RAF Bibury

51°46′53″N 01°50′10″W / 51.78139°N 1.83611°W / 51.78139; -1.83611TypeRoyal Air Force satellite stationSite informationOwnerAir MinistryOperatorRoyal Air ForceControlled byRAF Flying Training Command
RAF Fighter CommandSite historyBuilt1939In use1940–1945Battles/warsSecond World War

Royal Air Force Bibury or more simply RAF Bibury is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located north east of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.

History

The airfield was built in 1939 for use as a relief landing ground for training aircraft from nearby RAF South Cerney. In the Battle of Britain the airfield was used to base detachments of fighter aircraft.[1] Hawker Hurricanes of 87 Squadron arrived on detachment in August 1940. They were replaced by a detachment from 92 Squadron with the Supermarine Spitfire until September when the 87 Squadron detachment returned until the end of the year.[1] During the Battle of Britain the airfield had very few buildings and a grass runway.[1] The airfield was not used for flying after 1944 and was the base of a maintenance unit until it closed in 1945.

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

[3]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c "Gloucestershire's part in the Battle of Britain". BBC. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Bibury". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 51.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.