RAF Andover airfield - 370th Fighter Group

1952 (© Graham Greaves)

RAF Andover airfield

Agriculture, industry

Single storey 1917 Watch Office (similar to the one at Duxford), later raised tower built above the bay windows (see photographs below)

Demolished in 2002

Other Buildings:

/1917 to /1939, Bomber training airfield used by RFC and RAF.
04/22 to 09/39, RAF Staff College.
09/39 to transferred to RAF Fighter Command and used mainly for flight training. Attacked by the Luftwaffe several times, the twin Belfast Truss hangars behind the Watch Office were destroyed 04/41 (see photo at foot of page which shows the gap in 1966).
02/44 to 07/44, P-38 Lightnings of the 401st, 402nd and 485th Fighter Squadrons of the 370th Fighter Group, 71st Fighter Wing, IXth USAAF from Aldermaston. Flew first mission 01/05/1944, a total of 31 P-38s were lost from Andover before the move to France.
07/44 to 01/48, 43 OTU with Auster AOPs.
Postwar used by Maintenance Command, 41 Group HQ and Staff College with some flying.
01/60 to 11/63, 225 Sqn formed with Sycamore and Whirlwind helicopters, moved to Odiham.
/64 to 03/76, Western Communications Sqn formed with Bassets and Pembrokes, became 21 Sqn with Devons 02/69. RAF closure 06/77 then transferred to the Army, some use by Sqns from Middle Wallop.
Current status unknown.

1973 (© Ronald Burwell)

1977 (© Aldon P. Ferguson)

RAF Andover airfield - 370th Fighter Group -

Bomber, Fighter, Maintenance Command, OTU

7x - 1917 Belfast Truss, 4x - 1917 General Service, 5x - WW2 Blister

2 miles W of Andover

RAF Andover airfield - 370th Fighter Group -

RAF Andover airfield - 370th Fighter Group -
Airfield:		Bomber, Fighter, Maintenance Command, OTU
Opened:		08/1917
Closed:		?
ID Code:		AV
USAAF Station:		406
Runways:		4x - grass
Hangars:		7x - 1917 Belfast Truss, 4x - 1917 General Service, 5x - WW2 Blister
County:		Hampshire
Location:		2 miles W of Andover
OS Ref:		SU329459
Links:		See below
©:		Photographs © copyright as stated
RAF Andover - 370th Fighter Group -

RAF Andover airfield
Airfield Today:	Agriculture, industry
Tower Type:	Single storey 1917 Watch Office (similar to the one at Duxford), later raised tower built above the bay windows (see photographs below)
Tower:	Demolished in 2002
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	/1917 to /1939, Bomber training airfield used by RFC and RAF. 04/22 to 09/39, RAF Staff College. 09/39 to transferred to RAF Fighter Command and used mainly for flight training. Attacked by the Luftwaffe several times, the twin Belfast Truss hangars behind the Watch Office were destroyed 04/41 (see photo at foot of page which shows the gap in 1966). 02/44 to 07/44, P-38 Lightnings of the 401st, 402nd and 485th Fighter Squadrons of the 370th Fighter Group, 71st Fighter Wing, IXth USAAF from Aldermaston. Flew first mission 01/05/1944, a total of 31 P-38s were lost from Andover before the move to France. 07/44 to 01/48, 43 OTU with Auster AOPs. Postwar used by Maintenance Command, 41 Group HQ and Staff College with some flying. 01/60 to 11/63, 225 Sqn formed with Sycamore and Whirlwind helicopters, moved to Odiham. /64 to 03/76, Western Communications Sqn formed with Bassets and Pembrokes, became 21 Sqn with Devons 02/69. RAF closure 06/77 then transferred to the Army, some use by Sqns from Middle Wallop. Current status unknown.
RAF Andover