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Atcham
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Lt
Warren R. Lobdell, 366th FS, 358th FG Spring
1944 (©
via Gregory J. Hackenberg)
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Atcham
airfield
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Airfield Today:
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Agriculture,
industrial estate
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Tower Type:
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Watch Office with Met
Section 518/40
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Tower:
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Demolished
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Other
Buildings:
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Only
a few original buildings remain
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History:
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/41 to /42, No. 9 Group Sector Station (Operations Block here) operating
Spitfires of the following Sqns up to mid 1942: 74 Sqn, 131 Sqn, 232 Sqn
and 350 Sqn.  Transferred
to USAAF 15/6/42. 6/42 to 8/42, 307th, 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons of the 31st Fighter Group with Spitfires, moved to Westhampnett. 8/42 to 11/42, 48th and 49th Fighter Squadrons of the 14th Fighter Group with P-38F Lightnings, moved to North Africa. 11/42 to 10/43, 6th Fighter Wing, CCRC Combat Crew Replacement Centre with Spitfires and Airacobras, these replaced with P-47 Thunderbolts. 1/2/43 to 3/3/43, 1st Provisional Gunnery Flight formed here, renamed 24/2/43 as 2025th Gunnery Flight (P) target towing with Westland Lysander and Miles Masters, moved to Llanbedr. 10/43 to 2/45, 6th FW renamed 2906th Observation Training Group, then renamed again as 495th Fighter Training Group. From 8/44 also had Ninth AF P-38s from Goxhill. 495th FTG moved to Cheddington. 3/45, Returned
to RAF control becoming a satellite to Ternhill
with No. 5 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit and No. 6 Service Flying Training
School. 577 Sqn target towing with Oxford, Spitfire and Vengeance. Airfield
sold 20/1/58. |
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RAF
Atcham airfield 1941-46
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1944
(©
via Gregory J. Hackenberg)
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Atcham
Control Tower
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USAAF
marked Lysander target tug of the 1st G&TT Flt and a P-47D Thunderbolt
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RAF and 8th USAAF
Station
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Airfield:
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Fighter Training
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Opened:
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9/41
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Closed:
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10/46
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ID Code:
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AP
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USAAF Station:
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342
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Runways:
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3, tarmac
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Hangars:
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3x - Callendar-Hamilton,
8x - Blister
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County:
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Shropshire
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Location:
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5 miles E of Shrewsbury
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OS Ref:
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SJ572104
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Links:
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Gregory
J. Hackenbergs excellent Atcham and High Halden site in memory of Lt Lobdell:
www.creativefatcat.com/lobdell
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©:
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Black
& white photos © Gregory J. Hackenberg
except as stated below
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RAF
Atcham airfield 1941-46
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1945
(© Major E Miller, USAAF)
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1944
Thunderbolts over 'The Wrekin' 2002 seen
from the diverted old road to the main gate
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1999
View north, MT sheds and office in foreground,
main gate and airfield to right of trees
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Original
Main Gate, Guard House on right, Station
HQ behind (both demolished 2002)
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Entrance
to Sick Quarters Site No 5, Attingham Hall
and Park
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Operations
Block Site
All that remains is the black & white painted gate, the Picket Post was behind gatepost |
Emergency
Operations Block Site
Only one small building remains at the back of this site |
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Remembrance Day 2002 In memory of the USAAF in Great Britain 1942-1945 |
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RAF
Atcham airfield 1941-46 - 31st FG - 14th FG - 495th FTG -
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RAF
Atcham airfield & control tower
= www.controltowers.co.uk © robert truman 2002
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