Tarrant Rushton

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Tarrant Rushton airfield looking north, the main runway runs vertically, the control tower and airfield code are in front of the technical site on the right, 12 December 1946. Photograph taken by No. 82 Squadron, sortie number RAF/CPE/UK/1893. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-718.jpg RAF_CPE_UK_1893_RP_3071 Aerial photograph of Tarrant Rushton airfield looking north, the main runway runs vertically, the control tower and airfield code are in front of the technical site on the right, 12 December 1946. Photograph taken by No. 82 Squadron, sortie number RAF/CPE/UK/1893. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_CPE_UK_1893_RP_3071 - Aerial photograph of Tarrant Rushton airfield looking north, the main runway runs vertically, the control tower and airfield code are in front of the...

Built during 1942-43 as an RAF transport base, Tarrant Rushton had three concrete runways, 50 hardstandings and four T2 hangars. Although allocated to the Eighth Air Force in 1942 as a potential transport or observation base, it was never occupied by Eighth Air Force units. Transferred to the Ninth Air Force as a potential fighter base when the station opened in October 1943, it was never occupied by Ninth Air Force units. Used by the RAF as an SOE operations base during 1943-45, and also as a troop transport base 1943-46, the station closed in 1946 and was abandoned in 1947. It then became home to Flight Refuelling Ltd from 1948 to 1979. Improved during the 1950s to be a V-bomber

stand-by airfield base, while still operated by Flight Refuelling Ltd, it was never used by the V-force.



After the station closed in 1980, the airfield was disabled in 1981 by trenches dug across the runways. The buildings and concrete areas were quickly demolished and the site returned completely to agriculture.

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English Heritage's Record Description

A World War Two and Post-War military airfield, opened in 1943. The wartime airfield comprised three concrete runways with some grass overshoot landing areas, and four aircraft hangars (Type T2). There was temporary accommodation for 2325 male and 386 female personnel. Its most important role was immediately prior to and during the D Day landings of June 1944. 298 and 644 Squadrons dispatched elements of the 6th Airborne Division for the airborne assault on Normandy . Supply drops by 190, 196 and 620 Squadrons were also made to the French resistance from Tarrant Rushton. 298 and 644 Squadrons participated in the landings at Arnhem later in the year. From the 1950s the airfield was used for Britain's "V-bomber " jet aircraft. The airfield officially closed in 1980. In 1981 trenches were dug across the airfield to prevent further use, and subsequently during the 1980s most of the runways were taken up leaving only a strip in use as a farm track.

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Historic England National Monument Record: ST 90 NW 128

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Chris Ashworth, Action Stations 5: Military Airfields of the South-West (Cambridge, 1982)

Tarrant Rushton: Gallery (4 items)