RAF Warmwell, Dorset

RAF Warmwell was an expansion period pre WW2 airfield used as an Armament Practice Camp. When war started it found its self in the front line with Hurricanes and Spitfires covering Southampton, Exeter and Bristol. Later it became a forward operating airfield for fighters to roam into France. Then with the run up to D-day the Americans arrived with P-38 Lightening’s. October 1945 and Warmwell closed.

What is left? Plenty if you wish to look. The gymnasium is now used by the village as a hall, the control tower is now a private house. Two Bellman hangars remain and in the woodland to the south east there are many hut bases, blast shelters and the odd emergency water supply. To the west a woodland, Knighton Wood sitting with sand quarries all around it. There are many fighter pens, hut bases, cannon stop butts and several trenches remain to be found.

Red square - Knighton Wood.
Blue square - extent of airfield.

 Fighter Pen Knighton Wood

                                                                                      Gymnasium

                        Air-raid blast shelter 50man.

Airfield plan.

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RAF Little Rissington, Gloucester

This week I am sorting out my latest posts on RAF Little Rissington, an expansion period aerodrome in Gloucester. Nearly all the buildings and hangars are still there but planning permeation is being sort to demolish several.

There are 5 C Type Hangars or Sheds, four in a semi-circle behind the control tower (watch office) and a fifth set behind. This one is smaller and was used as a repair shed whereas the others were for resident squadrons to keep their aircraft and in offices down the sides used as crew rooms, instructional and flying instructors rooms. Little Rissington had two rolls initially. First as a Training Station which were the four C hangars and buildings behind but also as an Aircraft Storage Unit. Training was carried out by No.6 Flying Training School (FTS) and the ASU was No.8 Aircraft Storage Unit.

The expansion plans of the 1930's were for bomber stations to be in the north and east, fighter stations covering large towns and FTS & ASU's more out of the firing line in the west and North West.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

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I have just finished RAF Melbourne an airfield 11 miles south west of York. Here Halifax bombers of No10 Squadron RAF flew nearly all their wartime sorties. Now reverted to farming and Drag racing with many buildings left and also its control tower lovingly restored by local enthusiasts. I do have more to add so I will continue to update RAF Melbourne.





Main gate & memorial.




Parachute and Dingy Store




Original runway graffiti probably unique.

Day One

Welcome to the first Blog of www.atlantikwall.co.uk a website dedicated to the Atlantikwall in Europe, RAF airfields throughout Britain. Defence sites in the South of England and the build-up for D-day with many US pre-invasion camps and embarkation ports. About 116 RAF airfields, miscellaneous wartime sites 15, Defence of Britain sites 20 and France starting in the Pas de Calais with 8 Wn's & (defence positions) batteries to the Vendee - Charente Maritime and covering all Wn's on the D-Day Omaha and Utah Beaches and right up to Cherbourg. Several V1/2 sites and many other miscellaneous sites in Normandy.