RAF Ibsley Airfield

2/41 to 6/42, Hurricanes, Spitfires, Whirlwinds, Mustangs and Typhoons of 19 different RAF Squadrons (including 32, 66, 118, 129, 165, 234, 263, 302, 310, 312, 313, 421, 453, 501, 504, & 616) here at various times.
6/42 to USAAF control. 8/42 to 11/42, 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group moved here from Goxhill. 27/8/42, 94th FS, 1st FG moved here from Kirton in Lindsey. Both units began missions 2/9/42.
12/42 to 1/44, Used by RAF.
3/44 to 7/44, 492nd, 493rd, 494th Fighter Squadrons of the 48th FG with P-47 Thunderbolts. First mission 20/4/44.
4/44 to 5/44, 371st FG P-47 Thunderbolts.
/44 to 8/44, 14th Liaison Squadron with L-5 Sentinels and UC-78 Expeditors.
7/44, 392nd, 393rd, 394th FS of the 367th FG moved here from Stoney Cross flying 20 missions with P-38 Lightnings, moved to France.
Allocated to No.11 Group RAF, loaned to No.7 Flying Instructors School , Training Command. 3/45 to Transport Command Glider Pick-Up Training Flight with Dakotas towing Horsa gliders.
Airfield on Care and Maintenance 10/45, RAF remained until late 1946 when site returned to agriculture.

Ibsley airfield
Airfield Today:	Lakes, quarry
Tower Type:	1. Watch Office for Fighter Satellite Stations 17658/40, replaced by: 2. Watch Office with Met Section 518/40, concrete floor to 8936/40
Tower:	1. Demolished 2. Tower survives, in derelict condition
Other Buildings:	Very few, runways removed in 1960's
History:	2/41 to 6/42, Hurricanes, Spitfires, Whirlwinds, Mustangs and Typhoons of 19 different RAF Squadrons (including 32, 66, 118, 129, 165, 234, 263, 302, 310, 312, 313, 421, 453, 501, 504, & 616) here at various times. 6/42 to USAAF control. 8/42 to 11/42, 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group moved here from Goxhill. 27/8/42, 94th FS, 1st FG moved here from Kirton in Lindsey. Both units began missions 2/9/42. 12/42 to 1/44, Used by RAF. 3/44 to 7/44, 492nd, 493rd, 494th Fighter Squadrons of the 48th FG with P-47 Thunderbolts. First mission 20/4/44. 4/44 to 5/44, 371st FG P-47 Thunderbolts. /44 to 8/44, 14th Liaison Squadron with L-5 Sentinels and UC-78 Expeditors. 7/44, 392nd, 393rd, 394th FS of the 367th FG moved here from Stoney Cross flying 20 missions with P-38 Lightnings, moved to France. Allocated to No.11 Group RAF, loaned to No.7 Flying Instructors School , Training Command. 3/45 to Transport Command Glider Pick-Up Training Flight with Dakotas towing Horsa gliders. Airfield on Care and Maintenance 10/45, RAF remained until late 1946 when site returned to agriculture.

RAF & 9th USAAF Station
Airfield:	Operational Fighter
Opened:	2/1941
Closed:	/1947
ID Code:	IB
USAAF Station:	347
Runways:	3 tarmac
Hangars:	2x - Bellman, 12x - Blister
County:	Hampshire
Location:	2 miles N of Ringwood
OS Ref:	SU153087
Links:

©:	Photographs copyright © as stated


Ibsley Photopage

2002 (© Robert Truman)