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RAF Witchford

Coordinates: 52°22′52″N 000°13′51″E / 52.38111°N 0.23083°E / 52.38111; 0.23083
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RAF Witchford

Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationWitchford, Cambridgeshire
Built1942
In use1943–46
Elevation AMSL46 ft / 14 m
Coordinates52°22′52″N 000°13′51″E / 52.38111°N 0.23083°E / 52.38111; 0.23083
Map
RAF Witchford is located in Cambridgeshire
RAF Witchford
RAF Witchford
Location in Cambridgeshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04/22 0 0 Asphalt
10/28 0 0 Asphalt
16/34 0 0 Asphalt

Royal Air Force Witchford or RAF Witchford is a former Royal Air Force station about 2 miles (3 km) southwest of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England and 13 miles (21 km) north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.

History

A total of 99 bombers despatched on operations from Witchford were lost, 8 being Stirlings and 91 Lancasters.[5]

RAF Witchford was initially included among the initial sites for the Project Emily deployment of PGM-17 Thor intermediate range ballistic missiles, at the instigation of the Americans in 1958, but the land was owned by the Church Commissioners, and nearby RAF Mepal was substituted. The main selection criterion was the condition of the road network connecting the bases; a grade of more than one in seventeen was considered an unacceptable risk of grounding the missile transport.[6]

An extensive history of the station, with some coverage of RAF Mepal, is contained in 'Memories of RAF Witchford' by Barry and Sue Aldridge.

Current use

The site is now used for farming.[5]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  2. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 67.
  3. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  4. ^ "Witchford". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Bomber Command - Witchford". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  6. ^ Boyes 2015, p. 57.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Aldridge, Barry; Aldridge, Sue. Memories of RAF Witchford, A collection of personal stories, memories and photographs from 1943 onwards. Cambridge: Milton Contact Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9571959-6-7.