Devon Airfields
Devon in south-west England played its part during WWII. The counties two cities Plymouth and Exeter were both heavily bombed throughout the war. Plymouth is a major naval port, whilst Exeter is the county's capital.
To protect from these raids several RAF fighter bases were, which have since disappeared, although Dunkeswell is still operational as a civilian airfield. Lying just east of Exeter, this airfield was home to only American Navy air base commissioned on UKsoil during World War II, and now houses the Dunkeswell Mermorial Museum.
To protect from these raids several RAF fighter bases were, which have since disappeared, although Dunkeswell is still operational as a civilian airfield. Lying just east of Exeter, this airfield was home to only American Navy air base commissioned on UKsoil during World War II, and now houses the Dunkeswell Mermorial Museum.
Exeter Airfield
With Exeter being one of the targets for the Baedeker Blitz , as Hitler tried to destroy the morale of the British people, RAF Exeter Airport was a very active operational fighter base.
Exeter Airport was first opened during 1937, Exeter Airport was first opened during 1937, and ran regular air services to the Channel Islands and other destinations in the South of England. There was also a Flying Club formed, and within two years it had a membership of almost 300. Of these, 57 pilots who learnt to fly at Exeter served as pilots during WW2.
With the outbreak of War in September 1939, the Air Ministry requisitioned the airfield. It was enlarged to almost three times its original size, with new runways; the longest of which was just over 6,100 feet. The first operational unit to arrive on site was a department of R.A.E Farnborough, known as '02', equipped with Fairey Battles, the Fairey P.4/34, Harrow, Virginia and Wellesley.
One of their tasks was deliberately flying into cables hung from barrage balloons to test wire cutting devices.
June 1940 saw the formation of the gunnery Research Unit at Exeter from 'A' Flight Armament Testing Squadron who were employed in experimental flying using a variety of aircraft including Spitfires, Defiants, a Henley, Hurricane and a Gloster F.9/37. These aircraft tested various types of guns and turrets.
A Hurricane from 87 Squadron brought down an Me110 that had been escorting a force of enemy Stuka dive-bombers over Portland on July 11th. This was the first kill from Exeter; one of three that day. Although the Hawker Hurricane was considered unsuitable for this type of operation, they also began to fly defensive patrols against night bombers. Targets around the South West of England were heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe, and something had to be done to counter these raids. One of 87 Squadron's Flights was regularly sent to Hullavington, to the east of Bristol' in order to extend the night defences, while the remainder of the squadron Squadron defended the south coast.
As the 'Battle of Britain' built up, the fighter operations were stretched to their limits at Exeter.
Exeter Airport was first opened during 1937, Exeter Airport was first opened during 1937, and ran regular air services to the Channel Islands and other destinations in the South of England. There was also a Flying Club formed, and within two years it had a membership of almost 300. Of these, 57 pilots who learnt to fly at Exeter served as pilots during WW2.
With the outbreak of War in September 1939, the Air Ministry requisitioned the airfield. It was enlarged to almost three times its original size, with new runways; the longest of which was just over 6,100 feet. The first operational unit to arrive on site was a department of R.A.E Farnborough, known as '02', equipped with Fairey Battles, the Fairey P.4/34, Harrow, Virginia and Wellesley.
One of their tasks was deliberately flying into cables hung from barrage balloons to test wire cutting devices.
June 1940 saw the formation of the gunnery Research Unit at Exeter from 'A' Flight Armament Testing Squadron who were employed in experimental flying using a variety of aircraft including Spitfires, Defiants, a Henley, Hurricane and a Gloster F.9/37. These aircraft tested various types of guns and turrets.
A Hurricane from 87 Squadron brought down an Me110 that had been escorting a force of enemy Stuka dive-bombers over Portland on July 11th. This was the first kill from Exeter; one of three that day. Although the Hawker Hurricane was considered unsuitable for this type of operation, they also began to fly defensive patrols against night bombers. Targets around the South West of England were heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe, and something had to be done to counter these raids. One of 87 Squadron's Flights was regularly sent to Hullavington, to the east of Bristol' in order to extend the night defences, while the remainder of the squadron Squadron defended the south coast.
As the 'Battle of Britain' built up, the fighter operations were stretched to their limits at Exeter.
Dunkeswell Airfield
USN Dunkeswell was originally planned as a Fighter Command, then a Coastal Command airfield, but transferred for use by American units, and became Station 173. In mid 1943 the site as home to the 4th, 6th, 19th and 22nd Anti Submarine Sqns of the 479th Anti Submarine Group. Between 24th September 1943 and July 1945 the base was home to VB-103, Fleet Air Wing 7, of the United States Navy. This was the first USN unit to train with the RAF, later followed by VB-105 and VB-110. Equipped with Liberators then PB4Y-1 Privateers on anti-submarine patrols. During the war there was also a hospital on the site, Navy Hospital NAF Dunkeswell.
It was established to combat the German U-boat threat to Allied shipping in the "Battle of the Atlantic". The airfield was constructed by George Wimpey and Company Limited. It had the specifications of a full Royal Air Force "class A" airfield with three concrete and tarmac runways. However runway lengths, the large number and distribution of dispersal hard standings, as well as the siting of technical buildings, were not standard, instead being adapted to local topographical conditions and the needs of the base. Because of the large number of visiting squadrons there were five type T2 aircraft hangars (two was the usual figure). There were 13 dispersed living sites with accomodation classed as "temporary" situated to the east of the flying field. Dunkeswell was unique in that it was the only British airfield where the United States Navy Fleet Air Wing was stationed in World War Two, specifically Anti-Submarine Group 479. Today the airfield has an exceptionally well preserved flying field including runways, perimeter track and a wide range of extant wartime airfield buildings and structures including stores, blast shelters (pens), instructional buildings and nissen hutting.
In the months after the end of hositilites the site was handed back to the RAF and became home to 16 Ferry Unit, RAF Transport Command, ferrying aircraft to the Middle East. Between September 1946 and December 1948 the base was used by 265 and 267 Maintenance Units RAF.
The military airfield closed in 1949 and today the site is a private airfield with many planes permently based there and is often visited by historic aircraft as it has become a refuiling airfield. There is also a museum on site
It was established to combat the German U-boat threat to Allied shipping in the "Battle of the Atlantic". The airfield was constructed by George Wimpey and Company Limited. It had the specifications of a full Royal Air Force "class A" airfield with three concrete and tarmac runways. However runway lengths, the large number and distribution of dispersal hard standings, as well as the siting of technical buildings, were not standard, instead being adapted to local topographical conditions and the needs of the base. Because of the large number of visiting squadrons there were five type T2 aircraft hangars (two was the usual figure). There were 13 dispersed living sites with accomodation classed as "temporary" situated to the east of the flying field. Dunkeswell was unique in that it was the only British airfield where the United States Navy Fleet Air Wing was stationed in World War Two, specifically Anti-Submarine Group 479. Today the airfield has an exceptionally well preserved flying field including runways, perimeter track and a wide range of extant wartime airfield buildings and structures including stores, blast shelters (pens), instructional buildings and nissen hutting.
In the months after the end of hositilites the site was handed back to the RAF and became home to 16 Ferry Unit, RAF Transport Command, ferrying aircraft to the Middle East. Between September 1946 and December 1948 the base was used by 265 and 267 Maintenance Units RAF.
The military airfield closed in 1949 and today the site is a private airfield with many planes permently based there and is often visited by historic aircraft as it has become a refuiling airfield. There is also a museum on site
Upottery Airfield
A base used during D-Day by the 101st Airborne, Upottery airfield lies on the outskirts of the village of Smeatharpe, 6 miles north of Honiton and 6 miles east of the USN station at Dunkeswell.
Upottery was one of two Devonshire bases from which the 101st Airborne Division embarked (to Normandy) on the night of June 5th 1944 as part of the D-Day invasion. (The other bases were outside of the county).
On the night of 5th June 1944 Dakotas lifted off from Upottery Airfield in Devon as part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Anyone familiar with the opening scenes of the TV adaptation of the 'Band of Brothers' will be familiar with this scene. On the night of 5th June 1944 Airborne forces from the 101st Airborne Division took off from airfields around Devon ( Upottery and Exeter) as part of Operation Neptune, the airborne part of the D-Day landings.
Day of Days
On the night of 5 th June 1944 the Dakotas lifted off from this Devonshire airbase carrying paratroopers of the 506th PIR 101st Airborne Division 'Band of Brothers', and headed east to Portland Bill, where they assembled at an altitude of 10,000 ft. Altitude was then reduced to 650 ft as the aircraft headed south-west to a point in the middle of the English Channel code-named GALLUP, which was marked by a Royal Navy beacon-ship.
From here the fleet of 821 Dakotas flew south to a point west of Cherbourg on the French coast, code-named HOBOKEN, which was indicated by a lumious signal from a submarine. Here the aircraft climbed to 1,650 ft to avoid the Flak guns of the Channel Islands, before heading for landfall on the Normandy coast, named MULESHOE Point. By now the aircraft were back down to 650 ft and flying at their drop-speed of 110 mph.The first paratroopers of the 101AB jumped into Normandy at 00:50 hrs, June 6th 1944.
This was a Day of Days. The Longest Day.
On the night of 5th June 1944 Dakotas lifted off from Upottery Airfield in Devon as part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Anyone familiar with the opening scenes of the TV adaptation of the 'Band of Brothers' will be familiar with this scene. On the night of 5th June 1944 Airborne forces from the 101st Airborne Division took off from airfields around Devon ( Upottery and Exeter) as part of Operation Neptune, the airborne part of the D-Day landings.
Day of Days
On the night of 5 th June 1944 the Dakotas lifted off from this Devonshire airbase carrying paratroopers of the 506th PIR 101st Airborne Division 'Band of Brothers', and headed east to Portland Bill, where they assembled at an altitude of 10,000 ft. Altitude was then reduced to 650 ft as the aircraft headed south-west to a point in the middle of the English Channel code-named GALLUP, which was marked by a Royal Navy beacon-ship.
From here the fleet of 821 Dakotas flew south to a point west of Cherbourg on the French coast, code-named HOBOKEN, which was indicated by a lumious signal from a submarine. Here the aircraft climbed to 1,650 ft to avoid the Flak guns of the Channel Islands, before heading for landfall on the Normandy coast, named MULESHOE Point. By now the aircraft were back down to 650 ft and flying at their drop-speed of 110 mph.The first paratroopers of the 101AB jumped into Normandy at 00:50 hrs, June 6th 1944.
This was a Day of Days. The Longest Day.