| Summary : The former Second World War military airfield, RAF Barford St. John, opened in 1941 and closed in 1946. It was initially a Relief Landing Ground for 15 Service Flying Training School. In 1942 the airfield was redeveloped as a satellite to Upper Heyford and was initially used by 16 Operational Training Unit, Number 4, and Number 169 Squadrons. In late 1944 1655 Mosquito Training Unit used the airfield to prepare crew for 8 Group Bomber Command. By 1944, the airfield was equipped with three intersecting hard surface runways and 28 Heavy Bomber hard standings and there were seven hangars, one T2 type, one B1 and five blister hangars. By 1977 the site became a radio research station, but a blister hangar and a stand by set house remain extant, as does the operations block though in a ruined state. The runways, perimeter track, and dispersals are also still intact on recent aerial photographs taken in 2009. |
More information : Barford St John was opened in 1941 and closed in 1946. It was initially a Relief Landing Ground for 15 SFTS, flying Airspeed Oxford aircraft. In August 1941 the airfield was bombed by German aircraft with no major disruption. In 1942 the airfield was redeveloped as a satellite to Upper Heyford. When it was reopened in December 1942 it was initially used by 16 Operational Training Unit, flying Wellington Mark III bombers and also Number 4 and Number 169 Squadron, flying Mustang Mark I aircraft. In May of 1943 the airfield was also used as a test centre for the Gloster F.9140, the prototype forerunner of the Gloster Meteor jet aircraft. In late 1944 1655 Mosquito Training Unit used the airfield to prepare crew for 8 Group Bomber Command. In 1946 the airfield ceased to be active. One blister hangar is extant in 2003 and the layout of the runways is clear in a number of recent air photographs included on the web page. (1)
By 1944, the airfield was equipped with three intersecting hard surface runways and 27 Heavy Bomber hard standings. There were two hangars, one T2 type and one blister hangar. In 1944 the personell comlement was 905 men and 142 women. The site was said to be a radio research station in 1985. (2)
The Defence of Britain Database entry is as follows: Barford St John Airfield, Barford St. John abd St. Michael, Oxfordshire, SP 440 340. The condition of the monument is given as destroyed. (3)
Although part of the former airfield has been built on by radio masts and the buildings of a radio research centre, source 1indicates that not all the site was destroyed by 2003, in contradiction to source 3. (4)
Map sheet SP 43 SWshows that by 1977 the site had become a radio research station, marked as "wireless station" and "disused airfield", centered at SP 4400 3420. The map shows a large number of masts, but the runways and hardstanding areas are still shown. (5)
The Non anti-invasion record (No. 227) via Source 3, lists the condition as Unknown and the Anti-invasion records (No. S0003860) via Source 3 lists condition as Removed. (6)
The WW2 airfield described above is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1944 during the war, and has been mapped as part of the SE Warwickshire and Cotswolds HLS NMP project. The airfield comprised five blister hangars, one was constructed in 1944, and a T2 and possibly B1 hangar. This is in contradiction to Source 2. The airfield site plan from 1944 also shows the hangars. The also airfield had 27 pan dispersals (Type B-3 and B-4), one spectacle dispersal (Type B-5) and a bomb store to the east. The airfield also comprised a dispersed firing range (Monument Number 1411420), sewage works (Monument Number 1567560), sick quarters (Monument Number 1567558) and communal site (Monument Number 1567559), as well as four dispersed accommodation sites (Monument Number 1567543, 1567556 and 1567553) including one for the WAAF (Monument Number 1567548); these have all been recorded separately. The airfield also had a Battle Headquarters (HQ), SP43735 33566, also recorded separately (Monument Number 1419388).
Four blister hangars were centred at SP 45107 34450, but demolished by 1947. Another was constructed in 1944 and centred at SP 43466 33878. This hangar was still visible in 2009. The T2 hangar was located at SP 43696 33759 and the possible B1 hangar was located at SP 43384 34545; both were demolished by 1993.
The majority of buildings and structures were all demolished by 1961, but a blister hangar and a stand by set house remain extant, as does the operations block though in a ruined state. The runways, perimeter track and dispersals are also still intact on recent aerial photographs taken in 2009. (7-12)
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