The south and southwest of england emerged from six years of war with a rich diversity of raf bomber and fighter airfields used by the 2nd tactical. The station was in operation from 1942 to 1946, and was successively occupied by the royal air force, the united states army air force and the royal navy from opening until august 1943 the site was used by the raf as an airfield for hawker hurricane and supermarine spitfire fighters in august 1943 it was transferred to the united states army air force with the intention of using. This was a very shortlived,and the base closed for good at the beginning of 1946, and the land was returned to agricultural use. Zeals, or zealsgreen, a chapelry, with a village, in mere parish, wilts. At the time of the domesday book 1086 the land that is now zeals was divided between two owners gozelin riviere jocelyn rivers owned the estate of lower zeals, that later became known as the manor of zeals, clevedon or clivedon. A somewhat enigmatic airfield in certain respects, sedgeford originally opened during 1915 as a rnas fighter landing ground for great yarmouth before transferring to the rfc the following year. As mentioned elsewhere i remain utterly perplexed by the mania the raf top brass had for constantly moving squadrons around. A pictorial history is available for purchase in the raf museum and at the national trust shop.
On arrival in york we have some free time to visit this special town. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Its name comes from the old english sealh meaning a small willow or sallow the civil parish includes the hamlets of long cross, white cross, lower zeals and wolverton. The grass airfield was unsuitable for c47s and 1243 zeals changed to 5th tactical air depot for p47 thunderbolt maintenance. I recall a aircraft crashing at the airfield and burning. In 1933, beatty hangs out at the airport where her pilot father flies mail. Aerial photograph of wormingford airfield looking south, the technical site, admin site and communal and mess areas are to the left, 10 may 1946.
The photograph below shows how the airfield looked on 24iv44. Zeals airfield north of zeals village, next to the village of stourton and the stourhead estate is the site of the former raf zeals, also known as hms hummingbird and rnas zeals. As a reminder, raf zeals is at grid reference st 78018 32945, between the villages of stourton and mere, just off the a303. Today we visit elvington where there is a good museum collection on an old ww2 airfield that has been preserved as it was when the war ended. Zeals house is the ancient seat of the grove family. Estimates suggest a population of 40 to 50 at lower zeals and 8595 at higher zeals at that time 2. Zeals is the only placename in wiltshire beginning with a z although this should really be an s as the name comes from the old english sealh meaning a small willow or sallow and the early name was seale, sela and several variants of these. Alvied alfgeat owned the estate of higher zeals that later became the manor of zeals aylesbury. Initially wellington bombers used the airfield for flying practice, but occasionally supplying aircraft and crew for operational bombing raids.
Aerial photograph of zeals airfield looking south east, the control tower, technical site and blister hangars are at the top, 4 november 1946. Elstree aerodrome the past in pictures sutton publishing. The decisive campaigns of the desert air force 19421945. I recall the airfield, and i remember a local pub, which i think had a yew tree outside. Bradfield was known for his lead roles in the construction of the sydney harbour bridge and the underground railway system, projects that greatly aided the growth of the city. Grant peerless was born in st albans in 1943 and followed a career in civil engineering until taking early retirement in 1999.
The airfield operated between may 1942 and june 1946, and during this short time was used by the royal air force, the united states army air forces and the royal navy. The boxted airfield historical group was founded with the aims of educating, as well as promoting and preserving the history of boxted airfield, including its association with the various usaaf and raf groups that were based here during and after world war ii. Im really pleased to be able to share the news that graham claytons history of 488nz squadron has been published and is now available to purchase online i have just finished reading the book and have to give credit to graham for writing such a meticulously researched piece of work. An illustrated life of simpson, the man with the donkey a is for anzac primary school gallipoli book brief history of the third reich by m. Simpson and duffy ww1 australian hero gallipoli childrens book not only a hero. About zeals airfield to the north of zeals village, next to the village of stourton and the stourhead estate is the site of the former raf zeals, also known as hms hummingbird and rnas zeals. I was evacuated to zeals during the war from london, to i think, zeals house. The site operated between may 1942 and june 1946, and during this short time was occupied by the royal air force, the united states air force and the. From opening until august 1943 the site was used by the raf as an airfield. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the. Quick park and grab at the faint remnants of a secret world war 2 airfield. Its a small size geocache, with difficulty of 1, terrain of 1. This is where all service men and women passed through to book inout. The definitive history of the raf airfield fro 1917 to 1940.
My folks and military members would drink and dance outside under the tree. North of zeals village, next to the village of stourton and the stourhead estate, is the site of the former raf zeals, also known as hms hummingbird and rnas zeals. Airfield construction branch history to research online free. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. W of b3092, n of a303 and nnw of zeals village, 5nm ene of wincanton. Humming birdfor use training crews for carrier operations. Flying started from the site in 1941 as raf edgehill. Dave, that airfield, opposite the studholme salmon factory was, up until recently, an active gliding airfield. More recent history of our village includes details about buildings. Several firstline squadrons spent some time here while gradually working up for active service on the western front, notably no 64 squadron which resided between formation in august 1916 and october 1917.
It was to this airfield that the plane which crashed into king alfreds tower in 1944 was heading read about the plane crash here. Hello and thanks for visiting this war years 1 page, this is the second of four pages that cover my grandfathers full story. The royal air force airfield construction branch constructed, extend and maintain runways and hardstandings, and construct airfield buildings wherever they were needed as required by the royal air force in the united kingdom and overseas. War years covers my grandfathers time in operational raf squadrons during ww2. The site operated between may 1942 and june 1946, and during this short time was used by the royal air force, the united states army air forces and the royal navy. A memorial stone is situated near the entrance to the kart circuit. In 1086 the domesday book recorded that the area of zeals consisted of two estates. Raf beaulieu was situated in the new forest, hampshire, approximately 2 miles west of the village of beaulieu. Form a box with ardlui rd on the west, mitchells rd on the east, illingworth rd to. Airfield by jeanette ingold meet your next favorite book. In 187072, john marius wilsons imperial gazetteer of england and wales described zeals like this. With 39 squadrons and nearly 30,000 personnel, the airfield construction branch was one of the largest units in the royal air. North of zeals village, next to the village of stourton and the stourhead estate is the site of the former raf zeals, also known as hms hummingbird and rnas zeals. The kart club shares the airfield with the present shenington gliding club.
For mail order please get in touch using our contact dahg form. Queensland airfields ww2 50 years on a sought after book which lists the history and actual longitudelatitude position all the ww2 airfields in queensland. Metal track runways were laid but the site was still unsuitable due to heavy rains. Steeped in history for more than 85 years, north weald airfield is an ideal place to start your aviation heritage tour. Zeals search results wiltshire community history wiltshire council. I will recommend a true story of the great escape to all interested in a good read and in our proud military history. The book is a masterpiece of storytelling, with indepth research, great insight and a beautifully crafted narration. For more information find the book history of beaulieu airfield by bob coles published in 1982 to provide more information. Sedgeford airfields of britain conservation trust uk.
Once fighter command went onto the offensive during the second world war they needed forward airfields. Martins farm and part of manor farm were taken over for an airfield. Each airfield is described with a short history, firstperson accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique singlevolume illustrated reference book covering all of the rafs frontline airfields in the uk during world war 2. The manor house known as great house was an imposing, three storey dwelling that was still standing in 1842 the red brick buildings that can be found on or seen from the community field, formed part of an early warning system and radio station for zeals airfield during. As part of the aviation heritage trail series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular area in this case west sussex, hampshire, dorset, wiltshire and cornwall. The following alternative informationmass media sources have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 30112018. Many former ww2 airfield sites are within easy reach along with important aviation heritage sites. T his page has been included on the site as a result of a couple of questions received relating to the airfield built at zeals during the second world war. Raf church stanton later to become culmhead in december 1943 officially began operations on the 1st august 1941 and closed on. At snaith there is an incredible memorial to those who were lost flying from this airfield.
John bradfield, in full john job crew bradfield, born december 26, 1867, sandgate, queensland, australiadied september 23, 1943, gordon, new south wales, australian engineer known as the father of modern sydney. Another piece of often quoted history related to the tower is that it was damaged in july 1944 when a plane headed for the nearby zeals airfield collided with the tower in fog, killing all the occupants of the aircraft. When i first discovered this airfield i felt pretty confident it would be on the beaulieu estate but this is not the case even though i have read the. At the time of the domesday book 1086 the land that is now zeals was. Raf zeals was a royal air force station, to the north of the village of zeals, next to the village of stourton and the stourhead estate in wiltshire the site operated between may 1942 and june 1946, and during this short time was occupied by the royal air force, the united states air force and the royal navy as hms hummingbird or rnas zeals. On the 26th august 1945 his service record shows him again on the books of hms king alfred, then on the 23rd september at hms drake, devonport, followed by three months at zeals airfield, on the.
He then returned to his lifelong interest in aviation, particularly airfields in the uk and following extensive research cowrote two books with aviation journalist and photographer richard riding. Zeals is a village and civil parish in southwest wiltshire, england. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Raf zeals was a wartime royal air force station in wiltshire, sited to the north of the village of zeals, next to the village of stourton and the stourhead estate. Zeals was set up as a grass advanced landing ground for the raf in 194142, and allocated to the eighth air force in 1942 but not used. Super secret ww2 airfield canterbury gc5bweq was created by kiwi moose on 8282014. Raf zeals 1944 aerial photograph found broodys war. Southern and west country airfields of the dday invasion. This move was covered in earlier posts, but i have just found an aerial photo of raf zeals dating from march 1944, only weeks before 488nz squadron arrived. At the time of the domesday book in 1086, the area of zeals was divided between two estates, known as lower zeals later the manor of zeals, or clevedon and higher zeals later zeals aylesbury.
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