RAF Witchford

RAF Witchford
RAF Witchford;
	IATA: none; ICAO: none;
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Witchford, Cambridgeshire
Built	1942
In use	1943-1946
Elevation AMSL	46 ft / 14 m
Coordinates	52°22′52″N 000°13′51″E / 52.38111°N 0.23083°E
Map
	RAF Witchford Location in Cambridgeshire
Runways

Royal Air Force Station Witchford or RAF Witchford is a former Royal Air Force station located 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south west of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England and 13 miles (21 km) north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.

History

No. 115 Squadron RAF first started using RAF Witchford from 26 November 1943 with the Avro Lancaster II before changing to the Mk I and III Lancasters in March 1944 before moving to RAF Graveley on 10 September 1945.^[1]
No. 195 Squadron RAF reformed at the airfield on 1 October 1944 with the Lancaster I and III before moving to RAF Wratting Common on 13 November 1944 where the squadron disbanded on 14 August 1945.^[2]
No. 196 Squadron RAF started using the airfield on 19 Jul 1943 with the Vickers Wellington X until these were replaced with the Short Stirling III during there stay. The squadron left on 18 November 1943 moving to RAF Leicester East.^[2]
No. 513 Squadron RAF formed at Witchford on 15 September 1943 with the Stirling III before disbanding on 21 November 1943 at the airfield.^[3]
No. 29 Aircrew Holding Unit.^[4]

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

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]

References

Citations

^ Jefford 1988, p. 57.
^ ^a ^b Jefford 1988, p. 67.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
^ "Witchford". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Bomber Command - Witchford". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 30 June 2012.

Bibliography

Jefford MBE, Wg Cdr 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.
Aldridge Barry & Sue Memories of RAF Witchford, A collection of personal stories, memories and photographs from 1943 onwards. ISBN 978-0-9571959-6-7

External links

[FOOTNOTEJefford198857-1] Jefford 1988, p. 57.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198867-2] Jefford 1988, p. 67.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198895-3] Jefford 1988, p. 95.

[ABCT-4] "Witchford". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 30 June 2012.

[RAF-5] "Bomber Command - Witchford". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 30 June 2012.

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