There is little to show that in the huge open area that is now partly occupied by the wind generators, there was once a lively airfield and an active RAF base. There is the odd clue still to be seen in some of the hedgerows and field entrances showing concrete bases and fence posts. On the Willington map of 1758, broadly speaking, the whole area between the Horse Common and the Cow Common was the airfield. Also broadly speaking, the alignment of the five wind generators that are present today was the direction of the main grass runway. It was just after the outbreak of World War II that Watchfield was considered for military use. The government had only a few years earlier in 1936, purchased the nearby Beckett estate for military use, this area today being the military academy.
Documents in the National Archives (AIR29/615) show that No 3 Elementary Flying School moved from Hamble to Watchfield on 22 July, 1940. The remainder of the aircraft were ferried to Watchfield on 22 July and in spite of the fact that no single building was completely ready for occupation, the school began operations on Monday 22 July, 1940.
Other documents (AIR29/602) gives details of the formation of the Blind Approach School, which would train air crews with a system of beacons on how to land aircraft with little visibility. This school was intended to form at Watchfield on 2 August, 1940, but due to lack of equipment, it was postponed until 28 October, 1940. The school was run as a Civilian operated unit, the operating company being Air Service Training Ltd (a subsidiary of the Hawker Siddeley Aircraft Co, Ltd). The commander of the school was Wing Commander H.F. Jenkins AFC and the Chief Flying Instructor was Flt Lieut E.H. Coleman.
Also, in addition to the Blind Approach School, an Elementary Flying Training School and Air Observer Navigation School were also operating from Watchfield Aerodrome and in the interests of safety, arrangements were made for the aircraft of these schools to be controlled from the Control Tower.
The airfield at Watchfield was very much then a Training Airfield rather than a fighting field. There were no large weapons or ammunition dumps. Its role was to train the air and ground crews who would carry out fighting operations from other airfields. One of the most useful aerial activities taught here which proved so useful during that war was photography and reconnaissance. Thousands of men were trained in its use and consequently thousands of photos were taken of the area in and around Watchfield. Have a look at Picture 40 which shows the airfield and it’s layout in 1946.
Among the notes within the log books of the Blind Approach School, some interesting snippets are to be found concerning the local area, especially weather conditions (AIR29/456). During the night of 19-20 January, 1942, snow covered the runway to the depth of 8 inches. The log explained that it was necessary to clear the runway of snow to the length of 1200 yards by 75 yards width. They used 25 lorries and drivers from the Shrivenham Garrison together with a party of 200 men. During the afternoon of 20 January two Bunce type Snow Ploughs were received from the Makers (Bunces’ of Ashbury) and one was fitted to a Fordson lorry. The snow was soon cleared.
In February 1943, after consultation with the American Medical officers at Shrivenham Barracks, who were experiencing an increasing number of cases of Ulcerative Gingivo-stomatitis, it was decided to put Shrivenham out of bounds to all ranks for one week. It was considered, owing to the large numbers of troops, the shortage of both labour and beer glasses, the glasses were not getting properly washed, and thus afforded an opportunity for the spread of the infection.
On 22 October, 1943 the Station log recorded; ‘At 17.25 hours Flt Lieut James, airborne in Oxford, “How” reported by R/T to Flying Control that he could see something that looked like a whirlwind approaching the airfield from the south. Flying Control were able to see a great mass of nimbo stratus south of Shrivenham with a long whirlwind hanging from it. The Flying Control officer on duty was able to stop two aircraft from taking off and instructed them to taxi back to control. The disturbance passed over the airfield from the SW to NNE. It took a tin sheet off one of the hangars and deposited it in the middle of the airfield. Three Oxfords were caught in the whirlwind. Oxford “Sugar” was lifted right up approx 10 feet in the air and its tail was swung around. It was then dropped and the undercarriage gave way falling on the port wing. Two other Oxfords were moved by the whirlwind, but were not damaged.'
The operational records state the Beam (also called Blind) Approach School, was the first school in the RAF to undertake practical training in radio let-down procedure. The school grew in size. Original equipment used was Anson aircraft, but later changed to Oxfords and later still to both Oxfords and Harvards. Throughout the six years the school had been operating, just short of 100,000 hours have been flown in giving Beam Approach training, and approx 8,500 pupils had passed through.
Formation of Anson Detachment, Watchfield. (AIR29/456).
During April 1944, decisions were reached to form a Unit in No 46 Group Transport Command, which would provide air-lift for emergency freight, casualties and passengers, for a limited period at the opening of operation “Overlord” to take the place of Dakota units of No 46 Group while these were engaged wholly on airborne work.
It was decided that 50 Anson aircraft should be provided from No 41 (Maintenance) group for this purpose and would be flown and maintained by personnel supplied by Flying Training Command under the command of an officer (Group Captain or Wing Commander) supplied by Transport Command.
After several conferences, a Committee visited Watchfield on 27 April, 1944, to investigate the possibilities of using Watchfield as a base for the proposed unit. The Committee which met at Watchfield consisted of:
A.V.M A.L. Paxton DFC (SASO Flying Training Command)
G. Capt R.H.G Neville OBE MC (SOA No 46 Group)
G. Capt R.F. Gardy (Organisation Flying Training Command)
G. Capt J.C.A Johnson (CO Designate of the unit from Training Command)
W/Comm H.F. Jenkins AFC (Station Commander, Watchfield)
W/Comm J.B Veal AFC (Training No 46 Group)
At this meeting it was decided that Watchfield was the best suited of the three airfields under consideration (the other two being Clyff Pypard and Shellingford) all of which were Flying Training Command airfields; but Watchfield could accommodate the whole unit, while at the other two airfields the unit would have had to be split into 25 aircraft on each. Also at Watchfield all personnel could be accommodated in buildings, while at the other two airfields they would have been under canvas. At Watchfield better wireless and other facilities would be available for use by the unit. Control would fall to the Station Commander, Watchfield, for administration and discipline; and, through him, No 50 Group and Flying Training Command; while operational control would be exercised by No 46 Group and AEAF through Group Captain Johnson. The decision was made to call the unit the “Anson Detachment” a name which would not give away its operational function during the period it was being formed.
On 13 December, 1949, confirmation was received that the School of Air Traffic Control would be transferred to RAF Station Shawbury with effect from 10 February, 1950 and that the School of ATC at Watchfield would be disbanded on that date and closed down.
Although the Air Base was closed down as an official RAF Base, it continued to be used for over 20 years for a multitude of purposes, but still mainly to do with training and research. It was named Arnhem Camp and for many years through the 1950's and 60’s there was a large sign just by the Main Gate displaying that name.
Some of its function was as an Air Despatch Unit for the RASC (Royal Army Service Corps). Equipment and supplies that were needed for the day to day running of the military were delivered and put together at the base to be made ready to go into the aircraft.
Other activities included Parachute training for servicemen and for many years hundreds, if not thousands of men were trained to jump at Watchfield. As a lad I remember watching the stream of men pouring out of the aircraft or jumping from the huge basket that was suspended beneath a balloon. Another sight that the local people were treated to was the regular ‘Big Drops’. This involved heavy equipment such as lorries, jeeps, etc, being thrown out of the back of aircraft with sometimes up to four huge parachutes attached. Apparently these drops were experimental, to work out just how many and what size parachutes were needed, along with the ability of the platforms on which they were affixed to withstand the landing shock. And, as might be expected, some of these drops went spectacularly wrong. I remember witnessing one lorry appearing out of the back of the plane and as the chutes opened they all got tangled and it went down like the proverbial ‘ton of bricks’. The hole that it created on the grass airfield could only be described as a 'Crater.'
By 1974 the airfield was all but redundant and one of the last events to take place there was the ‘Watchfield Free Festival’ which ran from 23 -31 August, 1975. A plethora of rock bands played there and the whole event was, by and large, peaceful and enjoyed by all.
During the years that followed, the land went back into the ownership of the farm from which it was purchased back in the 1930’s. The military buildings were demolished as were the numerous air raid shelters that lined the roadside. Today, there is little to show of the areas aerial past.
Picture 90 (Top). The Airfield took up most of the picture. The main runway was approximately on the same alignment as the wind generators.
Picture 91. The Air Base with it’s associated buildings can be seen bottom left of the photo
Courtesy of English Heritage (NMR) RAF photography.
Ref: RAF/106G/UK/1561. Frame 3353. 7th June 1946.