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RAF Babdown Farm

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Coordinates: 51°38′53″N 2°13′48″W / 51.64806°N 2.23000°W / 51.64806; -2.23000
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RAF Babdown Farm

Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationBeverston, Gloucestershire
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940–1948 (1948)
Elevation AMSL574 ft / 175 m
Coordinates51°38′53″N 2°13′48″W / 51.64806°N 2.23000°W / 51.64806; -2.23000
Map
RAF Babdown Farm is located in Gloucestershire
RAF Babdown Farm
RAF Babdown Farm
Location in Gloucestershire
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02/20 2,870 875 Sommerfeld Tracking
08/26 3,450 1,050 Sommerfeld Tracking
14/32 3,720 1,133 Sommerfeld Tracking

Royal Air Force Babdown Farm or more simply RAF Babdown Farm is a former Royal Air Force relief landing ground located 2.9 miles (4.7 km) west of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) south of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. It was open between 1940 and 1948 as a relief landing ground used by training units before being used by maintenance units for storage. Part of the site has since been converted into an industrial estate, while the rest is used for agriculture.

History

Babdown was built in 1940 as a relief landing ground (RLG) with two grass runways and a flare path for No. 9 Service Flying Training School initially flying Hawker Audaxes before changing to Miles Masters and Hawker Hurricanes.[1][2] The airfield was bombed in 1940 and 1941 but no serious damage was caused. In 1942 the base was redeveloped to full RLG standard through the addition of three Sommerfeld Tracking runways and blister hangars with associated perimeter track and additional buildings.[1]

Two flights of No. 3 Flying Instructors School moved into Babdown Farm when the airfield re-opened in August 1942, using the airfield for night flying with Airspeed Oxford and Miles Master trainers.[3] It was occupied by No. 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF from early 1944 until June 1945[1] and No. 1532 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF.[2] The last aircraft left during June 1945. It was used until 1948 by No. 7 Maintenance Unit RAF[1] storing and repairing Airspeed Oxfords.[4] As with the majority of airfields hosting training units there were a number of serious and fatal accidents due to pilot error and ageing machines which had been repeatedly used by inexperienced crews.[1]

The following units were posted here at some point:

At its peak there were 571 RAF personnel and 223 Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) personnel based at Babdown.[1]

Current use

The site is now partially occupied by an industrial estate known as "Babdown Airfield"[5] and the remainder has been returned to agriculture.[2]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "RAF Babdown Farm". English Heritage – Pastscape. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Babdown Farm". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. ^ Ashworth 1982, p. 32.
  4. ^ Lake 1999, p. 135.
  5. ^ "Tetbury Showroom". The Cotswold Collection. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

Bibliography

  • Ashworth, Chris (1982). Action Stations: 5. Military airfields of the South-West. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 0-85059-510-X.
  • Lake, A. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John; Halley, James J (1997). Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units. Tunbridge Wells, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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