I was stationed at abbots ripton alconbury during the war in the 5th depot repair squad. Alconbury and wyton cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail. One of the major tragedies in alconbury s long history took place. The living includes alconburyweston, and is a vicarage in the diocese of elv. Wash rack effluent pumping main sewage pumping facility. The airfield is in the civil parish of the stukeleys, close to the villages of great. A new training centre opened today in the alconbury enterprise zone, a former airfield and brownfield site. Originally it seems just a lg landing ground used by upwood based aircraft. Alconbury airfield, cambridgeshire educational images. This building is a butler shed that dates from the 1950s and was originally sited at raf molesworth. Location cambridgeshire alconbury period world war two 1939 1945 tags aerial view defence military airfield world war two 1939 1945.
Well assume youre ok with this, but you can optout if you wish. 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. Raf wytons history dates back to april 1916 and it is still in use by the armed services today. Raf alconbury in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. But there are many more interesting points to the twin villages of alconbury and alconbury weston, including the many fords and bridges which cross alconbury. The momentous 22minute flight was piloted by brian trubshaw and john cochrane. 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. History of alconbury in huntingdonshire map and description. Built in 1938, this was formerly an raf base but until recently was occupied by the american air force. Raf bomber command use 19391941 in september 1939, raf upwood squadrons were given operational training roles and alconbury became raf wytons satellite under no. The beast that terrorised raf alconbury spooky isles.
For over 70 years, raf alconbury, like so many sites across east. Emerging from the cockpit at fairford, brian trubshaw remarked it was wizard a cool, calm and collected operation. We were asked to shoot some aerial footage of the closed circuit cycling at alconbury airfield on 18th august 2015. Opened as satellite to upwood with fairey battles of 63 squadron, became satellite to wyton 0939. The uk highway code book is online and will be helpful in learning the signs and. Its runway and flight line were closed in the mid1990s and it is currently a nonflying facility under the control of. Team alconbury is the name given to the airfield research group ltd. Royal air force alconbury is a british military base located in cambridgeshire, in the southeastern part of the united kingdom. Map of pe28 4wx postcode in huntingdonshire, england with local information, latlong. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Raf alconbury in the second world war 19391945 the. 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. The airfield opened on 17th may 1938 originally as a scatter field for the new bomber station at upwood.
Include information for dependents over the age of 10 in the family member. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at. 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. In response to the worldwide pandemic, the raf alconbury library has shifted to a virtual model until further notice. Alconbury weald is over 1,425 acres of which phase 1 is 266 acres. History land for an airfield at alconbury was first acquired in 1938 as a. 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. It was initially set up in 1938 as a satellite airfield to nearby raf wyton. Raf alconbury was first established as an airfield in 1938 and it remained in use by the united states air force until 1995. Royal air force alconbury or more simply raf alconbury is an active royal air force station near huntingdon, england. Alconbury airfield huntingdon business center facebook.
Colorado st, bldg 671, 2nd floor, raf alconbury, gbr. On the taxiway is a b17g, tail number 4297284 aint misbehavin she would fly a total of 48 combat missions during the war. In preparation for the arrival of american heavy bombers, the base was developed in 1942 with the runways extended. 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. Whether youre looking for pcs information for the raf alconbury molesworth 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. It is actually one of the three raf installations in this situation in cambridgeshire. 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. It was initially set up in 1938 as a satellite airfield to nearby raf wyton about five miles away. It was relocated to raf alconbury in the 1970s and became the. 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. The 93rd bombardment group move in, flying b24 liberators. The survey records that there were 18 ploughlands with the capacity for a further two, and 80 acres 32 hectares of meadows.
Raf alconbury airfield 92nd bg, 93rd bg, 95th bg, 482nd bg. The name alconbury has become well known around the country thanks to the air base. Alconbury was listed as acumesberie and almundeburie in the hundred of leightonstone in huntingdonshire in the domesday book. See houses and flats from the top agents in north gate, alconbury airfield, alconbury, huntingdon pe28 and get contact details for enquiries. Please log on to our social media account to stay up to date with up coming events. Assuming, of course, you book the right dates to stay or visit. The 93rd bombardment group was replaced by the 92nd. 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.
Fss directory 423d force support squadron raf alconbury. Alconbury was listed in the domesday book in the hundred of leightonstone in huntingdonshire. Raf mildenhall, alconbury and molesworth to close in britain. Raf alconbury was first established as an airfield in 1938 and it remained in use by.
Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. Alconbury banks, chambers of commerce, councils, dentists, doctors, emergency nos, fire station, halls for hire, hospitals, mp, churches, police station, recycling. Giving cuttingedge manufacturers and low carbon companies the space to make and to grow. Cambridgeshire aviation heritage trail alconbury and wyton.
Later information states it was originally a satellite for raf wyton in 1938. Always used by the british forces, the base is run by the united states of america now. Alconbury had been constructed as a satellite airfield for raf upwood and wyton and was used by raf squadrons. An aerial view of alconbury airfield in cambridgeshire. 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. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. All of these were very good for airfield histories but had very little information on airfield. It is less than 100 km from london and only 8 km from huntingdon. Extensive changes to airfield with runway extension, additional hardstanding, hangars and support buildings. Its certainly not a definitive history on alconbury, more of an overview to accompany the pictures. Alconbury continued to have an american prescence until 1993, when the base closed. During ww2 raf alconbury was an important station for both bomber command and the us air force. Alconbury training centre will train hundreds of local people to further develop the site.
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. Raf mildenhalls history goes back well before us air force units first arrived though. Unfortunately as its a typical british summer, it rained. It will also include a heritage centre to commemorate the history of the base. Anglia, played a central part in military operations over europe. Raf alconbury is an active royal air force station in cambridgeshire, england. Over the next 1520 years, alconbury weald will deliver. This exercise proved successful, very shortly leading to selection for development as an airfield, and battles arrived again on. Check out alconbury airfield, north gate, alconbury road map. Raf alconbury, alconbury, huntingdon, pe28 4da 01480 843000.
Map of alconbury airfield, north gate, alconbury, pe28 4. 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. Browse a range of property to buy in north gate, alconbury airfield, alconbury, huntingdon pe28 with primelocation. Alconbury brook rises on the confines of northamptonshire, and runs about 3 miles southeastward to the ouse at huntingdon. Two historic huntingdonshire airfields situated approximately seven miles apart.
The airfield is adjacent to the stukeleys great and little and located about north of london. It was previously named raf abbots ripton from 1938 to 9 september 1942 while under raf bomber command control. The trianglec marking on the verticle stabilizer was the raf molesworth designator. 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. Aldon ferguson of the airfield research group organised a trip to airfield side of this former.
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