the airfields - route one
RAF Christchurch
Christchurch airfield opened as a civilian airfield in 1935. At the start of the War, it was taken over by the RAF and became a centre for signals and electronics research and development and was the centre for Churchill's Wizard War and the home of an Airspeed shadow factory. In 1943 a temporary runway was laid and in 1944 Christchurch became the base for the USAAF 405th Fighter Group who operated P-47 Thunderbolts for the three months up until D-Day. In June 1944 the 405th moved to a landing ground in Normandy.
The airfield continued as an important aircraft production centre until it closed in 1966.
RAF Holmsley South
RAF Holmsley South was one of the "A" design concrete runway airfields that opened in 1942. It was primarily used by the RAF, Initially by Coastal Command for anti submarine patrols. Glider towing took place during 1943 and Holmsley was very busy during the build up to D-Day with many different units visiting. During 1944 the USAAF 394th Bomb Group were based at Holmsley. During the later stages of the War, Holmsley was increasingly used by transport aircraft. The airfield closed in 1946.
Some of the accommodation was used by Christchurch Council from 1946 until 1961 as temporary accommodation for families waiting for council houses.
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RAF Winkton
RAF Winkton was an Advanced Landing Ground built on agricultural land in 1943.
During April 1944 the USAAF 404th Fighter Group arrived with their P-47 Thunderbolts to operate in support of operation Overlord and the D-Day landings.
There were two temporary metal runways and most of the accommodation was in tents and make shift buildings.
The 404th moved to Normandy on the 6th July 1944 and the airfield and was returned to agriculture.
RAF Hurn
RAF Hurn was one of the "A" design concrete runway airfields that opened in 1941. It was used by many different units of both the RAF and the USAAF for many different purposes, one being repatriation of injured servicemen being taken to the American hospital at St Leonards.
RAF Hurn became a civilian airport and during 1969 it became known as Bournemouth International Airport and is today the only one of the World War 2 airfields still in operation.
RAF Bisterne
RAF Bisterne was an Advanced Landing Ground built on the Bisterne Manor estate. It was a prototype for the airfields that would be built in France after D-Day.
The airfield opened in April 1944 when the 371st Fighter Group of the UASSF arrived with their P-47 Thunderbolts.
Most accommodation was under canvas but a barn at Brixey's Farm was used for HQ and briefings and the Lady of the Manor made a few rooms available for an Officers Club.
The 371st relocated to Normandy during the later part of June 1944 and the airfield closed and was returned to agriculture.
RAF Ibsley
RAF Ibsley which opened in 1941 was one of the main concrete runway airfields Primarily used by the RAF with many different units passing through, the USAAF 48th Fighter Group flying P-47 Thunderbolts and the 367th Fighter Group with P-38 Lightnings were based at Ibsley during the first half of 1944.
In 1941, RAF Ibsley was used as the location for the film The First of the Few.
Little remains of the airfield today but a number of buildings are still standing and the Battle Headquaters remains in the woods to the east of the airfield.
RAF Stoney Cross
RAF Stoney Cross was another of the main concrete runway airfields. It opened in 1942 and was used by both the RAF and the USAAF primarily as a bomber and fighter/bomber airfield. Towards the end of the war, Stoney Cross was used as a transport airfield where many service personnel from overseas were repatriated to the UK.
The airfield closed in 1948 but some of the accommodation in Longbeech camp was used during the 1950'sas temporary accommodation for those awaiting new housing.
the airfields - route Two
RNAS / RAF Calshot
RAF Calshot, located on Calshot Spit at the entrance to Southampton Water, was first established in 1913 and became an important sea plane base
During the years between the wars, it was famous for its part in the British development of aircraft that won the schneider trophy
During World War 2 it was primarily a maintenance base for Sunderland flying boats and a base for the operation of fast marine craft. Calshot finally closed in 1961.
RAF Beaulieu
RAF Beaulieu was one of the permanent airfields constructed during 1941/42. The airfield opened in August 1942 and was used by both the RAF and the USAAF with maritime patrol, bomber and fighter aircraft. From April to June 1944 the USAAF 365th Fighter Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts from Beaulieu.
After the war, the airfield was used by the Airbourne Forces Experimental Establishment (AFEE) for experimental work.
The airfield finally closed in 1959.
RAF Needs Oar Point
Constructed in 1943 on land belonging to the Beaulieu Estate, RAF Needs Oar Point was an Advanced Landing Ground for 4 RAF Squadrons flying the Hawker Typhoon fighter Bomber. It was used from April 1944 in support of the Normandy landings. All four operational squadrons moved to RAF Hurn for two weeks before moving on to France by July 1944. The airfield was returned to agricultural use in 1945.
RAF Lymington
RAF Lymington, sometimes known as Pylewell, was constructed during the winter of 1943/44. There were two temporary steel runways and most of the accommodation was under canvas. The USAAF 50th Fighter Group arrived in April 1944 with their P-47 Thunderbolts. to provide ground attack capabilities in support of D-Day. The 50th moved to Normandy in June 1944 and the airfield closed for operational use.
RAF Sway
RAF Sway was established as an Emergency Landing Ground for aircraft based at RAF Christchurch. The idea was to park aircraft there overnight, safe from German attack, however, this failed as the Luftwaffe bombed RAF Sway on several occasions. In November 1941, after a little over a year in operation, the station closed
optional detours
Signals Research and Development Establishment
The Signals Research and Development Establishment was a Government research establishment focussing on all aspects of military communications. It moved to Christchurch in 1943 and remained there until 1976 when it merged with other facilities in Malvern. Technologies such as microwave, fibre optic and satellite communication and SRDE led the development of Skynet 1. and 2.
RAF Sopley " Starlight" Radar Station
RAF Sopley was a World War 2 radar station that initially provided Ground Control Interception for night fighters operating from RAF Middle Wallop. After the War it went on to become a major air traffic control centre known as Southern Radar. There was also an air traffic control training centre. The site closed when the service moved to West Drayton in 1974. The camp was used as a reception centre for Vietnamese Boat People in the early 1980s.
Ashley Walk Bombing Range
Ashley Walk Range is a former World War 2 bombing range located near Godshill. It operated from 1940 to 1946. The range included an assortment of different "targets!" for testing different types of bombs. Possibly most famous was the work of Barnes Wallis, with both his Tallboy and the Grand Slam , the largest bomb ever dropped by British military, were tested there.
D-Day at Lepe
The shores of what is now Lepe Country park played an important role in the preparation and execution of the D-Day invasion. The beach was used to load many landing craft for the invasion but before that took place, a site was constructed to build six of the Phoenix Caissons used in the construction of the Mulberry Harbour.
East Boldre World War 1 Airfield
East Boldre, originally known as Beaulieu, was one of the first airfields in the United Kingdom when it opened in 1910 as a civilian flying school. During World War 1, the Royal Flying Corps took over the site as a flying school but it closed soon after the end of the war. It was renamed East Boldre when the new forward airfield was built at Beaulieu in 1941. During World War 2 East Boldre was used as a parachute drop zone.
Telecommunications Research Establishment Purbeck Radar
During 1940/42 around 2000 people worked in the TRE at Worth Matravers on the Isle of Purbeck in what was known as Purbeck Radar. They were carrying our ground breaking research and development of what we now know as radar for both ground and aircraft installations. The radars installed at RAF Sopley were developed here. In 1942 the facilities were relocated to Malvern, away from the cost and the risk of German raids.