Military Wiki
RAF Warmwell
USAAF Station AAF-454
RAF Moreton

Ensign of the Royal Air Force

Patch9thusaaf
Located Near Warmwell, Dorset, United Kingdom
Warmwell-16aug43
Aerial Photo of Warmwell Airfield - 16 August 1943
Coordinates 50°41′50″N 002°20′40″W / 50.69722°N 2.34444°W / 50.69722; -2.34444
Type Royal Air Force station
Code XW
Site information
Controlled by Royal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Condition Disused, reverted to farmland and quarrying, two hangars and some aircraft pens survive
Site history
Built 1936
Built by Royal Air Force
In use 1937-1946
Battles/wars

European Theatre of World War II
Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945

RAF Warmwell is located in Dorset
Red pog
RAF Warmwell, shown within Dorset
Garrison information
Garrison RAF Fighter Command
Ninth Air Force
Occupants 609 Squadron
474th Fighter Group

RAF Warmwell is a former Royal Air Force station near Warmwell in Dorset, England from 1937 to 1946, located about 5 miles east-southeast of Dorchester; 100 miles southwest of London.

During the Second World War it was used by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force.

History[]

USAAF use[]

While under USAAF control, Warmwell was known as USAAF Station AAF-454 for security reasons, and by which it was referred to instead of location. Its Station-ID was "XW".

474th Fighter Group[]

The 474th Fighter Group arrived on 12 March from Oxnard Flight Strip California[1] flying Lockheed P-38 "Lightnings". Operational squadrons of the group were:

The 474th was a group of Ninth Air Force's 70th Fighter Wing, IX Tactical Air Command. The group continued operations on the continent providing tactical air support in support of U.S. First Army until V-E Day, being stationed at Bad Langensalza, Germany (ALG R-2) at the end of hostilities. The 474th FG returned to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey during November 1945 and was inactivated on 8 December 1945.

Bellman Hangars Warmwell 2007

Bellman Hangars Warmwell 2007

Blockhouse Warmwell 2007

Brick Block house Warmwell 2007

Rifle Range Warmwell 2007

Rifle Range Warmwell 2007

Current use[]

The site on which RAF Warmwell once lay is now a small village called Crossways, the original taxiway is still in use as a road through the village (where two dispersal pans still remain), and the old station cinema is now the village hall, the old ATC tower has now been converted into a dwelling (EGDON HOUSE) that has been extensively modified and is not easily recognisable as such. Two bellman style hangars still remain, rumoured to be used by local farmers for fertilizer storage, and other buildings exist in the woodland areas surrounding Crossways, although some have been demolished. One of the base's billets is now one of the local shops. During clearance work in preparation for new buildings on the North East side of the old airfield a brick block house and a concrete rifle range were revealed. Both have now been demolished but the photographs shown were taken just prior to their removal.

See also[]

References[]

PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Citations[]

  1. Maurer 1980, p. 347.

Bibliography[]

External links[]


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at RAF Warmwell and the edit history here.