RAF Stradishall: Difference between revisions

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Coordinates: 52°08′06″N 000°30′51″E / 52.13500°N 0.51417°E / 52.13500; 0.51417
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==History==
==History==


In his memoirs,<ref>Peden, Murray, "A Thousand Shall Fall," Dundurn (April 1, 2003)</ref> [[Murray Peden]], a [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] pilot, recounts his training at Stradishall. In the RAF's "heavy conversion unit" (No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant |first1=Ray |first2=John F. |last2=Hamlin |title=RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912 |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.|year=2007 |isbn=0-85130-365-X }}</ref>) at the airfield, he and others were trained to fly [[Short Stirling]] bombers. He describes in detail his experiences flying there, and the life on the ground of aircrew who were shortly to begin operations over [[Nazi Germany]] as part of [[RAF Bomber Command]] during [[World War II]].
In his memoirs,<ref>Peden, Murray, "A Thousand Shall Fall," Dundurn (1 April 2003)</ref> [[Murray Peden]], a [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] pilot, recounts his training at Stradishall. In the RAF's "heavy conversion unit" (No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant |first1=Ray |first2=John F. |last2=Hamlin |title=RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912 |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.|year=2007 |isbn=0-85130-365-X }}</ref>) at the airfield, he and others were trained to fly [[Short Stirling]] bombers. He describes in detail his experiences flying there, and the life on the ground of aircrew who were shortly to begin operations over [[Nazi Germany]] as part of [[RAF Bomber Command]] during [[World War II]].


The airfield was home to a number of squadrons during its lifetime:
The airfield was home to a number of squadrons during its lifetime:
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==References==
==References==
===Citations===
===Citations===
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===

Revision as of 22:30, 24 November 2022

RAF Stradishall

Latin: Vires de caelo
("Might from the sky")
Aerial view in 1945
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationStradishall, Suffolk
Built1937 (1937)
In use1938-1970 (1970)
Elevation AMSL381 ft / 116 m
Coordinates52°08′06″N 000°30′51″E / 52.13500°N 0.51417°E / 52.13500; 0.51417
Map
RAF Stradishall is located in Suffolk
RAF Stradishall
RAF Stradishall
Location in Suffolk
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt

Royal Air Force Stradishall or more simply RAF Stradishall is a former Royal Air Force station located 4.7 miles (7.6 km) north east of Haverhill, Suffolk and 9 miles (14 km) south west of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. Part of the site remains in use as Stradishall Training Area.[1]

History

In his memoirs,[2] Murray Peden, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, recounts his training at Stradishall. In the RAF's "heavy conversion unit" (No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit[3]) at the airfield, he and others were trained to fly Short Stirling bombers. He describes in detail his experiences flying there, and the life on the ground of aircrew who were shortly to begin operations over Nazi Germany as part of RAF Bomber Command during World War II.

The airfield was home to a number of squadrons during its lifetime:

214 Squadron Wellington being repaired and overhauled at RAF Stradishall

Current use

The airfield closed in 1970 and is now the site of two category C prisons: HMP Highpoint North and HMP Highpoint South. Part of the former airfield remains a Ministry of Defence training site which is not accessible to the public.

The airfield has been sold to a private buyer to be converted into farm land and is out of bounds to the public.

Update 2021: The Airfield is now a Solar Farm with grazing for cattle and nature walk. It is open from dawn to dusk.

There is a memorial to RAF Stradishall outside Stirling House which was once part of the officers quarters and is now a training unit for the Prison service.

References

Citations

  1. ^ "DTE East Public Information Leaflet" (PDF). Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  2. ^ Peden, Murray, "A Thousand Shall Fall," Dundurn (1 April 2003)
  3. ^ Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John F. (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
  4. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 23.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 27.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 37.
  7. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 42.
  9. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 48.
  10. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 51.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 54.
  12. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 55.
  13. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  14. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  15. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 60.
  16. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  17. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 63.
  18. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 66.
  19. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 69.
  20. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 71.
  21. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 75.
  22. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  23. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 79.
  24. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 80.
  25. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 85.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Stradishall.
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