Moreton Corbet
Note: This map only shows the position of Moreton Corbet village within the UK.
MORETON CORBET? Military aerodrome
NOTES: As I have yet to find the official name for this airfield I will partly quote from Wings Across the Border by Derrick Pratt & Mike Grant which I highly recommend. “Fourteen miles to the south of Ternhill…the flat area adjacent to the old Roman Road (B5063) between Moreton Corbet and Shawbury….over 300 acres were requisitioned in 1917 and two 1,000 yard landing strips laid out. Three training squadrons took up residence during June and….commenced flying on 1 September 1917.
An Aircraft Repair Section or Squadron was established at the same time, working closely with HOOTON PARK ARS, receiving and testing all new aircraft destined for SHAWBURY and TERN HILL as well as being responsible for repair, maintenance and salvage”. (My use of capital letters for airfields).
There is a small problem in that the village of Moreton Corbet on the B5063 is about 7 miles SW of TERNHILL - not fourteen miles south. This also makes it really quite close to SHAWBURY and indeed normally I would say that the two were one and the same, except that experience teaches me to be far more careful. And of course these authors make it quite clear that aircraft were prepared here for SHAWBURY.
Then again, with nigh on eight hundred or more flying sites listed in the UK during WW1, I am astonished to find that I have nothing listed. If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be much appreciated.
brian osborne
This comment was written on: 2021-01-02 15:38:58In 1917 both "landing fields" were quite small in modern terms, my understanding [descendant of Corbet family] is Moreton Corbet was at extreme NE & Shawbury S points of existing RAF Shawbury - & in 20/30's grew into one larger site. N end of MC today being farm buildings. does this seem to fit with your research
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