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RAF Ibsley

January 24, 2023

Royal Air Force Ibsley or more simply RAF Ibsley is a former Royal Air Force station in Hampshire, England. The airfield is near the village of Ibsley, about 2 miles (3 km) north of Ringwood and about 85 miles (137 km) southwest of London.

RAF Ibsley
USAAF Station AAF-347
Ibsley, Hampshire in England
Aerial Photo of Ibsley Airfield, January 1944. Note the runway extension to the 01 runway at the south side of the airfield, with the perimeter track extension.
RAF Ibsley
Shown within Hampshire
Coordinates50°52′46″N 001°46′50″W / 50.87944°N 1.78056°W / 50.87944; -1.78056Coordinates: 50°52′46″N 001°46′50″W / 50.87944°N 1.78056°W / 50.87944; -1.78056
TypeSatellite Station
CodeIB
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
1942 & 1944
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command
1941-42 & 1942-44 & 1944-45
RAF Transport Command
1945-47
Site history
Built1940 (1940)/41
In useFebruary 1941 - 1947 (1947)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation24 metres (79 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
01/19 1,320 metres (4,331 ft) Grass
05/23 1,140 metres (3,740 ft) Grass
14/32 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) Grass

A perimeter track with three runways were laid out and 18 fighter pens allowing 46 fighters to stand in relative safety. 12 Blister and two Bellman hangars were built and ten dispersed accommodation sites were laid out to the north for the airmen & women. A double cupola Battle Head Quarters, two Control Towers (one small and one large)[2]

History

Royal Air Force

The airfield was initially used by No. 32 Squadron RAF with Hawker Hurricanes, followed by No. 118 Squadron RAF with Supermarine Spitfires.[3]

In 1941 it was used as a location for the film The First of the Few.[4]

The following units were here at some point:[5]

Ibsley was also used, for short periods, in 1942 and 1944, by the United States Army Air Forces[6]

United States Army Air Forces use

Ibsley was known as USAAF Station AAF-347 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. Its USAAF Station Code was "IB".

USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Ibsley were:[7]

  • 327th Service Group[8]
329th and 79th Service Squadrons; HHS 327th Service Group
  • 21st Weather Squadron
  • 32nd Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron
  • 3rd Radio Squadron
  • 40th Mobile Communications Squadron
  • 83rd Airdrome Squadron
  • 98th Station Complement Squadron
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (70th Fighter Wing)

Regular Army Station Units included:

  • 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion
  • 692nd Quartermaster Battalion
  • 926th Signal Battalion
  • 1113th Signal Company
  • 1180th Quartermaster Company
  • 1292nd Military Police Company
  • 1829th Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company
  • 2200th Quartermaster Truck Company
  • 332nd Signal Company
  • 807th Chemical Company (Air Operations)
  • 878th Signal Depot Company
  • 900th Signal Depot Company

1st Fighter Group

The first USAAF unit to use Ibsley was the Eighth Air Force 1st Fighter Group, equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings. The 1st FG arrived from RAF Goxhill on 24 August 1942. Tactical squadrons of the group and squadron fuselage codes were:

The stay of the 1st FG was short, being assigned to Twelfth Air Force for duty in the Mediterranean theater in support of the Operation Torch North African landings.

On 16 October 1943 RAF Ibsley was allocated to the Ninth Air Force.

48th Fighter Group

 
Republic P-47D-30-RA Thunderbolt Serial 44-33204 of the 493d Fighter Squadron
 
P-47Ds of the 48th Fighter Group at an advanced landing ground

With construction completed, on 29 March 1944 the Ninth Air Force 48th Fighter Group arrived at Ibsley from Waterboro AAF, South Carolina (32°55′19″N 80°38′00″W / 32.921817°N 80.633297°W / 32.921817; -80.633297 (Waterboro AAF)). The 48th flew the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and had the following fighter squadrons and fuselage codes:

The 48th was a group of Ninth Air Force's 70th Fighter Wing, IX Tactical Air Command. Ibsley continued to be used by the 48th FG until 4 July when the last personnel left.

367th Fighter Group

 
Lockheed P-38 Lightning of the 394th Fighter Squadron wearing D-Day invasion markings, June 1944

Arriving on the heels of the departing 48th FG, the 367th Fighter Group arrived at Ibsley on 6 July 1944 from RAF Stoney Cross. The 367th flew Lockheed P-38 Lightnings. Tactical squadrons of the group and squadron fuselage codes were:

The 367th was a group of Ninth Air Force's 70th Fighter Wing, IX Tactical Air Command. The 392d and 393d and 394th Fighter Squadrons went to Carentan (ALG A-10), Cretteville (ALG A-14) and Reuxeville (ALG A-6) respectively.

Current use

Today the airfield consists mostly of a series of gravel pits and large landscaped lakes. One lake is overlooked by the derelict, windowless control tower. A very small section of the end of runway 01 still exists south of Ellingham Drive at the southern part of the airfield.

A small memorial is located near the control tower 50°52′45″N 001°46′34.00″W / 50.87917°N 1.7761111°W / 50.87917; -1.7761111.

See also

References

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Citations

  1. ^ Falconer 1998, p. 53.
  2. ^ "RAF Ibsley, Hampshire Airfield Site".
  3. ^ "RAF Ibsley – Real New Forest Guide". 14 April 2020.
  4. ^ "RAF Ibsley – Real New Forest Guide". 14 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Ibsley". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  6. ^ http://www.rafibsley.co.uk/
  7. ^ "Ibsley". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  8. ^ "327th Service Group". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

Bibliography

  • Falconer, J (1998). RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2175-9.
  • Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle ISBN 0-900913-80-0
  • Freeman, Roger A. (1996) The Ninth Air Force in Colour: UK and the Continent-World War Two. After the Battle ISBN 1-85409-272-3
  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  • www.controltowers.co.uk RAF Ibsley
  • British Automobile Association (AA), (1978), Complete Atlas of Britain, ISBN 0-86145-005-1

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Ibsley.
  • Ibsley Airfield photo album
  • RAF Ibsley Historical Group
  • RAF Ibsley Airfield Heritage Trust

January 24, 2023
ibsley, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains, consistent, citation, style, several, templates, tools, available, assist, fo. This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Royal Air Force Ibsley or more simply RAF Ibsley is a former Royal Air Force station in Hampshire England The airfield is near the village of Ibsley about 2 miles 3 km north of Ringwood and about 85 miles 137 km southwest of London RAF IbsleyUSAAF Station AAF 347Ibsley Hampshire in EnglandAerial Photo of Ibsley Airfield January 1944 Note the runway extension to the 01 runway at the south side of the airfield with the perimeter track extension RAF IbsleyShown within HampshireCoordinates50 52 46 N 001 46 50 W 50 87944 N 1 78056 W 50 87944 1 78056 Coordinates 50 52 46 N 001 46 50 W 50 87944 N 1 78056 W 50 87944 1 78056TypeSatellite StationCodeIBSite informationOwnerAir MinistryOperatorRoyal Air ForceUnited States Army Air Forces1942 amp 1944Controlled byRAF Fighter Command1941 42 amp 1942 44 amp 1944 45RAF Transport Command1945 47Site historyBuilt1940 1940 41In useFebruary 1941 1947 1947 Battles warsEuropean theatre of World War IIAirfield informationElevation24 metres 79 ft 1 AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface01 19 1 320 metres 4 331 ft Grass05 23 1 140 metres 3 740 ft Grass14 32 1 000 metres 3 281 ft GrassA perimeter track with three runways were laid out and 18 fighter pens allowing 46 fighters to stand in relative safety 12 Blister and two Bellman hangars were built and ten dispersed accommodation sites were laid out to the north for the airmen amp women A double cupola Battle Head Quarters two Control Towers one small and one large 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Royal Air Force 1 2 United States Army Air Forces use 1 2 1 1st Fighter Group 1 2 2 48th Fighter Group 1 2 3 367th Fighter Group 2 Current use 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory EditRoyal Air Force Edit The airfield was initially used by No 32 Squadron RAF with Hawker Hurricanes followed by No 118 Squadron RAF with Supermarine Spitfires 3 In 1941 it was used as a location for the film The First of the Few 4 The following units were here at some point 5 No 32 Squadron RAF 1941 No 66 Squadron RAF 1942 43 No 118 Squadron RAF 1942 43 No 124 Squadron RAF No 129 Squadron RAF 1943 No 165 Squadron RAF 1943 No 170 Squadron RAF No 175 Squadron RAF No 234 Squadron RAF 1941 42 No 257 Squadron RAF No 263 Squadron RAF 1943 44 No 268 Squadron RAF No 302 Polish Fighter Squadron 1941 No 310 Squadron RAF 1943 No 312 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF 1943 44 No 313 Squadron RAF 1944 No 421 Squadron RCAF 1942 No 453 Squadron RAAF 1943 No 501 Squadron RAF 1942 No 504 Squadron RAF 1942 43 No 587 Squadron RAF No 616 Squadron RAF 1943 No 7 Flying Instructors School RAF No 16 Casualty Air Evacuation Unit No 17 Casualty Air Evacuation Unit No 21 Sector RAF No 134 Czech Airfield No 147 Night Fighter Wing RAF No 150 Staging Post No 160 Staging Post No 200 Staging Post No 201 Staging Post No 302 Transport Wing RAF No 2763 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2772 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2800 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2888 Squadron RAF Regiment No 4043 Anti Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment Glider Pick up Training Flight Ibsley was also used for short periods in 1942 and 1944 by the United States Army Air Forces 6 United States Army Air Forces use Edit Ibsley was known as USAAF Station AAF 347 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war and by which it was referred to instead of location Its USAAF Station Code was IB USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Ibsley were 7 327th Service Group 8 329th and 79th Service Squadrons HHS 327th Service Group21st Weather Squadron 32nd Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron 3rd Radio Squadron 40th Mobile Communications Squadron 83rd Airdrome Squadron 98th Station Complement Squadron Headquarters amp Headquarters Squadron 70th Fighter Wing Regular Army Station Units included 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion 692nd Quartermaster Battalion 926th Signal Battalion 1113th Signal Company 1180th Quartermaster Company 1292nd Military Police Company 1829th Ordnance Supply amp Maintenance Company 2200th Quartermaster Truck Company 332nd Signal Company 807th Chemical Company Air Operations 878th Signal Depot Company 900th Signal Depot Company1st Fighter Group Edit The first USAAF unit to use Ibsley was the Eighth Air Force 1st Fighter Group equipped with Lockheed P 38 Lightnings The 1st FG arrived from RAF Goxhill on 24 August 1942 Tactical squadrons of the group and squadron fuselage codes were 27th Fighter Squadron HV 71st Fighter Squadron LM 94th Fighter Squadron UN The stay of the 1st FG was short being assigned to Twelfth Air Force for duty in the Mediterranean theater in support of the Operation Torch North African landings On 16 October 1943 RAF Ibsley was allocated to the Ninth Air Force 48th Fighter Group Edit Republic P 47D 30 RA Thunderbolt Serial 44 33204 of the 493d Fighter Squadron P 47Ds of the 48th Fighter Group at an advanced landing ground With construction completed on 29 March 1944 the Ninth Air Force 48th Fighter Group arrived at Ibsley from Waterboro AAF South Carolina 32 55 19 N 80 38 00 W 32 921817 N 80 633297 W 32 921817 80 633297 Waterboro AAF The 48th flew the Republic P 47 Thunderbolt and had the following fighter squadrons and fuselage codes 492d Fighter Squadron F4 493d Fighter Squadron I7 494th Fighter Squadron 6M The 48th was a group of Ninth Air Force s 70th Fighter Wing IX Tactical Air Command Ibsley continued to be used by the 48th FG until 4 July when the last personnel left 367th Fighter Group Edit Lockheed P 38 Lightning of the 394th Fighter Squadron wearing D Day invasion markings June 1944 Arriving on the heels of the departing 48th FG the 367th Fighter Group arrived at Ibsley on 6 July 1944 from RAF Stoney Cross The 367th flew Lockheed P 38 Lightnings Tactical squadrons of the group and squadron fuselage codes were 392d Fighter Squadron H5 393d Fighter Squadron 8L 394th Fighter Squadron 4N The 367th was a group of Ninth Air Force s 70th Fighter Wing IX Tactical Air Command The 392d and 393d and 394th Fighter Squadrons went to Carentan ALG A 10 Cretteville ALG A 14 and Reuxeville ALG A 6 respectively Current use EditToday the airfield consists mostly of a series of gravel pits and large landscaped lakes One lake is overlooked by the derelict windowless control tower A very small section of the end of runway 01 still exists south of Ellingham Drive at the southern part of the airfield A small memorial is located near the control tower 50 52 45 N 001 46 34 00 W 50 87917 N 1 7761111 W 50 87917 1 7761111 See also Edit United Kingdom portal Aviation portal War portal World War II portalList of former Royal Air Force stationsReferences Edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Citations Edit Falconer 1998 p 53 RAF Ibsley Hampshire Airfield Site RAF Ibsley Real New Forest Guide 14 April 2020 RAF Ibsley Real New Forest Guide 14 April 2020 Ibsley Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Retrieved 28 June 2020 http www rafibsley co uk Ibsley American Air Museum in Britain Retrieved 16 March 2015 327th Service Group American Air Museum in Britain Retrieved 16 March 2015 Bibliography Edit Falconer J 1998 RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2 UK Ian Allan Publishing ISBN 0 7110 2175 9 Freeman Roger A 1994 UK Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now 1994 After the Battle ISBN 0 900913 80 0 Freeman Roger A 1996 The Ninth Air Force in Colour UK and the Continent World War Two After the Battle ISBN 1 85409 272 3 Maurer Maurer 1983 Air Force Combat Units Of World War II Maxwell AFB Alabama Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 89201 092 4 www controltowers co uk RAF Ibsley British Automobile Association AA 1978 Complete Atlas of Britain ISBN 0 86145 005 1External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Ibsley Full listing of units RAF USAAF at RAF Ibsley Ibsley Airfield photo album Lakenheath Airmen attend World War II ceremony 3 1 2006 RAF Ibsley Historical Group RAF Ibsley Airfield Heritage Trust Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF Ibsley amp oldid 1114473910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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