Shobdon Aerodrome
Encyclopedia
Shobdon Aerodrome is an airport
6 NM west of Leominster
, Herefordshire
, England
.
camp. Out of range of long range German Luftwaffe
bombers, it acted as a reception point for casualties received from Southampton
distributed to existing local hospitals. With a depot railway station developed on the Leominster and Kington Railway
, its first casualties arrived after the Battle of Dunkirk
.
The camp was developed further by the United States Army
from 1943, to act as a distribution point for two locally developed general hospitals. They also added a runway in cooperation with the Royal Air Force
, but due to the marshy land only one runway was developed.
In 1943, RAF No.1 Glider Training School moved from RAF Thame to Shobdon, enabling an increase in training of glider
pilots in preparation for Normandy and Arnhem
landings.
The RAF Gliding School closed in 1953, when the site was handed to Herefordshire County Council.
Ordinary Licence (Number P779) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Herefordshire Aero Club Limited). It is frequently used by air taxi
services to Europe.
Spectators are welcome. There is a visitors car park and catering facilities.
An air race or open day may take place in the summer months.
The RAF occasionally perform low passes over the airfield.
It operated by Herefordshire Aero Club who provide light aircraft flight training together with aircraft storage and maintenance services, and is the home of the local LAA Strut.
other air sports facilities based at Shobdon Airfield are:
introductory lessons and gift vouchers are available through the above web sites.
From 1963 to 1990 Herefordshire Parachute Club was very active but now parachuting is no longer available at the airfield.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
6 NM west of Leominster
Leominster
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, 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...
.
RAF Shobdon
Shobdon started as a 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...
camp. Out of range of long range German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
bombers, it acted as a reception point for casualties received from Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
distributed to existing local hospitals. With a depot railway station developed on the Leominster and Kington Railway
Leominster and Kington Railway
Leominster and Kington Railway was one of four branches which served the Welsh Marches border town of Kington, Herefordshire.Opened in August 1857, its peak was during World War II, when it served two US Army hospitals...
, its first casualties arrived after the Battle of Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
.
The camp was developed further by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1943, to act as a distribution point for two locally developed general hospitals. They also added a runway in cooperation with the Royal Air Force
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...
, but due to the marshy land only one runway was developed.
In 1943, RAF No.1 Glider Training School moved from RAF Thame to Shobdon, enabling an increase in training of glider
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
pilots in preparation for Normandy and Arnhem
Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
landings.
The RAF Gliding School closed in 1953, when the site was handed to Herefordshire County Council.
Today
Shobdon Aerodrome has a CAAUnited Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
The Civil Aviation Authority is the public corporation which oversees and regulates all aspects of aviation in the United Kingdom. The CAA head office is located in the CAA House on Kingsway in Holborn, London Borough of Camden...
Ordinary Licence (Number P779) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Herefordshire Aero Club Limited). It is frequently used by air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
services to Europe.
Spectators are welcome. There is a visitors car park and catering facilities.
An air race or open day may take place in the summer months.
The RAF occasionally perform low passes over the airfield.
It operated by Herefordshire Aero Club who provide light aircraft flight training together with aircraft storage and maintenance services, and is the home of the local LAA Strut.
other air sports facilities based at Shobdon Airfield are:
- Tiger Helicopters who offer helicopter flight training and maintenance.
- Swift Light Flight microlight club and training school.
- Herefordshire Gliding Club and training school.
introductory lessons and gift vouchers are available through the above web sites.
From 1963 to 1990 Herefordshire Parachute Club was very active but now parachuting is no longer available at the airfield.