Chilbolton
CHILBOLTON: Military aerodrome previously private airstrip
(Also known as CHILBOLTON DOWN)
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: WW2: RAF Fighter Command 11 Group
183 & 308 (Polish) Sqdns (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
238 Sqdn (Hawker Hurricanes)
There are accounts saying the USAAF also used this airfield in WW2. This appears to be the 9th USAAF TAC (Tactical Air Command) 398th Sqdn flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts who were transferred from RAF GREENHAM COMMON (BERKSHIRE)
Manufacturing: During WW2, as from 1939 probably, Vickers-Supermarine had a facility here. This was largely for final assembly and flight testing although it seems very likely that testing of modifications also took place. The other two local airfields used by Supermarine during WW2 (apart from EASTLIEGH of course) were HIGH POST and WORTHY DOWN. This said, the shadow factory at CHATTIS HILL west of Stockbridge also had its own airstrip.
It appears Flight Development used this airfield in the 1950s to assist the Folland Gnat type enter into RAF service
Location: 4nm SSE of Andover
Period of operation: Civil: 1930s
Military: 1940 to 1946. Supermarine test flying base from 1939 to 1961
Runways: WW2: 02/20 1945x46 hard 12/30 1463x46 hard
07/25 1280x46 hard
NOTES: It seems that this site was originally used in the 1930s as a private airstrip on an occasional basis. From 1940 RAF CHILBOLTON became a RLG (Relief Landing Ground) for MIDDLE WALLOP.
IS THIS INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE?
Regarding military aircraft types (of any manufacturer) the whole subject was wrapped around with ‘Official’ secrecy of course. And this still is I suppose, to some extent, the case today? The ‘Freedom of Information Act’ introduced in the UK has it seems back-fired in many respects. Is it now possible to discover, for example, the attrition rate the early RAF Vampire pilots suffered? And the Royal Navy Sea Vixen crews?
THE SOUND BARRIER FILM
In Mike Roussel's execellent book Spitfire's Forgotten Designer he tells us that the: "..... feature film The Sound Barrier, which was produced and directed by David Lean......included some scenes filmed at Chilbolton airfied. The story and screenplay were by Terence Rattigan and stars who appeared in the film included Ralph Richardson, Nigel Patrick and Ann Todd, who was married to David Lean.
Mr Roussel then quotes from an article by Alan Mansell for the Solent Sky magazine: "During the summer of 1951 a film crew together with some well-known stars descended on the Vickers Supermarine airfield at Chilbolton, where they stayed for a hectic number of weeks. The subject of their frenetic activity was the production of a new feature film, the real star of which was the second prototype Vickers Supermarine 535 Swift [VV119] - the production version of which was destined to be the RAF's first swept-wing jet fighter. In the film the name given to the aircraft was the 'Prometheus'.
It must be pointed out that the Supermarine Attacker and Swift, both of which were largely developed here during test flying, also had a rather poor safety record. One remarkable incident is told to us by Mike Roussel: "On 23 May 1950, Les Colquhoun was flying the Attacker F Mk1 (WA469) with the task of testing the air brakes. It was while in a dive that the outer portion of the starboard wing folded up and the ailerons became locked. Colquhoun bravely made the decision not to eject because he wanted the cause of the wings folding to be discovered and made a high-speed landing at Chilbolton with a burst tyre. He was awarded the George Medal for his effort to save the aircraft."
A TRAGIC CRASH
I have heard a story about a spectacular and fatal crash occurring during an airshow held here involving a de Havilland jet type - can anybody add some details? A search of the internet appears to reveal nothing.
A VISIT BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Once again from Mike Roussel is an account of the Duke of Edinburh visiting in April 1953 having landed in a Vickers Viscount. (They then flew on the SOUTH MARSTON near Swindon). Whilst here he was shown the Type 508 (VX133) which was by then fitted with a tricycle undercarriage and a 'V' or 'butterfly' tail. This design exercise eventually led to the development of the successful Scimitar for the Royal Navy. It appears that standing close to the Type 508 were the Swift F Mk.1 (WK194) and the Swift F Mk.4 (WK198). It was the latter that had later gone to Libya for a successful attempt at the world absolute air speed in September 1953. It also appears that the two-seat trainer Spitfire Tr.8 G-AIDN was there, but at that time probably with the serial MT818. Mr Roussel tells us that this Spitfire stayed here; "....... from 1952 until 1956 before going to the Hampshire Aeroplane Club." In 2013, and probably a bit earlier, G-AIDN was being fully restored by Personal Plane Services at WYCOMBE AIR PARK.
CURRENT STATUS?
For many years after flying ceased, and probably still today (?), this site is used as a Radio Research Station. Does anybody know what all these Radio Research Stations based on so many ex-WW2 airfields actually do?
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