Bbc exploring gloucestershires abandoned airfields. A tune he composed, used for the hymn come down, o love divine, is titled down ampney in its honour. You will find more of the key which tells you what the buildings were in site no 3, which was adjacent to our field, in the barbers, tailors and shoemakers blog post. Did you know that there are dozens of abandoned airfields in gloucestershire. Shaded relief panoramic map of down ampney maphill.
Photograph taken by 7th photographic reconnaissance group, sortie number us7phgploc97. The two had taken off from raf down ampney behind dakotas of 48 squadron. All saints church, down ampney, gloucestershire, gl7 5qw. 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. It has a post office under cricklade, which is the money order and telegraph office. As air commodore graham pitchfork points out in his book shot down and in the drink, four were forced down in the north sea. Find out about the candidates for the parish council elections on 7 may, put 17 may in your diaries for the spring fete, try the village shops suggestion for an easy pudding, help muddy wellies the village preschool with some probono legal advice. Grif has just landed a flight control job as did bettys dad who sends air mail. It initially served to protect london from the zeppelin raids in the first world war. Raf down ampney was a royal air force station located 1.
Down ampney airfield dispersed sites whats in a field. The following information has been contributed by users volunteering for our enriching the list project. Youre more than a number in my little red book started a song, which we used to sing. The airfield at podington is now quite a part of the history of the village, first being occupied by the 301st, then the hundredth b. All saints church was adjacent to the airfield and its spire served as a welcome sight for those returning from operations. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. Group and based at down ampney, did two horsa tugs on 56 june. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. The airfield is still partly used by microlights and motor gliders with three runways in use. Ww2 peoples war my time with 271 squadron chapter 1 bbc. History of down ampney, in cotswold and gloucestershire.
To conclude the down ampney history i must record that on vj day 1945 when everyone was so relieved that we were not going to japan because of the atomic bomb being dropped, there was a huge. Ampney st peter, gloucestershire genealogy genealogy. 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. The airfield operated during world war ii from february 1944 until february. Jan 01, 1999 airfield, by jeanette ingold takes place in muddy springs, texas during times of the depression. Raf down ampney simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The corinium stages, down ampney airfield mk2 escort. The above map of down ampney was created using a digital elevation model. All saints, down ampney, cirencester, gloucestershire gl7 5qw view on map. Podington airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Ampney down, or down ampney, a parish in cirencester district, gloucester. This page combines information for the address down ampney, cirencester, gl7 5qw, and the neighbourhood in which it resides. History of down ampney, in cotswold and gloucestershire map. The units that used down ampney were 271 and 48 squadrons.
Wed love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment. During the second world war, the raf down ampney airfield was a base for planes seeing active. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. Down ampney ho photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. Jun 09, 2010 raf ridgewell is a former world war ii airfield in england. As i sat down to write this newsletter i am reminded of the popular song now the end is near for i fear that after a passage of time since 1974 when the window was dedicated and our first reunion at down ampney, this may be the last newsletter. The caterpillar neovia site was a really important airfield from 1935 to 1953 and most particularly during world war 2. From this airfield in 19445 douglas dakotas from 48 and 271 squadrons raf transport command carried the 1st and 6th airborne divisions, units of the air despatch regiment and horsa gliders flown by the glider pilots regiment to normandyarnhem and on the. Raf down ampney simple english wikipedia, the free.
Down ampney is a small village in the very south of gloucestershire, standing beside the border with wiltshire. Between operations aircrew flying from raf down ampney provided an ongoing service. 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. I honestly felt at the time that once the installation ceremony was over then that would be that.
Staff sergeant bruce hobbs dfm in glider 266 was carrying six men. There is a fascinating exhibit on down ampney s favourite son in the tower of all saints church. Do you have more uptodate information about down ampney. Recently a swindon member, jimmy cowe, an ex b flight 271 mechanic sent me an article from the swindon advertiser about down ampney and jimmy edwards being shot down at arnhem. The airfield operated during world war ii from february 1944 until february 1947. It was assigned usaaf designation station 167, station code rd. As with most airfields built during this time period, blyton was built to the standard class a pattern. We circled the airfield but to my surprise our glider cast off its rope at about. 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. Ampney down, or downampney, a parish in cirencester district, gloucester. Down ampney was built in february 1944 and it was closed down in february 1947. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 010720. It was a place where firm friendships were forged, memories made and many acts of bravery recorded. In writing this newsletter i feel that we have reached the crossroads of our raf down ampney association which started around 1974 with the installation of the stained glass memorial window in the church. This is described below in the transcript of alan bonsers excellent talk given in 2008 on the history of the desford airfield. Operation market garden 75th anniversary raf down ampney. As part of 1 group, raf coningsby is one of the three air defence fighter bases in the united kingdom. There are 3 ways to get from reading to down ampney by train, taxi or car. Raf down ampney was a royal air force station located north east of cricklade, wiltshire and south west of raf fairford. Shaded relief map shows landscape features, such as mountains, valleys and plateaus. Hi my dad was based at down ampney and was a dc3 navigator. The event was organised by the rev canon john swanton the vicar of all saints church, down ampney. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. The ceremony took place to mark the 75th anniversary of the operation at all saints church, down ampney, adjacent to the disused raf airfield. Cirencester car club are proud to announce that we shall again this year be running the coriniun stages rally at down ampney airfield near cirencester gloucestershire sn6 6ln, map ref.
Scroll down in the article to the section court jurisdictions by parish. Follow the latest news for down ampney in gloucestershire, england, uk local news and information in your area. This postcode in down ampney is in the south west region of england. Down ampney, gloucestershire genealogy heraldry and history. The film a bridge too far tells the story of operation market garden. Aerial photograph of down ampney airfield, 4 december 1943. Vacation rentals in down ampney, england tripadvisor.
This memorial is located at the site of the former down ampney airfield. Raf down ampney dispersed sites 14 photos in su0996. The cooperative farms down ampney estate cricklade model flying club. Aerial photograph of down ampney airfield looking south, the bomb dump is on the left, the technical site with a t2 hangar is on the right. There is a window dedicated to his memory in the south transept. This page was last edited on 29 january 2019, at 12. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. A history of crosbyoneden airfield, 194191 by paul r. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of down ampney ho.
This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916. The whole area taken over for the aerodrome before the war was what i would describe as my poaching ground. Many young people men and women served at raf down ampney. I get several approaches from tv people, authors writing wartime books and other. Interesting information for down ampney, cirencester, gl7 5qw.
Jan 14, 20 raf down ampney was a royal air force station during world war ii. Reading to down ampney 3 ways to travel via train, taxi. Do you have any photos taken at or near down ampney. Ampney, down all saints, a parish, in the union of cirencester, chiefly in the hundred of crowthorne and minety, e. Other window dedicated to aircrews who flew from here for the battle of arnhem during wwii. During the second world war, raf down ampney was based on the outskirts of the village of down ampney and was operational from february 1944 february 1947. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and. From stoke orchard to temple guiting, northleach to bibury, its believed there are around 50 disused airfield sites in the county. The bloody hundredth, and finally the permanent home of the now famed 92nd b.
Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. It was from here that raf 48 and 271 squadrons douglas dakotas on major missions. More recently the airfield was used as a satellite airfield for the central flying school at raf little rissington, with trainee pilots practising their circuits in bac jet provosts. Mar 22, 2020 browse and book from the best vacation rentals with prices in down ampney and nearby. Dan does us a good service by keeping a weather eye on our garden of remembrance, our memorial and seat on the airfield. Stoke orchard, chedworth, moretoninmarsh, little rissington, barnsley park, bibury, northleach, windrush, southrop, down ampney, fairford, south cerney.
I have mixed some well known buildings with some lesser known parts of the airfield. Emcos down ampney rally 2015 ss4 historic chevette hs. 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. The corinium stages, down ampney airfield mk2 escort stage 5. This summer month, shes in texas with her aunt clo and uncle grif. The history of each airfield is described with the squadrons and aircraft based at them and the main operations flown. Aug 12, 2015 in this month we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory over japan vj day. The pretty cotswold village of down ampney is best known as the birthplace of composer ralph vaughan williams. For small corrections to the list entry please see our minor amendments procedure the information and images below are the opinion of the contributor, are not part of the official entry and do not. 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. The job of these three airfields was to transport move things by air. The disused former watch officeair traffic control tower is clearly visible on the airfield.
Latest news in down ampney in gloucestershire, england, uk. Loose military control continued throughout the 1950s and it was home too to a polish resettlement camp. Grade i listed, built 1265 for the knights templar. He is buried in the churchyard at down ampney and his grave can be seen by the east wall of the south transept. Zoom in to see major highways, railroads and airports. Amazing the history of the airfield and the unit that served there. Stained glass east window is a copy of basilica doors in florence. Aerial photograph of down ampney airfield looking south west, the bomb dump is to the lower left of the airfield, the technical site and barrack sites are to the right, 4 december 1943. Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. The first plans for an airfield were drawn up in early 1941, with construction swiftly starting soon after. Books multiple airfields history of manston airfield. Until early 1941 aston down was host to the rafs no. Betty has lived part of each year with one of her three aunts, rotating among them every few months.
Despite taking up a brief space in the long history of the village, the airfield and its memories still loom large. Seventy years ago the servicemen stationed at raf down ampney were celebrating the end of the war and in particular that it meant they were not having to go to the far east to fight the japanese as had been planned. During the second world war, the raf down ampney airfield was a base for planes seeing active service in the war. In september 1944 douglas dakotas towing horsa gliders took off from raf down ampney as part of operation market garden to take the arnhem bridges a bridge too far. Raf winthorpe the story of an airfield 1939 1959 is the new book by colin savill ba hons, which has been published by the newark air museum. One of the best known british composers ralph vaughan williams rvw was born in the vicarage in down ampney on 12th october 1872 to the vicar, the revd arthur vaughan williams and his wife margaret, who was a member of the wedgewood family and niece of charles darwin. During the war, the airfield was used by the royal air force and the united states army air forces eighth air force. Raf down ampney in the second world war, the wartime memories project. An author from down ampney has just released his second book.
Raf down ampney in the second world war 19391945 the. Down ampney airfield dispersed sites click on the map to see it larger. Cirencester car club corinium stages 20 saturday may 4th hi all. The down ampney arnhem association, in which the 48 and 271 squadron associations played a vital part, holds a service in all. The airfield was part of a group of three airfields. Copies are now available to purchase from the museum shop. He was for a very large number of his flights jimmy edwards navigator.
North weald airfield was first established in 1916, only years after the wright brothers made the worlds first powered flight. The old vicarage in down ampney was the birthplace of ralph vaughan williams in 1872. A full account of the part played by wiltshires airfields during the second world war, including boscombe down, hullavington, lyneham, old sarum, thruxton, larkhill and wroughton. The other two were raf broadwell and raf blakehill farm. North wealds finest hour came in the summer of 1940, when it served as a frontline airfield in the battle of britain. From this airfield in 19445 douglas dakotas from 48 and 271 squadrons raf transport command carried the 1st and 6th airborne divisions. Our museum is open to the public on various dates during the year. Down ampney airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Brief history is that rafdm was open from late 1942 until 1945.
Peter, a parish, in the union of stratfordonavon, upper division of the hundred of kiftsgate, e. Bbc ww2 peoples war my time with 271 squadron chapter 3. Mrs vaughan williams moved from down ampney to be with her parents at leith hill in surrey with her three children. True, there isnt a lot there but ive been lucky enough to. The 92nd bg moved to france in july 1945 and podington passed quickly to raf control. A portion of this parish lies in the northern division of the adjoining county of wilts,and in the hundred of highworth. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. Raf down ampney was a royal air force station during world war ii. As part of the aviation heritage trail series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular. Church of england diocese of gloucester down ampney all saints church, down ampney, gloucestershire, gl7 5qw welcome to the parish of down ampney, which is part of the south cotswolds team ministry. Flat areas are smooth on the map, areas with steep slopes and mountains appear more rough. I know raf davidstow moor has been posted several times on dp, however, it is one of my favourite sites so here is my take on this truly atmospheric airfield.
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