RAF Bibury

RAF Bibury
Located Near Bibury, Gloucestershire, in England
Part of RAF Bibury in 2015
Site information
Type	Royal Air Force satellite station
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Flying Training Command RAF Fighter Command
Location
RAF Bibury
Coordinates	51°46′53″N01°50′10″W / 51.78139°N 1.83611°W / 51.78139; -1.83611
Site history
Built	1939
In use	1940–1945
Battles/wars	Second World War

Royal Air Force Bibury or more simply RAF Bibury is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located north east of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.

History

The airfield was built in 1939 for use as a relief landing ground for training aircraft from nearby RAF South Cerney. In the Battle of Britain the airfield was used to base detachments of fighter aircraft. ^[1] Hawker Hurricanes of 87 Squadron arrived on detachment in August 1940. They were replaced by a detachment from 92 Squadron with the Supermarine Spitfire until September when the 87 Squadron detachment returned until the end of the year. ^[1] During the Battle of Britain the airfield had very few buildings and a grass runway. ^[1] The airfield was not used for flying after 1944 and was the base of a maintenance unit until it closed in 1945.

The following units were here at some point: ^[2]

• No. 3 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF
• No. 3 Service Flying Training School RAF
• No. 7 Maintenance Unit RAF
• No. 1539 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF

^[3]

References

Citations

1. "Gloucestershire's part in the Battle of Britain". BBC. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
2. "Bibury". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 28 April 2020.
3. Jefford 1988, p. 51.

Bibliography

• Jefford, 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.