Upottery

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Upottery airfield looking west, the main runway runs vertically, barrack sites are to the bottom right of the airfield, 15 March 1944. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/CT/91/541. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-491.jpg RAF_CT_91_541_RP_3011 Aerial photograph of Upottery airfield looking west, the main runway runs vertically, barrack sites are to the bottom right of the airfield, 15 March 1944. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/CT/91/541. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_CT_91_541_RP_3011 - Aerial photograph of Upottery airfield looking west, the main runway runs vertically, barrack sites are to the bottom right of the airfield, 15 March...

Known locally as Smeatharpe, Upottery was built during 1943-44 potentially as a USAAF medium bomber, or reconnaissance or transport base. It had three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings, and two dispersed T2 hangars. Opened in February 1944 and selected to be a Ninth Air Force transport base, it was occupied by the 439th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-47s and C-53s, from April to August 1944.



Although returned to the RAF in October 1944, the station was next occupied briefly by US Navy (USN) PB4Y-1s during November-December 1944, and then by the USN 107th and 112th Patrol Bomber Squadrons, also equipped with PB4y-1s, from January to June 1945.



Returned to the RAF in July 1945, the station was used for storage by Maintenance Command until closed in 1948. The site quickly returned to private ownership and agriculture, although the concrete runways and many hardstands remain, plus some of the wartime buildings albeit in a derelict state. Parts of the airfield are now occupied by the Smeatharpe Stadium for stock car racing plus the Dakota 'Drag and Drift’ Raceway.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33158113 / T-125079
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Glider pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 91st Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36308204 / T-190790
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 60th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron 12th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-402363
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16129869 / O-826071
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 93rd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15109761 / O-705291
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Nicknames: Jersey Bounce
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 91st Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 91st Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 93rd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 93rd Troop Carrier 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_Upottery

http://www.autospeed.co.uk/information/tracklocations.ashx

http://www.straightliners-events.co.uk/event/events/drag-and-drift.html

http://www.youtube.com/embed/fyE1fjci0ns?feature=player_detailpage

Upottery: Gallery (8 items)