RAF Bibury

RAF Bibury
Located Near Bibury, Gloucestershire, England
RAF Bibury
Coordinates 51°46′53″N 01°50′10″W / 51.78139°N 1.83611°W / 51.78139; -1.83611Coordinates: 51°46′53″N 01°50′10″W / 51.78139°N 1.83611°W / 51.78139; -1.83611
Type Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner Air Ministry
Controlled by  Royal Air Force
Condition Closed
Site history
Built 1939
In use 1940–1945
Battles/wars Second World War
Garrison information
Occupants RAF Training Command
RAF Fighter Command

RAF Bibury is a former Royal Air Force 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.

RAF units

Unit Dates Aircraft Variant Notes
No. 87 Squadron RAF 1940 Hawker Hurricane I Detached from RAF Exeter.[2]

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 "Gloucestershire's part in the Battle of Britain". BBC. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  2. Jefford 1988, p. 51.

Bibliography

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