Stoney Cross

Airfield
Aerial photograph of the north end of Stoney Cross airfield looking west, the runways and perimeter are under construction, 29 April 1942. Photograph taken by sortie number RAF/13T/AC49. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-122.jpg RAF_13T_AC49_V_0013 Aerial photograph of the north end of Stoney Cross airfield looking west, the runways and perimeter are under construction, 29 April 1942. Photograph taken by sortie number RAF/13T/AC49. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_13T_AC49_V_0013 - Aerial photograph of the north end of Stoney Cross airfield looking west, the runways and perimeter are under construction, 29 April 1942. Photograph...

Planned as a secret, emergency airfield, Stoney Cross was developed during 1942-43 as an advance base for both fighters and bombers. Occupied by the RAF from January 1943, before construction was complete, the station had eventually three concrete runways, 51 pan plus 11 loop hardstandings, and three T2 plus six blister hangars. Allocated to the Ninth Air Force in March 1944 as a forward base for tactical fighters, it was occupied from April to July 1944 by the 367th Fighter Group, equipped with P-38s. The 387th Bomb Group, equipped with B-26s, next occupied the station from July to September 1944. Handed back to the RAF in September 1944, it was used as a transport base until 1946 and closed in 1948. As part of the New Forest Crown land, the site was taken over by the Forestry Commission in the 1950s, which removed most of the concrete parts from the airfield during the 1960s to establish new plantations. Three car parks and two camping sites were set up on wartime aircraft dispersals to create a public recreation area.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron 393rd Fighter Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19094727 / O-740351
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Technical Sergeant George Vasaumper, crew chief of the 387th Bomb Group stands with a colleague and a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31677) nicknamed "Jisther". Image via George Vasaumper.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-663838
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Group Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-21405
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Group Commander

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: The Gremlin
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 393rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: XIX Tactical Air Command 367th Fighter Group 394th Fighter Squadron
P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft of the 78th Fighter Group at Duxford. Handwritten on slide casing:"3-12"
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 78th Fighter Group 393rd Fighter Squadron 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Elizabeth Miss Carriage
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 356th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron 361st Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Gator Bait
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron 79th 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_Stoney_Cross

Stoney Cross: Gallery (7 items)