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Coordinates: 50°46′54″N 001°50′23″W / 50.78167°N 1.83972°W / 50.78167; -1.83972
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{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in Dorset, England}}
{{for|the civil use of this facility after 1944|Bournemouth Airport}}
{{for|the civilian use of this facility after 1944|Bournemouth Airport}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
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| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = [[Bournemouth]], [[Dorset]]
| location = [[Bournemouth]], [[Dorset]]
| nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox -->
| country = England
| country = England
| image = [[File:Hurn-051947.jpg|250px]]
| image = [[File:Hurn-051947.jpg|250px]]
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| type = [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force station]]
| type = [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force station]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|50|46|54|N|001|50|23|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|50|46|54|N|001|50|23|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Dorset
| pushpin_map = Dorset#UK
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Dorset
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Dorset
| pushpin_label = RAF Hurn
| pushpin_label = RAF Hurn
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| ownership = [[Air Ministry]]
| ownership = [[Air Ministry]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]<br>[[United States Army Air Forces]] 1944
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]<br>[[United States Army Air Forces]] 1944
| controlledby = [[RAF Fighter Command]] 1941-44
| controlledby = [[RAF Fighter Command]] 1941-44<br />* [[No. 11 Group RAF]]<br />[[Ninth Air Force]]
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = KU
| code = KU{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=115}}
| built = {{Start date|1940}}/41
| built = {{Start date|1940}}/41
| used = July 1941 - {{End date|1946}}
| used = July 1941 - {{End date|1946}}
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| GPS =
| GPS =
| WMO =
| WMO =
| elevation = {{Convert|10|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|1998|p=48}}
| elevation = {{Convert|10|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=115}}
| r1-number = 00/00
| r1-number = 00/00
| r1-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r1-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
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<!-- end airfield information -->
<!-- end airfield information -->
}}
}}
[[File:Target Dossier for Hurn, Hampshire, England - DPLA - de0512964207e93238e092645ff70887 (page 1).jpg|thumb|right|RAF Hurn on a target dossier of the German [[Luftwaffe]], 1942]]
[[File:422d Night Fighter Squadron P-61 Black Widow 42-5535.jpg|thumb|Northrop P-61A-5-NO Black Widow Serial 42-5535 of the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron.]]
[[File:422d Night Fighter Squadron P-61 Black Widow 42-5535.jpg|thumb|Northrop P-61A-5-NO Black Widow Serial 42-5535 of the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron.]]
[[File:Rivenhall-397bg-b26-1.jpg|thumb|Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder Serial 42-107832 of the 598th Bomb Squadron.]]
[[File:Rivenhall-397bg-b26-1.jpg|thumb|Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder Serial 42-107832 of the 598th Bomb Squadron.]]
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* No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit
* No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit
* [[No. 16 Wing RAF|No. 16 (Mobile Fighter) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 16 Wing RAF|No. 16 (Mobile Fighter) Wing RAF]]
* No. 19 (Fighter) Sector
* [[No. 19 Sector RAF|No. 19 (Fighter) Sector]]
* No. 20 (Fighter) Sector
* [[No. 20 Sector RAF|No. 20 (Fighter) Sector]]
* No. 22 (RCAF) (Fighter) Sector
* [[No. 22 Sector RAF|No. 22 (RCAF) (Fighter) Sector]]
* [[No. 22 Wing RAF|No. 22 (RCAF) (Fighter) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 22 Wing RAF|No. 22 (RCAF) (Fighter) Wing RAF]]
* No. 124 Airfield became [[No. 124 Wing RAF|No. 124 (Rocket Projectile) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|1998|p=123}}
* No. 124 Airfield became [[No. 124 Wing RAF|No. 124 (Rocket Projectile) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=299}}
** [[No. 181 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 181 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 182 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 182 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 247 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 247 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 136 Wing RAF|No. 136 (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|1998|p=123}}
* [[No. 136 Wing RAF|No. 136 (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=299}}
** [[No. 164 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 164 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 183 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 183 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* No. 143 (RCAF) Airfield became [[No. 143 Wing RAF|No. 143 (RCAF) (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|1998|p=123}}
* No. 143 (RCAF) Airfield became [[No. 143 Wing RAF|No. 143 (RCAF) (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=299}}
** [[438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron|No. 438 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
** [[438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron|No. 438 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
** [[439 Combat Support Squadron|No. 439 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
** [[439 Combat Support Squadron|No. 439 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
** [[440 Transport Squadron|No. 440 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
** [[440 Transport Squadron|No. 440 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 146 Wing RAF|No. 146 (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|1998|p=123}}
* [[No. 146 Wing RAF|No. 146 (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=299}}
** [[No. 193 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 193 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 197 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 197 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
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==See also==
==See also==

{{Portal|World War II}}
*[[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]


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* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle {{ISBN|0-900913-80-0}}
* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle {{ISBN|0-900913-80-0}}
* Freeman, Roger A. (1996) The Ninth Air Force in Colour: UK and the Continent-World War Two. After the Battle {{ISBN|1-85409-272-3}}
* Freeman, Roger A. (1996) The Ninth Air Force in Colour: UK and the Continent-World War Two. After the Battle {{ISBN|1-85409-272-3}}
*{{cite book |last1=Falconer|first1=J|title=RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2 |year=1998 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=0-7110-2175-9}}
*{{cite book |last1=Falconer|first1=Jonathan|title=RAF Airfields of World War 2 |year=2012 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=978-1-85780-349-5}}
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.
* ControlTowers.co.uk http://www.controltowers.co.uk/H-K/Hurn.htm
* ControlTowers.co.uk http://www.controltowers.co.uk/H-K/Hurn.htm
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* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/SZ1129898085 Photographs of Bournemouth International Airport from the Geograph British Isles project]
* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/SZ1129898085 Photographs of Bournemouth International Airport from the Geograph British Isles project]


{{Royal Air Force}}
{{USAAF 9th Air Force UK}}
{{USAAF 9th Air Force UK}}
{{Christchurch, Dorset}}
{{Christchurch, Dorset}}

Latest revision as of 18:34, 4 December 2024

For the civilian use of this facility after 1944, see Bournemouth Airport.

RAF Hurn
USAAF Station AAF-492
Bournemouth, Dorset in England
Hurn airfield photographed in May 1947 still showing its Second World War configuration
RAF Hurn is located in Dorset
RAF Hurn
RAF Hurn
Shown within Dorset
RAF Hurn is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Hurn
RAF Hurn
RAF Hurn (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates50°46′54″N 001°50′23″W / 50.78167°N 1.83972°W / 50.78167; -1.83972
TypeRoyal Air Force station
CodeKU[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces 1944
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command 1941-44
* No. 11 Group RAF
Ninth Air Force
Site history
Built1940 (1940)/41
In useJuly 1941 - 1946 (1946)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation10 metres (33 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete
RAF Hurn on a target dossier of the German Luftwaffe, 1942
Northrop P-61A-5-NO Black Widow Serial 42-5535 of the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron.
Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder Serial 42-107832 of the 598th Bomb Squadron.
Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder Serial 42-96142 of the 596th Bombardment Squadron.

Royal Air Force Hurn or more simply RAF Hurn is a former Royal Air Force station located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north west of Christchurch, Dorset, England

Opened in 1941, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a transport and fighter airfield.

Hurn was the final airfield in England for aircraft flying to Morocco for the North African and Italian campaigns, avoiding France, Spain and Portugal airspace.

Since 1969, it has also been called Bournemouth Airport. The RAF have returned to Hurn in the form of a temporary Outsourcing Contract for Multi-Engine Pilot Training to cope with limited capacity through normal Training Provisions using L3 Harris Airline Academy (2018 -).

RAF use

[edit]

The following squadrons were here at some point[2]

Units:[2]

USAAF use

[edit]

Hurn was known as USAAF Station AAF-492 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. Its USAAF Station Code was "KU".

422nd Night Fighter Squadron

[edit]

On 28 June 1944, Northrop P-61 Black Widow night fighters of the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron arrived from RAF Scorton, where their crews had been tutored in this particular aspect of air combat by the RAF. The detachment commenced operational flying on 3 July only to return to Scorton a week later.

397th Bombardment Group

[edit]

On 5 August the 397th Bombardment Group arrived from RAF Rivenhall, equipped with Martin B-26 Marauders. The group consisted of the following operational squadrons:

  • 596th Bombardment Squadron (X2)
  • 597th Bombardment Squadron (9F)
  • 598th Bombardment Squadron (U2)
  • 599th Bombardment Squadron (6B)

The group's identification marking was a yellow diagonal band across both sides of the vertical tailplane. It moved the Advanced Landing Ground at Gorges, France, (A-26) on 19 August

The airfield was closed by the RAF in October 1944 and turned over for civil use.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b Falconer 2012, p. 115.
  2. ^ a b "Hurn (Bournemouth)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Falconer 2012, p. 299.
[edit]
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