, Meteor and Lancaster aircraft; however, re-equipment soon took place with the new PR version of the Canberra.

In 1955, the Freedom of Huntingdon was granted to the Station. The occasion, on 7th September, coincided with the 750th anniversary of the granting of the Charter to the town and was marked by a ceremony in the Market Square, a church service, parade and flypast.

The Seventies were a time of change for Wyton. In 1971 the first Nimrod aircraft arrived. In April 1975 the last of the Victor aircraft departed. In 1977 tragedy struck when a Canberra crashed into the Oxmoor Estate in Huntingdon killing the crew and 3 civilians. Throughout the next 2 decades Canberra units came and went with the final squadron, No 39 (1 PRU), leaving in November 1993.

In April 1994 Wyton ceased to be an independent unit and was merged with RAF Brampton and came under the control of Headquarters Logistics Command (HQLC). In October 1999, when HQLC disbanded and the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) was created, Brampton/Wyton came under the control of Headquarters Personnel & Training Command. Units of the DLO continued to occupy office accommodation at RAF Wyton. On 1 April 2007 the DLO merged with the Defence Procurement Agency to become Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and, on the same day along with the rest of the RAF, control of the Station moved to HQ Air Command.

As well as providing accommodation and support facilities to DE&S and numerous other lodger units, the Station is once again in the flying role, supporting Grob Tutors from No 2 Squadron of No 1 Elementary Flying Training School, the University of Cambridge Air Squadron, the University of London Air Squadron and No 5 Air Experience Flight. This was another first for Wyton, as it became the first station to operate the new tutor aircraft – and it marked a return to the flying training role, which is how the story began.

On 2 April 2012 RAF Wyton once again became an individual RAF Station, control of the station transfered from HQ Air Command to the newly established Joint Forces Command (JFC). The launch of JFC is a major milestone in the MOD's 'Transforming Defence' programme, considered the most significant programme of Defence reform for a generation. 2 April 2012 also marked Brampton's loss of status as an RAF Station, the site, which closed at the end of 2013, renamed Brampton Camp and now administered by RAF Wyton.

[Tonx]

Two entries from Scotland which maintain aviation connections to this day:

TURNHOUSE - Now better known as Edinburgh International Airport.

EAST FORTUNE - Still active as an airfield the bulk of the former RAF station is preserved in 'as is' condition from World War 2. Today East Fortune is home to Scotland's National Museum of Flight which is where Concorde G-BOAA has been preserved after it's most remarkable journey via land and sea to this location during 2004. Only available to light aircraft and microlight / rotary winged traffic as an airfield since the museum opened here.

[Tonx]

Three more entries which no longer maintain aviation connections:

BURTON ON THE WOLDS (Loughborough) is now the Wymeswold Industrial Estate although many airfield buildings and the cast iron water tower remain dating from WW2.

ELSHAM close to Barnetby Top (nearest big town Scunthorpe) is also now an Industrial Estate although WW2 buildings and a hangar remain there. CEVA Logistics (used to be TNT UK Logistics) operates in and out of there and the main road down the middle is officially named 'The Flarepath.'

NARBOROUGH to the south of Leicester - site occupied by M1 motorway and Narborough Golf Course.

[Guntruck]

Although not the clearest pic, this was taken at Stow Maries and shows the number of airfields in East Anglia alone.

[Tonx]

Although not the clearest pic, this was taken at Stow Maries and shows the number of airfields in East Anglia alone.

On the photo I can just about make out that a blue pin denotes an RFC airfield and yellow pins RNAS. The black-pinned locations have no prefix just place names.

Here is an interesting one: MENDLESHAM in Suffolk. Was a military airfield prior to World War 2 and does not appear on the list at the start of this thread. Until the company was taken over in 2002 the former airfield was the headquarters of Taylor Barnard Ltd which was a road haulage company although two hangars and airfield buildings dating from WW2 remained. In 2002 they were taken over by TNT UK Logistics who are now known as CEVA Logistics.

Two more from Leicestershire:

LOUGHBOROUGH MEADOWS - Leics west of Loughborough. Now believed to be allotments near Hathern on the A6.

QUENIBOROUGH - Leics east of Syston in Leicester. No trace of airfield remains at this location.

[flash]

LOUGHBOROUGH MEADOWS shows as open land off the A60 Nottingham Rd east of Loughborough on the abct site,
likewise for QUENIBOROUGH east of Syston dated '1 October 1916 - February 1918 (last known date)'. Nothing shows on the sites from the satellite view.
RAF Mendlesham / USAAF Station 156 shows up some interesting buildings around its location though - use is dated September 1943 - 1954.
Fixed the link in post #8.

[Tonx]

LOUGHBOROUGH MEADOWS shows as open land off the A60 Nottingham Rd east of Loughborough on the abct site

Thanks Dave for the slight correction - I have a friend in Loughborough who gave me this information and I queried it. So he owes me a drink as the A60 is nowhere near Hathern / the A6!!!

He's made me look a bit of a dork there so he owes me a

Thanks also for that additional information on RAF Mendlesham.

BROUGH - East Riding of Yorkshire. Still an active airfield west of (nearest big town) Hull. Currently owned and operated by BAe Systems.

HEDON - East Riding of Yorkshire. No trace of airfield at location west of Hull.

HOWDEN - East Riding of Yorkshire north of Goole which is a port on the north bank of the Humber. Believed to now be an industrial estate.

NEW HOLLAND - North Lincolnshire on south bank of Humber. Located between Scunthorpe and Grimsby. No trace of airfield at location.

OLDHAM (Chadderton) - Greater Manchester close to Moston. No trace of airfield at location.

BLYBOROUGH - North Lincolnshire south of Scunthorpe. No trace of airfield at location and nearby Hibaldstow used for parachuting / skydiving activities and by gliders.