RAF Cheddington
Encyclopedia
RAF Cheddington is a former World War II
airfield in England
, located 1 mile south-west of Cheddington
in Buckinghamshire
. The airfield was closed in 1952.
aerodrome briefly during 1917. The airfield was closed after the armistice.
In September 1942 the airfield was transferred to the United States Army Air Force. The Eighth Air Force
44th Bombardment Group
was assigned to Cheddington, and three B-24 Liberator squadrons (66th, 67th, 68th) had arrived from the United States. However, Eighth Air Force wanted to move the Liberator groups to Norfolk, and the 44th moved to RAF Shipdham
in October.
With the movement of the Americans to Norfolk
, the RAF transferred the 26th OTU back to Cheddington.
It was again transferred to the USAAF Eighth Air Force
in August 1943 to become station 113, with Consolidated B-24 Liberator
bombers of the Combat Crew Replacement Center, 8th Air Force. Also the 50th Fighter Squadron (8th Reconnaissance Group) was assigned to the station 15 March-12 April 1944, but was not made operational.
In 1944 specialist USAAF units arrived to perform special operations missions from the airfield, performing night leaflet drops over occupied areas of Europe, working with various special operations organizations, as well as electronic countermeasure (ECM) missions. Known squadrons assigned were:
The results of these special operations missions was that the majority of surrendering German troops carried Safe Conduct Passes dropped by these squadrons. Another interesting psy-war tool was forged ration cards that disrupted local economies, when bearers flooded stores for scarce food goods.
The 36th Bomb Squadron flew specially equipped B-17s and B-24s to jam enemy early warning radars and telecommunications, screen assembly and inbound flights of allied bombers, and to spoof the enemy into thinking that other bomber formations (nonexistent) were assembling. This early form of electronic warfare was very successful in disrupting German forces.
used of the airfield and the site eventually closed in 1952.
There is some evidence [Luton/Hemel Hempstead Evening Post Echo newspaper], that strongly suggests this facility was used as a CIA weapons dump. This weapons dump held Soviet Bloc small arms (AK 47s, RPGs, etc.) for a special combined CIA/MI6 Cold War operation, code named Operation GLADIO. The specific duties of Op. GLADIO operatives, was "behind the lines" resistance activities. The concept being that IF Western Europe was invaded by the Warsaw Pact, that such units could disrupt the invaders "lines of communications & supplies". Duncan Campbell in his title War Plan UK & The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier, refer to this base facility by its CIA radio call-sign of << X-Ray Zero Niner >>. Today, a number of the strengthened (although NOT armoured) ammo block houses, still stand on the industrial estate. The scrap yard near the far end of the estate, retains the two earth concrete revetment walls, that allowed truck access to the block house doors. It also gives some scale of the removed earth bund revetment beams carefully constructed around ALL the block houses (prior to their demolition for industrial units). Ironically enough, it was the activity of Ronnie Biggs, et alia that exposed the presence of this supposedly secret base to the media (being within spitting distance of their event venue!). The BBC used a current affairs programme a few weeks after the Great Train Robbery, to expose this base to the world.
Today the runways and assorted taxiways, hardstands and aprons have all been removed for hardcore. There is a significant number of wartime buildings in various levels of abandonment on what was the technical site.
along the south eastern part of the original peremiter road, and also can be seen from marsworth lane and google earth, a private grass runway used by private light aircraft.
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...
airfield in 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...
, located 1 mile south-west of Cheddington
Cheddington
Cheddington is a village and civil parish in the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire. The parish has an area of . The village is about 5 miles north-east of Aylesbury and three miles north of Tring in Hertfordshire...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. The airfield was closed in 1952.
Origins
Cheddington was used as a World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
aerodrome briefly during 1917. The airfield was closed after the armistice.
Operational use
During World War II, Cheddington Airfield opened in March 1942 as a satellite station to RAF Wing, with 26 Operational Training Unit, Vickers Wellington bombers (these had the codes "EU" on the aircraft sides).In September 1942 the airfield was transferred to the United States Army Air Force. The Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
44th Bombardment Group
44th Missile Wing
The 44th Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Twentieth Air Force, being assigned to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. It was deactivated on 4 July 1994....
was assigned to Cheddington, and three B-24 Liberator squadrons (66th, 67th, 68th) had arrived from the United States. However, Eighth Air Force wanted to move the Liberator groups to Norfolk, and the 44th moved to RAF Shipdham
RAF Shipdham
RAF Shipdham is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 3 miles S of East Dereham in Norfolk, now used as a privately owned airfield.-USAAF use:...
in October.
With the movement of the Americans to Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, the RAF transferred the 26th OTU back to Cheddington.
It was again transferred to the USAAF Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in August 1943 to become station 113, with Consolidated B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
bombers of the Combat Crew Replacement Center, 8th Air Force. Also the 50th Fighter Squadron (8th Reconnaissance Group) was assigned to the station 15 March-12 April 1944, but was not made operational.
In 1944 specialist USAAF units arrived to perform special operations missions from the airfield, performing night leaflet drops over occupied areas of Europe, working with various special operations organizations, as well as electronic countermeasure (ECM) missions. Known squadrons assigned were:
- 850th Bombardment Squadron850th Strategic Missile SquadronThe 850th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 44th Missile Wing, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 25 March 1965.-History:...
(VIII Air Force Composite Command) 11–27 May 1944 (B-24 Liberator) - 858th Bombardment Squadron858th Bombardment SquadronThe 858th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 492d Bombardment Group, based at Kirtland Field, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 17 October 1945.-History:...
(VIII Air Force Composite Command) 19 June-10 August 1944 (B-24 Liberator) - 406th Bombardment Squadron906th Air Refueling SquadronThe 906th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.-Mission:The 906 ARS operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...
(VIII Air Force Composite Command) 5 August 1944-16 March 1945 (B-24 Liberator) - 36th Bombardment Squadron36th Bombardment SquadronThe 36th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey...
(VIII Air Force Composite Command) 15 August 1944-28 February 1945 (B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator)
The results of these special operations missions was that the majority of surrendering German troops carried Safe Conduct Passes dropped by these squadrons. Another interesting psy-war tool was forged ration cards that disrupted local economies, when bearers flooded stores for scarce food goods.
The 36th Bomb Squadron flew specially equipped B-17s and B-24s to jam enemy early warning radars and telecommunications, screen assembly and inbound flights of allied bombers, and to spoof the enemy into thinking that other bomber formations (nonexistent) were assembling. This early form of electronic warfare was very successful in disrupting German forces.
Postwar use
After the war the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
used of the airfield and the site eventually closed in 1952.
There is some evidence [Luton/Hemel Hempstead Evening Post Echo newspaper], that strongly suggests this facility was used as a CIA weapons dump. This weapons dump held Soviet Bloc small arms (AK 47s, RPGs, etc.) for a special combined CIA/MI6 Cold War operation, code named Operation GLADIO. The specific duties of Op. GLADIO operatives, was "behind the lines" resistance activities. The concept being that IF Western Europe was invaded by the Warsaw Pact, that such units could disrupt the invaders "lines of communications & supplies". Duncan Campbell in his title War Plan UK & The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier, refer to this base facility by its CIA radio call-sign of << X-Ray Zero Niner >>. Today, a number of the strengthened (although NOT armoured) ammo block houses, still stand on the industrial estate. The scrap yard near the far end of the estate, retains the two earth concrete revetment walls, that allowed truck access to the block house doors. It also gives some scale of the removed earth bund revetment beams carefully constructed around ALL the block houses (prior to their demolition for industrial units). Ironically enough, it was the activity of Ronnie Biggs, et alia that exposed the presence of this supposedly secret base to the media (being within spitting distance of their event venue!). The BBC used a current affairs programme a few weeks after the Great Train Robbery, to expose this base to the world.
Today the runways and assorted taxiways, hardstands and aprons have all been removed for hardcore. There is a significant number of wartime buildings in various levels of abandonment on what was the technical site.
along the south eastern part of the original peremiter road, and also can be seen from marsworth lane and google earth, a private grass runway used by private light aircraft.