RAF Down Ampney

RAF Down Ampney
Aerial photograph of Down Ampney airfield, 4 December 1943. The bomb dump is to the right (east) of the airfield, the technical site and barrack sites are to the left.
Summary
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Down Ampney, Gloucestershire
Built 1943
In use 1944-1947
Elevation AMSL 270 ft / 82 m
Coordinates 51°40′01″N 01°50′22″W / 51.66694°N 1.83944°W / 51.66694; -1.83944Coordinates: 51°40′01″N 01°50′22″W / 51.66694°N 1.83944°W / 51.66694; -1.83944
Map
RAF Down Ampney
Location in Gloucestershire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 6,000 1,829 Asphalt
09/27 4,200 1,280 Asphalt
15/33 4,200 1,280 Asphalt

RAF Down Ampney was a Royal Air Force station located 1.8 miles (2.9 km) north east of Cricklade, Wiltshire and 3 miles (4.8 km) south west of RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. The airfield operated during World War II from February 1944 until February 1947.

Down Ampney was part of a group of airfields dedicated to air transportation, alongside RAF Broadwell and RAF Blakehill Farm.

Based units

No. 48 Squadron RAF and No. 271 Squadron RAF flew Douglas Dakotas on major missions. On D-Day they dropped the main elements of the 3rd Parachute Brigade in Normandy as well as towing Airspeed Horsa gliders across the English Channel. They were also active in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem) and the Rhine crossing.

Memorial

A memorial has been erected at the southern end of what was the main runway.[1] which reads:

FROM THIS AIRFIELD IN 1944-5

DOUGLAS DAKOTAS FROM 48 AND
271 SQUADRONS RAF TRANSPORT
COMMAND CARRIED THE 1ST AND 6TH
AIRBORNE DIVISIONS UNITS OF
THE AIR DESPATCH REGIMENT
AND HORSA GLIDERS FLOWN BY
THE GLIDER PILOTS REGIMENT TO
NORMANDY – ARNHEM AND ON THE
CROSSING THE RHINE OPERATIONS
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

References

  1. ↑ RAF memorial

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