RAF Ibsley: Difference between revisions
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'''RAF Ibsley''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield in [[England]]. The field is located 2 miles N of [[Ringwood]] in [[Hampshire]]. |
'''RAF Ibsley''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield in [[England]]. The field is located 2 miles N of [[Ringwood]] in [[Hampshire]]. |
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The airfield was opened in [[Feburary]] [[1941]] and was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Ninth Air Force]]. |
The airfield was opened in [[Feburary]] [[1941]] and was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Ninth Air Force]]. It was also known as USAAF Station 347. |
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After the war, the field was closed in [[1947]]. |
After the war, the field was closed in [[1947]]. |
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== Origns == |
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Ibsley airfield was the first of the airfields built in the Avon valley of Hampshire and the only fighter station in the area to have asphalt-surfaced runways. It was originally surveyed before the war but passed over until approved as a satellite and forward base for RAF Middle Wallop during [[1940]]. |
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== RAF Use == |
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The need for a forward airfield for fighter use in the area led to its being occupied by [[Hawker Hurricane]] fighter squadrons in [[February]] [[1941]] although construction work of some kind continued for another eight months with three tarmac runways being laid down. Over the following three years. |
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19 different RAF fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons were based at Ibsley for periods varying from a few days to several months in the course of conducting sweeps, bomber escorts_ armed reconnaissance and shipping strikes and patrols. The aircraft involved were chiefly. [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfires]] Hurricanes, and [[Hawker Typhoon|Typhoons]], but [[P-51|RAF North American P-51 Mustangs]] and [[Westland Whirlwind (fighter)|Whirlwinds]] were present on some occasions. |
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== USAAF Use == |
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The arrival of the first [[USAAF]] fighter units in the summer of [[1942]] found Ibsley allocated to the [[Eighth Air Force]] on [[4 June]] for use by [[P-38|Lockheed P-38 Lightnings]] which it was felt might have difficulty operation from grass airfields. |
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=== 1st Fighter Group === |
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The first USAAF unit to use Ibsley was the P-38 equipped '''1st Fighter Group''', arriving from [[RAF Goxhill]] on [[24 August]] [[1942]]. Tactical squadrons of the group and squadron fuselage codes were: |
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* 27th Fighter Squadron (HV) |
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* 71st Fighter Squadron (LM) |
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* 94th Fighter Squadron (UN) |
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The stay of the 1st FG was short, performing their first combat misison on [[28 August]] amd flying a number of missions over [[France]] before being assigned to [[Twelfth Air Force]] for duty in the [[Mediterranean]] theater in support of the [[Operation Torch]] [[North Africa]]n landings. |
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The 1st FG was transfered to Tafaraoui, [[Algeria]] on [[23 October]] as part of the ground echelon landing with the assault forces at Arzeu beach on [[8 November]]. With their departure, the airfield was not used again until mid-December by some RAF units. |
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On [[12 July]] [[1943]] Ibsley was again opened by the USAAF as a base for tactical fighters when required. Meanwhile, construction work was performed to improve the runways. The north-south runway was extended, a small addition was made to the north-west/south-cast runway, and the perimeter track was enlarged with additional hardstands being constructed. |
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===48th Fighter Group === |
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29 Mar 1944 |
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===367th Fighter Group === |
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6 Jul 1944 |
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==Postwar Use == |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 13:52, 29 December 2006
RAF Ibsley is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 2 miles N of Ringwood in Hampshire.
The airfield was opened in Feburary 1941 and was used by the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force. It was also known as USAAF Station 347.
After the war, the field was closed in 1947.
Origns
Ibsley airfield was the first of the airfields built in the Avon valley of Hampshire and the only fighter station in the area to have asphalt-surfaced runways. It was originally surveyed before the war but passed over until approved as a satellite and forward base for RAF Middle Wallop during 1940.
RAF Use
The need for a forward airfield for fighter use in the area led to its being occupied by Hawker Hurricane fighter squadrons in February 1941 although construction work of some kind continued for another eight months with three tarmac runways being laid down. Over the following three years.
19 different RAF fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons were based at Ibsley for periods varying from a few days to several months in the course of conducting sweeps, bomber escorts_ armed reconnaissance and shipping strikes and patrols. The aircraft involved were chiefly. Spitfires Hurricanes, and Typhoons, but RAF North American P-51 Mustangs and Whirlwinds were present on some occasions.
USAAF Use
The arrival of the first USAAF fighter units in the summer of 1942 found Ibsley allocated to the Eighth Air Force on 4 June for use by Lockheed P-38 Lightnings which it was felt might have difficulty operation from grass airfields.
1st Fighter Group
The first USAAF unit to use Ibsley was the P-38 equipped 1st Fighter Group, arriving from RAF Goxhill on 24 August 1942. Tactical squadrons of the group and squadron fuselage codes were:
- 27th Fighter Squadron (HV)
- 71st Fighter Squadron (LM)
- 94th Fighter Squadron (UN)
The stay of the 1st FG was short, performing their first combat misison on 28 August amd flying a number of missions over France before being assigned to Twelfth Air Force for duty in the Mediterranean theater in support of the Operation Torch North African landings.
The 1st FG was transfered to Tafaraoui, Algeria on 23 October as part of the ground echelon landing with the assault forces at Arzeu beach on 8 November. With their departure, the airfield was not used again until mid-December by some RAF units.
On 12 July 1943 Ibsley was again opened by the USAAF as a base for tactical fighters when required. Meanwhile, construction work was performed to improve the runways. The north-south runway was extended, a small addition was made to the north-west/south-cast runway, and the perimeter track was enlarged with additional hardstands being constructed.
48th Fighter Group
29 Mar 1944
367th Fighter Group
6 Jul 1944
Postwar Use
See also
References
- Freeman, Roger A., UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now, 1994
- www.controltowers.co.uk Eye
External links
 | This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |