RAF Down Ampney
Encyclopedia
RAF Down Ampney was a Royal Air Force
station near Cricklade
, Gloucestershire
during World War II
from February 1944 to February 1947.
Down Ampney was part of a group of 3 airfields with RAF Broadwell
and RAF Blakehill Farm
dedicated to air transportation.
No. 48 Squadron RAF
and No. 271 Squadron RAF
flew Douglas Dakotas on major missions. On D-Day
they dropped the main elements of the 3rd Parachute Brigade in Normandy as well as towing Airspeed Horsa
gliders across the English Channel. They were also active in Operation Market Garden
(Arnhem) and the Rhine crossing.
A memorial has been erected at the southern end of what was the main runway. which reads:
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 near Cricklade
Cricklade
Cricklade is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in north Wiltshire in England, midway between Swindon and Cirencester.On 25 September 2011 Cricklade was awarded The Royal Horticultural Society's 'Champion of Champions' award in the Britain in Bloom competition.Cricklade is twinned with...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
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...
from February 1944 to February 1947.
Down Ampney was part of a group of 3 airfields with RAF Broadwell
RAF Broadwell
RAF Broadwell was a Royal Air Force station located 2 miles north of Broadwell and 3 miles southeast of Burford, Oxfordshire, within 2 miles of RAF Brize Norton. It opened on 15 November 1943 and closed on 31 March 1947, operating under RAF Transport Command...
and RAF Blakehill Farm
RAF Blakehill Farm
RAF Blakehill Farm was an RAF base situated in Wiltshire, England. The station was opened in 1944 as a base for transport aircraft of No. 46 Group Transport Command. In 1948 the airfield was a satellite of RAF South Cerney and used by training aircraft before the airfield closed in 1952 and was...
dedicated to air transportation.
No. 48 Squadron RAF
No. 48 Squadron RAF
No. 48 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that saw service in both World War I and World War II.-First World War:No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 1916. The squadron was posted to France in March 1917 and became the first fighter...
and No. 271 Squadron RAF
No. 271 Squadron RAF
No. 271 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was operational for two periods; a few brief months between 27 September 1918 and 9 December 1918 operating flying boats to protect shipping from German U-boats, and between 28 March 1940 and 1 December 1946 No. 271 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was...
flew Douglas Dakotas on major missions. On D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
they dropped the main elements of the 3rd Parachute Brigade in Normandy as well as towing Airspeed Horsa
Airspeed Horsa
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British World War II troop-carrying glider built by Airspeed Limited and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces...
gliders across the English Channel. They were also active in Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
(Arnhem) and the Rhine crossing.
A memorial has been erected at the southern end of what was the main runway. which reads:
Runways
- 03/21 = 6000 foot
- 09/27 = 4200 foot
- 15/33 = 4200 foot