Explored solo a few months ago, its taken a while but here it is...Kemble Aerodrome,now Cotswold Airport and Business park in Kemble,near Cirencester was part of the RAF's third phase of expansion-they already had frontline aerodromes and needed safer,out of bomber range airfields. These new airfields were for MU (maintenance units) and pilot training.
Today,many of the dozens of original buildings have gone but there is still a sympathetic nod to its rich past,which is only right.
HISTORY
Built in 1936 for 5MU Kemble was always extremely busy, within two years over 600 aircraft were here. By 1940 44 group MU joined in, responsible for training crew and preparing aircraft for the long, hazardous flights. In 1941 alone they sorted 2,300 airplanes, of different types - that's 192 per month!
In 1942 the main hard runway was added, a year later it was extended and taxiways added to connect up all the dispersals - some are two miles away.
In 1944 the USAAF moved in, using the base to fly re-supply missions. They, not unusually, spent hundreds of thousands of pounds then promptly moved out. As the war ended the place was transformed immediately into a huge disposal site. Disbanded squadrons left hundreds of planes, many with hardly any flying hours on them, to be scrapped, dismantled or sold. The fighters and bombers were all dismantled.
As the Cold War threat passed it became the RAF's central flying school and home to the Red Arrows for the next 16 years. The reputation for excellent servicing and repainting continued with 'our Liz' having the royal plane painted here.
By 1993 the MOD sold many of the buildings off to release funds, this is when local businessman Ronan Harvey stepped in, invested, renamed and started yet another chapter in the old girls life.
Interesting pub fact for you- did you know that loads of TV programmes have been filmed here- Top Gear, Casualty, Wheeler Dealers etc ? Or that its an FIA Formula One approved test site (albeit only for straight line acceleration tests etc ) used for several days a year? Well did you? Thought not.
TODAY
Its a big old site, lovely old pic shows the aircraft lined up
Gate guard plinth sadly lacking a certain something today..
That's better, Gloster Meteor at the front entrance
The old Guardroom, now reception and security hut
The old standby set house- a generator, one of several in case of power disruption
Huge hangers (Oohhh matron,stop it!) everywhere
Period scene from inside the hanger
Imposing water tower is listed, as are two of the hangers
Yellow fire hydrant denotes American presence
Stores Room
Second water tower
To give an impression of scale here are some of the airfields defences- in its heyday there were 57 buildings, 5 Chevron shaped shelters, 2 emergency water supplies, 2 spoil heaps, 5 blast shelters, 1 trackway, 5 gunposts, 7 seagull trenchs, 4 pillboxes, an ROC post, a battle HQ and an AA gun emplacement. Here is one of the 29 Stanton shelters.
Gas Decontamination Centre
Dog pound
Handcraft hut
Notice found inside..written by Lt Col Easterley. Now retired after rising to rank of Major, he lives in Canada.
Staff quarters
and inside..
No info, just an awesome pic taken at Kemble
Late model Lancaster fresh from winter servicing
Pilot officer Charles Alec Bird
On the 25th July 1940 Charles Bird took off, his plane struggling to start from cold, to intercept enemy planes. Eyewitness accounts say how he shot down enemy aircraft despite his airplane having problems, then apparently either having gun problems or running out of ammunition he rammed a German Ju88 bomber, killing himself and all but one of their crew.
It seems he had a premonition of his death -the day before when shopping with his wife in Cheltenham he brought a book containing a poem called 'Wings.' It reads;
' My son has wings, for as the plane dived deep,
His spirit, free within the realms of space,
On new-found wings flew with a swifter sweep,
fearless and laughing, to the throne of Grace.'
He had crossed out 'My Son' and written 'He' asking his wife to have this carved on his gravestone. Its still on his gravestone today at St John the Baptist's church.
A site so full of history like this without recognition is like a labrador with an absent master. Surely something should be erected to show some appreciation of all those who worked here? A lovely old school place and feel here too.
That is all, thanks for looking.
Today,many of the dozens of original buildings have gone but there is still a sympathetic nod to its rich past,which is only right.
HISTORY
Built in 1936 for 5MU Kemble was always extremely busy, within two years over 600 aircraft were here. By 1940 44 group MU joined in, responsible for training crew and preparing aircraft for the long, hazardous flights. In 1941 alone they sorted 2,300 airplanes, of different types - that's 192 per month!
In 1942 the main hard runway was added, a year later it was extended and taxiways added to connect up all the dispersals - some are two miles away.
In 1944 the USAAF moved in, using the base to fly re-supply missions. They, not unusually, spent hundreds of thousands of pounds then promptly moved out. As the war ended the place was transformed immediately into a huge disposal site. Disbanded squadrons left hundreds of planes, many with hardly any flying hours on them, to be scrapped, dismantled or sold. The fighters and bombers were all dismantled.
As the Cold War threat passed it became the RAF's central flying school and home to the Red Arrows for the next 16 years. The reputation for excellent servicing and repainting continued with 'our Liz' having the royal plane painted here.
By 1993 the MOD sold many of the buildings off to release funds, this is when local businessman Ronan Harvey stepped in, invested, renamed and started yet another chapter in the old girls life.
Interesting pub fact for you- did you know that loads of TV programmes have been filmed here- Top Gear, Casualty, Wheeler Dealers etc ? Or that its an FIA Formula One approved test site (albeit only for straight line acceleration tests etc ) used for several days a year? Well did you? Thought not.
TODAY
Its a big old site, lovely old pic shows the aircraft lined up
Gate guard plinth sadly lacking a certain something today..
That's better, Gloster Meteor at the front entrance
The old Guardroom, now reception and security hut
The old standby set house- a generator, one of several in case of power disruption
Huge hangers (Oohhh matron,stop it!) everywhere
Period scene from inside the hanger
Imposing water tower is listed, as are two of the hangers
Yellow fire hydrant denotes American presence
Stores Room
Second water tower
To give an impression of scale here are some of the airfields defences- in its heyday there were 57 buildings, 5 Chevron shaped shelters, 2 emergency water supplies, 2 spoil heaps, 5 blast shelters, 1 trackway, 5 gunposts, 7 seagull trenchs, 4 pillboxes, an ROC post, a battle HQ and an AA gun emplacement. Here is one of the 29 Stanton shelters.
Gas Decontamination Centre
Dog pound
Handcraft hut
Notice found inside..written by Lt Col Easterley. Now retired after rising to rank of Major, he lives in Canada.
Staff quarters
and inside..
No info, just an awesome pic taken at Kemble
Late model Lancaster fresh from winter servicing
Pilot officer Charles Alec Bird
On the 25th July 1940 Charles Bird took off, his plane struggling to start from cold, to intercept enemy planes. Eyewitness accounts say how he shot down enemy aircraft despite his airplane having problems, then apparently either having gun problems or running out of ammunition he rammed a German Ju88 bomber, killing himself and all but one of their crew.
It seems he had a premonition of his death -the day before when shopping with his wife in Cheltenham he brought a book containing a poem called 'Wings.' It reads;
' My son has wings, for as the plane dived deep,
His spirit, free within the realms of space,
On new-found wings flew with a swifter sweep,
fearless and laughing, to the throne of Grace.'
He had crossed out 'My Son' and written 'He' asking his wife to have this carved on his gravestone. Its still on his gravestone today at St John the Baptist's church.
A site so full of history like this without recognition is like a labrador with an absent master. Surely something should be erected to show some appreciation of all those who worked here? A lovely old school place and feel here too.
That is all, thanks for looking.
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