Tavistock flying sites
Note: This map only gives the position of Tavistock town within the UK.
TAVISTOCK: Temporary aerodrome
NOTES: Used by the Berkshire Aviation Company on the 16th June 1922. (They probably stayed longer). Was this also the same location used as a venue when, on the 21st August 1935 Sir Alan Cobham’s No.1 Tour displayed in/near Tavistock?
TAVISTOCK: Military airstrip
Military user: US First Army ‘V’ Corps 29th Infantry Division Artillery HQ
Location: Strip location unknown? Tavistock is on the A386, 11nm N of Plymouth
Period of operation: 1944/5 only?
NOTES: It appears that just one Piper L-4 Grasshopper and one Stinson L-5 Sentinel were based here.
TAVISTOCK COLLEGE: West Country Balloon Fiesta
NOTES: Held on the 24th to 27th August 2001. Possibly in other years too?
Michael T Holder
This comment was written on: 2020-05-18 23:21:26From the Archives The Commander of the US Forces at Tavistock was based in Abbotsfield Hall at the SW end of the town. When the soldiers left in 1944 they marched down the Whitchurch Road up to the Abbey Bridge in the middle of the town before turning left down the Plymouth Road and past the HQ at Abbotsfield. The crowd that watched them stood in silence; there was no band and all that could be heard was the clump of the men's boots on they're way to embark for Normandy. Plasterdown Camp is nearby and that was turned into a hospital for the casualties from D Day. Close to the camp is Fullamoor Farm, a crash site (Liberator?) trying to get into RAF Harrowbeer. The American strip - I'm guessing - is probably north of the HQ where there is some flattish land. The Berkshire Boys and Alan Cobham probably used the flat ground on the top of the hill to the SE of the town near Deerpark Down.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
