Aldermaston

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Aldermaston airfield looking south, C-47 Skytrains are parked on grass and Horsa gliders in the revetments, a B-17 Flying Fortress is taxying on the runway; the control tower is in the centre with T2 hangars above, 10 July 1946. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1646. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-146.jpg RAF_106G_UK_1646_RP_3080 Aerial photograph of Aldermaston airfield looking south. This is post WW2 shot when the airfield had been taken over by BOAC as an aircrew training base. Dakotas, Vikings and Yorks were in use. The control tower is in the centre with T2 hangars above, 10 July 1946. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1646. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

Date of photograph means the USAAF were long gone

Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_1646_RP_3080 - Aerial photograph of Aldermaston airfield looking south. This is post WW2 shot when the airfield had been taken over by BOAC as an aircrew training...

Aldermaston was built for RAF use in 1941-1942, and handed over to the Eighth Air Force in 1942. It was home to several Troop Carrier Groups, and became an airfield of the Ninth Air Force in 1943. Handed back to the RAF in 1945, it was placed on Care and Maintenance, before being used as a civil airport. The airfield closed in 1950 and the site became home of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (later the Atomic Weapons Establishment) from 1950.

Connections

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English Heritage's Record Description

A military airfield, opened in 1942 and closed in 1950. By the end of the Second World War, It had temporary accommodation for its personnel; there were four T2 type aircraft hangars and one MAP type hangar; 52 loop type hard standings were provided. Typically wartime construction methods involved the use of "temporary materials". The landing surfaces were constructed from concrete and wood chippings. The site was chosen in 1941 and developed with a standard 3 runway system for bombers belonging to Operational Training Units of the Royal Air Force. However the site was in fact given to the United States Army Air Force: initially it was used by 60th Troop Carrier Group, 10th , 11th, 12th and 28th Squadrons, with C-47 transport aircraft. They were replaced in 1943 by 315 Troop Carrier Group, for a short time also a Royal Air Force Unit, Number 3 GTS. These were in turn replaced by the 9th (later 29th) Air Command, whose headquarters were at Aldermaston Court. In March 1944 the Airfield was taken over by the 434th Troop Carrier Group, 71st, 72nd, 73rd and 74th Squadrons, with a theoretical complement of 2817 personnel. They were involved in D-Day, using C-47 aircraft to tow 52 Hadrian gliders filled with troops of the 81st Airborne to attack positions 1 mile inland of Omaha beach. Once the beachheads were established, Aldermaston was used to fly cargo in and wounded troops out. The base was also used as training for Operation Market Garden (the Arnhem campaign). After the departure of the 9th Group the airfield was dormant from June 1945 to May 1946. From 1946 to 1948 the airfield was used to train civilian pilots, and from 1948-1949 was used by Eagle Aviation. The site was taken over by the British nuclear research programme, and by 1953 was redeveloped as the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (now known as the Atomic Weapons Establishment). Much of the site of the former airfield is thus now either built upon, and/ or is in a restricted area.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 370th Fighter Group 401st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18051794
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 60th Troop Carrier Group 11th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Role/Job: pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2059885
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-1289
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Glider Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 71st Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20441125 / T-060701
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot

Aircraft

A C-47 Skytrain (CJ-A, serial number 42-24022) of the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group is loaded with blood to be delivered to France. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'SC 276702. Believed Aldermaston, but could be Greenham.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Dava Still Media Depository, Bldg. 168, N.D.W., Washington, D.C., 20374. SDAN: SC 276702. Date: 06/12/44. Savrin: Service ID: ETO-SOS-44-599. Photographer: Holt. England...At a landing field in England, a critical cargo of whole blood
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 71st Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Nicknames: Placid Lassie
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 74th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 71st Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron
A C-47 Skytrain nicknamed "Mary Co-Ed II" of the 434th Troop Carrier Group. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group .
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Nicknames: Mary Co-Ed II
  • Unit: 434th Troop Carrier Group 74th Troop Carrier Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Historic England National Monument Record SU 56 SE 32

Date
Contributorrobrop
Changes
Sources

Robert Roper

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Chris Ashworth, Action Stations 9: Military Airfields of the Central South and South-east (Cambridge, 1985)

Aldermaston: Gallery (8 items)