RAF Babdown Farm

Royal Air Force Babdown Farm or more simply RAF Babdown Farm is a former Royal Air Force relief landing ground located 2.9 miles (4.7 km) west of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) south of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. It was open between 1940 and 1948 as a relief landing ground used by training units before being used by maintenance units for storage. Part of the site has since been converted into an industrial estate, while the rest is used for agriculture.

RAF Babdown Farm
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Beverston, Gloucestershire
Built	1940
In use	1940–1948
Elevation AMSL	574 ft / 175 m
Coordinates	51°38′53″N 2°13′48″W
Map
RAF Babdown Farm Location in Gloucestershire
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 02/20 2,870 875 Sommerfeld Tracking 08/26 3,450 1,050 Sommerfeld Tracking 14/32 3,720 1,133 Sommerfeld Tracking

History

Babdown was built in 1940 as a relief landing ground (RLG) with two grass runways and a flare path for No. 9 Service Flying Training School initially flying Hawker Audaxes before changing to Miles Masters and Hawker Hurricanes.[1][2] The airfield was bombed in 1940 and 1941 but no serious damage was caused. In 1942 the base was redeveloped to full RLG standard through the addition of three Sommerfeld Tracking runways and blister hangars with associated perimeter track and additional buildings.[1]

It was occupied by No. 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF from early 1944 until June 1945[1] and No. 1532 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF.[2] The last aircraft left during June 1945. It was used until 1948 by No. 7 Maintenance Unit RAF[1] storing and repairing Airspeed Oxfords.[3] As with the majority of airfields hosting training units there were a number of serious and fatal accidents due to pilot error and ageing machines which had been repeatedly used by inexperienced crews.[1]

The following units were posted here at some point:

• No. 3 Flying Instructors School (Advanced) RAF with Airspeed Oxfords and Miles Masters from 1942 until early 1944[1]
• No. 3 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF[2]
• No. 9 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF[2]
• No. 251 Maintenance Unit RAF[2]

At its peak there were 571 RAF personnel and 223 Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) personnel based at Babdown.[1]

Current use

The site is now partially occupied by an industrial estate known as "Babdown Airfield"[4] and the remainder has been returned to agriculture.[2]

References

Citations

1. "RAF Babdown Farm". English Heritage – Pastscape. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
2. "Babdown Farm". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
3. Lake 1999, p. 135.
4. "Tetbury Showroom". The Cotswold Collection. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

Bibliography

• Lake, A. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.