QUICK FACTS
Created Jan 0001
Status Verified Sarcastic
Type Existential Dread
Keywords
hampshire, stockbridge, british army, army air corps, 2 (training) regiment aac, 7 (training) regiment aac, royal air force, fleet air arm, royal navy

Middle Wallop Flying Station

“Located in the picturesque county of Hampshire, near the village of Stockbridge, lies Middle Wallop Flying Station. This isn't just any airfield; it's a...”

Contents
  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Etymology
  • 3. Cultural Impact

Middle Wallop Flying Station

Located in the picturesque county of Hampshire , near the village of Stockbridge , lies Middle Wallop Flying Station. This isn’t just any airfield; it’s a cornerstone of the British Army ’s aviation capabilities, serving as the nerve center for the Army Air Corps and the 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team . It’s a place where the roar of engines and the precision of flight training are a daily symphony. Here, the 2 (Training) Regiment AAC and the 7 (Training) Regiment AAC operate under the watchful eye of the Army Aviation Centre, ensuring that the next generation of aircrews are forged in the crucible of rigorous instruction. The base’s history is a fascinating tapestry, woven with threads of service from not only the Army but also the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy , making it a truly multifaceted military installation.

Site Information

Location

Middle Wallop is strategically positioned within Hampshire .

  • Coordinates: 51°08′56″N 001°34′12″W / 51.14889°N 1.57000°W
  • Elevation: 90.5 metres (297 ft) AMSL

Site History

The genesis of Middle Wallop dates back to its construction in 1939-40. Its operational life has seen it serve under the banners of:

  • Royal Air Force: April 1940–1945 and 1946–1958
  • Fleet Air Arm: 1945–1946
  • Army Air Corps: 1957 – Present

The airfield has been a silent witness to significant historical conflicts, including the European theatre of World War II and the tense years of the Cold War .

Airfield Information

  • Identifiers:
  • Runways:
    • 08/26: 1,096 metres (3,596 ft) – Grass surface
    • 17/35: 1,181 metres (3,875 ft) – Grass surface

Source: Middle Wallop Defence Aerodrome Manual [1]

An aerial view of RAF Middle Wallop, taken on 29 October 1946, showcases the control tower prominently situated before the technical site, with five C-Type hangars visible to the upper right. Adjacent, two AAC Britten-Norman Turbine Defender aircraft are parked outside the hangars.

History

Early Use

Middle Wallop first opened its gates as RAF Middle Wallop in 1940, established as a vital training school for fledgling pilots. While originally conceived for bomber operations, the exigencies of the Battle of Britain swiftly altered its destiny. The skies above Middle Wallop soon became the domain of fighter squadrons, including No. 609 Squadron RAF , equipped with the formidable Supermarine Spitfire Ia, and No. 238 Squadron RAF , flying the agile Hawker Hurricane I.

Among the distinguished pilots who took to the air from this very base during the desperate days of the Battle of Britain were figures like John Dundas, a seasoned veteran of the Battle of France and brother to the equally renowned RAF pilot, “Cocky” Dundas . The airfield also hosted a remarkable contingent of three Americans: Eugene Tobin, known as “Red” Tobin , Andrew Mamedoff, “Andy” Mamedoff , and Vernon Keough, nicknamed “Shorty” Keough . Keough, standing at less than five feet tall, held the peculiar distinction of being reputedly the shortest pilot serving within the ranks of the RAF.

Later in the conflict, in September 1940, 604 Squadron RAF , a specialized night-fighter unit, was re-equipped with the potent Bristol Beaufighter . This aircraft, armed with four 20-mm cannon beneath its nose and fitted with the advanced Mark IV AI radio-location equipment, became a crucial asset. As one of the few squadrons possessing such advanced technology, 604 Squadron played a pivotal role in providing night-time air defense over the United Kingdom throughout the Blitz, from late 1940 until mid-May 1941. During this intense period, the squadron claimed an impressive 50 air victories, with Flight Lieutenant John Cunningham personally accounting for 14 of those successes.

Initially, RAF Chilbolton served as the relief landing airfield for Middle Wallop. However, as the Battle of Britain intensified, Chilbolton evolved into a fully operational Fighter Station in its own right.

A poignant memoir from an RAF night-fighter pilot, who commenced flying Beaufighters with 604 Squadron from Middle Wallop in January 1942, offers a vivid account of the challenges posed by the grass airfield to these large, heavy aircraft. He described Middle Wallop as possessing:

“. . . two runways of 1,400 and 800yd, which undulated so that their bumps would catch the unwary coming in to land. Ten tons of Beaufighter thus required a fair degree of accuracy in the approach speed. If you had 10-15mph too much on the clock as you came over the hedge, the aeroplane would then float for a hundred yards or so before touching down at 80mph, and thus use up the spare margin of distance available for stopping. Weak brakes then meant a trip through the far hedge, or an exciting ground loop. So we all quickly learned the value of precision flying and brought our aircraft in to land within 1 percent of 105mph on the approach and 90mph over the hedge.” [9]

During its extensive service, Middle Wallop was home to a multitude of squadrons, including:

  • No. 16 Squadron RAF : Initially present between April 1942 and January 1943, flying the Mustang I. They returned on 1 June 1943 as a fully operational squadron with the Spitfire V, remaining until 29 June 1943. Their tenure resumed on 6 October 1947 with the Tempest F.2, concluding on 17 October 1947. [10]
  • No. 19 Squadron RAF : Stationed here from 1 March 1943 to 5 April 1943, operating the Spitfire VC. A brief three-day relocation to Membury occurred during this period. [11]
  • No. 23 Squadron RAF : Maintained a detachment at Middle Wallop between March 1941 and February 1942, flying the Havoc I. [12]
  • No. 32 Squadron RAF : Based at the airfield from 15 December 1940 to 16 February 1941, flying the Hurricane I. [13]
  • No. 56 Squadron RAF : Operated from Middle Wallop between 29 November 1940 and 17 December 1940, flying the Hurricane I. [14]
  • No. 93 Squadron RAF : Re-formed at Middle Wallop on 7 December 1940, emerging from No. 420 Flight. Their operational aircraft included the Harrow II (LAM), Havoc I, Wellington IC, Boston I, and the Havoc I (Turbinlite). [15]
  • No. 151 Squadron RAF : Served at the station between 16 August and 17 November 1943, with a detachment at Coltishall, flying the Mosquito VI & XII. [16]
  • No. 164 (Argentine–British) Squadron RAF : Stationed at Middle Wallop from 8 February to 20 June 1943, operating the Hurricane IID & IV. [17]
  • No. 169 Squadron RAF : Flew from Middle Wallop from 21 June 1943 until 30 September 1943, when the squadron was disbanded, having operated the Mustang I. [17]
  • No. 182 Squadron RAF : Based at the airfield between 1 March and 5 April 1943, flying the Typhoon IB. [18]
  • No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF : Stationed at Middle Wallop between 14 August and 11 September 1940, operating the Spitfire I. [19]
  • No. 236 Squadron RAF : Operated from Middle Wallop between 14 June and 4 July 1940, flying the Blenheim IF. [19]
  • No. 238 Squadron RAF : Had multiple periods of service at Middle Wallop, from 20 June 1940 to 1 February 1941, flying the Hurricane I. [3]
  • No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron RAF : Served at Middle Wallop from 19 December 1941 to 26 October 1942, with a detachment at Shoreham, flying the Hurricane IIB & IIC. [20]
  • No. 247 (China-British) Squadron RAF : Initially a detachment from 17 May to 21 September 1942, flying the Hurricane I & IIB. The full squadron returned on 28 February 1943, operating the Hurricane IIB and Typhoon IB, until 5 April 1943, when they relocated to Fairlop. [20]
  • No. 256 Squadron RAF : Maintained a detachment at Middle Wallop between 6 February and 26 March 1941, flying the Defiant I. [21]
  • No. 286 Squadron RAF : Operated as a detachment at Middle Wallop sometime between April 1942 and 1944, utilizing a range of aircraft including the Master III, Defiant I & III, Hurricane I & IIX, and the Oxford. [22]
  • No. 400 Squadron RCAF : Stationed at the airfield between 4 December 1942 and 1 February 1943, flying the Mustang I. [23]
  • No. 406 Squadron RCAF : Served at Middle Wallop from 8 December 1942 to 31 March 1943, operating the Beaufighter VIF. [23]
  • No. 414 Squadron RCAF : Operated at the base between 1 February and 26 May 1943, flying the Mustang I. [24]
  • No. 456 Squadron RAAF : Stationed at Middle Wallop between 29 March and 17 August 1943, flying the Mosquito II & VI. [25]
  • No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron AAF : Initially present from 4 July to 25 July 1940, flying the Hurricane I. The squadron returned on 24 August 1942 with Spitfire VB & VC, departing on 19 October 1942 for Ballyhalbert. [26]
  • No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron AAF : Operated at Middle Wallop between 19 October and 30 December 1942, flying the Spitfire VB & VC. [27]
  • No. 537 Squadron RAF : Formed at Middle Wallop on 8 September 1942 from No. 1458 Flight. They utilized a diverse array of aircraft, including the Havoc I (Turbinlite), Boston III (Turbinlite), Hurricane IIB & IIC, and the Havoc I. The squadron disbanded on 25 January 1943. [28]
  • No. 601 (County of London) Squadron AAF : Stationed at the airfield between 1 June and 17 June 1940, flying the Hurricane I. [29]
  • No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron AAF : Operated at Middle Wallop from 27 July 1940 to 18 February 1943, flying the Blenheim I and Beaufighter IF. [30]
  • No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron AAF : Based at Middle Wallop between 6 July and 2 October 1940, flying the Spitfire I. [30]

USAAF Use

Middle Wallop also played a role in the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force . Beginning in November 1943, it housed the Headquarters of IX Fighter Command . Just a month later, the 67th Reconnaissance Group relocated to Middle Wallop from RAF Membury . This strategic move in December 1943 was intended to place the group in close proximity to the IX FC Headquarters, facilitating seamless operations. The 67th Group was instrumental in conducting vital reconnaissance missions, flying photographic variants of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning (designated F-5) and the North American P-51 Mustang (designated F-6). These missions included artillery adjustment, weather reconnaissance, bomb damage assessment, and visual reconnaissance, all aimed at gathering crucial photographic intelligence to support the impending invasion of the Continent .

Following D-Day , both the 67th RG and the IX FC Headquarters moved to mainland Europe. The 67th RG relocated to its Advanced Landing Ground at Le Molay-Littry (ALG A-9), while the IX FC Headquarters established itself at Les Obeaux, France, in late June 1944. This marked the end of the USAAF’s direct presence at Middle Wallop. During its operational period, the airfield was designated as USAAF Station 449, with the identification code MW. [32]

RAF / RNAS Use

Middle Wallop returned to the operational control of the Royal Air Force in July 1944, hosting No. 418 Squadron RCAF and its de Havilland Mosquito night-fighters. [33]

A significant transition occurred in January 1945 when, through an exchange agreement with the Royal Air Force, Middle Wallop was transferred to the Royal Navy . It was subsequently designated as ‘RNAS Middle Wallop’. This move saw HMS Flycatcher, the headquarters for the Mobile Naval Air Base organisation , relocate to Middle Wallop from RNAS Ludham in Norfolk, which in turn reverted to RAF control. [34]

The Royal Air Force reclaimed Middle Wallop in 1946. No. 164 Squadron RAF , flying Spitfires, arrived and was renumbered as No. 63 Squadron RAF . The following year, No. 227 OCU, a unit dedicated to training Army air observation post pilots, was established at the airfield. This unit underwent several designations, becoming the Air Observation Post School in 1950 and then the Light Aircraft School in 1952. [33]

During this post-war period, several squadrons were based at Middle Wallop:

  • No. 63 Squadron RAF : Re-formed at the station on 1 September 1946, flying the Spitfire LF 16E. Their stay was brief, lasting only three days before they moved to Lübeck. [35]
  • No. 80 Squadron RAF : Operated from 5 May 1947 with the Tempest V, departing on 16 May 1947. [36]
  • No. 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron RAF : Stationed at Middle Wallop between 31 July and 18 October 1944, with a detachment at Bradwell Bay, flying the Mosquito XVII. [37]
  • No. 165 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF : Based at the airfield from 3 July to 8 July 1946, flying the Spitfire IXE. [17]
  • No. 285 Squadron RAF : Operated as a detachment between 19 November 1944 and 4 January 1945, utilizing the Oxford and Hurricane IIC. [22]
  • No. 288 Squadron RAF : Re-formed at Middle Wallop on 16 March 1953, operating the Spitfire LF 16E and the Boulton Paul Balliol T.2. The squadron was disbanded on 30 September 1957. [22]
  • No. 418 Squadron RCAF : Served at the base between 29 July and 28 August 1944, flying the Mosquito II. [38]
  • No. 587 Squadron RAF : Operated as a detachment from 1 October 1944 to 1 June 1946, flying a diverse range of aircraft including the Hurricane IIC & IV, Martinet, Vengeance IV, Mustang I, and Spitfire XVI. [39]
  • No. 651 Squadron RAF : Re-formed at Middle Wallop on 1 November 1955, flying the Sycamore HC II & Auster AOP 6, until the squadron was transferred to the AAC. [40]
  • No. 657 Squadron RAF : Operated from 19 January 1948 with the Auster V, AOP 4, AOP 6, Hoverfly II, and Sycamore HC II. The squadron disbanded on 1 November 1955, becoming 651 Squadron RAF. [41]
  • No. 1963 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight RAF : Part of No. 662 Squadron RAF , this flight was formed at Middle Wallop on 1 September 1949. They utilized the Auster AOP 5, AOP 6, and AOP 4 until 10 March 1957, when the squadron was disbanded. [42]

Units

Over its history, Middle Wallop has hosted a variety of units, including: [43]

Army Air Corps Use

In 1954, a Development Flight (CFS) equipped with helicopters was established at Middle Wallop, which subsequently led to the formation of the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit in 1955. On 1 September 1957, a significant shift occurred when British Army aviation transitioned to an independent status, separate from the RAF. While RAF technicians continued to support operations until Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) technicians were fully trained, the airfield was officially handed over from RAF Home Command to the Army Air Corps on 1 October 1958. [44]

Middle Wallop became the new home for the Army Air Corps, with the former Light Aircraft School RAF being repurposed as the Army Air Corps Centre. This center comprised: [45]

  • Depot Regiment
  • Demonstration and Trials Squadron
  • Training Cell
  • 78th Army Education Centre
  • Standards Department

Further contributing to the center’s structure were the Pilot Training Wing (later renamed Flying Wing in 1965), Tactics Wing, Technical Wing (disbanded in 1965), [44] the Aircraft Servicing Branch, [46] and the Administrative Wing. [47]

The Army Air Corps Centre’s lineage can be traced back through several predecessor units: the Light Aircraft School RAF (1953–57), [48] the Air Observation Post School RAF (1950–53), [49] No. 227 (Air Observation Post) Conversion Unit (1947–50), [50] No. 227 Operational Conversion Unit RAF (1947), [50] No. 43 Operational Training Unit (1942–47), [51] No. 1424 (Air Observation Post) Flight RAF (1941–42), and D Flight RAF within the No. 1 School of Army Co-operation RAF (1940–41). [52]

The School of Army Aviation was established in 1965, a renaming and restructuring that separated the Training Cell. This cell encompassed the ground instructional elements of the Tactics Wing, the Aircraft Engineering Training Wing, [Note 1] [46] and the Flying Wing. [53] The School of Army Aviation was disbanded in March 1973, [46] and the facility was renamed the Army Aviation Centre on 1 August 2009. [54]

Operational Units

The following flying and notable non-flying units have been based at Middle Wallop Airfield: [55] [56] [57]

British Army

Source: [58]

The base also serves as the home for the Historic Army Aircraft Flight , a charitable trust dedicated to flying historic Army aircraft for public display, and the Army Flying Museum . [59]

See also

Notes

  • ^ Beaver states that it was known as the Aircraft Engineering Wing.