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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}}
{{Infobox military structure
{{for|the civilian use of this facility after 1944|Bournemouth Airport}}
|name= Royal Air Force Station Hurn<br>USAAF Station AAF-492
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
|ensign=[[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]]
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Patch9thusaaf.png|60px]]
{{Infobox military installation
|location= Located near [[Bournemouth]], [[Dorset]], [[United Kingdom]]
| name = RAF Hurn<br>USAAF Station AAF-492
|coordinates={{Coord|50|46|54|N|001|50|23|W}}
| ensign = [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]][[File:Patch9thusaaf.png|60px]]
|image= [[File:Hurn-051947.jpg|300px]]
| ensign_size =
|caption= Hurn airfield photographed in May 1947 still showing its World War II configuration
| native_name =
|type= Military airfield
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
|code=KU
| location = [[Bournemouth]], [[Dorset]]
|built=1941
| country = England
|builder=
| image = [[File:Hurn-051947.jpg|250px]]
|materials=
|height=
| alt =
| caption = Hurn airfield photographed in May 1947 still showing its Second World War configuration
|used=1941-1946
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
|demolished=
| alt2 =
|condition=
| caption2 =
|ownership=
|controlledby=[[Royal Air Force]]<br />[[United States Army Air Forces]]
| 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}}
|garrison=[[RAF Transport Command]]<br />[[Ninth Air Force]]
| pushpin_map = Dorset#UK
|commanders=
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Dorset
|occupants=Nos 297, 295, 296, 570 Squadrons<br />422nd Night Fighter Squadron<br />397th Bombardment Group
| pushpin_label = RAF Hurn
|battles= [[European Theatre of World War II]]<br />Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945
| pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_map= Dorset
| ownership = [[Air Ministry]]
|pushpin_map_caption= RAF Hurn, shown within Dorset
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]<br>[[United States Army Air Forces]] 1944
|latitude= 50.78
| controlledby = [[RAF Fighter Command]] 1941-44<br />* [[No. 11 Group RAF]]<br />[[Ninth Air Force]]
|longitude= -1.85
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
|pushpin_label = RAF Hurn
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->

| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = KU{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=115}}
| built = {{Start date|1940}}/41
| used = July 1941 - {{End date|1946}}
| builder =
| materials =
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition =
| battles = [[European theatre of World War II]]
| events =
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations =
| website =
| footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code -->
<!-- begin airfield information -->
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| FAA =
| TC =
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO =
| elevation = {{Convert|10|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=115}}
| r1-number = 00/00
| r1-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r1-surface = Concrete
| r2-number = 00/00
| r2-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r2-surface = Concrete
| r3-number = 00/00
| r3-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r3-surface = Concrete
| h1-number =
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface =
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!-- 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.]]
[[File:B 26.jpg|thumb|Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder Serial 42-96142 of the 596th Bombardment Squadron.]]
[[File:B 26.jpg|thumb|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]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|station]] located approximately {{convert|4|mi|km}} north west of [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]], [[Dorset]], England
{{for|the civil use of this facility after 1944|Bournemouth Airport}}
'''RAF Hurn''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield in [[Dorset]], [[England]]. The airfield is located approximately {{convert|4|mi|km}} north east of [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]]; about {{convert|90|mi|km}} southwest of [[London]]


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.
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==

The following squadrons were here at some point<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/hurn-bournemouth/ |title=Hurn (Bournemouth) |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* [[No. 88 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 125 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 170 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 198 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 239 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 263 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 277 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 295 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 296 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 297 Squadron RAF]]
* [[412 Transport Squadron|No. 412 Squadron RCAF]] (1943)
* [[418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron|No. 418 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 570 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 604 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 609 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 620 Squadron RAF]]
}}
Units:<ref name="ABCT"/>
{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|
* [[No. 2 Air Experience Flight RAF]]
* No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit
* [[No. 16 Wing RAF|No. 16 (Mobile Fighter) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 19 Sector RAF|No. 19 (Fighter) Sector]]
* [[No. 20 Sector RAF|No. 20 (Fighter) Sector]]
* [[No. 22 Sector RAF|No. 22 (RCAF) (Fighter) Sector]]
* [[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|2012|p=299}}
** [[No. 181 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 182 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 247 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 136 Wing RAF|No. 136 (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=299}}
** [[No. 164 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|2012|p=299}}
** [[438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron|No. 438 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
** [[439 Combat Support Squadron|No. 439 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
** [[440 Transport Squadron|No. 440 Squadron RCAF]] (1944)
* [[No. 146 Wing RAF|No. 146 (Fighter) Wing RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=299}}
** [[No. 193 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 197 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 257 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
** [[No. 266 Squadron RAF]] (1944)
* No. 403 Repair & Salvage Unit
* No. 419 (RCAF) Repair & Salvage Unit
* [[No. 1302 Wing RAF Regiment|No. 1302 Mobile Wing RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 1498 (Target Towing) Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 2739 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2742 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2768 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2773 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2794 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2796 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* No. 3206 Servicing Commando
* Heavy Glider Maintenance Unit
* [[Southampton University Air Squadron]]
}}


Since 1969, it has been called [[Bournemouth Airport]], although some still refer to it as Hurn.
==USAAF use==
==USAAF use==
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. It's USAAF Station Code was "KU".
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".


===422d Night Fighter Squadron===
===422nd Night Fighter Squadron===
On 28 June 1944, [[P-61 Black Widow|Northrup P-61 Black Widow]] night fighters of the 422d 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.
On 28 June 1944, [[P-61 Black Widow|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===
===397th Bombardment Group===
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* 599th Bombardment Squadron (6B)
* 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 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.
The airfield was closed by the RAF in October 1944 and turned over for civil use.


==See also==
==See also==

{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Military of the United States|World War II}}
*[[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]


==References==
==References==
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{AFHRA}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle {{ISBN|0-900913-80-0}}
<references />
* 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}}
*{{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}}
* 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
* 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
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present]
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present]
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|RAF Hurn}}
{{Commons category|RAF Hurn}}
* [http://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}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hurn}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hurn}}
[[Category:Airfields of the 9th Bombardment Division in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Airfields of the 9th Bombardment Division in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Dorset]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Military history of Hampshire]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944]]
[[Category:Military history of Dorset]]
[[Category:History of 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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