RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire

There were in WW2 : -

1 x 1913 wooden hutted camp.

2 x Type A hangar 1927.

2 x Cathedral (HP 2 & 5 bay) hangars 1918 (2bay have now been removed 2017).

Several x Bessoneau hangars WW1.

1 x Bellman hangar 1940. (Now removed)

1 x Side opening 1913 wooden hangar. (Recently demolished).

I have started on the road leading from the Village of Netheravon.

86 Church R.C. Perm. Brick (RE/18/14). The first building, now a house but was the Catholic Church for the camp, now a private house.

1958 Plan of the Main Gate.

Details from the plan: -

As you come up the hill, the married quarters are on the right and left, 8 on the plan was the Mortuary, a timber framed asbestos sheets and the red spot the telephone box next the 1A Guard Room (Permanent Brick). . Behind the he guard room was a green house, tool shed and a nursery and behind again is a pillbox defence..

The second Officers Mess WW1 where the married quarters are now.

The picture is a WW1 building at RAF Upavon and Netheravon had a similar building where the married quarters now are, it was an extended Officers Mess. The original Officers Mess was designed and built for a two squadrons with about 24 planes. Most pilots at the time were offices, plus a few more senior Officers for admin purposes. The original quarters were very adequate but after the start of WW1 when Netheravon expanded dramatically as a training station it needed much more room. Along where the 1950's married quarters now are, was a complete set of buildings to house the many extra officers that were passing through Netheravon.

Airmen´s married quarters. The original married quarters No.'s 1 to 28 with drawing numbers (73/13) have been removed but in this 1927 air photo shows the married quarters in their blocks of four.

The RFC Officers Mess and grounds behind.

There was a long row of four blocks of four, Airmen´s Married Qtrs. [PB] (D.F.W 73/13).

There are two blocks of two (73/13) still here set out the far end of the estate. [PB].

Warrant Officers married quarters.

6A Married WD Quarters No. 1-2 [PB] (D.F.W.73/13).

6B Married WD Quarters No. 3-4 [PB] (D.F.W.73/13).

80 Gymnasium, Lecture Room, Cinema, Training Wing, HQ. Offices (121/41/125), education centre (42.126/42).

I remember watching the ''Dam busters'' film here as a child and also my family ran a taxi business as well as the local garage and my mother would collect and deliver the drums of film from the NAAFI in Amesbury to the cinema here. The main ones I remember were the films of Elvis Presley.

The guard room was on the left. This was the main gate although the road was open to the public and you could drive through the whole camp.

Most RFC and later RAF camps had a road running through them for some odd reason. It was open right up until the IRA bombing campaign of the 1970's. This one was never bombed but Netheravon army camp in the village was, when one hut was fire bombed. Quite a lot of personnel equipment was burnt, due to the fact it was all old stuff and the soldiers wanted to have it replaced, (old army trick) and threw it in the fire.

1A Guard Room (Permanent Brick).

The guard room with a very smart RAF Police corporal stood at the door. There was a full length mirror, for airmen to check their attire before entering the guard room.

Air Ministry boundary stone No.25.

History :

Netheravon army camp started life in 1898 as a cavalry school and used gallops on Choulston downs. Early exorcises took place here with aircraft from Lark Hill and the cavalry. Due to their success, the area was then taken over in 1912 by the Royal Flying Corps aerodrome. By the summer of 1914 the whole of the Military Wing of the RFC, 700 personnel and 70 airplane assembled here for a training month. it was called the RFC Concentration.

When WW1 started Netheravon was the centre for preparation's of squadrons to be assembled and sent out to France.

Grade II listing - England.

Netheravon Grade II Wiltshire Buildings 15 and 17, Airfield Camp (former RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire) England Netheravon Grade II Wiltshire Buildings 19, Airfield Camp (former RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire) (Sergeant's Mess) England Netheravon Grade II Wiltshire Buildings 29K - 29O (inclusive), Airfield Camp (former RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire) (airman's Barracks) England Netheravon Grade II Wiltshire Buildings 29P - 29T (inclusive), Airfield Camp (former RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire) (airman's Barracks) England Netheravon Grade II Wiltshire Buildings 38a (former RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire) (airman's Barracks) (Handley Page Hangars) England Netheravon Grade II Wiltshire Building 52c (Main Depot Offices), Airfield Camp (former RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire) England Netheravon Grade II Wiltshire Building 83 , Airfield Camp (former RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire) (Institute Building)

History : 1919 Netheravon is now a training station, with the war ending, 1918/19 sees a decline as the war that had just ended, but Netheravon carried as a training station and helping Central Flying School at RAF Upavon. By the mid 20's expansion starts again. With the rise in the number of bombers the French had. Chief of the Air Staff Hugh Trenchard, the head of the then RAF wanted parity with the French.

This is when the new red brick buildings [PB] were built and the two Type 'A' sheds hangars.
No1 FTS with DH9's, Sopwith Snipe & Avro 504's. Then the training of Naval officers for the Fleet Air Arm with Bristol fighters & DH9a's. In the 30's the FAA used Netheravon for squadrons when their aircraft carrier was in dock. 1935 No.6 FTS was reformed with Hart, Audax & Furies. 6FTS moved out. 1FTS moved in again and this time 1939 with the noisy North American Harvard's arrived.

West Camp living and administration site.

Looking at this great plan showing the Officers quarters and Mess and next the building to the right was the Sergeants Mess. The Men's Mess Institute and lecture rooms. Men's quarters were on the other side of the road have all been removed. Several A.R.S. (Aircraft Repair Sheds), a Dope store, Plane store, Workshops and Sail makers shop. There was a Hospital, Medical hut, Quarter Masters, Bank & Tailors. Women's quarters and a reading room.

The 2013 visit to Netheravon with members of ARG.

Airfield Research Group.

We were taken first around RAF Upavon and then RAF Netheravon. Both in the hands of the Army.

Officers Mess. P.C.C. dwarf walls, timber & asbestos.

PCC dwarf walls are the low wall on the left of the picture and then timber & asbestos. " Four x two" lengths of timber laid on the dwarf wall and then the uprights & top horizontals, covered in sheets of asbestos and wooden strips painted black nailed to hold the sheets in place. The roofs made of timber frame and iron truss supports with red asbestos cement tiles.

The construction phase of the officers mess 1912/1913.

Officers Mess.

The famous RFC Wings.

Officers Mess.

The famous RFC Wings.

The RFC badge was based on the Royal Engineers.

Officers Mess.

Mr Choi aeroplane artist and airfield enthusiast.

Note the pair of boot scrapers, it shows that their boots would get very muddy.

Officers Mess.

Main entrance. A member of the Mess staff would sit in the cubicle on the right where officers would sign in and out.

Officers Mess.

Main entrance and the view out.

Officers Mess.

Anti-Room. The two Officers who kindly showed us around Netheravon & Upavon.

Officers Mess.

One of the main rooms.

Officers Mess.

This picture was taken when the AAC were in operation here. It shows a lovely propeller from WW1 and leather armchairs.

Officers Mess.

The music room.

History :

World War 2 has started and flying training continues at a great pace. As more training airfields are built across the country and the world, Netheravon's roll starts to slow down. By 1942 Airborne Forces moved in and bring the Glider Exorcise Squadron and the Parachute Exorcise Squadron together.

RAF 38 Wing was formed here to take over the running of all these units.

Officers Mess.

The lamp shades look very contemporary also the fire places.

Officers Mess.

Billiards room.

Officers Mess.

English Billiards what other kinds are there.

Officers Mess.

Ladies toilets. The reason I added this photo is to show the wooden roof and the RAF lampshades.

The RAF even had their own designed lamp shades and here I have found the M&E 7585/57 (Mechanical & Electrical) schedule for these light fittings.

Officers Mess.

Gentleman´s toilets.

Officers Mess.

Married officers living-in, double room.

Officers Mess.

Single officers living-in room.

Officers Mess Kitchen.

It would not take too long to recommission the mess.

Officers Mess.

A message left by a happy staff.

Officers Mess.

A WW2 extension and 11f Officers Mess Games Room. An extension built in temporary brick design (TB) of WW2 hutting but using the almost matching diamond roof tiles.

Officers Mess.

11g on the plan Single Officers Quarters

Sergeants Mess.

19 SNCO's accommodation.

Accommodation hutting 29l Class Rooms and Offices. [D.F.W 27/13].

They were also men's quarters.

NCO's .29k N.C.O Cubicles ( I am presuming NCO's accommodation).

29l Class Rooms. Both [D.F.W 27/13].

Institute WW1, Sergeants Mess WW2 and later 83 Sergeants Mess.

In 1918 this was showing up as the men's Institute.

Sergeants Mess.

Large room and attached games room on the left. Terry lost again.

Sergeants Mess.

The attached games room and toilets. Possibly a WW2 addition.

Sergeants Mess.

Room with a view.

The Sergeants Mess clock.

This was the institute where soldiers could get some extra food and a cup of tea, they could rest, play games and write letters.

Sergeants Mess.

All entrances have boot scrapers. It must have been a muddy period.

29p Class Room.

This used to be a Play Group on the camp and my middle son was an inmate here 35 years ago.

RFC Concentration Western camp.

You can just see one of the original classrooms on the right side.

Flight magazine June 5th 1914.

Extract from Flight magazine saying what was happening at Netheravon June 1914.

16 Squash Court [PB] [1842/35].

A 1935 model Squash court. Officers were persuaded to take up sport as it kept them fit and honed their skills.

Most RAF stations have/had a squash court.

Air Ministry D.W.B. C.M.E.E. Dept. S 1642/30 Squash Court plan for electric lighting.

16 Squash Court [PB] [1842/35].

Inside with stairs up to a viewing platform.

16 Squash Court [PB] [1842/35].

Still looks in very good condition.

38a AAP Handley-Page Storage Coupled Sheds

[Stone, C.S.S. Roof] (884-886/19), built in Bath stone block walls.

(AAP - Aircraft Acceptance Park.)

(C.S.S. - Clear Steel Span ???.)

Five Bay Handley Page Hangar. Built to accommodate the Handley Page bomber which could fold its wings to fit more into a hangar. Netheravon was going to be part of the southern bombing area with RAF Boscombe Down and RAF Stonehenge.

I think it was around New Year 1919. There was a gale and many of the planes left out of hangars, blew over in the wind.

Handley-Page sheds.

The front face. Large bi-fold doors could be opened to its full width.

History :

At the end of WW1 Netheravon like several other stations in the south of England were to be converted into heavy bomber stations with Handley Page bombers and a large accommodation hutting and hangarage was to be built. Well the two hangars were built but the plan changed and the bombers went somewhere else. HP bombers were stationed here just before the Armistice in November 1918. There was a terrible gale that blew four HP´s and many other aircraft over. The HP´were never hangared in these two sheds for some unknown reason??

Handley-Page sheds.

The front face.

Large bi-fold doors could be opened to its full width. In this picture there is a Bessoneau on the right of the hangar. Made of a wooden frame covered by a canvas cover.

The aircraft is either having its top wing removed/replaced.

Handley-Page sheds.

Where the Bessoneau hangar stood in 1930, now a set of WW2 TB buildings abuts the hangar.

Handley-Page sheds Back north facing.

Later in the 50's it was the Motor Transport section garage and when the AAC were there, they were used as a squadron hangar for helicopters.

East camp the airfield site. The road which joins the two camps. In WW2 a tractor was used with three trailers and set on the trailers were some old cinema seats, this was used to transport from east to west camp, a bit like a bus service. To sit on the third trailer was precarious as at speed coming down the slope, it would swing wildly.

Heading out to the East Camp.

East camp RFC Station Netheravon.

8th, 7th, 24th Training School. (ACS - Air Craft Shed).

RFC Concentration.

The road between the two camps is on the left. In 1914 canvas hangars were laid out along this road for the June 1914 Concentration Camp.

RFC Concentration.

Aerial view of the Netheravon RFC Concentration shortly before the outbreak of The Great War June 1914.

RFC Concentration.

BE2e's at the Netheravon RFC Concentration shortly before the outbreak of The Great War. ''Concentration '' the meaning here was to bring together and train by using practical experiments in order to test theory. Cooperation with the artillery, infantry and cavalry, radio air to air, air to ground. Photographic, reconnaissance and just learning what to do with this new asset. There was a lot to learn.

RFC Concentration.

Smith RFC BE2c June 1914 a very well posed picture.

WW2 Pill Box one of many that WERE here. Possibly a Type 22 .

I knew of seven and there are now two left and the remains of another.

WW2 Plan of where the Pill Boxes were sited. Mostly Type 22 made of concrete or brick & concrete, with earth on their roofs as camouflage. In 1940 Netheravon came under 'An aerodrome close to the enemy' so had it to have a large defence in case of a parachute and glider attack. So a full range of pillboxes, a Battle HQ and many trenches were built. At least two small defence post which I have found recently. All designed to face the airfield to hold and beat an airborne landing.

Also a squadron of Beaverettes, small armoured cars were used.

Ox Barn 79 Contractors Store & Yard [PB].

This building was the Ox Barn, built for the original farm out of hand made dark red brick and in the time of the RFC it was used as aircraft storage and RAF, Army Air Corps days it was the works office and yard.

Choulston Ox Barn.

My Grandfather was a ploughman with Oxen in the late 1800 not here but near Melksham.

I think this was the water inlet/outlet to the water purification plant. In this area were the : -

46 A.M.W.D Pump Attendant [Timber & C.S.S.].

46a Underground Reservoir [P.C.C.].

46b Water Tower [Steel] (Braithwaite Tower).

47 Hill Pump House [Timber & C.S.S.].

72 Booster Pump House [PB].

73 Reservoir (100000Gls) [P.C.C.].

46b Water Tower [Steel] (Braithwaite Tower).

Braithwaite water towers used to litter the landscape around wartime airfields and army camps.

1b Fire Station & Picket [Timber framing and asbestos] original RFC guard room.
Now removed.

1b Fire Station & Picket [Timber framing and asbestos].

A fireman and a fire tender.

1b Fire Station & Picket [Timber framing and asbestos].

Guard room in the RFC days.

63 Technical latrine.

Now coated in modern sheeting but may have been made in temporary brick.

43c Accounts office.

This building I have always noted its very large windows and an airy space, so as the accounts office it would need to be like that. Wing Salvage WW1.

Planted trees.

Trees were planted between the wars to soften the look of the hangars and buildings. This I believe started in the 1930's and the RAF had there own nurseries to grow these trees for RAF stations.

In the back ground is 126b Static Water Tank (14000gls).

52c Orderly Room HQ [Timber & Asbestos].

WW1 Squadron Offices. Many huts have been removed, I was horrified how many.

HQ 1958 plan
39b HQ Offices for No3 (Dog Training) Squadron.
41 Bulk Oil Instillation (U.G.2000 gal).
42c Store shed Salvage.
43c Fire Tender & Inflammable Sore.
45a&b Solid Fuel Compound.
51a Disused Timber and C,S,S.
51b Ex Technical store       "   ".
52d Station HQ.
52c Orderly Room HQ.
52e Stationary Store.
53   Station P.B.X. & Switch Board timber and asbestos.
55   Armament oil store.
70   Dog isolation pens 1/2 Brick.
90   S.A.A. Store, Timber and C.S.S.
97   WAAF's Sanitary annex - Weatherboard.
126b   Static Water Tank (14000gal) Brick.
129   Stores 'Igloo' Hut.
115a-b c-e Brick type shelters.
142 a-c Underground Static Water Tank (20000gal) 7625/39.

52c Orderly Room HQ [Timber & Asbestos].

WW1 Squadron Office.

52c Orderly Room HQ [Timber & Asbestos].

WW1 Squadron Office.

The bicycle shed next to the toilets.

97  WAAF's Sanitary annex - Weatherboard.

57 Station Armoury 247/14.

WW1 Transport.

All along here were transport sheds for the vehicles of the RFC.

25yd range
Rifle Butts were in the hollow and the,
60 Magazine SAA Store. [PB].
65 Machine Gun Range & weather boarded hut.
60 Machine gun range (NN/0/46/24)
1 - firing point.
9 - targets.
1 - traveling target.

Dog Pen.

In the 1950's the RAF Police dogs were based here before moving on to Debden, they then became fuel bowser storage and now caravan storage.

2018 empty.

There is a dog loading ramp in the right corner.

95 the last Type 'A' Hangar hidden in trees (1478/24).

When the Police dogs were here it was used as the Dog Reception & Class Rooms.

38b AAP Handley-Page Storage Coupled Sheds [Stone, C.S.S. Roof] (884-886/19), building started in 1918 and made of Bath stone blocks. Called the Cathedral Hangar due to the fact there are buttresses on the outside walls.

It was built by German WW1 POW's.

38b AAP Handley-Page Storage Coupled Sheds [Stone, C.S.S. Roof] (884-886/19).

38b AAP Handley-Page Storage Coupled Sheds [Stone, C.S.S. Roof] (884-886/19).

Main grass runway.

There are two runways here today but I am sure when the aerodrome was being built in the early 1900, runways were far from the designers thoughts. You just took off into wind.

Handley-Page Hangar.

Very rare in this part of Wiltshire to use Bath Stone.
The reason is we think are, they were built by W E Chivers & sons and in their yard were rather a lot of Bath Stone. Although Chivers were the contractors, as a war was raging all over the world. Men builders and they were all men, were in short supply. So German Prisoners of War were used.

Handley-Page Hangar.

High glass widows allow in lots of light.

Handley-Page.

Front elevation would have had large wooden bi-fold doors that would allow full openings.

The door openings were 42ft bays to house HP 0/100 with a wingspan of 100ft could fit in only by folding their wings to fit inside.

Handley-Page inside.

Not a lot here to discern what the hangar was originally like. It was used for many years by the Army Fire Service.

A.C.S. sheds This area had two very large flight huts Aircraft Sheds.

On the grass area here there were two very large flight huts but on the 1958 plan they had been removed.
A.C.S. - Aircraft Sheds.

A.C.S. sheds.

This is a picture of the two very large flight huts Aircraft Sheds There are also five Bessoneau canvas hangars at the time.

A.C.S. Sheds.

The layout of the middle shed showing up in the dry weather.

WAAF parachute packers.

I believe the two large A.C.S. sheds at the far east of the airfield were used during the later part of WW2 as packing sheds for parachutes. These would be issued out to the airborne troops as and when needed and when returned, thoroughly checked, repaired, washed, dried and repacked.

A.C.S. Sheds Not on the 1958 plan. You can just see a bolt to hold down a 4 x 2 wall plate.

Local Control Building 7378a/55 (Side-by-Side Type).

When the helicopters arrived from the AAC a new control tower was needed and this 7378a/55 was built out on the airfield.

''A'' shed 2.

Trees screening the off the Type ''A'' shed.

Trees planted between the wars in the expansion schemes.

95 Type 'A' Hangar [1478/24].

The Type 'A' shed was a permanent hangar for the RAF post WW1 and at 122ft x 249ft and was very big considering the size of aircraft of the period. Built around 1927.

95 Type 'A' Hangar [1478/24].

In the sixties we would play in and out of the hangars and climb up onto the gantries.

Four large doors opening to full width.

95 Type 'A' Hangar [1478/24].

THE HOME OF THE ARMY PARACHUTE ASSOCIATION.

95 Type 'A' Hangar [1478/24].

Continuing along the north side of the hangar.

THE HOME OF THE ARMY PARACHUTE ASSOCIATION.

94 Type 'A' Hangar [1478/24].
Built in 1927

''A'' shed 1.

Shed of some sort with the side offices behind. I just wonder how long that bin has been there. I have had a reply about the yellow bin from Adam Gardener an Ex REME Tech with 658Sqn. AAC. "That area was the POL (petrol, oil and lubricants) recycling area, where we would deposit used oil, grease etc. Even in the 1980s we were caring for the environment! The yellow bin was one of our FOD (foreign object damage) bins. Each aircraft bay inside the hangar had one at the end of a row of racking/workbenches".

Thank you Adam.

94 Type 'A' Hangar [1478/24] with its full 122 ft span.

That little handle can be wound by one person and will open a door to its full width. Well it could if the door buttresses had not been removed.

Roof made of steel purlins' and in filled with wooded boarding and then covered in an asbestos tile.

Now re covered in modern steel sheet roofing.

A Horsa Glider of the Glider Maintenance Unit sorting out the tail area. Also a bomb trolley can be seen and the very young trees growing. I am not too sure that this is Netheravon, RAF Brize Norton.

But it does show what it would have looked like.

''A'' shed 1.

History 1929 1FTS. No1 Flying Training School.

The same hangar in 1929 and the other was 2013.

Just noticed the early water tower in the background.

''A'' shed 1
On 20 October 1931, 57 Squadron was re-formed at RAF Netheravon under the command of Squadron Leader Horace Bowen (pictured front row, centre). The Squadron’s strength was eighteen officer aircrew and one non-commissioned aircrew.
57 Squadron - 1919-1939.

Army Air Corps Auster.

249ft long, 30ft high and 122ft width would easily fit a Lancaster at 102ft. Although a Lancaster had not been designed when this hangar was built.

In 1958 it was the sports store.

95a Watch Office (2027/26).

By 1958 the airfield was not being used as a flying functioning airfield but as a Police dog school. To keep the service men and women fit there was a full running field, 100 Sports arena (Grand Stand E Terraces).

As a kid I can remember many Americans soldiers came here to train with the our airmen. They were in their green denims, our RAF lads always had to be very smart and wore their No1,s. There was a café in the village with a Juke box. The Americans would sit and click their fingers to the music. The little things you remember.

95a Watch Office (2027/26).

The early 1927 watch office with the later wartime extension.

95a watch office (2027/26) and later wartime addition on its left. There was no balcony but the roof was accessible.

Watch office.

Operation "Sparks".

Operations board in the watch office. A bombing raid on an electrical substation near Saumur, France with Halifax aircraft from here. Operation Sparks presumably because when bombed the place would spark like anything.

I believe the visit of the Royals was to watch Operation "Exeter" to show off the Airborne forces.
(i) To land a loaded Hamilcar glider by day.
(ii) To drop 300 troops of Canadian Para, Trg. Coy. by day.
(iii) To land 100 unloaded Horsa gliders by day.
(iv) To display various items of Airborne equipment on the ground.

RAF Tarrant Rushton       1 Halifax/Hamilcar combination      No.1
RAF Broadwell                 30 Dakotas                                 2 - 31
RAF Fairford                     25 Stirling/Horsa         "             32 - 56
RAF Keevil                        25 Stirling/Horsa         "             57 - 81
RAF Brize Norton             25 Albemarle/Horsa   "            82 - 106
RAF Harwell                      25 Albemarle/Horsa   "            82 - 106

Troops of the 6th Airborne Division.
The Glider Pilots Regiment

Details from the Operations Record Book Form 540 AIR28/582

Steel frame, cast concrete and glass widows.

History :

RAF Shrewton a field across Salisbury Plain to the west was used as a satellite by Netheravon for pilot training and night flying. Fairey Battles replaced the Harvard's.

1942 & Netheravon changed again to Army Co-operation. Glider & Parachute Exercise Sqn. moved in and were gradually with 6th Airborne working up to D-day. Whitley's as parachute & Tiger Moths for glider pilot training were used.

The Whitley's of No.297 Sqn. werebmade ready for the first 1000 bomber raid on Cologne, luckily the Whitley's were deemed unsuitable & sent back.

Hectors & Harts were next used as glider tugs to 10 Hotspur gliders.

July 42 Horsa gliders arrived for trials.

1943 & the old Whitley were being replaced by Halifax's, Albemarle & Sterling´s.

West entrance to the ''A'' shed 1.

RAF 38 Wing that later became RAF 38 Group used Netheravon to learn many lessons of how to handle airborne troops.

The old door runners.

History :

The famous Bruneval raid used some planes from here to fly Para troops from RAF Thruxton, Hampshire. (A satellite airfield to Netheravon). To northern France and parachuted behind the radar station, advanced across country. Steal the required radar parts, took two POW's and escaped down the hill to be collected by the Royal Navy in assault landing craft and brought home.

Site for fire extinguishers.

Air-raid shelters below the flight offices.

Across in the ploughed field in WW2 there were about 20 wooden huts also there were huts and tents in WW1.

1913 side opening shed.

At the end of the tarmacked area was a WW1 1913 side opening shed. There was also 141 E.P.A.S. & Barrack Warden. - Perm Brick N.N.296 ?? what ever that was.

1913 side opening shed.

Assembling a Shed.

1913 side opening shed, the large blue roofed building 42h Station Equipment Section & trade test office, 1958 plan.

Later to become the Army Parachute Associations parachute hangar.

141 E.P.A.S. & Barrack Warden. - Perm Brick N.N.296 is the building that can just be seen top left hand side.

1913 side opening shed.

The last days of the old shed, held up with scaffolding because it was gradually rotting out. It was a great place with rows of parachute packing tables and a lovely room at the end with sowing machines where Sgt. Jo Reddick ruled the roost. I would sit for hours listening to his stories and watching him repair parachutes.

G-AJHO I remember you well.

Outside the hangar. I have spent a lot of time in her and on a couple of occasions coming out of her.

Our first home.

Sport parachutists joining up over Coombe Lane, Enford slightly north of the airfield. The yellow arrow points to one of the houses, this was where our new young family started all those years ago.

Gliders Exorcise Dingo II,

09 May 1944 A very important date with 6th of June coming up in one months time. Exorcise Dingo I & II were large scale glider landings to train for the mass glider borne part of the D-day landings. If you wish to count the gliders, the ones on the airfield are the ones landed and the ones on the periphery are spare gliders not used.

D-Day landings around the Ranville area.

This was a very successful landing.

The Pegasus Bridge Operation D-DAY.

Pegasus Bridge here.

The six gliders were flown from RAF Tarrant Rushton but did a lot of their landing practices in the fields around Netheravon. 'D' Company, 2nd Battalion, Maj Howard and his Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry landed around midnight on the bridges and captured them both , held out until relieved by the Commandos and the main force who landed at Sword beach.

Heading back to the West Camp.

The tarmac I am parked on was used as access to and from the airfield from the Bellman hangar which was by the tree's near the red sign in the distance.

Bellman shed.

This is the lead off of the road to the Bellman shed now gone.

A Bellman hangar at Port Pirie Aerodrome South Australia. Painted black as was the Netheravon hangar.

Black is the Bellman Hangar viewed from the village.

The building with the chimney was 25 The Central Heating Station [PB] (1805a/51).

West camp.

Now back to the West Camp and looking at the north side.

2 - Sick Quarters [PB] 2 officers, 6 airmen, 1 observation wards. (115/21).

5 - Bread store (41/2inch brick).

18 - NAAFI for 1000 & walk in shop. [Seco] (2467/51). Now removed.

20 - Dinning room & Cook house [PB] (12204/40).

21 - Massing and Rations store [PB] (NN21/1).

25 - Central Heating Station [PB] (1805a/51).

Sites of Bellman Hangar, HP Hangar, coal compound.

20 Dining Room & Cook House [TB] (12204/40).

A 1940's addition as the old pre war camp could not cope with the large expansion for wartime. This is a typical WW2 style building with an E shaped plan.

Staff of NAAFI shop Mr Bill Thompson( Manager), Mrs Dora Burke, Rene Sainsbury, Ruth Burgess, and the temporary manager, Mr Catchpole Front, Me and our stock boy, Barry ?( can't remember his name now) from Sue Dougherty. 

The Manager at the time I remember was Arthur Catchpole on far right and he lived in the flat above us in Downside Road, Netheravon. Thank you Sue.

Modern barracks. "As a single man, I initially lived in the SECOs, but whilst I was there the new accommodation blocks and guardroom were built. We were the first to move in to the luxurious new blocks, arranged in 4 man flats, with single rooms and a bathroom and utility per flat, and 8 man rooms". From Adam Gardener.

Yes hot water, sheets and rooms to themselves. Several units used these billets, one has been the Gurkha´s. Earlier I well remember the Hampshire Regiment. They drew their men either from the Winchester area or from Bristol and I had many friends from Bristol. They lived in the Seco hutting. Before them it was the homes to RAF Police Dog handlers.

2 - Sick Quarters - [PB] 2 officers wards, 6 Airmen´s wards, 1 observation ward building No. 115/21, dated 1921.

A 1921 (pos. 1927 when the hangars were built) building, for many years it was used as the HQ of the many units in and out of here. Around the 1920's there was a worry of the French being ably to drop more bombs on us than we could them. So Trenchard decided that the RAF should be at least on a Par with the French. (times do not change). So one of the first RAF expansion schemes started up and Netheravon was in the middle of it, thus the SSQ and the two 'A' hangars were built for two bomber squadrons.

The 2013 visit to Netheravon with members of ARG.

Airfield Research Group. We were taken first around RAF Upavon and then RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire, now both in the hands of the Army.

WAAF accommodation was in tin huts all along the right side of this road. This is actually a true story.

A painter was painting the guttering when a man walked up to him and said ''When will you be finishing''. The painter said ''soon why''. ''Well we are here to pull down the buildings''!!! I actually heard that conversation as I was there as a kid watching the painter, a friends dad.

Well if you are still reading and not bored out of your mind. What is going to happen here in the future. Will an RAF Bicester man come along or a millionaire farmer like Church Fenton/Hullavington??

This place is made of wood. Wood rots. Asbestos sheeting and tiles. WHOOOO asbestos!!!! We can only hope that a sugar daddy will come along and take this camp off the government who state on one hand ''It has to be preserved'' on the other hand they need massive amounts of housing land.
2026 Its still there but deteriorating very badly. Glass broken, tiles missing, wood rotting. So Sad.