RAF Stoke Orchard

Royal Air Force Stoke Orchard or more simply RAF Stoke Orchard is a former Royal Air Force station near the village of Stoke Orchard, north west of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire during the Second World War.

RAF Stoke Orchard
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationStoke Orchard, Gloucestershire, England
Built1940
In use1941–1945
Coordinates51°56′46″N 002°06′45″W
Map
RAF Stoke Orchard
Location in Gloucestershire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt

History

The airfield was developed in 1940–41, originally as a Relief Landing Ground. In September 1941 it became a training airfield[1] for No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School RAF[2] with 50 de Havilland Tiger Moths were based there. From July 1942 to January 1945 the airfield specialised in the training of glider pilots and instructors[3] with No. 3 Glider Training School RAF (3 GTS).[2]

The following units were also here at some point:[2]

  • No. 5 Maintenance Unit RAF
  • WAAF Officers' School

Aircraft production

It was also home to a Ministry for Aircraft Production shadow factory run by the Gloster Aircraft Company at Brockworth. There were two large buildings, one for production and one flight shed. This site became the Coal Research Establishment of the National Coal Board following the war.[3]

Current use

Today the airfield has been returned to agriculture/waste plant.[2]

The former Coal Board site has now been developed as a housing estate by Bloor Homes, with the streets named after significant names relating to the former RAF base and Gloster Aircraft Company such as Armstrong Road, Whittle Close, Feddon Close, Hurricane Drive and Zura Drive.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Stoke Orchard Airfield". Pastscape. Historic England. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  2. "Stoke Orchard". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  3. "Recent History of the Parish of Stoke Orchard and Tredington". Stoke Orchard and Tredington Parish Council. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  4. Phillips, Jenni; Lillywhite, Maisie (6 May 2020). "The lost airfields of Gloucestershire and the remarkable role they played in WW2". Gloucestershire Live. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
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