RAF Watchfield
Airport in Watchfield / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Royal Air Force Watchfield or more simply RAF Watchfield is a former Royal Air Force station, opened in England in 1940 just north of Watchfield village (at that time in Berkshire, now in Oxfordshire). Its nearest towns were Highworth, Wiltshire, 3 miles (5 km) to the west, and Faringdon, Oxfordshire, 3.5 miles (6 km) to the north-east.
RAF Watchfield | |
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Summary | |
Airport type | Military |
Operator | Royal Air Force |
Location | Watchfield |
Coordinates | 51°37′14″N 001°38′52″W |
Map | |
The airfield had grass runways and was operated by the RAF until 1950,[1] after which it was used by the Army for parachute training and development of vehicle air drop, with planes flying from RAF Abingdon and using the former airfield as a drop zone. In 1961, 16 Parachute Heavy Drop company (RAOC) was formed there. This company moved to RAF Hullavington in February 1971 and the site was closed in 1972.[2]