Monument record 0620100000 - WING AIRFIELD
Summary
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Type and Period (1)
- MILITARY AIRFIELD (20th Century - 1900 AD to 1999 AD)
Description
Robin Brooks book 'Thames Airfields in the Second World War' gives a history of Wing Airfield noting that it was first surveyed in 1940 by the Air Ministry and construction started soon after. The airfield was given two hard runways, one running N-S and the other E-W. Plus four large T type hangars and a B1 hangar with small brick buildings to serve as workshops and offices. A decoy airfield was built at Wingrove and, as an extra level of protection, most of the instructional buildings were dispersed. The site also had air raid shelters, a gas chamber, bomb dump and incendiary store sunk underground. The first commanding officer, Group Captain J N D Anderson arrived on 2 December 1941. In 1942, the airfield was the base for trial of the MB3 single seater fighter. With Little Horwood acting as its satelite, the planes using the two bases included Wellingtons, Ansons, Lysanders, Tiger Moths, Defiants and a Proctor. In January 1943 two fighter squadrons (268 and 613) of Mustangs arrived to be followed by a bomber squadron (1684) of Tomahawks. On 7 August 1942, a Wellington III (X3790) on exercise from Wing crashed into the High Street of Winslow and the four crew and 13 civilians were killed. Other Wellington operations include Forest d'Eperlecques, France, destroying fuel bunkers for Germany's V1s and V2 flying bombs, and propoganda drops (operation Nickel). In April 1945, Wing became a POW repatriation centres. The Operational Training Unit closed on the 4th May 1946. Robin Brooks notes that the airfield was finally sold on 22nd April 1960 (B1).
Detailed history of Wing airfield with information about layout and ancillary components (B2).
Sources (11)
- ---SBC18156 Aerial Photograph: 17/07/96. MEF BCM A25/25/18-19. SP\851231. Yes.
- ---SBC20325 Aerial Photograph: Fairey Surveys Ltd. 1966. FSL 1966 Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 6601.
- ---SBC20326 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 4096. SP 87602170. Yes.
- ---SBC20327 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 4097. SP8730 2230. Yes.
- ---SBC20328 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 4098. SP 8669 2240. Yes.
- ---SBC20329 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 4099. SP 8600 2240. Yes.
- ---SBC20330 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 4100. SP 8550 2260. Yes.
- ---SBC20331 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 4101. SP 8510 2210. Yes.
- ---SBC20332 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph: run 428, frame 4102. SP 8430 2315. Yes.
- <1>SBC19271 Bibliographic reference: Robin J Brooks. 2000. Thames Valley Airfields in the Second World War. pp201-6.
- <2>SBC20142 Bibliographic reference: Michael Warth. 2001. Wings Over Wing: the story of a World War II Bomber Training Unit.
Location
Grid reference | Centred SP 85856 23547 (2527m by 1918m) (Exact) |
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Civil Parish | WING, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (4)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Feb 2 2018 1:08PM