Holmsley South

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Holmsley South airfield looking north, the runways and perimeter are under construction, 24 April 1942. Photograph taken by No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, sortie number RAF/HLA/498. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-319.jpg RAF_HLA_473_V_6006 Aerial photograph of Holmsley South airfield looking north, the runways and perimeter are under construction, 24 April 1942. Photograph taken by No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, sortie number RAF/HLA/498. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_HLA_473_V_6006 - Aerial photograph of Holmsley South airfield looking north, the runways and perimeter are under construction, 24 April 1942. Photograph taken by No....

Built during 1941-42, Holmsley South opened in September 1942 as a Coastal Command base before construction was complete. It eventually had three concrete runways, 35 pan and three loop hardstandings, and five T2 hangars. The 1st American residents, during October-November 1942, were B-24s from the 330th Bomb Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, detached to boost anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay. The station was an RAF anti-submarine and anti-shipping base during 1942-43, and then a fighter base from January to June 1944 when it was handed over to the Ninth Air Force. It was occupied from July to August 1944 by the 394th Bomb Group, equipped with B-26s. Re-occupied by the RAF as a transport base from September 1944, the station closed in October 1946. After standing derelict until the 1950s, much of the airfield became a Forestry Commission project near the New Forest and the rest of the site returned to agriculture. Although small sections of runways and hardstandings remain, most of the concrete areas have been removed along with the buildings. Public camping sites and a caravan park have been created on some of the hardstandings.

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: 394th Bomb Group 586th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 06945500
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Toggelier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 586th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33791551
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 586th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35629874
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 586th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19101625 / O-783229
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 586th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-886237
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 585th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Homesick Angel
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 586th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 584th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 43-34200) nicknamed "Sure Go for No Dough" of the 394th Bomb Group, at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: '468083, Mount Farm, 1945.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Sure Go For No Dough
  • Unit: 394th Bomb Group 585th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)

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_Holmsley_South

http://web.archive.org/web/20080512011312/http://www.danhamblin.btinter…

Holmsley South: Gallery (7 items)