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Warmwell
609
lived here, previously their advance strip from July 1940, from 2nd October
1940, although they were not present as
a complete squadron until the end of November 1940. Due to the severity of the
weather, Warmwell soon became waterlogged and the squadron spent more time
coping with the conditions as they were fighting the Germans. Such were the
problems that 609 was unable to fly as an entire squadron for three months, and
had virtually no contact with the enemy. This led of course to a general
lowering of morale and dulled the skills honed during the hectic day battles of
the summer. It was only on the day of 609's departure that the actually took off
as an entire squadron for the first time, making a flypast over the station that
had everyone staying in formation - even though Sydney Hill's engine was in on
fire. After a grim winter, 609 Squadronm moved to the fighter airfield
and sector station of Biggin Hill on 22nd February 1941.
In 1936 the Royal Air Force built a small grass airfield with two Bellman hangars on a piece of flat land three miles north of the village of Warmwell in Dorset. Initially making great use of canvas hangars and tents while the permanent buildings were being built, RAF Warmwell was officially opened on 1st May 1937 as RAF Woodsford, home to 6 Armament Training Camp. By mid 1938 it had progressed in importance to taraining school status, and aircraft based here flew on target towing duties for the many units that arrived for gunnery and bombing practice. On 25th August 1939 217 Squadron arrived with Avro Ansons and began coastal patrols before leaving for St Eval on 2nd October. During their stay they were joined by 2 Air Observer School, who arrived from Acklington on the day that war was declared, who teamed up with 6 Air Training School as under the new name of 10 Air Observer School. In addition, the Central Gunnery School also formed here in November 1939, training air gunner instructors and staying until 23rd June 1941. They once again changed their name to 10 Bombing and Gunnery School before leaving for Dumfries on 13th July 1940.
With the battle over, Warmwell began to be used for more than defensive fighter operations, with cross-channel fighter sweeps being performed by Westland Whirlwinds, bomb-carrying Hawker Hurricanes, and later Hawker Typhoons over the coming years. The RAF also formed an Air Sea Rescue Flight here on 14th May 1941, covering a large part of the local area. However, Warmwell was still needed as a gunnery training airfield, and 1487 Target Towing Flight arrived on 1st November 1941 for a stay of almost two years. Following them came fighter squadrons from all over the UK to take part in live firing training on the ranges at nearby Chisel Beech.
The first Americans arrived in September 1943 when the 4th Fighter Group arrived with forty-plus P47 Thunderbolts for an escort mission, staying a few days before returning to their home bases. It was later handed over to the Americans, becoming USAAF Station 454. Aircraft, in the form of Lockheed P38 Lightning fighters, began arriving on 12th March 1944, commencing attacks on mainland Europe on 25th April, in the run up to the D-Day invasion of Noremandy in June, until leaving for Advanced Landing Grounds in Normandy on 6th August, allowing the Royal Air Force to return with 14 and 17 Armament Practice Camps, now under the wing of 11 Group. Along with 275 and 277 Flights providing air sea rescue, RAF Warmwell remained like this for the rest of the war, with the Armament Practice Camps finally disbanding on 24th October when all flying ceased, and the RAF officially abandoned Warmwell airfield in November 1945.
Warmwell today consists mostly of a gravel pit and housing estate, although the Bellman hangars still exist, along with parts of the perimeter track and the control tower, which has been converted into a home.
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Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding)
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