Colerne
COLERNE: Military aerodrome
Note: This picture (2018) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Note: All other pictures by the author.
Military user: WW2 RAF Fighter Command 10 Group
10 Group Communications Flight (Types?)
151 Sqdn (DH Mosquitos)
264 Sqdn [Madras Presidency] (DH Mosquitos)
307 [Polish] Sqdn (Boulton Paul Defiants)
316 & 317 [Polish] Sqdns (Hawker Hurricanes)
456 (RAAF), 406 (RCAF), 488 (RNZAF) & 604 Sqdns (DH Mosquitos)
No.2 Delivery Flight
39 MU (41 Group) Aircraft Storage Unit
218 MU (43 Group) Secret Installation Fitting Unit
Post 1945:
29 Sqdn (DH Mosquitos)
36 Sqdn [Transport Command] (Handley Page Hastings)
238 OCU
39 MU
Bristol UAS + 3 AEF (DHC.1 Chipmunks)
1975: Listed as being a Satellite airfield for Hercules maintenance
2013: Bristol University Air Squadron (Grob 115 Tutors)
Location: WNW of Colerne, SW of Thickwood, S of the A420, 6nm NNE of Bath
Period of operation: 1940 to -
Runways: WW2: 01/19 1097x46 hard 07/25 1783x46 hard
12/30 1052x46 hard
2001: 01/19 1123x46 hard 07/25 1420x46 hard
NOTES: It appears that during the early part of WW2 BOAC assisted with the assembly of American built aircraft at this airfield.
Also, it appears that the S.E.5A, G-EBIC, was stripped and rebuilt here circa 1950.
A LITTLE KNOWN HISTORY?
In 1977 the aerodrome was listed as being closed but housing a museum, (not open to the public?). With the Davis EG built, (in 1935?), Mignet HM.14 Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea) G-AEEH which flew several times from WHITCHURCH it is claimed. Also G-AEKV a Kronfeld Drone, G-ASPX a Benson B8 Gyroplane. And, perhaps, almost incredible to believe, G-AVXV in store, the latter being a 1909 Blériot XI.
A RARE PRIVILEGE
In August 1995 I was privileged to be given a rare permission to fly into COLERNE together with ‘Aussie’ Brown, (of Aviation Picture Library/FLYER magazine fame), to see and photograph the operations of their DHC.1 Chipmunks just before they were retired from service. RAF COLERNE was one of the last UK military operations involving this classic type.
Can you keep a secret? I was introduced to Alan at a major 60th birthday bash at Peterhouse College in Cambridge, hosted by my brother-in- law Arthur Bateman, who was a friend of Alan. I strongly suspect that in the atmosphere of high conviviality I probably bent his ear a bit - as you do.
To achieve this we flew across from TOP FARM in the 'Terrorhawk' G-BGWU. I had hoped to fly in with an aeroplane with a bit more 'street-cred' but on the day only Whisky Uniform was available. Aussie had recently retired from being an ATPL (airline pilot) and told me that the flying characteristics of the Tomahawk was making him feel queasy - he really did not like the type. But then again - does anybody? Perhaps oddly, although far from being a fan of the Tomahawk, and with far fewer hours, it did not affect me.
CHIPMUNK PICTURES
SOME 'CHIPPY' INFO
The de Havilland (Canada) DHC.1 Chipmunk was the first post-war design by the company and it appears that a total of 1283 were built. Many air forces used the type as trainers and even in 2016 was was claimed that some five hundred were still flying in many countries, albiet in the hands of civilian owners.
In the UK Chipmunks for the RAF, the Chipmunk T.10, were initially built at HATFIELD although the majority were built at HAWARDEN (BROUGHTON). Entering RAF service in the late 1940s, the RAF eventually received 735 and the last of these were retired in 1996 - an astonishing feat I would say. It appears that the very last were operated by No.10 AEF (Air Experience Flight) from RAF WOODVALE in LANCASHIRE.
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