Finmere
FINMERE: Private airstrip (?), later miltary aerodrome later civil private aerodrome.
Latterly used by microlights
Military user: WW2: RAF Fighter Command 12 Group
13 OTU (Douglas A-20 Bostons & North American B-25 Mitchells)
307 FTU [Ferry Training Unit] (Bristol Blenheims, Bostons & Mitchells)
1655 MCU (DH Mosquito Conversion Unit)
Occassional visits by Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Tempests from BICESTER
Operated by: 1980s on: Mr W T Knapton later Mrs P J Knapton
Location: South of A421, W of Tingewick, 2.5nm WSW of Buckingham
Period of operation: Private in the 1930s, military from 1941 to 1945 then after a break (Possibly from the 1970s?) civil to -
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 10/28 1868x46 hard 05/23 1403x46 hard
16/34 1280x46 hard
1990/2000: 10/28 701x46 hard
2001: 10/28 701x46 hard 10/28 600x30 grass
(Just N of 10/28 hard)
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
These four maps and pictures were kindly provided by Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide' in January 2021.
NOTES: In 1977 it appears the following were based here: DH.60G Moth G-ABAG, Auster J/1 Autocrat G-AMTM, Bölkow Bo 208 Junior G-ASZD, Beagle A.61 Terrier 3 G-AVYU and SAN DR.1050 Ambassadeur G-BAMW.
I well remember my first and only visit in February 1994, (with permission of course), and finding ourselves, after landing here in the Cessna 172 G-WACL from WYCOMBE AIR PARK, standing in splendid isolation on the deserted airfield. It is hard to explain, but landing on quite deserted old WW2 airfields, seems to engender a feeling of ghosts in a way. Trying to envisage what once was going on many years ago.
Since the 1970s (?) the remaining airfield has been used (?) by light aircraft. Especially by the Vintage Aero Club Fly-Ins and the Club were based here for many years.
HGV(LGV) training takes place on the western end existing runway, (or did for many years at least), and model aircraft use(d) the site. A low level circuit was recommended to pilots with PPR to clear the runway prior to landing.
It appears (in 2015) that microlight aircraft now use the site.
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