RAF Wroughton
Encyclopedia
RAF Wroughton was a Royal Air Force
station located just south of the village of Wroughton
, Wiltshire
, UK. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the town of Swindon
. The station was an operational military installation from the late 1930s through the 70s, during which time it served as host to maintenance units. Although it is no longer a military installation, the airfield and some of the original buildings still exist today.
in 1979 to be used as a storage facility for the largest objects of the National Museum of Science and Industry
(NMSI). A collection of approximately 20,000 objects are currently kept in six of the hangars, from the first hovercraft to MRI scanners, and computers to (de-activated) nuclear missiles. The Science Museum Swindon
is currently a museum store serving the conservation, object storage, and transportation needs of many museums, and therefore is not open to the public except during occasional Open Days, special events, and for pre-scheduled school tours. However, it has plans for an ambitious project called Inspired which will open up all of the Science Museum's hidden treasures to the public for the very first time.
. It was to prove to be a valuable asset during the war years, as it is reported that over 7,000 aircraft of approximately 60 different types underwent modification, service, or repair by No. 15 Maintenance Unit (MU) http://www.swindonweb.com/guid/heriplanes0.htm. Beginning in 1941 the packing of aircraft into large crates for shipment overseas was handled by another Wroughton unit, No. 76 MU.
In late 1943 Wroughton became an assembly point for many of the Airspeed Horsa
gliders
that during the following June played a key part in the D-Day
invasion of France. During the build-up to D-Day the mostly-wooden gliders were transported to Wroughton in sections that were pre-fabricated
by woodworkers
of the cabinet and furniture maker trades. Upon arrival the sections were assembled, and flight-tested
. It has been reported that on the eve of the invasion that almost 600 aircraft were on-site.
With the end of the conflict there was no longer a need for a large air force of wartime proportions, and as a result Wroughton received demobilised
Avro Lancaster
bombers, most of which ended up as scrap
metal. Meanwhile, Wroughton was home to continued work on Avro Lincoln
and Gloster Meteor
jets. By 1953 yet another type was in the skies over Wroughton, the English Electric Canberra
bomber. For the next 19 years Wroughton was to provide support for this important aircraft. During the 1950s, aging aircraft such as the de Havilland Mosquito
and more Lancasters made ferry flights to Wroughton, where most of them met their fate on a scrapheap. A notable exception was Lancaster PA474, which after an overhaul in the early 1960s joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
, of which it is still a member today.
In the 1960s, Wroughton became host to Westland
helicopters, but its life as an RAF installation ended by 1972, when the Royal Navy
took over - largely because the RN took over responsibility for servicing all military helicopters. This continued until Wroughton closed (as a military airfield) in 1978. Shortly after, Wroughton was given a new lease on life by becoming a storage annex for part of the Science Museum's aircraft collection, and other exhibits.
RAF Wroughton was also home to the RAF Princess Alexandra Hospital, providing full hospital services to the Armed forces personnel, their families and the local civilian population. It closed in the late 1990s. It was staffed and run by the Royal Air Force and the Army Medical Services.
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...
station located just south of the village of Wroughton
Wroughton
Wroughton is a large village in Wiltshire, England. It is part of the Borough of Swindon and is south of Swindon.-History:The earliest evidence of human presence in the area is from the Mesolithic period, although this is fairly limited...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, UK. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the town of Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
. The station was an operational military installation from the late 1930s through the 70s, during which time it served as host to maintenance units. Although it is no longer a military installation, the airfield and some of the original buildings still exist today.
Science Museum
Ownership of the 545 acres (2.2 km²) site was passed to the London Science MuseumScience museum
A science museum or a science centre is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry and industrial machinery, etc. Modern trends in museology have broadened the range of...
in 1979 to be used as a storage facility for the largest objects of the National Museum of Science and Industry
National Museum of Science and Industry
The National Museum of Science and Industry is a collection of British museums, comprising:* The Science Museum, incorporating the Science Museum Library and the Wellcome collections of the history of medicine at South Kensington in London....
(NMSI). A collection of approximately 20,000 objects are currently kept in six of the hangars, from the first hovercraft to MRI scanners, and computers to (de-activated) nuclear missiles. The Science Museum Swindon
Science Museum Swindon
The Science Museum at Wroughton, near Swindon, England, is the large-object store of the Science Museum . It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry.-Overview:...
is currently a museum store serving the conservation, object storage, and transportation needs of many museums, and therefore is not open to the public except during occasional Open Days, special events, and for pre-scheduled school tours. However, it has plans for an ambitious project called Inspired which will open up all of the Science Museum's hidden treasures to the public for the very first time.
History
Planning for Wroughton Airfield begin before the start of World War IIWorld 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...
. It was to prove to be a valuable asset during the war years, as it is reported that over 7,000 aircraft of approximately 60 different types underwent modification, service, or repair by No. 15 Maintenance Unit (MU) http://www.swindonweb.com/guid/heriplanes0.htm. Beginning in 1941 the packing of aircraft into large crates for shipment overseas was handled by another Wroughton unit, No. 76 MU.
In late 1943 Wroughton became an assembly point for many of the Airspeed Horsa
Airspeed Horsa
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British World War II troop-carrying glider built by Airspeed Limited and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces...
gliders
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
that during the following June played a key part in the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
invasion of France. During the build-up to D-Day the mostly-wooden gliders were transported to Wroughton in sections that were pre-fabricated
Prefabrication
Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a structure in a factory or other manufacturing site, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies to the construction site where the structure is to be located...
by woodworkers
Woodworking
Woodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood...
of the cabinet and furniture maker trades. Upon arrival the sections were assembled, and flight-tested
Flight test
Flight test is a branch of aeronautical engineering that develops and gathers data during flight of an aircraft and then analyzes the data to evaluate the flight characteristics of the aircraft and validate its design, including safety aspects...
. It has been reported that on the eve of the invasion that almost 600 aircraft were on-site.
With the end of the conflict there was no longer a need for a large air force of wartime proportions, and as a result Wroughton received demobilised
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
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, most of which ended up as scrap
Scrap
Scrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
metal. Meanwhile, Wroughton was home to continued work on Avro Lincoln
Avro Lincoln
The Avro Type 694, better known as the Avro Lincoln, was a British four-engined heavy bomber, which first flew on 9 June 1944. Developed from the Avro Lancaster, the first Lincoln variants were known initially as the Lancaster IV and V, but were renamed Lincoln I and II...
and Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
jets. By 1953 yet another type was in the skies over Wroughton, the English Electric Canberra
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
bomber. For the next 19 years Wroughton was to provide support for this important aircraft. During the 1950s, aging aircraft such as the de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
and more Lancasters made ferry flights to Wroughton, where most of them met their fate on a scrapheap. A notable exception was Lancaster PA474, which after an overhaul in the early 1960s joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...
, of which it is still a member today.
In the 1960s, Wroughton became host to Westland
Westland Aircraft
Westland Aircraft was a British aircraft manufacturer located in Yeovil in Somerset. Formed as a separate company by separation from Petters Ltd just before the start of the Second World War, Westland had been building aircraft since 1915...
helicopters, but its life as an RAF installation ended by 1972, when the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
took over - largely because the RN took over responsibility for servicing all military helicopters. This continued until Wroughton closed (as a military airfield) in 1978. Shortly after, Wroughton was given a new lease on life by becoming a storage annex for part of the Science Museum's aircraft collection, and other exhibits.
RAF Wroughton was also home to the RAF Princess Alexandra Hospital, providing full hospital services to the Armed forces personnel, their families and the local civilian population. It closed in the late 1990s. It was staffed and run by the Royal Air Force and the Army Medical Services.
External links
- Science Museum at Wroughton
- Photograph of two Wroughton hangars at geograph.org - Accessed 30 Jan 2007
- Wroughton Science Museum photo gallery at The BBC
- Wroughton Science Museum photo gallery - Accessed 1 Jan 2007
- Wroughton Science Museum photo gallery - Accessed 2 Jan 2007
- Brief Wroughton Airfield history