FunkyMuffin
Well-known member
History:
RAF Upwood originated in September 1917 when the War Department requisitioned Hill Farm, then owned by Lord de Ramsey, for use as an Emergency Landing Ground. The airfield was later used as a Home Defence 1st Class Night Landing Ground for BE2 aircraft of 7 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. By the summer of 1918 permanent huts and five large hangars had been constructed and the site renamed Upwood Airfield. When World War I ended the airfield reverted to agricultural use with the buildings being salvaged by local farmers.
The Royal Air Force returned to Upwood Airfield in January 1937 with Squadrons 52 and 63. Squadrons 90 and 53, replaced them in February 1940 - their main goal to train RAF personnel for bombing missions. In September 1940, No.11 Beam Approach Training (BAT) Flight unit was formed with emphasis on bad weather and night flying training.
Three new concrete runways were constructed by October 1943, allowing the first of the Pathfinder Squadrons, No. 139 (Jamaica), to use the airfield the following January. From this time forward, Upwood Airfield was home to 139 Squadron equipped with Mosquitoes as well as 156 Squadron with Lancaster bombers.
At the end of the Second World War, 156 Squadron was relocated at Wyton whilst 139 Squadron remained at Upwood until February 1946. After this it was used as a training centre for some time and was later leased to the USAF. It officially closed in 1995.
The Explore:
We’ve been here a handful of times, having interesting conversations with various people along the way. After the second lockdown I was sad to see the place had finally been levelled to make way for the housing estate being built alongside it. I do have to admit, some days we visited it was a game of dodge the diggers. We’ve encountered quicksand where my boots almost remained to this day, pot smoking drone flyers, strange men (one having a naked photo shoot, the other giving us a history lesson on the place). The last day we visited we had the pleasure of meeting one of the graff artists at work on a new piece. I think I startled him as we noisily entered one of the buildings. I held my camera out and announced I was not an enemy. He nicely answered all my questions (and I had many) from the type of paint to technique and painting etiquette. I found it quite interesting and I have a new found respect for the effort that goes into the art they make.
On with the photos...
Upwood Hill house was built by a farm owner of the local land before the airfield was built. The house was used by the MOD for accommodation purposes.
Exteriors/Interiors
The graff
Thanks for looking
RAF Upwood originated in September 1917 when the War Department requisitioned Hill Farm, then owned by Lord de Ramsey, for use as an Emergency Landing Ground. The airfield was later used as a Home Defence 1st Class Night Landing Ground for BE2 aircraft of 7 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. By the summer of 1918 permanent huts and five large hangars had been constructed and the site renamed Upwood Airfield. When World War I ended the airfield reverted to agricultural use with the buildings being salvaged by local farmers.
The Royal Air Force returned to Upwood Airfield in January 1937 with Squadrons 52 and 63. Squadrons 90 and 53, replaced them in February 1940 - their main goal to train RAF personnel for bombing missions. In September 1940, No.11 Beam Approach Training (BAT) Flight unit was formed with emphasis on bad weather and night flying training.
Three new concrete runways were constructed by October 1943, allowing the first of the Pathfinder Squadrons, No. 139 (Jamaica), to use the airfield the following January. From this time forward, Upwood Airfield was home to 139 Squadron equipped with Mosquitoes as well as 156 Squadron with Lancaster bombers.
At the end of the Second World War, 156 Squadron was relocated at Wyton whilst 139 Squadron remained at Upwood until February 1946. After this it was used as a training centre for some time and was later leased to the USAF. It officially closed in 1995.
The Explore:
We’ve been here a handful of times, having interesting conversations with various people along the way. After the second lockdown I was sad to see the place had finally been levelled to make way for the housing estate being built alongside it. I do have to admit, some days we visited it was a game of dodge the diggers. We’ve encountered quicksand where my boots almost remained to this day, pot smoking drone flyers, strange men (one having a naked photo shoot, the other giving us a history lesson on the place). The last day we visited we had the pleasure of meeting one of the graff artists at work on a new piece. I think I startled him as we noisily entered one of the buildings. I held my camera out and announced I was not an enemy. He nicely answered all my questions (and I had many) from the type of paint to technique and painting etiquette. I found it quite interesting and I have a new found respect for the effort that goes into the art they make.
On with the photos...
Upwood Hill house was built by a farm owner of the local land before the airfield was built. The house was used by the MOD for accommodation purposes.
Exteriors/Interiors
The graff
Thanks for looking
