RAF Kingston Bagpuize

RAF Kingston Bagpuize
Kingston Bagpuize, Oxfordshire in England
RAF Kingston Bagpuize, 8 March 1944
RAF Kingston Bagpuize Shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates	51°40′19″N1°24′29″W / 51.67194°N 1.40806°W / 51.67194; -1.40806 Coordinates: 51°40′19″N1°24′29″W / 51.67194°N 1.40806°W / 51.67194; -1.40806
Type	Satellite Station
Code	KB
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Flying Training Command
Site history
Built	1941 (1941)/42
In use	1942-1954 (1954)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	91 metres (299 ft) [1] AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00   Sommerfeld Tracking 00/00  Sommerfeld Tracking

'Royal Air Force Kingston Bagpuize or more simply RAF Kingston Bagpuize is a former Royal Air Force satellite airfield located near to Kingston Bagpuize, Oxfordshire, England.

History

RAF operations started in January 1942 as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) with 3 EFTS who left in May. From March to July 1 GTS at RAF Thame used it as a satellite airfield for training with General Aircraft Hotspur gliders and their tugs. Between January and April 1943, 4 GTS operated from here. In March 1943 20 (P) AFU used the airfield as a satellite for the Airspeed Oxfords, but left in July. ^[2]

The airfield was then closed while contractors enlarged it. The works were completed by January 1944 when the USAAF Ninth Air Force moved in. They used the airfield for maintenance work, mainly on Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters and the photo-reconnaissance version, the F-5, and North American P-51 Mustang fighters. ^[3] Their main use for the airfield appears to have been the testing of wire mesh as a runway surface, and some intensive testing was done from March to May, mainly with large numbers of Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and several Douglas C-47 transports. ^[2]

The testing was completed by August 1944 when the airfield was handed over to 3 MU who used it for storage. The site was permanently closed on 14 June 1954. Most of the land reverted to agriculture, but some buildings remain in agricultural and industrial use, and some other buildings, including the control tower, remain in a derelict condition. ^[3]

Units

The following units were here at some point: ^[4]

• No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School RAF
• No. 3 Maintenance Unit RAF
• No. 4 Glider Training School RAF
• No. 20 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF
• No. 2722 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2786 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2796 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2799 Squadron RAF Regiment

References

Citations

1. Falconer 1998, p. 56.
2. Bowyer, Michael J.F. (1990). Action Stations 6: Military Airfields of the Cotswolds and the Central Midlands (2nd ed.). Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 184. ISBN   1-85260-372-0.
3. "Kingston Bagpuize". American Air Museum in Britain. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
4. "Kingston Bagpuize". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 26 April 2020.

Bibliography

• Falconer, J (1998). RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN   0-7110-2175-9.