RAF Witchford

RAF Witchford
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type		Military
Owner		Air Ministry
Operator		Royal Air Force
Location		Witchford, Cambridgeshire
Built		1942
In use		1943-1946
Elevation AMSL		46 ft / 14 m
Coordinates		52°22′52″N 000°13′51″E
Map
RAF Witchford Location in Cambridgeshire
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
04/22	0	0	Asphalt
10/28	0	0	Asphalt
16/34	0	0	Asphalt

Royal Air Force Station Witchford or RAF Witchford is a former Royal Air Force station located 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south west of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England and 13 miles (21 km) north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.

History

• No. 115 Squadron RAF first started using RAF Witchford from 26 November 1943 with the Avro Lancaster II before changing to the Mk I and III Lancasters in March 1944 before moving to RAF Graveley on 10 September 1945.
• No. 195 Squadron RAF reformed at the airfield on 1 October 1944 with the Lancaster I and III before moving to RAF Wratting Common on 13 November 1944 where the squadron disbanded on 14 August 1945.
• No. 196 Squadron RAF started using the airfield on 19 Jul 1943 with the Vickers Wellington X until these were replaced with the Short Stirling III during there stay. The squadron left on 18 November 1943 moving to RAF Leicester East.
• No. 513 Squadron RAF formed at Witchford on 15 September 1943 with the Stirling III before disbanding on 21 November 1943 at the airfield.
• No. 29 Aircrew Holding Unit.

A total of 99 bombers despatched on operations from Witchford were lost, 8 being Stirlings and 91 Lancasters.

Current use

The site is now used for farming.

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Bibliography

• Jefford MBE, Wg Cdr 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 CITEREFJefford1988.