Fordoun was reopened for private flying in 1965, and a road now follows the line of one of the runways, but all four blister hangars have survived, one roofless, and other buildings including the parachute store still stand. Read about the history of the airfield and see more photographs here. This montrose based unit employed the airfield over two periods between november 1942 and september 1944. As with most airfields built during this time period, blyton was built to the standard class a pattern. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. A small corner of the airfield was used by a crop dusting firm and in 1989, the real aeroplane company moved in and so began the regeneration of the airfield that we know today. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british flying. It is employed for offroad racing cars and test running refurbished andor new designs of trucks. Uk airfield guide is one of the most comprehensive databases for british airports, airfields and flying sites that exists on the internet today. As part of 1 group, raf coningsby is one of the three air defence fighter bases in the united kingdom. The aim of the dunsfold airfield history society dahs is to preserve those features of dunsfold airfield that have significant historic or architectural interest, in order to retain for posterity the unique contribution of the airfield to our national aerospace heritage. We built this site to share information about airfields not generally available to the public.
Jun 23, 2009 steeped in history for more than 85 years, north weald airfield is an ideal place to start your aviation heritage tour. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. Airfield publications publish books on uk airfields, recent publications include raf kirton in lindsey, burtonwood, woodvale and 611 west lancashire squadron, royal auxiliary air force, raf brampton and raf waterbeach. Airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression. World war ii airfield defences at raf church fenton, church. The history of raf balderton raf newark 58 mu raf winthorpe. Church fenton was one of few fighter stations in the north of england and is one of the few nationally where significant remains of the defences of a battle of britain station still survives. Leading energy services company, hunting, subsequently bought the airfield in 1995 and has significantly transformed it for use as an oil pipe storage facility. It is currently used for storing pipes and drilling equipment used in. Came across an old army base near the old fordoun airfield in aberdeenshire. The flying area of the airfield, excluding the domestic and technical sites, is about 93 hectares. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a. North of the village of fordoun is a disused airfield that was active during world war ii and was a tworunway satellite for peterhead airfield the base was active from 194244 primarily for flying the airspeed oxford an raf training aircraft.
Raf seighford is a former royal air force station located 3. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the. Witness the daring exploits and dangerous challenges that form the story of flight in this beautifully illustrated book, filled with rare photographs and historical. Some preservation of the remaining ww2 radar site and museum can be found on site.
The air photographs also show the dispersed domestic accommodation sites to the w in the area to the nw of redhall house and the technical area no77nw 180. Fordoun airfields of britain conservation trust uk. In april 1962 the auster was at last permitted to use the main runway and the aero club began to enrol members from the general public. In the 19th century a railway station was opened approximately three miles to the southeast of fordoun church and the original settlement. There is a recognised procedure for appraisal, designation and management of a conservation area historic england 6. Fordun pronounced fordun is a parish and village in. Raf fordoun, fr, scotland, kincardineshire, 1942, 1950. Phase one was completed in 2009, redeveloping fordoun as a world class pipe management facility following a multimillion pound investment. Some of the airfield buildings were utilised as industrial units, many timber storage sheds were built on the old runways and a council tip was established on the site. Fordoun passed to war office control in october 1944. A pictorial history is available for purchase in the raf museum and at the national trust shop. Fothirdun possibly the lower place, as it was historically known, was an important area in the howe of the mearns. An updated historic england leaflet provides guidance on the management of historic military airfields and their associated buildings so that their special character and interest are preserved and enhanced.
The main road south from the humber bridge runs right through the middle of the airfield. More research on the web has revealed that raf fordoun was selected to take part in operation tyndall, an exercise in 1943 designed to convince the nazi regime that a serious threat to norway was underway. More unusual visitors were decoy douglas bostons which were dispersed here during 1943 and 1944 to try and deceive the enemy. This proposal for additional business development land at fourdon airfield is supported on the grounds it would be a natural extension to the existing uses at fordoun airfield 816,4,1705, the need for additional employment land 1080,1187, that development sites in laurencekirk will take time to deliver. Churchills most secret airfield first edition by bernard oconnor isbn. A new section on irish airports in now being started as a previous definitive site of these has sadly disappeared. There was a bombing decoy site, q site, to the south east of the airfield at great limber that was built to deflect enemy bombing from elsham wolds airfield. Betty has lived part of each year with one of her three aunts, rotating among them every few months.
Including books on bomber command, ww2 airfields, raf pathfinders and victoria cross. For mail order please get in touch using our contact dahg form. It explains how the operational needs and development potential of these sites can be reconciled with the preservation of their special. This entailed placing dummy douglas bostons on the airfield. 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 accordingly the book was quickly remaindered. The airfield is an historic site and was opened for the first world war and used for training american and canadian pilots. History fordoun airfield photos other items articles events links news surveys tips other users feedback ukga membership about ukga. The airfield is now used in part as the blyton raceway. A lot of it has overgrown now and in the middle of a wood with loads of nettles but it was worth a wee look. Palladius stone, in the parish church on the outskirts of auchenblae at no726784 6. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Fordoun was a relatively typical satellite airfield during the second world war. Our museum is open to the public on various dates during the year. This list of former raf stations includes most of the stations, airfields and administrative.
This summer month, shes in texas with her aunt clo and uncle grif. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book. The club was able to operate an auster autocrat from the former grass landing area at the southern end of the airfield and a temporary clubhouse was installed in the old wartime control tower. A series of books on aviation history during the second world war. Many former ww2 airfield sites are within easy reach along with important aviation heritage sites. Catalogue of the luftwaffe photographs in the national monuments. It is a family owned and managed destination with a history dating back to the 1800s. Military aerodrome later civilprivate airfield slg for raf peterhead military users. Mar 23, 2017 currently, historic england recognises dunsfold aerodrome as an undesignated heritage asset. Jun 22, 2004 the remains of the former world war ii airfield defences at raf church fenton survive well. There is a pictish symbol stone, the fordoun stone also known as st. It exists to research and make public the history of what has been. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Wynford vaughanthomas narrates a raid on berlin in 1943 tollerton airfield.
Approx 24 pages, photos, history, plans, softback with stapled binding. Jan 01, 1999 airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression. The airfield was closed in 1920 and the land sold back to a local farmer. Dunsfold aerodrome is considered for designation as a. The site was opened as a satelliterelief landing ground for raf hixon, 7. Scotland at a crucial period in its history in the second quarter of the 20th. The fordoun airfield is no longer available for aircraft landing or taking off. Due to potentially high volumes of traffic at times, we require all visiting pilots to obtain ppr by telephone. Purchasing the old aerodrome site in 1995, hunting has extended its operations at fordoun from ten to its present fifty acre footprint. It appears that 2 fis flying instructors school based at raf montrose had a flight of airspeed oxfords based here. There is some other industry prominent at fordoun, where the two runways and perimeter track survive at least in length to maintain a semblance of its aviation past.
Dunsfold airfield history society limited dahs is a notforprofit society. Raf coningsby, having started life as a wartime bomber airfield, has now evolved into the rafs foremost fighter base, responsible for the evolution of the services air defence tactics and doctrine. Fordoun and auchenblae, together with their immediate districts form the parish of fordoun with the parish church in the vicinity of the original settlement, now absorbed by auchenblae. Dahs dunsfold airfield history society home facebook. Fordoun hotel and spa is an award winning fivestar luxury boutique hotel and spa located near nottingham road in the scenic kwazulunatal midlands. Still on site are some of the only examples of belfast truss hangars.
If youre interested in recreational aviation and backcountry flying, youve come to the right place. This site provides a catalogue of all known uk airfields, past and present. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british. Grif has just landed a flight control job as did bettys dad who sends air mail. The boxted airfield historical group was founded with the aims of educating, as well as promoting and preserving the history of boxted airfield, including its association with the various usaaf and raf groups that were based here during and after world war ii. A tworunway satellite for peterhead airfield, fordoun aerodrome operated from 1942. Fordun pronounced fordun is a parish and village in aberdeenshire, scotland.
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