RAF Blackbushe
Encyclopedia
RAF Blackbushe was a Royal Air Force
station in Hampshire
, England
, during World War II
. It is now known as Blackbushe Airport
.
for reconnaissance, defence and strike operations using Spitfire
s and Mosquito
s. It was also the home of the Free French Squadron (Lorraine).
During the construction of the airfield, the already built runways were used for glider testing, including the massive General Aircraft Hamilcar
.
A number of important people used the airfield including King George VI
and Queen Elizabeth
, Supreme Allied Commander U.S. General Dwight D Eisenhower and British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
Due to its' geographical proximity to RAE Farnborough Royal Aircraft Establishment
the airfield was used to develop the Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)
system to enable aircraft operations in heavy fog.
The station was renamed to RAF Blackbushe on the 18 November 1944 and it became an airfield for the Dakota
s of RAF Transport Command
during the 1948 airlift during the Berlin Blockade
.
The RAF Station was closed on 15 November 1946 and in February 1947 the airfield became Blackbushe Airport
under the control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. During the 1950s the airfield saw increased used as a base for US Navy tranport aircraft.
Blackbushe was also considered during war in consultations to determine the creation of London's post-war principal civil airport. It was only narrowly beaten by Heathrow; the winner which announced in 1944.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
station in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It is now known as Blackbushe Airport
Blackbushe Airport
Blackbushe Airport , in the civil parish of Yateley in the north-east corner of the English county of Hampshire, comprises an airfield, much reduced in size since its heyday, a British Car Auctions site, a kart track owned by Camberley Kart Club, and a small business park...
.
History
The station was opened on 1 November 1942 as RAF Hartford Bridge and it was used throughout the remainder of Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for reconnaissance, defence and strike operations using Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s and Mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
s. It was also the home of the Free French Squadron (Lorraine).
During the construction of the airfield, the already built runways were used for glider testing, including the massive General Aircraft Hamilcar
General Aircraft Hamilcar
The General Aircraft Limited GAL. 49 Hamilcar or Hamilcar Mark I was a large British military glider produced during the Second World War, which was designed to carry heavy cargo, such as the Tetrarch or M22 Locust light tank...
.
A number of important people used the airfield including King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, Supreme Allied Commander U.S. General Dwight D Eisenhower and British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
Due to its' geographical proximity to RAE Farnborough Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
the airfield was used to develop the Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation was a system used for dispersing fog from an airfield so that aircraft could land safely...
system to enable aircraft operations in heavy fog.
The station was renamed to RAF Blackbushe on the 18 November 1944 and it became an airfield for the Dakota
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
s of RAF Transport Command
RAF Transport Command
RAF Transport Command was a Royal Air Force command that controlled all transport aircraft of the RAF. It was established on 25 March 1943 by the renaming of the RAF Ferry Command, and was subsequently renamed RAF Air Support Command in 1967.-History:...
during the 1948 airlift during the Berlin Blockade
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War and the first resulting in casualties. During the multinational occupation of post-World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway and road access to the sectors of Berlin under Allied...
.
The RAF Station was closed on 15 November 1946 and in February 1947 the airfield became Blackbushe Airport
Blackbushe Airport
Blackbushe Airport , in the civil parish of Yateley in the north-east corner of the English county of Hampshire, comprises an airfield, much reduced in size since its heyday, a British Car Auctions site, a kart track owned by Camberley Kart Club, and a small business park...
under the control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. During the 1950s the airfield saw increased used as a base for US Navy tranport aircraft.
Blackbushe was also considered during war in consultations to determine the creation of London's post-war principal civil airport. It was only narrowly beaten by Heathrow; the winner which announced in 1944.
Units and aircraft (RAF Hartford Bridge)
- No 16 Squadron RAF (1943-1944) Supermarine Spitfire V and IXSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
- No 21 Squadron RAF (1943) Lockheed Ventura I and IILockheed VenturaThe Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
- No 88 Squadron RAF (1943-1944) Douglas Boston IIIA and IV
- No 107 Squadron RAF (1943-1944) Douglas Boston III and IIIA
- No 107 Squadron RAF (1944) de Havilland Mosquito VIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- No 140 Squadron RAF (1943-1944) Lockheed Ventura ILockheed VenturaThe Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
, Supermarine Spitfire PRVII, XI and IXSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, de Havilland Mosquito XVIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"... - No 171 Squadron RAF (1942-1943) North American Mustang IAP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
- No 226 Squadron RAF (1944) North American Mitchell IIB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
- No 264 Squadron RAF (1944) de Havilland Mosquito XIIIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- No 305 Squadron RAF (1944) de Havilland Mosquito VIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- No 322 Squadron RAF (1944) Supermarine Spitfire XIVSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
- No 342 Squadron RAF (1943-1944) Douglas Boston IIIA and IV
- No 430 Squadron RAF (1943) Curtiss Tomahawk I and IICurtiss P-40The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
- No 613 Squadron RAF (1944) de Havilland Mosquito VIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
Units and aircraft (RAF Blackbushe)
- No 162 Squadron RAF (1945-1946) de Havilland Mosquito XX and XXVDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- No 167 Squadron RAF (1944-1945) Vickers Warwick I and IIIVickers WarwickThe Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
- No 301 Squadron RAF (1945) Vickers Warwick I and IIIVickers WarwickThe Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
. Free Polish Air Force Squadron - No 418 Squadron RAF (1944) de Havilland Mosquito VIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- No 605 Squadron RAF (1944-1945) de Havilland Mosquito VIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- No 622 Squadron RAF (1950-1953) Vickers Valetta C1Vickers Valetta|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1....