Dunkeswell Aerodrome

Coordinates: 50°51′36″N 003°14′05″W / 50.86000°N 3.23472°W / 50.86000; -3.23472
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Dunkeswell Aerodrome
AMSL
839 ft / 256 m
Coordinates50°51′36″N 003°14′05″W / 50.86000°N 3.23472°W / 50.86000; -3.23472
Websitewww.dsft.co.uk
Map
EGTU is located in Devon
EGTU
EGTU
Location in Devon
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 968 3,176 Asphalt
17/35
unlicensed 		644 2,113 Asphalt
Sources: UK
NATS[1]

Dunkeswell Aerodrome (

microlights and parachuting
.

Nearby (1 NM (1.9 km; 1.2 mi)) to the southwest is North Hill, an airstrip run by the local gliding club.

Dunkeswell Aerodrome has a

CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P674) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Air Westward Limited). The aerodrome is not licensed for night use.[2]

Dunkeswell Airfield Heritage Centre, is situated to one side of the large propeller memorial.

History

The airfield opened in 1943, during the Second World War, as RAF Dunkeswell. The station was originally planned as a No. 10 Group, RAF Fighter Command, then a No. 19 Group RAF Coastal Command airfield, but was transferred for use by American units.[3]

It was first used by the American United States Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 479th Antisubmarine Group, as a base of operations to fly antisubmarine missions over the Bay of Biscay using specialized Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers from August until November 1943.[4][5][6]

In November, the United States Army Air Forces turned over the antisubmarine mission to the United States Navy and its Liberators were reassigned to Navy Patrol Bomber Squadron VPB-103, Fleet Air Wing 7, which continued aerial antisubmarine operations from the station, the AAF aircraft being redesignated under the USN/USMC system of the time as PB4Y-1 Liberators. This was the first United States Navy unit to train with the RAF, later followed by VB-105 and VB-110. The Naval antisubmarine squadrons moved to RAF Upottery in November 1944.[3][7][8]

With the departure of the Americans, the RAF used the airfield from August 1945 to April 1946 for ferrying aircraft to the

No. 16 Ferry Unit RAF, RAF Transport Command. After September 1946, the station was put on care and maintenance status until the end of 1948, when it was sold by the Ministry of Defence.[3]

The following units were here at some point:[9]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Dunkeswell - EGTU
  2. ^ Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences Archived 28 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c www.controltowers.co.uk Dunkeswell
  4. ISBN 0-89201-092-4
  5. ^ US Air Force Historical Research Agency microfilm 00199740 containing charts and documents describing operations of 479th Antisubmarine Group from UK stations
  6. ISBN 0-947554-51-3
    .
  7. ^ United States Army Air Force Antisubmarine Command History
  8. ^ www.controltowers.co.uk Upottery
  9. ^ "Dunkeswell". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  10. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 154.
  11. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 118.
  12. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 40.
  13. ^ a b Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 216.

Bibliography

  • Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J.; Halley, J. (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians).
    ISBN 0-85130-252-1
    .
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