RAF Greenham Common Airfield

9/1942 to 11/1942, HQ Staff of 51st Troop Carrier Wing, moved to North Africa.
11/1942 to 9/1943, 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.
2/44 to 6/45, 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.
1/44 to 3/44, 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons of the 368th FG with P-47 Thunderbolts, moved to Chilbolton.
3/44 to 2/45, 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. 7/44 to 8/44, 87th, 88th and 89th TCS moved to Italy for the invasion of Southern France. Also involved in the Arnhem operations before moving to France.
7/44 to 8/44, Used by 316th TCG.
6/45 to 6/46, Used by RAF Technical Training Command ground units.
1951 to 9/53, The original airfield was completely rebuilt as a USAFE Station. 3/54 to 7/64, 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 8/64 and 1/67, 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.

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. Post-war tower now derelict
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	9/1942 to 11/1942, HQ Staff of 51st Troop Carrier Wing, moved to North Africa. 11/1942 to 9/1943, 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. 2/44 to 6/45, 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. 1/44 to 3/44, 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons of the 368th FG with P-47 Thunderbolts, moved to Chilbolton. 3/44 to 2/45, 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. 7/44 to 8/44, 87th, 88th and 89th TCS moved to Italy for the invasion of Southern France. Also involved in the Arnhem operations before moving to France. 7/44 to 8/44, Used by 316th TCG. 6/45 to 6/46, Used by RAF Technical Training Command ground units. 1951 to 9/53, The original airfield was completely rebuilt as a USAFE Station. 3/54 to 7/64, 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 8/64 and 1/67, 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:		9/1942
Closed:		/1992
Code:		GC
USAAF Station:		486
Runways:		3 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 ©:		Copyright © as stated