RAF Pucklechurch
Encyclopedia
RAF Pucklechurch was a Royal Air Force
site in Pucklechurch
, Gloucestershire
from 9 August 1939 until 31 December 1959. It became known as RAF Pucklechurch on 16 June 1952. It was transferred to HM Prison Service in September 1962 and was used as a remand centre called Pucklechurch Prison, later becoming Ashfield Young Offender Institution
.
During the war barrage balloon
s were an important defence to the industry and transport sites in the Bristol region. There were large hangars and fuel storage facilities. Pucklechurch was under the command of the RAF Filton
station commander.
From April 1957 to September 1959 it housed the RAF Chinese Language School.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
site in Pucklechurch
Pucklechurch
Pucklechurch is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom.- Location :Pucklechurch is a historic village with an incredibly rich past, from the Bronze Age with its tumulus on Shortwood Hill, up to the siting of a barrage balloon depot in World War II...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
from 9 August 1939 until 31 December 1959. It became known as RAF Pucklechurch on 16 June 1952. It was transferred to HM Prison Service in September 1962 and was used as a remand centre called Pucklechurch Prison, later becoming Ashfield Young Offender Institution
Ashfield (HM Prison)
HM Prison Ashfield is a male juvenile's prison located in the village of Pucklechurch , in Gloucestershire, England. The prison is operated by the Serco Group....
.
During the war barrage balloon
Barrage balloon
A barrage balloon is a large balloon tethered with metal cables, used to defend against low-level aircraft attack by damaging the aircraft on collision with the cables, or at least making the attacker's approach more difficult. Some versions carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up...
s were an important defence to the industry and transport sites in the Bristol region. There were large hangars and fuel storage facilities. Pucklechurch was under the command of the RAF Filton
RAF Filton
RAF Filton was a World War II, Royal Air Force Sector Airfield situated at Filton Aerodrome about 5 miles north of the city centre of Bristol, England....
station commander.
From April 1957 to September 1959 it housed the RAF Chinese Language School.
Operational commands
- Opened - 9 August 1939 (as No. 11 Balloon Centre)
- RAF Balloon CommandRAF Balloon CommandBalloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during World War II.- History :...
(9 August 1939 - 22 April 1945) - RAF Maintenance CommandRAF Maintenance CommandRAF Maintenance Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling maintenance for all the United Kingdom-based units from formation on 1 April 1938 until being renamed RAF Support Command on 31 August 1973.- History :...
(22 April 1945 - 25 February 1947) - No. 62 Group RAF (25 February 1947 - 14 January 1957)
- No. 61 Group RAF (14 January 1957 - 31 December 1959)
- Closed - 31 December 1959