RAF Winkleigh

RAF · Devon · England · United Kingdom

RAF Winkleigh

In 1940, it was deemed by the Air Ministry that the area south-west of Bristol, north of Exeter, and south of Cardiff/Swansea needed a fighter airfield. Work commenced on Winkleigh Airfield, which was to be used as a satellite for RAF Chivenor, Coastal Command.

RAF Winkleigh

This is a schedule of the various buildings and facilities located at RAF Winkleigh:

1 x T2 hangar.
2 x Runways.
8 x Blister hangars.
6 x FCW 4513 fighter pens.
6 x Non-standard fighter pens.
21 x Circular (frying pan) fighter dispersals.
2 x Bulk Fuel Installation (Aviation).
1 x Braithwaite water tower 60,000gal.
1 x 25yd machine gun range.
1 x aircraft machine gun stop butt.
9 x Dispersed sites.

Abbreviations:

PB - Permanent Brick.
TB - Temporary Brick.
N - Nissen Hutting.
T - Thorson Hut?
St - Steel.
P&W - Post & Wire.
B&Sand - Brick & Sand?
Clay&Conc - Clay & Concrete.
B.S. - Blast Shelter.
A.S. - Air Raid Shelter.

Google

Braithwaite water tower 60,000gal. Site No.10.

Night Flying Equipment Store - TB - 12411/41.

Flood Light & Trailer Shed - TB - 12411/41.

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site: RAF Winkleigh

Work started in 1940 and the station opened around 1943 under 10 Group, Fighter Command. Designed in the Crossbow layout, the airfield hosted many different types of aircraft, including Spitfires, Hurricanes, and Mosquitoes, as well as 161 Squadron flying Lysanders. This was a "Black" squadron, flying dangerous secret sorties to deliver and collect spies from occupied Europe.

RAF Winkleigh

This is a schedule of key structures and facilities located on the airfield site:

1 - Bulk Petrol Installation (Aviation) - 36,000g - 14036/41
3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41
4 - Signals Panel
9 - MT Shed - TB - 12775/41
77 - M.G. Range 4 Firing Point - 25yd - 147/41
78 - M.G. test Butt - Earth - 16461/41

9 - MT Shed - TB - 12775/41. How it may have looked..

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

10 May 2003

1568/41 the watch office room. (RAF Metford 13726/41 type in 1944 from '353 FG Archive').

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

This offers a very good view of the smaller Watch Office windows on the ground floor; these are smaller due to it being a night flying tower. That means the room would need lighting, and as there was a total blackout, the smaller windows were easier to cover.

05 August 2017

RAF Winkleigh

The site of RAF Winkleigh remained a hive of activity throughout the war. While much of the infrastructure has since been repurposed or demolished, this section of the airfield served a vital role in supporting the daily operations of the fighter squadrons based here, including the secret sorties flown by 161 Squadron.

05 August 2017

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site: 3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Plan 15684/41.

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

Rear entrance.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

Watch Office.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Plan 15684/41: Ground floor plan.

15684/41 ARG

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower -TB- 15684/41.

Watch Office with Pyro cupboard in the corner. The pyrotechnic cupboard was designed to hold flare cartridges and flare gun(s). If these ignited for any reason, the inside door, being a steel sheet door, would remain locked. An ignition of the flares would heat up the space and cause an explosion, blowing out the glass outer window; this would allow the steel door to contain the hazard. The concrete and brick shelves would also protect the area inside.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site: 3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41. As the plan says, "A/Men's Lavy". Airman's toilets.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

The tower features steel windows manufactured by Crittall.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

"Officers' Lavy" this time.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site: 3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41. Met office and in the corner, the Met store or the teleprinter area, whichever was needed. On the left would have been a chart bench.

10 May 2003

Meteorological officer, sending up a weather balloon.

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

Looking back down the central corridor, on the right is a cupboard which often has concrete shelves. This was the signal flag cupboard. Behind it was the Rest Room for Officers and Airmen.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

Stairs leading to the first floor.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

First floor.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Plan 15684/41: First floor plan.

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

Control Room, with the door out to the balcony and the stairs to the roof.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

Control Room with three hatches from the signals office.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

Looking the other way in the Control Room.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.

The view from the Control Room.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41. Corridor running back to the stairs.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site:

9 - MT Shed - TB - 12775/41.

A door stop is all that is left of this MT building.

10 May 2003

Door stops at RAF Weston Zoylands old MT workshop garage.

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield Site: Behind the Control Tower. Clockwise:

1: View to the watch office through where huts and offices would have filled this space.
2: A door stop, all that is left of this MT building.
3: Motor Transport building with its concrete bollards to protect the doors and door posts from RAF drivers.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

This was possibly an M&E plinth, the point where all power for this site would have been taken. An armoured cable ran right around the airfield, linking up the different sites.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

The interior of the M&E plinth, which housed the machinery and electrical infrastructure needed to power the site.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

This area is located directly behind the watch office, part of the wider airfield site that was established in 1940 and opened in 1943 under 10 Group, Fighter Command. While the main station saw significant activity from various squadrons, this section of the grounds sits in the shadow of the Control Tower, a temporary brick structure identified as plan 15684/41.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Airfield runways Looking at the cross of the two runways. The runway layout was the crossbow design, featuring only two runways.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Perimeter track. The perimeter track was essentially a very wide road 50ft. This track ran right around the runways so planes could manoeuvre without blocking the runways, allowing other aircraft to land or take off safely.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

77: M.G. Range 4 Firing Point - 25yd - 147/41.
78: M.G. test Butt - Earth - 16461/41.

The range was for RAF personnel to practice shooting and for machine guns removed from aircraft to be tested.

The earth piled up on the left is the 78 - M.G. test Butt - Earth - 16461/41. This butt is for aircraft machine guns to be sighted and adjusted to the pilot's wishes.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

25yd Machine gun range

Looking at the range butts, sand would have been piled up against the far wall to catch the bullets. This is a standard RAF design range, 147/41.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

The RAF Winkleigh War Memorial stands as a dedicated tribute to the personnel who served at the station during its operational years, commemorating the sacrifices made during the Second World War.

02 August 2004

RAF Winkleigh

This is a schedule of buildings and facilities situated on the airfield site:

46 - Sleeping Shelter - PB - for 33 - 11042/41
47 - Gen. Rep. & Gun Cleaning Workshop - TB - 8656/41
48 - Drying Room - N - 13214/42
49 - RAF Latrine - TB - 9026/41
50 - Recreation Hut - N
51 - Flight Office - N - 13214/41
52 - Sleeping Shelter - for 33 - 11049/41
53 - M&E Plinth
54to57 - Blister Hangars - St - 29ft - 12532/41
58 - W.T. & Gun Cleaning Workshop - TB - 3656/42
59 - RAF Latrine - TB - 9026/41
60 - Hangar - St - T2(13) - 10317/41
61 - Bulk Petrol Installation (Aviation) - 24,000g - 13083/41
62 - S.A.A Store - N - 12725/41
63to66 - Blister Hangars - St - Extra Over - 12532/41
69 - Sleeping Shelter - PB - for 33 - 11049/41
70 - RAF Latrine - TB - 9026/41
71 - Drying Room - N - 13214/41
72 - Recreation Hut - N
73 - Flight Office - N - 13214/41

18 February 2007

62 - S.A.A Store - N - 12725/41. Possibly like this.

RAF Winkleigh

61 - Bulk Petrol Installation (Aviation) - 24,000g - 13083/41. This was the fuel pump house for the bulk petrol installation (aviation as opposed to vehicles).

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

61 - Bulk Petrol Installation (Aviation) - 24,000g - 13083/41.

Steel door.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

61 - Bulk Petrol Installation (Aviation) - 24,000g - 13083/41.

Inside, where the pump would have sat.

10 May 2003

Early aircraft re fueling, using a tractor and a trailer tanker.

Leyland articulated petrol delivery tanker belonging to a civilian Organisation POL.

RAF Winkleigh

Elevation view of pump house plan 15425/40.

RAF Winkleigh

58 - W.T. & Gun Cleaning Workshop - TB - 3656/42.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

60 - Hangar - St - T2(13) - 10317/41.

This is a 13-bay T2 hangar; usually, the standard size was 26 bays. So presumably, a shorter length was needed as this was to be a fighter station and not a heavy bomber station.

There were also eight Blister hangars.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

60 - Hangar - St- T2(13) - 10317/41.

From the main road, this is all I could see of the hangar and you can just make out the top door runners that stick out both sides of the hangar.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

This was the only fighter dispersal I could find. It is just a circle of concrete, now tarmacked over, used to park a fighter plane off of the grass.

02 July 2003

RAF Winkleigh

A fighter dispersal pen is an area where a fighter would be protected on three sides by an earth bank. A plane would be placed inside its walls. If attacked, the walls of earth would give some protection from blast.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Looking into the air-raid shelter entrance, which is an integral part of the central section in the earth mound surrounding the pen.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Looking inside the air-raid shelter, it is a standard Stanton shelter fitted into the pen. There are three entrances: one at the rear and one to each bay.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

The RAF Winkleigh War Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the airbase's wartime service, commemorating the personnel who served here from its opening in 1943. Many brave airmen flew secret, dangerous sorties from Winkleigh, including those from the renowned 161 Squadron, known as a "Black" squadron for its clandestine work delivering and collecting agents from occupied Europe.

02 August 2004

RAF Winkleigh Site Overview

Some details.

02 August 2004

RAF Winkleigh

This is another example of a fighter dispersal pen, designed to protect aircraft from blast damage by surrounding them with earth banks.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

This area served as a fighter dispersal pen, a structure designed to protect aircraft from blast damage. A fighter was positioned inside these earth-banked walls, which offered essential shielding during enemy attacks.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Site of a 54 to 57 - Blister Hangar - St - 12532/41.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

This building is unidentified, though its structure strongly resembles that of a standard sleeping shelter.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

Blast shelter 2360/41.

This is an air-raid shelter of a type where you run in and get down low. When a bomb explodes, the blast travels over the top and the walls offer protection.

The sheet metal visible is from an old Nissen hut that was just dumped here.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

48? - Drying Room - N - 15241/41. A Nissen hut 24ft wide with a porch fitted to the end and may have been the Drying Room.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

48? - Drying Room - N - 15241/41. A Nissen hut 24ft wide with a porch fitted to the end and may have been the Drying Room.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

48? - Drying Room - N - 15241/41. A Nissen hut 24ft wide with a porch fitted to the end and may have been the Drying Room.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

69 - Sleeping Shelter - PB - for 33 - 11049/41. This one sleeps 32 men; sleeping shelters come in three sizes, 18, 24, and 32, all multiples of three. The bunks inside are tiered three high.

18 February 2007

Plan of a sleeping shelter, showing the internal small wallls where bunks fit between them, three high. Just a blast wall entrance and no toilets or washing facilities, infarct no mod cons at all.

Each made wooden bunks. Most were just four metal brackets on the walls and a wooden frame with Chicken wire stretched over it.

RAF Winkleigh

69 - Sleeping Shelter - PB - for 33 - 11049/41. One of the blast wall entrances.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

46 - Sleeping Shelter - PB - for 18 - 11042/41. Air ventilation via an electric fan.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

70 - RAF Latrine (at dispersal) - TB - 9026/41.

Situated at one of the fighter dispersal points, this structure provided essential sanitary facilities for ground crew and pilots stationed at the site. Like many other temporary brick (TB) buildings across the airfield, it was constructed in 1941 to standard Air Ministry specifications.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

47 - Gen. Rep. & Gun Cleaning Workshop - TB - 8656/42. A fighter would have around eight guns; there were six planes in the three fighter pens, which makes 72 guns to keep cleaned and serviced.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

47 - Gen. Repair & Gun Cleaning Workshop - TB - 8656/42.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

47 - Gen. Repair & Gun Cleaning W'kshop - TB - 8656/42.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

Another of the fighter dispersal pens, consisting of a concrete parking area surrounded by an earth blast bank to protect aircraft from bomb damage.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

This path serves as a connecting way to a Blister hangar.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

This is a schedule of buildings and installations located at Site No. 1: Airfield:

1 - Bulk Petrol Installation (Aviation) - 36,000g - 14036/41.
3 - Control Tower - TB - 15684/41.
4 - Signal Panel (Square).
5 - Squadron Office - N - 15645/41.
6 - Squadron Office - N - 15645/41.
8 - Link Trainer Building - Double - TB - 10040/41.
9 - MT Shed - TB - 12775/41.
12 - N.F.E. Store - TB - 12411/41.
13 - Speech Broadcasting Building - TB - 10786/41.
14 - Parachute Store - TB - 11137/41.
15 - F.L. Trailer and Tractor Store - TB - 12431/41.
18 - M.T. Petrol Installation (lub) 5,000g - 4619/40.
29 - Main Store - N - 12773/41.
30 - Fabric store - TB - 12773/41.
31 to 33 - Accommodation, latrines & Dining for Italian Collaboration Labour Corps.
36 - Main Workshops - N - 12774/41.
40 - Fuel Compound - PB&W - 9108/41.
41 - Sub Station - PB - 13241/41.

Abbreviations:
PB - Permanent Brick.
TB - Temporary Brick.
N - Nissen.
W - Wire.

AM plan 367/45

RAF Winkleigh

30 - Fabric Store details are very sketchy.

Fabric Store type 12773/41 was part of the main store and is now demolished. Usually, this store was part of a three-building 'Main Store', but here it was built as a stand-alone fabric store.

10 May 2003

AN original three building, main store plan.

RAF Winkleigh

The following is a schedule of buildings and facilities located at Dispersed Site No. 2 (Communal):

102 - Station C.O.'s Quarters: TB - 9023/41
105 - Officers Mess: TB - 91 to 100 - 16322/41
106 - Sergeants Showers & Ablutions: TB - 14447/41
107 - Officers Bath House: PB - 16322/41
108 - Gymnasium and Chapel: TB - 16428/40
111 - Standby Set House: PB - 16302/41
112 - A.M. Showers, Ablution & Decontamination: 1001 to 1100 - TB - 14433/41
115 - Dining Room: N - 1100 - 16677/41

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

This list schedules key structures within the communal site:

102 - Station C.O.'s Quarters - TB - 9023/41
105 - Officers Mess - TB - 91-100 - 16322/41
108 - Gymnasium and Chapel - TB - 16428/40

10 May 2003

Station C. O.'s Quarters - TB - 9023/41 at RAF Davidstow Moor, exactly the same type.

RAF Winkleigh

Site No.2 Communal

112 - A.M. Showers, Ablution & Decontamination - 1001 to 1100 men - TB - 14433/41.

Airman's showers, ablutions and decontamination block. Decontamination was taken seriously. On big stations, very large four-entry decontamination blocks were built with air conditioning and heating for water, where clothes could be changed and gas victims treated. Here there just seems to be a row of standard type TB hutting used. As the war went on, decontamination blocks were reused as stores and the showers used for airmen's shower blocks.

20 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

Site No. 2 Communal

111 - Standby Set House - PB - 16302/41.

Most RAF stations were powered by the grid, but on occasions this may go down and so a generator house was always provided.

20 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

Site No.2 Communal 115 - Dining Room - N - 1100 - 16677/41. Plan of the type of dining room.

23 March 2004

Plan of how a dinning room. Three long (here Nissen huts 24ft) with the middle, Preparation &cooking area.

I have attached a larger picture of the stove area. This was set usually in the centre of the dinning room with a chimney surrounded by ovens and hot plates. All run by coal/coke fired. So some poor Erk or a civilian would have to keep the fires burning to the correct temperatures all day and night.

RAF Winkleigh

Site Number: 115
Building Type: Dining Room
Construction: N (Nissen)
Capacity: 1100
Plan Number: 16677/41

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

Site No. 2 Communal:

115: Dining Room - N - 1100 - 16677/41.
Stove: Stove arrangement.

AM photo

RAF Winkleigh

107: Officers Bath House - PB - 16322/41.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

107 - Officers Bath House - PB - 16322/41

05 August 2017

RAF Winkleigh

This is another water tower, showing the steel ladder used to access the tank.

05 August 2017

RAF Winkleigh

This blast pen has been repurposed and is now covered in old wood.

05 August 2017

RAF Winkleigh

This blast pen has a roof over it; perhaps the farmer added the structure.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

This blast pen has a roof over it; perhaps the farmer added the structure.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

This blast pen has a roof over it; perhaps the farmer added the structure.

18 February 2007

RAF Winkleigh

Dispersed Site No. 6 (W.A.A.F. Communal). We tried to ask for permission to photograph the area, but two growling sheepdogs prevented us from entering. I did manage to take a few shots from the perimeter. The site appears to have been used for accommodation, consisting mostly of Nissen huts.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

Site No.6 (W.A.A.F. Communal) We attempted to request permission to photograph the W.A.A.F. communal site, but two growling sheep dogs discouraged us. I did manage to take a few shots; the area appears to consist primarily of Nissen hut accommodation.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

On 23 March 2004, I visited Site No.6 (W.A.A.F. Communal), where I observed a typical Nissen hut with a toilet block added. On the original site plan, this building is designated as a guard hut picket post.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

At the W.A.A.F. Communal site, the original water tank remains in place, positioned above the latrine blocks.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

Site No.6 accommodation Nissen huts, including the dining room and Sergeants mess.

10 May 2003

RAF Winkleigh

Stepping inside one of the accommodation Nissen huts within the W.A.A.F. communal site reveals the cramped, utilitarian living conditions typical for the personnel stationed at RAF Winkleigh.

23 March 2004

RAF Winkleigh

Site No.5 230 - Sergeant, A/M's Ablutions & Drying room - TB - 16315/41. Dispersed Site No.5: this is a standard wartime airmen's ablutions and drying room hut with a Stanton air-raid shelter in front which has a porch covering its entrance. I have never seen a porch fitted before to a Stanton shelter. The hut is now lived in as a private house and half the field is a cemetery with burials of a later date.

23 March 2004

Town Cemetery Site

A portion of this site is now part of the town's cemetery.

05 August 2017

RAF Winkleigh

This is a Stanton-style air-raid shelter, a common pre-cast concrete design used for personnel protection across RAF stations during the war.

05 August 2017

RAF Winkleigh

In the centre of Winkleigh, I spotted this old garage with a nice Art Deco design. As a former garage owner, I tend to look out for these.

A very good history of RAF Winkleigh was written by David Freeman.

10 May 2003