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.

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18050513 / O-429934
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-751651
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19066491
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-429942
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: 1056-Fighter Pilot / Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14050607
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

A P-38 Lightning (serial number 42-68004) nicknamed "Moonlight Cock-tail" of the 367th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant Clark "Doc" Livingston. Handwritten caption on reverse: '392nd FS, 367th FG, 9th Air Force.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Moonlight Cock-tail
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 394th Fighter Squadron
French countryside, photographed through the nose of a P-38 Lightning of the 367th Fighter Group on landing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 31 May 1945.' [stamp] and '354528 .' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'P-38s over the Seine. No.1 of a series of pix taken through the nose of the P-38 as it comes in to land. Scherschel LIFE.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron
French countryside, photographed through the nose of a P-38 Lightning of the 367th Fighter Group on landing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 31 May 1945.' [stamp] and '354528 .' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'P-38s over the Seine. No.1 of a series of pix taken through the nose of the P-38 as it comes in to land. Scherschel LIFE.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Trail Blazer
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 367th Fighter Group 393rd 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)