Okehampton
FOLLY GATE: Military aerodrome & temporary civil aerodrome (also known as FOLLYGATE)
Later became RAF OKEHAMPTON in WW2
Note: This picture (2018) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Military user: RAF Army Co-operation Squadrons
Used by, (from 1928 to 1939), 13 and 16 Squadrons for example. (Bristol Fighters, Hawker Audaxs, Armstrong Whitworth Atlas and Westland Lysander types)
Note: I have found quite a lot of info on the web - to which I owe a considerable debt. It appears that this airfield was used to support the Army during artillery practice on Dartmoor, usually from May to September - until 1939.
WW2: It appears that Army Co-operation operations continued until 1942. In March 1942 it appears that 73 MU of 43 Group used this airfield as a FHU (Forward Holding Unit). They were employed for storage and supply of aircraft spares, and installation of special equipment to aircraft, covering most airfields and squadrons in the south-west of England. By late 1944 they were under the control of 57 Wing (Southern) and closed down in July 1945.
In 1940: 16 & 225 Sqdns (Westland Lysanders)
Note: 16 Squadron were a detachment from RAF TEVERSHAM (CAMBRIDGESHIRE).
In 1941: 16 Sqdn (Lysanders)
Note: It appears that in 1941 RAF OKEHAMPTON became a satellite for RAF WESTON ZOYLAND (SOMERSET).
US First Army ‘V’ Corps 29th Infantry Division 227th Field Artillery Battalion*
POST WW2: RAF Maintenance Command 7 & 225 MU
It also appears that Army AOP Austers used this site up until the early 1950s.
Location: Approx. 1.5 to 2nm NNW of Okehampton town centre
Period of operation: 1928 to 1945
Runways: WW2: N/S 768 grass NE/SW 768 grass
E/W 759 grass SE/NW 768 grass
NOTES:
Venue, (21st August 1932), for Alan Cobham’s National Aviation Day UK Display Tour. The next year Alan Cobham’s No.2 Tour came again on the 14th May 1933, only some records state they actually arrived on the 15th May which was a Sunday and locals complained about the aircraft noise interfering with Baptist Church services. I have long doubted the reliability of the itinerary set out for these “Flying Circus” venues and this to seems to prove that the schedule often slipped by a day or two?
*In WW2, presumably in 1944 or thereabouts, involving the run-up to the D-Day landings, two Piper L-4 Grasshoppers were based here.
If official records can be relied upon the ratio of RAF to WAAF personnel was probably the highest ever here. Why? According to reliable records in late 1944 only 88 RAF personnel were based here at best but with 68 WAAFs it seems. It must have been a very happy posting for the blokes.
OKEHAMPTON: Private airstrip
Operated by: Mr P Bridges
Location: ?
Period of operation: ?
Runway: No direction 455x15 grass
NOTES: Is it possible that Mr Bridges used the airfield listed above?
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