RAF Warboys
Encyclopedia
RAF Warboys was a World War II
Royal Air Force
heavy bomber station, situated just outside the village of Warboys
in Huntingdonshire
(now Cambridgeshire
).
During the early years of the war, Warboys was a relatively conventional bomber station which was supplemented with the addition of an exceptionally long main runway
measuring 6,290 feet. Construction of this runway resulted in the closure of the nearby road to Huntingdon
during the war years.
The station was allocated to No.3 Group
in August 1942 and became home to the Wellington bombers of No.156 squadron (freeing up the station at RAF Alconbury
to be taken over by the USAAF). Later that month, RAF Warboys became one of the original Pathfinder
Force stations.
In January 1943, the base converted to Avro Lancaster
bombers, which remained at the site until March 1944, when the aircraft were relocated to nearby RAF Upwood
.
(also known as Oakington or Fairlop type pillboxes), one of which remains in good condition in 2009.
The airfield's bomb stores were located to the west of the airfield and to the north lay a machine gun butt, used for testing, discharge and alignment of aircraft machine guns.
Domestic, mess and communal sites were dispersed to the South East of the airfield either side of the modern A141 on the borders of the neighbouring village of Old Hurst
. At least 11 separate dispersed locations provided maximum accommodation for 1,959 male and 291 female personnel.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Royal Air Force
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...
heavy bomber station, situated just outside the village of Warboys
Warboys
Warboys is a village in Huntingdonshire , England, near Ramsey and north east of Huntingdon.-History:Warboys is a large parish and village on what was the eastern side of Huntingdonshire bordering on Cambridgeshire. It was returned in the Domesday survey of 1086 amongst the lands of St...
in Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
(now Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
).
During the early years of the war, Warboys was a relatively conventional bomber station which was supplemented with the addition of an exceptionally long main runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
measuring 6,290 feet. Construction of this runway resulted in the closure of the nearby road to Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
during the war years.
The station was allocated to No.3 Group
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...
in August 1942 and became home to the Wellington bombers of No.156 squadron (freeing up the station at RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station in Cambridgeshire, England. The airfield is adjacent to the Stukeleys [Great and Little] and located about northwest of Huntingdon; about north of London....
to be taken over by the USAAF). Later that month, RAF Warboys became one of the original Pathfinder
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
Force stations.
In January 1943, the base converted to Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bombers, which remained at the site until March 1944, when the aircraft were relocated to nearby RAF Upwood
RAF Upwood
RAF Upwood was a United States Air Force installation adjacent to the village of Upwood, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom.It is a non-flying station which was under the control of the United States Air Force, and one of three RAF stations in Cambridgeshire currently used by the United States...
.
Airfield layout and additional buildings
Located on the north side of the site was the battle headquarters bunker, defended by a pair of mushroom shaped F.C Construction type pillboxesBritish hardened field defences of World War II
British hardened field defences of World War II were small fortified structures constructed as a part of British anti-invasion preparations. They were popularly known as pillboxes by reference to their shape.-Design and development:...
(also known as Oakington or Fairlop type pillboxes), one of which remains in good condition in 2009.
The airfield's bomb stores were located to the west of the airfield and to the north lay a machine gun butt, used for testing, discharge and alignment of aircraft machine guns.
Domestic, mess and communal sites were dispersed to the South East of the airfield either side of the modern A141 on the borders of the neighbouring village of Old Hurst
Old Hurst
Old Hurst is a village in Cambridgeshire, England....
. At least 11 separate dispersed locations provided maximum accommodation for 1,959 male and 291 female personnel.