RAF Greenham Common Airfield

09/1942 to 11/1942, HQ Staff of 51st Troop Carrier Wing, moved to North Africa.
11/1942 to 09/1943, Used by RAF training units of No.15 (P) AFU and No.1511 BAT Flight.
11/1943, 354th Fighter Group with P-51B Mustangs here before moving to Boxted.
02/44 to 06/45, HQ of 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, controlling Aldermaston, Membury, Ramsbury and Welford. Waco glider assembly line based here with over 4,000 gliders assembled on Crookham Common and flown out from Greenham Common airfield.
01/44 to 03/44, 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons of the 368th FG with P-47 Thunderbolts, moved to Chilbolton.
03/44 to 02/45, 87th, 88th, 89th and 90th Troop Carrier Squadrons of the 438th Troop Carrier Group with C-47 and C-53's for glider towing and paratroop drops. The 438th TCG lead the D-Day invasion carrying US 101st Airborne Division paras to Carentan. 07/44 to 08/44, 87th, 88th and 89th TCS moved to Italy for the invasion of Southern France. Also involved in the Arnhem operations before moving to France.
07/44 to 08/44, Used by 316th TCG.
06/45 to 06/46, Used by RAF Technical Training Command ground units.
1951 to 09/53, The original airfield was completely rebuilt as a USAFE Station. 03/54 to 07/64, B-47 Stratojets of the 303rd Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command were the first of many USAF units based here until the airfield was returned to the RAF.
Disused between 08/64 and 01/67, airfield then reopened for storage and NATO excercises. Upgraded in the 1970's it was then rebuilt to house USAF Tomahawk cruise missiles and 11/83, 501st Tactical Missile Wing received its first missiles which remained until closure in 1992.

RAF Greenham Common airfield
Airfield Today:	Not known
Tower Type:	1. Watch Office for Night Fighter Stations 12096/41 - anyone have a photo?? 2. Control Tower 5223a/51 for Very Heavy Bomber Stations
Tower:	1. Original tower demolished in 1951 when Station was rebuilt 2. 2004: Post-war tower now derelict
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	09/1942 to 11/1942, HQ Staff of 51st Troop Carrier Wing, moved to North Africa. 11/1942 to 09/1943, Used by RAF training units of No.15 (P) AFU and No.1511 BAT Flight. 11/1943, 354th Fighter Group with P-51B Mustangs here before moving to Boxted. 02/44 to 06/45, HQ of 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, controlling Aldermaston, Membury, Ramsbury and Welford. Waco glider assembly line based here with over 4,000 gliders assembled on Crookham Common and flown out from Greenham Common airfield. 01/44 to 03/44, 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons of the 368th FG with P-47 Thunderbolts, moved to Chilbolton. 03/44 to 02/45, 87th, 88th, 89th and 90th Troop Carrier Squadrons of the 438th Troop Carrier Group with C-47 and C-53's for glider towing and paratroop drops. The 438th TCG lead the D-Day invasion carrying US 101st Airborne Division paras to Carentan. 07/44 to 08/44, 87th, 88th and 89th TCS moved to Italy for the invasion of Southern France. Also involved in the Arnhem operations before moving to France. 07/44 to 08/44, Used by 316th TCG. 06/45 to 06/46, Used by RAF Technical Training Command ground units. 1951 to 09/53, The original airfield was completely rebuilt as a USAFE Station. 03/54 to 07/64, B-47 Stratojets of the 303rd Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command were the first of many USAF units based here until the airfield was returned to the RAF. Disused between 08/64 and 01/67, airfield then reopened for storage and NATO excercises. Upgraded in the 1970's it was then rebuilt to house USAF Tomahawk cruise missiles and 11/83, 501st Tactical Missile Wing received its first missiles which remained until closure in 1992.

RAF, 9th USAAF and USAFE Station
Airfield:		Training, operational glider towing and paratrooper drops, USAFE SAC
Opened:		09/1942
Closed:		/1992
Code:		GC
USAAF Station:		486
Runways:		3x - concrete, tarmac
Hangars:		2x - T2
County:		Berkshire
Location:		2 miles SE of Newbury
OS Ref:		SU500645
Links:		Dan McKenzies tour of Greenham Common 2001: www.bunkertours.com

Photos ©:		Photographs copyright © as stated