Staplehurst

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Staplehurst airfield looking south, the technical site is along the bottom of the main runway, 4 April 1946. Photograph taken by No. 540 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1377. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-470.jpg RAF_106G_UK_1377_V_5048 Aerial photograph of Staplehurst airfield looking south, the technical site is along the bottom of the main runway, 4 April 1946. Photograph taken by No. 540 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1377. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_1377_V_5048 - Aerial photograph of Staplehurst airfield looking south, the technical site is along the bottom of the main runway, 4 April 1946. Photograph taken by...

Built during 1943 as an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), Staplehurst was used briefly by RAF fighter squadrons during August to October 1943 and then allocated to the Ninth Air Force. Developed and improved during the winter of 1943-44, the station eventually had two Sommerfeld Track runways with BRC intersections, 70 Sommerfeld Track and BRC hardstandings, one Butler combat hangar and four blister hangars. It was occupied by the 363rd Fighter Group, equipped with P-51s, from April to July 1944, but was then unused until the airfield closed in September 1944. Dismantled during the winter of 1944-45, the site was released by the Air Ministry in January 1945 and quickly returned to agriculture.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 363rd Fighter Group 382nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795909
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 363rd Fighter Group 380th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19106438 / O-749528
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Group 355th Fighter Squadron 380th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-023310
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Group 356th Fighter Squadron 382nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-694254
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 363rd Fighter Group 382nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16034696 / O-810522
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Little Joe
  • Unit: 363rd Fighter Group 380th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Maggie's Drawers
  • Unit: 363rd Fighter Group 380th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Virginia
  • Unit: 363rd Fighter Group 382nd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Big Mac Junior
  • Unit: 363rd Fighter Group 381st Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Group 355th Fighter Squadron 382nd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Chris Ashworth, Action Stations 5: Military Airfields of the South-West (London, 1982)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Staplehurst

Staplehurst: Gallery (3 items)