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RAF Barford St John: Difference between revisions

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Coordinates: 52°00′13″N 001°21′36″W / 52.00361°N 1.36000°W / 52.00361; -1.36000
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==History==
==History==
===RAF use===
RAF Barford St John was opened on 30 July 1941 as a training facility for [[RAF Flying Training Command]]. It had three grass runways, used primarily by [[Airspeed Oxford]]s of [[No. 15 Service Flying Training School RAF]] from [[RAF Kidlington]].<ref name=gate>{{cite web|url=https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1383700&sort=4&search=all&criteria=hangar&rational=q&recordsperpage=10&p=20&move=n&nor=311&recfc=0&resourceID=19191|title=Barford St John Airfield|publisher=Heritage Gateway|access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref> The airfield was rebuilt as an [[RAF Bomber Command]] airfield with paved runways and night operations equipment and reopened as a satellite for [[RAF Upper Heyford]]in December 1942.<ref name=gate/> In 1943 the station served as flight test centre for its [[Gloster E.28/39]] and [[Gloster Meteor]] jet aircraft.<ref name=OxfordMail>{{cite news |title=Base's special place in aviation history |last=Crossley |first=William |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9259692.Base_s_special_place_in_aviation_history/ |newspaper=[[Oxford Mail]] |date=20 September 2011 |accessdate=26 September 2011}}</ref> Bomber Command and [[No. 16 OTU|No. 16 Operational Training Unit]] was stationed there with [[Vickers Wellington]]s until December 1944.<ref name=gate/> [[No. 1655 Mosquito Training Unit RAF]] replaced the Wellingtons at that time.<ref name=gate/> After the war the airfield was closed in 1946 and placed into care and maintenance.<ref name=gate/>
RAF Barford St John was opened on 30 July 1941 as a training facility for [[RAF Flying Training Command]]. It had three grass runways, used primarily by [[Airspeed Oxford]]s of [[No. 15 Service Flying Training School RAF]] from [[RAF Kidlington]].<ref name=gate>{{cite web|url=https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1383700&sort=4&search=all&criteria=hangar&rational=q&recordsperpage=10&p=20&move=n&nor=311&recfc=0&resourceID=19191|title=Barford St John Airfield|publisher=Heritage Gateway|access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref> The airfield was rebuilt as an [[RAF Bomber Command]] airfield with paved runways and night operations equipment and reopened as a satellite for [[RAF Upper Heyford]]in December 1942.<ref name=gate/> In 1943 the station served as flight test centre for its [[Gloster E.28/39]] and [[Gloster Meteor]] jet aircraft.<ref name=OxfordMail>{{cite news |title=Base's special place in aviation history |last=Crossley |first=William |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9259692.Base_s_special_place_in_aviation_history/ |newspaper=[[Oxford Mail]] |date=20 September 2011 |accessdate=26 September 2011}}</ref> Bomber Command and [[No. 16 OTU|No. 16 Operational Training Unit]] was stationed there with [[Vickers Wellington]]s until December 1944.<ref name=gate/> [[No. 1655 Mosquito Training Unit RAF]] replaced the Wellingtons at that time.<ref name=gate/> After the war the airfield was closed in 1946 and placed into care and maintenance.<ref name=gate/>


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* [[No. 170 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=65}}
* [[No. 170 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=65}}


==USAF use==
===USAF use===
In 1951<ref name=OxfordMail/> the [[United States Air Force]] opened a communications (transmitter) centre on the airfield, reporting to the [[2130th Communications Group]] (UK Communications Region) at [[RAF Croughton]].
In 1951<ref name=OxfordMail/> the [[United States Air Force]] opened a communications (transmitter) centre on the airfield, reporting to the [[2130th Communications Group]] (UK Communications Region) at [[RAF Croughton]].


Revision as of 15:24, 26 November 2021

RAF Barford St John
Near Bloxham, Oxfordshire in England
Aerial view of RAF Barford St John during 2011
RAF Barford St John is located in Oxfordshire
RAF Barford St John
RAF Barford St John
Shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates52°00′13″N 001°21′36″W / 52.00361°N 1.36000°W / 52.00361; -1.36000
TypeRoyal Air Force station (US Visiting Forces)
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorUnited States Air Force
Controlled byUS Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
ConditionOperational
Site history
Built1941 (1941)
In use1941 – 1946 (Royal Air Force)
1951 – present (US Air Force)
Airfield information
Elevation120 metres (394 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/27 1,670 metres (5,479 ft) Asphalt
16/34 1,215 metres (3,986 ft) Asphalt
02/20 1,210 metres (3,970 ft) Asphalt
Notes: Flying ceased in 1946

Royal Air Force Barford St John or RAF Barford St John is a Royal Air Force station just north of the village of Barford St. John, Oxfordshire, England. It is now a non-flying facility, operated by the United States Air Force as a communications centre with many large communications aerials, and is a satellite of RAF Croughton.

History

RAF use

RAF Barford St John was opened on 30 July 1941 as a training facility for RAF Flying Training Command. It had three grass runways, used primarily by Airspeed Oxfords of No. 15 Service Flying Training School RAF from RAF Kidlington.[1] The airfield was rebuilt as an RAF Bomber Command airfield with paved runways and night operations equipment and reopened as a satellite for RAF Upper Heyfordin December 1942.[1] In 1943 the station served as flight test centre for its Gloster E.28/39 and Gloster Meteor jet aircraft.[2] Bomber Command and No. 16 Operational Training Unit was stationed there with Vickers Wellingtons until December 1944.[1] No. 1655 Mosquito Training Unit RAF replaced the Wellingtons at that time.[1] After the war the airfield was closed in 1946 and placed into care and maintenance.[1]

The site was used for some background filming for the 1949 film Twelve O'Clock High.[3]

The following units were also here at some point:[4]

USAF use

In 1951[2] the United States Air Force opened a communications (transmitter) centre on the airfield, reporting to the 2130th Communications Group (UK Communications Region) at RAF Croughton.

Given its postwar use by the military, all its runways, perimeter track and hardstands still exist but the World War II buildings have been removed, being replaced by modern buildings on the airfield, secured and guarded with fencing and other security devices.

Simon Duke's U.S. Military Forces and Installations in Europe (SIPRI, 1989) lists the base as housing a Giant Talk/Scope Signal III transmitter annex for RAF Croughton (p.314).

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Barford St John.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e "Barford St John Airfield". Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Crossley, William (20 September 2011). "Base's special place in aviation history". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  3. ^ "Twelve O'Clock High". Movie Locations. 1949. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Barford St John". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 24.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 169.
  7. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 65.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
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