RAF Colerne | |||
---|---|---|---|
The airfield from above | |||
IATA: none – ICAO: none | |||
Summary | |||
Airport type | Military | ||
Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||
Operator | Royal Air Force | ||
Location | Colerne, Wiltshire | ||
Built | 1939 | ||
In use | 1940-Present | ||
Elevation AMSL | 581 ft / 177 m | ||
Coordinates | 51°26′28″N 002°16′57″W / 51.44111°N 2.2825°WCoordinates: 51°26′28″N 002°16′57″W / 51.44111°N 2.2825°W | ||
Map | |||
Location in Wiltshire | |||
Runways | |||
Direction | Length | Surface | |
ft | m | ||
00/00 | 0 | 0 | Asphalt |
00/00 | 0 | 0 | Asphalt |
00/00 | 0 | 0 | Asphalt |
RAF Colerne | |
---|---|
Active | 1940-Unknown |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Type | Operational Head Quarters |
Part of | No. 10 Group RAF |
Garrison/HQ | Colerne, Wiltshire, England |
RAF Colerne, now known as Colerne Airfield or AEF Colerne, is a former World War II RAF Fighter Command and Bomber Command airfield located on the outskirts of the village of Colerne, Wiltshire. The airbase is currently home to 21 Signal Regt, Royal Signals, the 93 (City of Bath) Air Training Corps detached flight and Bristol University Air Squadron, who operate the Grob Tutor in a flying training role for the RAF. BUAS recruits from several universities in the South-West and has been stationed at Colerne, alongside 3 Air Experience Flight, for many years. They fly the Air Training Corps cadets using the same aircraft as part of their flying experience they are entitled to during their time in the ATC.
History[]
Originally there had been a farm called Doncombe and a Vine Yard on the site of the airfield, the name of Doncombe Lane and Doncombe Hill being the last link to the farm.
From 1940 to 1955 RAF Fighter Command units were based here. During the Battle of Britain the airfield served as a satellite field to RAF Middle Wallop, and squadrons rotated back and forth from there on a daily basis.[1] Later it was a Training station for Night Fighter navigators. Using the latest night fighter procedures, the Squadron was 238 O.C.U. and Bristol Brigand Aircraft was used for this purpose. Also on this Squadron they had Bristol Buckmaster Aircraft for Pilot Training, and a number of Balliol Aircraft which basically was a Pilot Trainer shaped similar to the Spitfire but both the Pilot and Trainee sat side by side were used as targets for the Brigand aircraft to practice radar interceptions on.
Between 4 May 1948 and 1 March 1962 No. 49 Maintenance Unit RAF was based at the airfield.[2] After this it became a Transport Airfield, and Hastings aircraft were flown from RAF Colerne. After the demise of the Hastings and the new C-130 Hercules being introduced to the RAF Air Support Command. The Hercules were based at RAF Lyneham and for many years Major Servicing of the Hercules was carried out at RAF Colerne by the Air Engineering Squadron until the station closed in 1976. A/c No. XV198 crashed, killing all crew on board here in September 1973. It was also the home of 2 Field Squadron RAF Regiment from 1962 - 1975. For a number of years up until its closure as an RAF Station it housed one of the RAF's regional collections of historic aircraft including Neville Duke's world record breaking Hawker Hunter and a rare example of the rocket-engined Messerschmitt Me 163 B, Werknummer 191904 (since returned to Germany).
In April 1983 the entire Thickwood Estate Married Quarter houses serving RAF Colerne and located opposite Lucknam Park were purchased by The Welbeck Estate Group.
RAF units[]
- No. 19 Squadron RAF,[3] No. 24 Squadron RAF,[4] No. 29 Squadron RAF,[5] No. 36 Squadron RAF,[6] No. 74 Squadron RAF,[7] No. 87 Squadron RAF,[8] No. 89 Squadron RAF.[8]
- No. 114 Squadron RAF,[9] No. 118 Squadron RAF,[9] No. 124 Squadron RAF,[10] No. 125 Squadron RAF,[10] No. 131 Squadron RAF,[11] No. 137 Squadron RAF,[12] No. 151 Squadron RAF,[13] No. 165 Squadron RAF,[14] No. 175 Squadron RAF,[15] No. 183 Squadron RAF,[16] No. 184 Squadron RAF.[16]
- No. 219 Squadron RAF,[17] No. 245 Squadron RAF,[18] No. 256 Squadron RAF,[19] No. 263 Squadron RAF,[20] No. 264 Squadron RAF,[20] No. 285 Squadron RAF,[21] No. 286 Squadron RAF.[21]
- No. 307 Squadron RAF,[22] No. 316 Squadron RAF,[23] No. 317 Squadron RAF.[23]
- No. 402 Squadron RAF,[24] No. 406 Squadron RAF,[24] No. 410 Squadron RAF,[25] No. 417 Squadron RAF,[26] No. 456 Squadron RAF,[27] No. 488 Squadron RAF.[28]
- No. 501 Squadron RAF,[28] No. 504 Squadron RAF,[29] No. 511 Squadron RAF,[29] No. 587 Squadron RAF.[30]
- No. 600 Squadron RAF,[31] No. 604 Squadron RAF,[32] No. 616 Squadron RAF,[33] No. 662 Squadron RAF.[34]
Used by the British Army as its training facility for the Junior Leaders Regiment of the Royal Corps of Transport. Young men from the age of 16 were trained in a variety of the skills needed to enable them to become better soldiers in the Army. Basic driver training was done on simulators, car driver training to licence level and motorcycle training were undertaken here. The Regiment consisted of:- 30 (Junior Leader) Squadron RCT, 57 (Junior Leader) Squadron RCT and 90 (Junior Leader) Squadron RCT.
Estranged from the regiment at Driffield in Yorkshire was 32 Driver Training Squadron RCT. Here young soldiers were sent to the ASMT at Leconfield to be taught to drive the basic vehicles of the Army (typically a Land Rover and a 4 Tonne HGV Lorry) and to qualify as Driver Trade B3 before being posted to a full-time working regiment where their technical trade training would be continued.
Current Use[]
Colerne Airfield is now home to 21 Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, the 93 (City of Bath) Squadron Air Training Corps detached flight and Bristol University Air Squadron, who operate the Grob Tutor in a flying training role for the RAF. BUAS recruits from several universities in the South-West and has been stationed at Colerne, alongside 3 Air Experience Flight, for many years. They fly the Air Training Corps cadets using the same aircraft as part of their flying experience they are entitled to during their time in the ATC.
Squadrons[]
Squadron | Equipment | From | To | To | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 19 Squadron RAF | Supermarine Spitfire VB | 23 July 1942 | 31 July 1942 | RAF Perranporth | [3] |
No. 24 Squadron RAF | Handley Page Hastings C.1 | 1 January 1957 | 5 January 1968 | RAF Lyneham | [4] |
No. 29 Squadron RAF | de Havilland Mosquito XIIII/XXX | 22 February 1945 | 11 May 1945 | RAF Manston | [5] |
No. 36 Squadron RAF | Hastings C.1/C.2 | 1 September 1958 | 1 July 1967 | RAF Lyneham | [6] |
No. 74 Squadron RAF | Gloster Meteor F.3 | 15 February 1946 9 June 1946 |
2 June 1946 14 August 1946 |
RAF Bentwaters RAF Horsham St Faith |
[7] |
No. 87 Squadron RAF | Hawker Hurricane I Hurricane IIC |
28 November 1940 7 August 1941 |
18 December 1940 27 January 1942 |
RAF Charmy Down | Detachment at RAF Charmy Down. Det at RAF St Mary's.[8] |
No. 89 Squadron RAF | Bristol Beaufighter IF | 25 September 1941 | 19 November 1941 | en route Egypt | Reformed here.[8] |
No. 114 Squadron RAF | Hastings C.1/C.2 | 13 April 1959 | 30 September 1961 | Disbanded | Reformed here.[9] |
No. 118 Squadron RAF | Spitfire IIA | 7 April 1941 | 9 April 1941 | RAF Warmwell | [9] |
No. 124 Squadron RAF | Spitfire VII | March 1943 | 26 July 1943 | RAF Northolt | As an detachment from RAF North Weald.[10] |
No. 125 Squadron RAF | Boulton Paul Defiant I Defiant II Beaufighter IIF |
16 June 1941 25 January 1942 |
7 August 1941 RAF Fairwood Common |
RAF Charmy Down RAF Fairwood Common |
Dets at RAF Fairwood Common RAF Charmy Down.[10] |
No. 131 Squadron RAF | Spitfire IX Spitfire VII |
10 February 1944 29 February 1944 |
22 February 1944 24 March 1944 |
Example | [11] |
No. 137 Squadron RAF | Hurricane IV Hawker Typhoon IB |
2 January 1944 | 4 February 1944 | RAF Lympne | [12] |
No. 151 Squadron RAF | Defiant I Mosquito II/XII/VI/XIII |
30 April 1943 17 November 1943 |
16 August 1943 25 March 1944 |
RAF Middle Wallop RAF Predannack |
[13] |
No. 165 Squadron RAF | Spitfire VC/IXB | 10 February 1944 7 March 1944 |
1 March 1944 10 March 1944 |
RAF Fairwood Common RAF Culmhead |
[14] |
No. 175 Squadron RAF | Hurricane IIB Typhoon IB |
8 April 1943 | 29 May 1943 | RAF Lasham | [15] |
No. 183 Squadron RAF | Typhoon IB | 24 March 1943 | 8 April 1943 | RAF Gatwick | [16] |
No. 184 Squadron RAF | Hurricane IID | 1 December 1942 | 1 March 1943 | RAF Chilbolton | Det at RAF Milfield.[16] |
No. 219 Squadron RAF | Mosquito XVII | 26 March 1944 | 1 April 1944 | RAF Bradwell Bay | [17] |
No. 245 Squadron RAF | Meteor F.3 | 10 August 1945 | 18 February 1946 | RAF Fairwood Common | Reformed here.[18] |
No. 256 Squadron RAF | Defiant I | 6 February 1941 | 26 March 1941 | RAF Squires Gate | Det at RAF Middle Wallop.[19] |
No. 263 Squadron RAF | Westland Whirlwind I | 28 January 1942 15 August 1942 |
10 February 1942 13 September 1942 |
RAF Fairwood Common RAF Warmwell |
[20] |
No. 264 Squadron RAF | Defiant II Mosquito II Mosquito XIII |
1 May 1942 30 November 1944 |
30 April 1943 1 December 1944 |
RAF Odiham | [20] |
No. 285 Squadron RAF | Defiant III Martinet I |
25 August 1943 | 19 November 1944 | RAF Andover | As an detachment from RAF Woodvale.[21] |
No. 286 Squadron RAF | Miles Master III Defiant III/I Hurricane I Airspeed Oxford |
30 December 1941 2 March 1942 |
24 January 1942 30 April 1942 |
RAF Lulsgate Bottom RAF Lulsgate Bottom |
[21] |
No. 307 Squadron RAF | Defiant I | 26 March 1941 | 26 April 1941 | RAF Exeter | [22] |
No. 316 Squadron RAF | Hurricane I/IIA/IIB | 18 June 1941 | 2 August 1941 | RAF Northolt | [23] |
No. 317 Squadron RAF | Hurricane I | 26 June 1941 | 27 June 1941 | RAF Fairwood Common | [23] |
No. 402 Squadron RAF | Hurricane IB Spitfire VB |
4 March 1942 | 17 March 1942 | RAF Fairwood Common | [24] |
No. 406 Squadron RAF | Mosquito XXX | 17 September 1944 | 27 November 1944 | RAF Manston | [24] |
No. 410 Squadron RAF | Mosquito XIII/XXX | 28 July 1944 | 9 September 1944 | RAF Hunsdon | [25] |
No. 417 Squadron RAF | Spitfire IIA/VB | 26 January 1942 | 24 February 1942 | RAF Tain | [26] |
No. 456 Squadron RAF | Beaufighter IIF/VIF Mosquito II Mosquito VI |
December 1942 17 August 1943 |
29 March 1943 17 November 1943 |
RAF Middle Wallop RAF Fairwood Common |
[27] |
No. 488 Squadron RAF | Mosquito XIII | 3 May 1944 29 July 1944 |
12 May 1944 9 October 1944 |
RAF Zeals RAF Hunsdon |
[28] |
No. 501 Squadron RAF | Spitfire I/IIA | 9 April 1941 | 25 June 1941 | RAF Chilbolton | [28] |
No. 504 Squadron RAF | Spitfire IXE Meteor III |
28 March 1945 | 10 August 1945 | Disbanded | Dets at RAF Andrews Field and RAF Lübeck.[29] |
No. 511 Squadron RAF | Hastings C.1/C.2 | 1 May 1957 | 1 September 1958 | Disbanded | [29] |
No. 587 Squadron RAF | Oxford Hawker Henley III Hurricane IV Miles Martinet Hurricane IIC |
10 April 1944 | 1 October 1944 | RAF Weston Zoyland | As an detachment from RAF Culmhead.[30] |
No. 600 Squadron RAF | Beaufighter IIF | 27 April 1941 27 June 1941 |
18 June 1941 6 October 1941 |
RAF Fairwood Common RAF Predannack |
Det at RAF Predannack.[31] |
No. 604 Squadron RAF | Mosquito XIII Mosquito XII |
13 July 1944 28 July 1944 |
25 July 1944 6 August 1944 |
RAF Zeals A-8 Picauville |
Det at A-15 Maupertus.[32] |
No. 616 Squadron RAF | Meteor I/III | 17 January 1945 | 28 February 1945 | RAF Andrews Field | Det at B 58 Melsbroek.[33] |
No. 662 Squadron RAF | Auster AOP 5/6/4 | 1 February 1949 | 10 March 1957 | Disbanded | [34] |
See also[]
References[]
Citations[]
- ↑ RAF, Groups in the Battle of Britain, accessed February 2009
- ↑ "RAF Colerne". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-C.htm#Colerne. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jefford 1988, p. 30. Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "Jefford1988p30" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jefford 1988, p. 32. Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "Jefford1988p32" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jefford 1988, p. 34. Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "Jefford1988p34" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Jefford 1988, p. 37. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "Jefford1988p37" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jefford 1988, p. 48.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Jefford 1988, p. 51.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Jefford 1988, p. 57.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Jefford 1988, p. 58.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Jefford 1988, p. 59.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Jefford 1988, p. 60.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Jefford 1988, p. 62.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jefford 1988, p. 64.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Jefford 1988, p. 65.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Jefford 1988, p. 66. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "Jefford1988p66" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 17.0 17.1 Jefford 1988, p. 72.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Jefford 1988, p. 77.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Jefford 1988, p. 79.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Jefford 1988, p. 80.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Jefford 1988, p. 83.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Jefford 1988, p. 85.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Jefford 1988, p. 86.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Jefford 1988, p. 89.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Jefford 1988, p. 90.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Jefford 1988, p. 91.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Jefford 1988, p. 93.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Jefford 1988, p. 94.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Jefford 1988, p. 95.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Jefford 1988, p. 97.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Jefford 1988, p. 98.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Jefford 1988, p. 99.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Jefford 1988, p. 101.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Jefford 1988, p. 104.
Bibliography[]
- Jefford, C.G, MBE,BA ,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at RAF Colerne and the edit history here.