RAF Hurn airfield - 397th Bomb Group

Yes, there is a wartime 518/40 Watch Office in there somewhere! 2007 (© Simon Charlton)

RAF Hurn airfield

Bournemouth airport

Watch Office with Met Section 518/40

Heavily modified, still in use

Other Buildings:

07/41, Opened as a satellite to Ibsley.
11/41 to 05/42, Special Duties Flight from Christchurch and Liberators of 1425 Flight from Honeybourne.
05/42 to 10/42, 296 and 297 Sqn with Albermarle glider tugs.
12/42 to 03/44, 1458 (TT) Flight with Albermarles.
10/43 to 03/44, 295 and 570 Sqns.
03/44 to 07/44, Used by many Mosquito night fighter and Typhoon fighter bomber Sqns.
/06/44 to /07/44, 422nd and 425th Night Fighter Squadrons IXth USAAF here from Scorton with six P-61 Black Widow nightfighters.
08/44 to 09/44, 596th, 597th, 598th and 599th Bomb Squadrons of the 397th Bombardment Group with B-26 Marauders from Rivenhall, flew 22 missions, losing three B-26s before moving to A-26, Gorges, France.
10/44 to 1946, BOAC from Whitchurch, followed by KLM, Pan Am and Sabena. In the 1950s airfield used by Vickers for Valiant flight testing and production of Varsity and Viscounts. Airwork Services formed the Fleet Requirements Unit flying most Royal Navy aircraft, moved to Yeovilton.

RAF Hurn - 397th Bomb Group - 422nd, 425th Night Fighter Squadron -

This view (above) shows the original rear section of the 518/40 2003 (© Richard Drew)

- 397th Bomb Group - 422nd, 425th Night Fighter Squadron -

Operational fighter, nightfighter, paratroop training

10/1944 (RAF closure)

3x - Bellman, 4x - T2, 10x - Blister

4 miles NE of Christchurch

RAF Hurn airfield - 422nd Night Fighter Sqn - 425th NFS - 397th Bomb Group -

- 397th Bomb Group - 422nd, 425th Night Fighter Squadron -
Airfield:	Operational fighter, nightfighter, paratroop training
Opened:	07/1941
Closed:	10/1944 (RAF closure)
ID Code:	KU
USAAF Station:	492
Runways:	3x - concrete
Hangars:	3x - Bellman, 4x - T2, 10x - Blister
County:	Dorset
Location:	4 miles NE of Christchurch
OS Ref:	SU115980
Links:
©:	All photographs copyright © as stated
RAF Hurn - 422nd NFS - 425th NFS - 397th BG -

RAF Hurn airfield
Airfield Today:	Bournemouth airport
Tower Type:	Watch Office with Met Section 518/40
Tower 2007:	Heavily modified, still in use
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	07/41, Opened as a satellite to Ibsley. 11/41 to 05/42, Special Duties Flight from Christchurch and Liberators of 1425 Flight from Honeybourne. 05/42 to 10/42, 296 and 297 Sqn with Albermarle glider tugs. 12/42 to 03/44, 1458 (TT) Flight with Albermarles. 10/43 to 03/44, 295 and 570 Sqns. 03/44 to 07/44, Used by many Mosquito night fighter and Typhoon fighter bomber Sqns. /06/44 to /07/44, 422nd and 425th Night Fighter Squadrons IXth USAAF here from Scorton with six P-61 Black Widow nightfighters. 08/44 to 09/44, 596th, 597th, 598th and 599th Bomb Squadrons of the 397th Bombardment Group with B-26 Marauders from Rivenhall, flew 22 missions, losing three B-26s before moving to A-26, Gorges, France. 10/44 to 1946, BOAC from Whitchurch, followed by KLM, Pan Am and Sabena. In the 1950s airfield used by Vickers for Valiant flight testing and production of Varsity and Viscounts. Airwork Services formed the Fleet Requirements Unit flying most Royal Navy aircraft, moved to Yeovilton.
RAF Hurn - 397th Bomb Group - 422nd, 425th Night Fighter Squadron -


2007 (© Simon Charlton)