Building recording of a cold war air traffic control building and surrounding structures at the former raf alconbury site, uk, carried out by the airfield. Alconbury is situated within huntingdonshire which is a nonmetropolitan district of cambridgeshire as well as being an historic county of england. Raf alconbury airfield 92nd bg, 93rd bg, 95th bg, 482nd bg. Search the catalog, download items, manage your account, and find suggested reading instantly with your apple or. One of the major tragedies in alconbury s long history took place. Raf alconbury is a royal air force station adjacent to the stukeleys, near alconbury and huntingdon, cambridgeshire in the united kingdom, about 60 miles 100 km north of london its runway and flight line were closed in the mid1990s and it is currently a nonflying facility under the control of the united states air force. Include information for dependents over the age of 10 in the family member. Raf alconbury, england our last assignment before sams retirement. Alconbury began life as britains first satellite airfield when no 63 squadrons fairey battles from upwood transferred here in may 1938 to investigate the viability of the site. Land for an airfield at alconbury was first acquired in 1938 as a satellite landing ground for raf upwood, and, when war broke out, it.
A book on military airfield architecture written by me was published by haynes in 1996 which was based on the 1994 research carried out for english heritage, although at the time and outside of arg there was still very little interest in airfield architecture and history so. Raf wyton s history dates back to april 1916 and it is still in use by the armed services today. Always used by the british forces, the base is run by the united states of america now. Alconbury was listed as acumesberie and almundeburie in the hundred of leightonstone in huntingdonshire in the domesday book.
This building is a butler shed that dates from the 1950s and was originally sited at raf molesworth. Royal air force alconbury is a british military base located in cambridgeshire, in the southeastern part of the united kingdom. Alconbury had been constructed as a satellite airfield for raf upwood and wyton and was used by raf squadrons. Cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail alconbury and wyton. Location cambridgeshire alconbury period world war two 1939 1945 tags aerial view defence military airfield world war two 1939 1945. Now compiling a four partwork series of books on military aerodrome architecture, 19111945, based on the airfield research groups drawing collection. Giving cuttingedge manufacturers and low carbon companies the space to make and to grow.
The main content is airfield related and in our facility at alconbury we currently hold over 100,000 slides and negatives of historial airfield photographs, a library of over 4,500 books, hundreds of airfield site plans, over 3,000 airfield and airfield building drawings from wwi onwards, largescale ordnance survey maps and much more besides. In 1983, tr1s reconnaissance spy planes were permanently based at alconbury. Aldon ferguson of the airfield research group organised a trip to airfield side of this former. It is one of three raf bases in cambridgeshire currently used by the. It was previously named raf abbots ripton from 1938 to 9 september 1942 while under raf bomber command control. The survey records that there were 18 ploughlands with the capacity for a further two, and 80 acres 32 hectares of meadows. The airfield is in the civil parish of the stukeleys, close to the villages of great stukeley, little stukeley, and alconbury opened in 1938 for use by raf bomber command, the station has been used from 1942 by the united states army air forces now known as the united states.
It was initially set up in 1938 as a satellite airfield to nearby raf wyton about five miles away. Raf wytons history dates back to april 1916 and it is still in use by the armed services today. Its certainly not a definitive history on alconbury, more of an overview to accompany the pictures. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Later information states it was originally a satellite for raf wyton in 1938. This control tower with attached operations room is the bestpreserved example of a standard type built for bomber satellite stations during the second world war. Opened in 1938 for use by raf bomber command, the station has been used from 1942 by the united states army air forces. Alconbury continued to have an american prescence until 1993, when the base closed. I was stationed at abbots riptonalconbury during the war in the 5th depot repair squad. It was home to the carpetbagger project, which flew. Raf mildenhalls history goes back well before us air force units first arrived though.
An aerial view of alconbury airfield in cambridgeshire. The host unit at raf alconbury is the 423rd air base group 423 abg which. The story goes, it was not uncommon for engineers to work solo into the night. The 92d operations group 92 og is the flying component of the 92d air refueling wing, assigned to the united states air force air mobility command eighteenth air force. Anglia, played a central part in military operations over europe. The living includes alconburyweston, and is a vicarage in the diocese of elv.
Alconbury airfield, cambridgeshire educational images. Alconbury is a village and civil parish in cambridgeshire, england. In december 1942 the 92nd bg moved to alconbury from bovingdon with b17s as a ccru. Locals divided on alconbury sale the airfield purchase could kill off plans for a rail freight terminal it was revealed in early november that alconbury. A military airfield built in 1938 as a satellite airfield for royal air force wyton. Work included the construction of five prefabricated ready sheds, thirteen extrawide hardened aircraft shelters. It is actually one of the three raf installations in this situation in cambridgeshire. The airfield is in the civil parish of the stukeleys, close to the villages of great stukeley, little stukeley, and alconbury.
It was relocated to raf alconbury in the 1970s and became the. Raf bomber command use 19391941 in september 1939, raf upwood squadrons were given operational training roles and alconbury became raf wytons satellite under no. Raf alconbury in the second world war 19391945 the. It will also include a heritage centre to commemorate the history of the base. Opened as satellite to upwood with fairey battles of 63 squadron, became satellite to wyton 0939.
The first of the americans were the 93rd bg the travelling circus with b24s who left in november 1942. This led to a large remodelling of the northern section of the airfield to accommodate these aircraft and their specialised mission. This exercise proved successful, very shortly leading to selection for development as an airfield, and battles arrived again on. It is less than 100 km from london and only 8 km from huntingdon.
In preparation for the arrival of american heavy bombers, the base was developed in 1942 with the runways extended. Two historic huntingdonshire airfields situated approximately seven miles apart. Other major books at this time included white rose base 1972 brian rapier. The uk highway code book is online and will be helpful in learning the signs and. History of alconbury in huntingdonshire map and description. For over 70 years, raf alconbury, like so many sites across east. Map of alconbury airfield, north gate, alconbury, pe28 4.
See houses and flats from the top agents in north gate, alconbury airfield, alconbury, huntingdon pe28 and get contact details for enquiries. Royal air force alconbury or more simply raf alconbury is an active royal air force station near huntingdon, england. Alconbury brook rises on the confines of northamptonshire, and runs about 3 miles southeastward to the ouse at huntingdon. The 93rd bombardment group was replaced by the 92nd. Raf alconbury, england lived there for the best two years of my high school years. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country. Alconbury lies approximately 5 miles 8 km northwest of huntingdon. The airfield is in the civil parish of the stukeleys, close to the villages of great. Raf alconbury was first established as an airfield in 1938 and it remained in use by. Raf mildenhall, suffolk, will also close as a usafe base after 2020. Extensive changes to airfield with runway extension, additional hardstanding, hangars and support buildings. Colorado st, bldg 671, 2nd floor, raf alconbury, gbr. It was initially set up in 1938 as a satellite airfield to nearby raf wyton. Royal air force station alconbury or raf alconbury is an active royal air force station located in cambridgeshire, england.
Raf mildenhall, alconbury and molesworth to close in britain. In august 1942 control was transferred to 8th usaaf. Located on the rail and road transport spine of the country, with easy access to all corners of the country, alconbury campus lies between the global innovation hub of cambridge and the environmental services cluster of peterborough. The airfield is adjacent to the stukeleys, alconbury and about 5 miles 8. Originally it seems just a lg landing ground used by upwood based aircraft. In response to the worldwide pandemic, the raf alconbury library has shifted to a virtual model until further notice. Assuming, of course, you book the right dates to stay or visit. History land for an airfield at alconbury was first acquired in 1938 as a. The 93rd bombardment group move in, flying b24 liberators. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at. Alconbury has a long, distinguished history the village was mentioned in the domesday book and was a popular stoppingoff point on the great north road as early as the 17th century. Wash rack effluent pumping main sewage pumping facility.
If you need a library account in order to access the elibrary, please fill out this form using the sponsors information and official email address. It was the starting point on october 20th, 1934 for perhaps the most famous and important air race of aviation history, the macrobertson air race, a grueling aerial dash between england and australia. Bbc cambridgeshire locals divided on alconbury sale. English electric lightning f1 crashes in a farmers field. The group is stationed at fairchild air force base, washington during world war ii, the groups predecessor unit, the 92d bombardment group was the first viii bomber command b17 flying fortress heavy bombardment groups to. Team alconbury is the name given to the airfield research group ltd. Raf alconbury was first established as an airfield in 1938 and it remained in use by the united states air force until 1995. The airfield opened on 17th may 1938 originally as a scatter field for the new bomber station at upwood. Alconbury and wyton cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail. Browse a range of property to buy in north gate, alconbury airfield, alconbury, huntingdon pe28 with primelocation. I was stationed here in and was a crew chief on for the aggressor squadron. Guest writer paul s huggins reveals a horrific legend that haunts the former air force base in alconbury, cambridgeshire in the heart of cambridgeshire, only a couple of miles outside of huntingdon, is the former raf and usaf base of alconbury.
Raf alconbury in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. The site was used by 15, 40 and 156 sqns bomber command. The library has an extensive and uptodate selection of clep and dantes materials to help you earn college credit. Whether youre looking for pcs information for the raf alconburymolesworth community, fitness classes, jobs, theatre shows in london, art classes, or dining options, the 423 fss have a large variety of services to suit your needs. The beast that terrorised raf alconbury spooky isles. Alconbury banks, chambers of commerce, councils, dentists, doctors, emergency nos, fire station, halls for hire, hospitals, mp, churches, police station, recycling. Until 1942, it was the base for 15, 40 and 156 squadrons of the royal air force. During ww2 raf alconbury was an important station for both bomber command and the us air force. Royal air force alconbury or more simply raf alconbury is an active royal air force station in huntingdon. Check out alconbury airfield, north gate, alconbury road map.
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