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RAF Tangmere

September 01, 2023

Royal Air Force Tangmere or more simply RAF Tangmere is a former Royal Air Force station located in Tangmere, England, famous for its role in the Battle of Britain.[4]

RAF Tangmere
Tangmere, West Sussex in England
Aerial photograph of Tangmere airfield, 10 February 1944
RAF Tangmere
Location in West Sussex
Coordinates50°50′45″N 000°42′23″W / 50.84583°N 0.70639°W / 50.84583; -0.70639
Grid referenceSU910060[1]
TypeRoyal Air Force Sector Station
CodeRN[2]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force 1919-20
1925-
Royal Flying Corps 1917
U.S. Signal Corps 1918-1919
Fleet Air Arm
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command
* No. 11 Group RAF
RAF Second Tactical Air Force
*No. 84 Group RAF[2]
RAF Signals Command 1958-[3]
Open to
the public		Yes
Site history
Built25 September 1917 (1917) & 1927-30
In use1917-20
1925 - October 16, 1970 (1970-10-16)
Battles/warsFirst World War
European theatre of World War II
EventsBattle of Britain
Garrison information
Past
commanders		C. W. Hill
DesignationsGrade II
Airfield information
Elevation15 metres (49 ft)[2] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
07/25 1,828.75 metres (6,000 ft) Concrete
17/35 1,463 metres (4,800 ft) Concrete

It was one of several stations near Chichester, West Sussex. The famous Second World War aces Wing Commander Douglas Bader, and the then inexperienced Johnnie Johnson were stationed at Tangmere in 1941.

History Edit

First World War Edit

The aerodrome was founded in 1917 for use by the Royal Flying Corps as a training base. In 1918 it was turned over to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps (USSC) as a training ground, and continued as such until the end of the Great War in November of that year, after which the airfield was mothballed in 1919.[5]

Additional units:

Inter-War Years Edit

In 1925 the station re-opened to serve the RAF's Royal Flying Corps, and went operational in 1926 with No. 43 Squadron equipped with biplane Gloster Gamecocks (there is a row of houses located near the museum entrance called Gamecock Terrace).[16]

As war threatened in the late 1930s, the fighter aircraft based at Tangmere became faster, with Hawker Furies, Gloster Gladiators, and Hawker Hurricanes all being used.

In 1934, Squadron Leader C W Hill, famous WW1 prisoner-of-war escaper, commanded No. 1 Fighter Squadron at RAF Tangmere. Two years later, as a Wing Commander, he became the station commander.

Additional units:

  • Coastal Area Storage Unit (1925-28)[17]
  • 1 Squadron between 1927-39[18]
  • 43 Squadron between 1926-39[19]

Second World War Edit

In 1939 the airfield was enlarged to defend the south coast against attack by the Luftwaffe, with Tangmere's only hotel and some houses being demolished in the process. The RAF commandeered the majority of houses in the centre of the village, with only six to eight families being allowed to stay. The village would not resume its status as a civilian community until 1966.

 
A line of Supermarine Spitfire Mark VBs of No. 131 Squadron RAF, being prepared for a sweep at Merston, a satellite airfield of Tangmere

In August 1940 the first squadron (No. 602 Squadron RAF) of Supermarine Spitfires was based at the satellite airfield at nearby Westhampnett, as the Battle of Britain began. By now the villagers had mainly been evacuated, and extensive ranges of RAF buildings had sprung up.[20]

The first, and worst, enemy raid on the station came on 16 August 1940 when hundreds of Junkers Ju 87 (Stuka) dive bombers and fighters crossed the English coast and attacked Tangmere. There was extensive damage to buildings and aircraft on the ground and 14 ground staff and six civilians were killed. However the station was kept in service and brought back into full operation.

Throughout the war, the station was used by the Royal Air Force Special Duty Service when 161 (Special Duty) Squadron's Westland Lysander flight came down to do their insertion and pick-up operations into occupied Europe. The SOE used Tangmere Cottage, opposite the main entrance to the base to house and receive their agents.[20] Today the cottage sports a commemorative plaque to its former secret life.

Later in the war, as the RAF turned from defence to attack, Group Captain Douglas Bader, the legless fighter ace, commanded the Tangmere wing of Fighter Command. Today he is commemorated by a plaque outside the former Bader Arms public house, now a Co-operative Food outlet in the village. 616 Squadron, which included Johnnie Johnson and Hugh Dundas, arrived at Tangmere in late February 1941.[21] Johnson went on to become the highest scoring Western Allied fighter ace against the Luftwaffe.

For D-Day, the RAF created Airfield Headquarters units which transformed into wings to control multiple similar squadrons for offensive actions for eventual use in mainland Europe.

 
German (right) and Commonwealth pilot graves, St Andrew's Church. The large tombstone is a mémorial to pilots lost at sea.

Many of those killed at the base, from both sides in conflict, are buried in the cemetery at St Andrews Church, Tangmere, today tended by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske who died at Tangmere in 1940 was one of the first American aviators to die during the Second World War.[16]

Defensive units (1939-41):

Offensive units (1941-45):

Units:

  • No. 2 Air Delivery Letter Service (June 1944)[65]
  • Detachment of No. 11 Group Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flight (1941)[66]
  • No. 410 Repair & Salvage Unit (1944)[67]
  • No. 419 (Special Duties) Flight RAF (1940)[68]
  • No. 1455 (Fighter) Flight RAF (1941-42)[69]
  • No. 3205 Servicing Commando (1944)[70]
  • No. 3207 Servicing Commando (1943)[70]
  • No. 3210 Servicing Commando (1944)[70]
  • No. 3225 Servicing Commando (1943)[70]
  • Fighter Interception Unit RAF (1940)[71]

RAF Regiment:

The following RAF Regiment units were also here at some point:[72]

Postwar Edit

After the war, the Central Fighter Establishment arrived from RAF Wittering on 27 February 1945 with the station being renamed to CFE Tangmere.[73] The RAF High Speed Flight was reformed here on 14 June 1946 and in September 1946, a world air speed record of 616 mph (991 km/h) was set by Group Captain Edward "Teddy" Mortlock Donaldson in a Gloster Meteor F.4; after his death in 1992, he was buried in St Andrews Church. In September 1953, Squadron Leader Neville Duke became holder of the world air speed record when he flew a modified Hawker Hunter prototype at 727.63 mph (1,170 km/h) – the 50th anniversary of this event was commemorated in 2003.

A number of units associated with the CFE also arrived including:

The unit moved to RAF West Raynham on 1 October 1945, with No. 85 Squadron RAF arriving on 11 October 1945 with the de Havilland Mosquito XXX, upgrading to the Mosquito NF.36 from January 1946, the unit deployed to RAF Lubeck and RAF Acklington for varying periods of time until finally leaving on 16 April 1947 going to RAF West Malling.[43] No. 1 Squadron RAF returned on 30 April 1946 from their previous base of RAF Hutton Cranswick with the Supermarine Spitfire F.21, the unit deployed to Acklington and Lubeck at various times. From October 1946 the Gloster Meteor F.3 was introduced, being replaced by the Harvard T.2b and Oxford T.2 from August 1947 in preparation for conversion to the Meteor F.4 which arrived during June 1948. This was replaced by the F.8 during August 1950 and this in turn was replaced by the Hawker Hunter F.5 in September 1958. The squadron was disbanded on 1 July 1958.[18] No. 222 (Natal) Squadron RAF arrived on 2 October 1946 from RAF Weston Zoyland already operating the Meteor F.3, converting to the newer F.4 during the first few months of 1948 before moving to RAF Lubeck on 1 May 1948.[37]

On 1 June 1950, a Gloster Meteor flying eastwards over Portsmouth reported a UFO at 20,000 ft. It is also seen by the radar at RAF Wartling, and was described as Britain's first flying saucer, and led to the Flying Saucer Working Party later that year.[79]

No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF arrived on 16 April 1947 from RAF Wattisham with the Meteor F.3 replacing No. 85 Squadron RAF. No. 266 Squadron upgraded to the Meteor F.4 from February 1948, with the squadron deploying to Lubeck and Acklington during its stay. 266 was disbanded on 11 February 1949 and renumbered as No. 43 Squadron RAF,[61] the Meteor F.8 was introduced from September 1950 and the squadron moved to RAF Leuchars on 11 November 1950.[19] On 25 November 1950 No. 29 Squadron RAF arrived from RAF West Malling with the Mosquito NF.30 converting to the Meteor NF.11 from July 1951. The squadron moved to RAF Acklington on 14 January 1957 where it eventually changed to the Gloster Javelin FAW.6.[80] On 1 August 1954 No. 34 Squadron RAF was reformed here with the Meteor F.8, upgrading to the Hunter F.5 from October 1955 before being disbanded on 15 January 1958.[81] On 30 September 1957 No. 25 Squadron RAF arrived from RAF West Malling with the Meteor NF.12 & NF.14 until 1 July 1958 when the squadron was disbanded.[52]

No. 164 (Argentine–British) Squadron RAF arrived from RAF Turnhouse on 25 March 1946 with the Spitfire IX, staying until 26 April 1946 when the squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop.[57] No. 587 Squadron RAF arrvied from RAF Weston Zoyland on 1 June 1946 with the Spitfire XVI for two weeks before being disbanded.[82] No. 69 Squadron RAF arrived on 19 April 1947 from RAF Wahn during a break from West Germany. It used the Mosquito B.16 until 16 May 1947 when it moved back to Wahn.[83] No. 74 (Trinidad) Squadron RAF arrived on 1 July 1950 for a total of 8 days from RAF Horsham St Faith using Meteor F.4's.[34]

In the late 1950s the flying was reduced to ground radar calibration under RAF Signals Command with the arrival of No. 115 Squadron RAF on 25 August 1958 from RAF Watton with the Varsity T.1. The Valetta C.1 was introduced from August 1963 but the squadron moved back to Watton on 1 October 1963.[55] No. 245 Squadron RAF arrived on 25 August 1958 along from Watton, but with the Canberra B.2, however the squadron was disbanded on 19 April 1963 to become No. 98 Squadron.[84] No. 98 Squadron RAF used the Canberra B.2 until 1 October 1963 when the Squadron moved to RAF Watton.[54] Between January and March 1958 a detachment of No. 208 Squadron RAF operated here training crews on the new Hunter F.6.[12]

The Joint Services Language School moved here and in 1960 the station was granted the "freedom of the City of Chichester" and the event was marked by a march through the town and service in the Cathedral.[85]

No. 38 Group Tactical Communications Wing RAF and 244 Signal Squadron (Air Support) were the last units to leave the base, relocating to RAF Benson.

Some of the last flying units to be based at the station included:

Units:

In 1963-64 the last flying units left. However the station continued to be used for several years and, in 1968, Prince Charles took his first flying lesson at Tangmere.[96] The station finally closed on 16 October 1970;[97] a single Spitfire flew over the airfield as the RAF ensign was lowered for the last time.[98]

Present use Edit

Following the closure of the RAF station, some of the land around the runways was returned to farming. Tangmere Airfield Nurseries have built large glasshouses for the cultivation of peppers and aubergines.

 
RAF Tangmere Control Tower in 2009

Until 1983 37 acres (150,000 m2) of barracks, admin blocks and repair workshops remained derelict until bought by Seawards Properties Ltd. Housing soon spread around the airfield, and most RAF buildings were demolished. Officers' quarters have been retained as homes and two original RAF buildings remain, the grade II listed Control Tower, and one of the 'H Block' accommodation buildings.

The majority of the airfield is now farmed, and since 1979 the runways have slowly been removed thus returning the whole airfield back to large scale farming once again. In 2016 the final piece of apron and the three T.2 hangars were removed, with houses built in their place on a street called Hangar Drive.

The derelict control tower forms part of the farm but is now bricked up and partly overgrown. It became a grade II listed building as of 2011 and was placed on the heritage at risk register in 2015.[99] A campaign is currently underway to restore the control tower which has received local and national press coverage. This is being led by Tangmere Tower Community Interest Company, who restaged 'The Eisenhower Dinner' at the Chichester Harbour Hotel in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of General Eisenhower's original meal in 1944.[100] The CIC are working with the local Aviation Museum, the University of Chichester and Sussex Police and with their architect have submitted a planning application for phase one of the project.

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Edit

Main article: Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
 
Tangmere Air Museum, February 1995

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum was founded by a group of enthusiastic veterans. It has a replica Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane as well as many original aircraft, including Neville Duke's speed record Hawker Hunter. On display is the 'Star' Meteor flown by Teddy Donaldson when he set the World Air Speed Record in September 1946, breaking the 1,000 km/h barrier.[101]

34067 locomotive Edit

A number of Oliver Bulleid's light pacific locomotives were named after Battle of Britain squadrons, stations, or commanders. One such locomotive that is preserved and still in main line operation is named "Tangmere" (no 34067).[citation needed]

See also Edit

References Edit

Citations Edit

  1. ^ Birtles 2012, p. 49.
  2. ^ a b c Falconer 2012, p. 189.
  3. ^ Birtles 2012, p. 51.
  4. ^ Smith, Andrew W. M. (4 March 2018). "Eclipse in the dark years: pick-up flights, routes of resistance and the Free French". European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire. 25 (2): 392–414. doi:10.1080/13507486.2017.1411889. ISSN 1350-7486. S2CID 148856854.
  5. ^ Delve, Ken (24 April 2018). "The RAF at 100: Exploring Sussex's airfields". Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 28.
  7. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 35.
  8. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 38.
  9. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 50.
  10. ^ a b c d e Jefford 1988, p. 52.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  12. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 69.
  13. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 277.
  14. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 275.
  15. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 278.
  16. ^ a b Byron, Reginald (2013). Tangmere : Famous Royal Air Force Fighter Station An Authorised History. Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1909166196.
  17. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 92.
  18. ^ a b c d Jefford 1988, p. 23.
  19. ^ a b c d e Jefford 1988, p. 39.
  20. ^ a b Saunders, Andy (1998). RAF Tangmere revisited. Sutton. ISBN 075091906X.
  21. ^ Sarkar, Dilip. Spitfire Ace of Aces: The True Wartime Story of Johnnie Johnson. Amberley Publishing, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4456-0475-6 page43
  22. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 288.
  23. ^ a b c Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 46.
  24. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 66.
  25. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 67.
  26. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 79.
  27. ^ a b c d e Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 295.
  28. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 89.
  29. ^ a b c d Jefford 1988, p. 90.
  30. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 45.
  31. ^ a b c d e Jefford 1988, p. 59.
  32. ^ a b c d Jefford 1988, p. 87.
  33. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 36.
  34. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 48.
  35. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 85.
  36. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 86.
  37. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 73.
  38. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 88.
  39. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 94.
  40. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 296.
  41. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 30.
  42. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 47.
  43. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 51.
  44. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 61.
  45. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 71.
  46. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 76.
  47. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  48. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 98.
  49. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 99.
  50. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 100.
  51. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 32.
  52. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 33.
  53. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 43.
  54. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 53.
  55. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  56. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  57. ^ a b c d e Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  58. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 65.
  59. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 72.
  60. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 74.
  61. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 81.
  62. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 96.
  63. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 209.
  64. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 254.
  65. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 44.
  66. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 155.
  67. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 223.
  68. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 122.
  69. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  70. ^ a b c d Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 233.
  71. ^ a b c d Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 113.
  72. ^ "Tangmere". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  73. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 84.
  74. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 100.
  75. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 108.
  76. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 193.
  77. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 194.
  78. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 111.
  79. ^ Good, Timothy (12 July 2012). A Need to Know: UFOs, the Military and Intelligence. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-330-54349-1.
  80. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 34.
  81. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 37.
  82. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 97.
  83. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 46.
  84. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  85. ^ "National Archives: RAF Tangmere: Freedom of City of Chichester". Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  86. ^ "No 22 Squadron". RAF Web. Retrieved 6 April 2023.(subscription required)
  87. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 41.
  88. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 91.
  89. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 99.
  90. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 132.
  91. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 161.
  92. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 177.
  93. ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 147.
  94. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 112.
  95. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 273.
  96. ^ "Campaign to restore Tangmere's 'iconic' airfield control tower". 2 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  97. ^ "Unit History: RAF Tangmere". Forces War Records. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  98. ^ "Tangmere Pilots".
  99. ^ Historic England. "Watch Office (Control Tower), former RAF Tangmere (1403165)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  100. ^ Khoo, Anna (27 March 2019). "Recreation of Eisenhower's visit as Tangmere Tower campaign progresses". Chichester Observer. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  101. ^ Thomas, Nick. RAF Top Gun: Teddy Donaldson CB, DSO, AFC and Bar Battle of Britain Ace and World Air Speed Record Holder, Pen & Sword, 2008. ISBN 1-84415-685-0

Bibliography Edit

  • Birtles, P. (2012). UK Airfields of the Cold War. Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-346-4.
  • Falconer, J. (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Sturtivant, R.; Ballance, T. (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
  • Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.

External links Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Tangmere.
  • Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

September 01, 2023
tangmere, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 2023, le. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources RAF Tangmere news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Royal Air Force Tangmere or more simply RAF Tangmere is a former Royal Air Force station located in Tangmere England famous for its role in the Battle of Britain 4 RAF TangmereTangmere West Sussex in EnglandAerial photograph of Tangmere airfield 10 February 1944Station badgeRAF TangmereLocation in West SussexCoordinates50 50 45 N 000 42 23 W 50 84583 N 0 70639 W 50 84583 0 70639Grid referenceSU910060 1 TypeRoyal Air Force Sector StationCodeRN 2 Site informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceOperatorRoyal Air Force 1919 201925 Royal Flying Corps 1917U S Signal Corps 1918 1919Fleet Air ArmControlled byRAF Fighter Command No 11 Group RAFRAF Second Tactical Air Force No 84 Group RAF 2 RAF Signals Command 1958 3 Open tothe publicYesSite historyBuilt25 September 1917 1917 amp 1927 30In use1917 201925 October 16 1970 1970 10 16 Battles warsFirst World WarEuropean theatre of World War IIEventsBattle of BritainGarrison informationPastcommandersC W HillDesignationsGrade IIAirfield informationElevation15 metres 49 ft 2 AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface07 25 1 828 75 metres 6 000 ft Concrete17 35 1 463 metres 4 800 ft ConcreteIt was one of several stations near Chichester West Sussex The famous Second World War aces Wing Commander Douglas Bader and the then inexperienced Johnnie Johnson were stationed at Tangmere in 1941 Contents 1 History 1 1 First World War 1 2 Inter War Years 1 3 Second World War 1 4 Postwar 2 Present use 2 1 Tangmere Military Aviation Museum 3 34067 locomotive 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory EditFirst World War Edit The aerodrome was founded in 1917 for use by the Royal Flying Corps as a training base In 1918 it was turned over to the Aviation Section U S Signal Corps USSC as a training ground and continued as such until the end of the Great War in November of that year after which the airfield was mothballed in 1919 5 Additional units No 14 Squadron RAF during 1919 6 No 32 Squadron RAF during 1919 7 No 40 Squadron RAF during 1919 8 No 41 Squadron RAF during 1919 8 No 82 United Provinces Squadron RAF during 1919 9 No 84 Squadron RAF during 1919 9 No 91 Nigeria Squadron RAF during 1918 19 10 No 92 East India Squadron RAF during 1918 10 No 93 Squadron RAF during 1918 10 No 148 Squadron RAF during 1919 11 No 207 Squadron RAF during 1919 12 No 40 Training Squadron 1916 13 No 61 Training Depot Station 1918 19 14 became No 61 Training Squadron 1919 15 Inter War Years Edit In 1925 the station re opened to serve the RAF s Royal Flying Corps and went operational in 1926 with No 43 Squadron equipped with biplane Gloster Gamecocks there is a row of houses located near the museum entrance called Gamecock Terrace 16 As war threatened in the late 1930s the fighter aircraft based at Tangmere became faster with Hawker Furies Gloster Gladiators and Hawker Hurricanes all being used In 1934 Squadron Leader C W Hill famous WW1 prisoner of war escaper commanded No 1 Fighter Squadron at RAF Tangmere Two years later as a Wing Commander he became the station commander Additional units Coastal Area Storage Unit 1925 28 17 1 Squadron between 1927 39 18 43 Squadron between 1926 39 19 Second World War Edit In 1939 the airfield was enlarged to defend the south coast against attack by the Luftwaffe with Tangmere s only hotel and some houses being demolished in the process The RAF commandeered the majority of houses in the centre of the village with only six to eight families being allowed to stay The village would not resume its status as a civilian community until 1966 nbsp A line of Supermarine Spitfire Mark VBs of No 131 Squadron RAF being prepared for a sweep at Merston a satellite airfield of TangmereIn August 1940 the first squadron No 602 Squadron RAF of Supermarine Spitfires was based at the satellite airfield at nearby Westhampnett as the Battle of Britain began By now the villagers had mainly been evacuated and extensive ranges of RAF buildings had sprung up 20 The first and worst enemy raid on the station came on 16 August 1940 when hundreds of Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers and fighters crossed the English coast and attacked Tangmere There was extensive damage to buildings and aircraft on the ground and 14 ground staff and six civilians were killed However the station was kept in service and brought back into full operation Throughout the war the station was used by the Royal Air Force Special Duty Service when 161 Special Duty Squadron s Westland Lysander flight came down to do their insertion and pick up operations into occupied Europe The SOE used Tangmere Cottage opposite the main entrance to the base to house and receive their agents 20 Today the cottage sports a commemorative plaque to its former secret life Later in the war as the RAF turned from defence to attack Group Captain Douglas Bader the legless fighter ace commanded the Tangmere wing of Fighter Command Today he is commemorated by a plaque outside the former Bader Arms public house now a Co operative Food outlet in the village 616 Squadron which included Johnnie Johnson and Hugh Dundas arrived at Tangmere in late February 1941 21 Johnson went on to become the highest scoring Western Allied fighter ace against the Luftwaffe For D Day the RAF created Airfield Headquarters units which transformed into wings to control multiple similar squadrons for offensive actions for eventual use in mainland Europe No 23 Fighter Wing RAF 1944 controlling 22 No 146 Airfield RAF January 1944 23 No 183 Gold Coast Squadron RAF with the Typhoon Ib during 1943 amp 44 24 No 197 Squadron RAF with the Typhoon Ib during 1943 amp 44 25 No 257 Burma Squadron RAF with the Typhoon Ib during 1944 26 No 126 Airfield RAF May 1944 23 became No 126 RCAF Fighter Wing RAF May June 1944 27 No 401 Ram Squadron RCAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 28 No 411 Grizzly Bear Squadron RCAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 29 No 412 Falcon Squadron RCAF with the Spitfire Vb amp IXb during 1942 amp 44 29 No 127 Airfield RAF April May 1944 23 became No 127 RCAF Fighter Wing RAF May June 1944 27 No 403 Wolf Squadron RCAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 28 No 416 City of Oshawa Squadron RCAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 29 No 421 Red Indian Squadron RCAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 29 No 132 Norwegian Fighter Wing RAF June July 1944 27 No 66 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire Vb Vc amp LFIXb during 1942 amp 44 30 No 127 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXe during 1944 31 No 331 Norwegian Squadron RAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 32 No 332 Norwegian Squadron RAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 32 No 134 Czech Fighter Wing RAF June July 1944 27 No 33 Squadron RAF with the Sptifire LFIXe during 1944 33 No 74 Trinidad Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXe during 1944 34 No 127 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXe during 1944 31 No 310 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIX during 1944 35 No 312 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF with the Spitfire HFIX during 1944 36 No 313 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF with the Spitfire IX during 1944 36 No 135 Fighter Wing RAF August 1944 27 No 222 Natal Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXb during 1944 37 No 349 Belgian Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXe during 1944 38 No 485 NZ Squadron RAF with the Spitfire IXe during 1944 39 No 145 French Fighter Wing RAF August 1944 40 No 74 Trinidad Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXe during 1944 34 No 329 GC I 2 Cicognes Squadron RAF with the Spitfire IX during 1944 32 No 340 GC IV 2 IIe de France Squadron RAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 32 No 341 G C III 2 Alsace Squadron RAF with the Spitfire IXb during 1944 38 nbsp German right and Commonwealth pilot graves St Andrew s Church The large tombstone is a memorial to pilots lost at sea Many of those killed at the base from both sides in conflict are buried in the cemetery at St Andrews Church Tangmere today tended by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission American RAF pilot Billy Fiske who died at Tangmere in 1940 was one of the first American aviators to die during the Second World War 16 Defensive units 1939 41 1 Squadron during 1940 amp 41 18 No 17 Squadron RAF with the Hurricane during 1940 41 No 42 Squadron RAF detachment during 1938 19 43 Squadron during 1940 19 No 65 East India Squadron RAF with the Sptifire during 1940 amp 41 30 No 72 Squadron RAF during 1937 42 No 87 United Provinces Squadron RAF during 1937 43 No 92 East India Squadron RAF during 1939 10 No 145 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire I IIa during 1940 amp 41 44 No 213 Ceylon Squadron RAF with the Hurricane I during 1940 45 No 217 Squadron RAF during 1937 38 amp 39 45 No 238 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire I during 1940 46 No 501 County of Gloucester Squadron RAuxAF with the Hurricane I Spitfire Vb amp Vc during 1939 40 amp 42 47 No 601 County of London Squadron RAuxAF with the Blenheim If amp Hurricane I during 1940 48 No 605 County of Warwick Squadron RAuxAF with the Gladiator I amp Hurricane I during 1939 amp 40 49 No 607 County of Durham Squadron RAuxAF with the Hurricane I during 1940 49 No 614 County of Glamorgan Squadron RAuxAF detachment during 1940 50 Offensive units 1941 45 1 Squadron during 1942 18 No 23 Squadron RAF detachment during 1941 51 No 26 South African Squadron RAF during 1944 52 No 41 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire Vb XII during 1942 43 amp 44 8 43 Squadron during 1942 19 No 56 Squadron RAF detachment during 1942 53 No 82 United Provinces Squadron RAF Detachment 1939 42 9 No 91 Nigeria Squadron RAF with the Spitfire XII during 1943 44 10 No 96 Squadron RAF detachment between 1942 43 54 No 118 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire Vb during 1942 55 No 124 Baroda Squadron RAF with the Spitfire VI during 1942 56 No 129 Mysore Squadron RAF with the Spitfire Vb during 1943 31 No 130 Punjab Squadron RAF with the Spitfire XIV during 1944 31 No 131 County of Kent Squadron RAF with the Spitfire Vb during 1942 31 No 141 Squadron RAF with the Beaufighter If during 1942 44 161 Squadron detachment during 1942 with the Lysander 57 No 164 Argentine British Squadron RAF detachment 1942 43 57 No 165 Ceylon Squadron RAF with the Spitfire Vb during 1942 amp 43 57 No 168 Squadron RAF detachment during 1942 57 No 170 Squadron RAF detachment during 1943 58 No 198 Squadron RAF with the Typhoon Ib during 1944 25 No 219 Mysore Squadron RAF with the Blenheim If amp Beaufighter If during 1940 41 amp 42 59 No 222 Natal Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXb during 1944 37 No 229 Squadron RAF with the Spitfire LFIXb during 1944 60 No 266 Rhodesia Squadron RAF with the Typhoon Ib during 1944 61 No 268 Squadron RAF detachment during 1943 61 No 302 Polish Fighter Squadron during 1943 35 No 486 NZ Squadron RAF with the Typhoon Ib during 1942 43 amp 44 39 No 534 Squadron RAF with the Boston during 1942 amp 43 62 No 609 West Riding Squadron RAuxAF with the Typhoon Ib during 1944 49 616 Squadron during 1941 50 823 Naval Air Squadron Fleet Air Arm 1942 43 63 Helping RAF Coastal Command ASW patrols 841 Naval Air Squadron detachment No 4 Fleet Air Arm 1943 64 Helping RAF Coastal Command ASW patrols Units No 2 Air Delivery Letter Service June 1944 65 Detachment of No 11 Group Anti Aircraft Co operation Flight 1941 66 No 410 Repair amp Salvage Unit 1944 67 No 419 Special Duties Flight RAF 1940 68 No 1455 Fighter Flight RAF 1941 42 69 No 3205 Servicing Commando 1944 70 No 3207 Servicing Commando 1943 70 No 3210 Servicing Commando 1944 70 No 3225 Servicing Commando 1943 70 Fighter Interception Unit RAF 1940 71 RAF Regiment The following RAF Regiment units were also here at some point 72 No 1304 Mobile Wing RAF Regiment No 1305 Mobile Wing RAF Regiment No 1315 Mobile Wing RAF Regiment No 2702 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2704 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2720 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2723 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2748 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2760 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2786 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2789 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2795 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2813 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2832 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2894 Squadron RAF Regiment No 4016 Anti Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment No 4067 Anti Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment No 4260 Anti Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment Postwar Edit After the war the Central Fighter Establishment arrived from RAF Wittering on 27 February 1945 with the station being renamed to CFE Tangmere 73 The RAF High Speed Flight was reformed here on 14 June 1946 and in September 1946 a world air speed record of 616 mph 991 km h was set by Group Captain Edward Teddy Mortlock Donaldson in a Gloster Meteor F 4 after his death in 1992 he was buried in St Andrews Church In September 1953 Squadron Leader Neville Duke became holder of the world air speed record when he flew a modified Hawker Hunter prototype at 727 63 mph 1 170 km h the 50th anniversary of this event was commemorated in 2003 A number of units associated with the CFE also arrived including Day Fighter Leaders School 1945 74 part of CFE Enemy Aircraft Flight RAF 1945 75 part of CFE Fighter Interception Development Squadron RAF 1945 71 part of CFE Night Fighter Development Wing RAF 1945 76 part of CFE Night Fighter Training Squadron RAF 1945 77 part of CFE 787 Naval Air Squadron Fleet Air Arm 1945 78 connection to CFEThe unit moved to RAF West Raynham on 1 October 1945 with No 85 Squadron RAF arriving on 11 October 1945 with the de Havilland Mosquito XXX upgrading to the Mosquito NF 36 from January 1946 the unit deployed to RAF Lubeck and RAF Acklington for varying periods of time until finally leaving on 16 April 1947 going to RAF West Malling 43 No 1 Squadron RAF returned on 30 April 1946 from their previous base of RAF Hutton Cranswick with the Supermarine Spitfire F 21 the unit deployed to Acklington and Lubeck at various times From October 1946 the Gloster Meteor F 3 was introduced being replaced by the Harvard T 2b and Oxford T 2 from August 1947 in preparation for conversion to the Meteor F 4 which arrived during June 1948 This was replaced by the F 8 during August 1950 and this in turn was replaced by the Hawker Hunter F 5 in September 1958 The squadron was disbanded on 1 July 1958 18 No 222 Natal Squadron RAF arrived on 2 October 1946 from RAF Weston Zoyland already operating the Meteor F 3 converting to the newer F 4 during the first few months of 1948 before moving to RAF Lubeck on 1 May 1948 37 On 1 June 1950 a Gloster Meteor flying eastwards over Portsmouth reported a UFO at 20 000 ft It is also seen by the radar at RAF Wartling and was described as Britain s first flying saucer and led to the Flying Saucer Working Party later that year 79 No 266 Rhodesia Squadron RAF arrived on 16 April 1947 from RAF Wattisham with the Meteor F 3 replacing No 85 Squadron RAF No 266 Squadron upgraded to the Meteor F 4 from February 1948 with the squadron deploying to Lubeck and Acklington during its stay 266 was disbanded on 11 February 1949 and renumbered as No 43 Squadron RAF 61 the Meteor F 8 was introduced from September 1950 and the squadron moved to RAF Leuchars on 11 November 1950 19 On 25 November 1950 No 29 Squadron RAF arrived from RAF West Malling with the Mosquito NF 30 converting to the Meteor NF 11 from July 1951 The squadron moved to RAF Acklington on 14 January 1957 where it eventually changed to the Gloster Javelin FAW 6 80 On 1 August 1954 No 34 Squadron RAF was reformed here with the Meteor F 8 upgrading to the Hunter F 5 from October 1955 before being disbanded on 15 January 1958 81 On 30 September 1957 No 25 Squadron RAF arrived from RAF West Malling with the Meteor NF 12 amp NF 14 until 1 July 1958 when the squadron was disbanded 52 No 164 Argentine British Squadron RAF arrived from RAF Turnhouse on 25 March 1946 with the Spitfire IX staying until 26 April 1946 when the squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop 57 No 587 Squadron RAF arrvied from RAF Weston Zoyland on 1 June 1946 with the Spitfire XVI for two weeks before being disbanded 82 No 69 Squadron RAF arrived on 19 April 1947 from RAF Wahn during a break from West Germany It used the Mosquito B 16 until 16 May 1947 when it moved back to Wahn 83 No 74 Trinidad Squadron RAF arrived on 1 July 1950 for a total of 8 days from RAF Horsham St Faith using Meteor F 4 s 34 In the late 1950s the flying was reduced to ground radar calibration under RAF Signals Command with the arrival of No 115 Squadron RAF on 25 August 1958 from RAF Watton with the Varsity T 1 The Valetta C 1 was introduced from August 1963 but the squadron moved back to Watton on 1 October 1963 55 No 245 Squadron RAF arrived on 25 August 1958 along from Watton but with the Canberra B 2 however the squadron was disbanded on 19 April 1963 to become No 98 Squadron 84 No 98 Squadron RAF used the Canberra B 2 until 1 October 1963 when the Squadron moved to RAF Watton 54 Between January and March 1958 a detachment of No 208 Squadron RAF operated here training crews on the new Hunter F 6 12 The Joint Services Language School moved here and in 1960 the station was granted the freedom of the City of Chichester and the event was marked by a march through the town and service in the Cathedral 85 No 38 Group Tactical Communications Wing RAF and 244 Signal Squadron Air Support were the last units to leave the base relocating to RAF Benson Some of the last flying units to be based at the station included B Flt No 22 Squadron RAF June 1961 May 1964 86 22 Squadron detachment sometime between 1956 74 51 720 Naval Air Squadron Fleet Air Arm 1947 87 771 Naval Air Squadron detachment Fleet Air Arm 1948 49 88 778 Naval Air Squadron Fleet Air Arm 1947 48 89 801 Naval Air Squadron Fleet Air Arm 1947 90 Units No 38 Group Support Unit December 1964 December 1970 91 No 49 Maintenance Unit RAF detachment November 1946 92 No 161 Gliding School RAF 1945 amp 47 53 93 No 623 Gliding School RAF 1963 74 93 No 8 Fighter Command Servicing Unit September to October 1945 71 No 9 Fighter Command Servicing Unit February 1945 to April 1946 71 Fighter Command Instrument Training Flight RAF 1948 50 94 Towed Target Flight Tangmere RAF 1950 51 95 In 1963 64 the last flying units left However the station continued to be used for several years and in 1968 Prince Charles took his first flying lesson at Tangmere 96 The station finally closed on 16 October 1970 97 a single Spitfire flew over the airfield as the RAF ensign was lowered for the last time 98 Present use EditFollowing the closure of the RAF station some of the land around the runways was returned to farming Tangmere Airfield Nurseries have built large glasshouses for the cultivation of peppers and aubergines nbsp RAF Tangmere Control Tower in 2009Until 1983 37 acres 150 000 m2 of barracks admin blocks and repair workshops remained derelict until bought by Seawards Properties Ltd Housing soon spread around the airfield and most RAF buildings were demolished Officers quarters have been retained as homes and two original RAF buildings remain the grade II listed Control Tower and one of the H Block accommodation buildings The majority of the airfield is now farmed and since 1979 the runways have slowly been removed thus returning the whole airfield back to large scale farming once again In 2016 the final piece of apron and the three T 2 hangars were removed with houses built in their place on a street called Hangar Drive The derelict control tower forms part of the farm but is now bricked up and partly overgrown It became a grade II listed building as of 2011 and was placed on the heritage at risk register in 2015 99 A campaign is currently underway to restore the control tower which has received local and national press coverage This is being led by Tangmere Tower Community Interest Company who restaged The Eisenhower Dinner at the Chichester Harbour Hotel in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of General Eisenhower s original meal in 1944 100 The CIC are working with the local Aviation Museum the University of Chichester and Sussex Police and with their architect have submitted a planning application for phase one of the project Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Edit Main article Tangmere Military Aviation Museum nbsp Tangmere Air Museum February 1995Tangmere Military Aviation Museum was founded by a group of enthusiastic veterans It has a replica Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane as well as many original aircraft including Neville Duke s speed record Hawker Hunter On display is the Star Meteor flown by Teddy Donaldson when he set the World Air Speed Record in September 1946 breaking the 1 000 km h barrier 101 34067 locomotive EditA number of Oliver Bulleid s light pacific locomotives were named after Battle of Britain squadrons stations or commanders One such locomotive that is preserved and still in main line operation is named Tangmere no 34067 citation needed See also EditList of Battle of Britain airfields List of Battle of Britain squadronsReferences EditCitations Edit Birtles 2012 p 49 a b c Falconer 2012 p 189 Birtles 2012 p 51 Smith Andrew W M 4 March 2018 Eclipse in the dark years pick up flights routes of resistance and the Free French European Review of History Revue europeenne d histoire 25 2 392 414 doi 10 1080 13507486 2017 1411889 ISSN 1350 7486 S2CID 148856854 Delve Ken 24 April 2018 The RAF at 100 Exploring Sussex s airfields Retrieved 20 May 2019 Jefford 1988 p 28 Jefford 1988 p 35 a b c Jefford 1988 p 38 a b c Jefford 1988 p 50 a b c d e Jefford 1988 p 52 Jefford 1988 p 62 a b Jefford 1988 p 69 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 277 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 275 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 278 a b Byron Reginald 2013 Tangmere Famous Royal Air Force Fighter Station An Authorised History Grub Street Publishing ISBN 978 1909166196 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 92 a b c d Jefford 1988 p 23 a b c d e Jefford 1988 p 39 a b Saunders Andy 1998 RAF Tangmere revisited Sutton ISBN 075091906X Sarkar Dilip Spitfire Ace of Aces The True Wartime Story of Johnnie Johnson Amberley Publishing 2011 ISBN 978 1 4456 0475 6 page43 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 288 a b c Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 46 Jefford 1988 p 66 a b Jefford 1988 p 67 Jefford 1988 p 79 a b c d e Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 295 a b Jefford 1988 p 89 a b c d Jefford 1988 p 90 a b Jefford 1988 p 45 a b c d e Jefford 1988 p 59 a b c d Jefford 1988 p 87 Jefford 1988 p 36 a b c Jefford 1988 p 48 a b Jefford 1988 p 85 a b Jefford 1988 p 86 a b c Jefford 1988 p 73 a b Jefford 1988 p 88 a b Jefford 1988 p 94 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 296 Jefford 1988 p 30 Jefford 1988 p 47 a b Jefford 1988 p 51 a b Jefford 1988 p 61 a b Jefford 1988 p 71 Jefford 1988 p 76 Jefford 1988 p 95 Jefford 1988 p 98 a b c Jefford 1988 p 99 a b Jefford 1988 p 100 a b Jefford 1988 p 32 a b Jefford 1988 p 33 Jefford 1988 p 43 a b Jefford 1988 p 53 a b Jefford 1988 p 57 Jefford 1988 p 58 a b c d e Jefford 1988 p 64 Jefford 1988 p 65 Jefford 1988 p 72 Jefford 1988 p 74 a b c Jefford 1988 p 81 Jefford 1988 p 96 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 209 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 254 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 44 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 155 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 223 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 122 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 123 a b c d Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 233 a b c d Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 113 Tangmere Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Retrieved 6 October 2022 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 84 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 100 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 108 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 193 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 194 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 111 Good Timothy 12 July 2012 A Need to Know UFOs the Military and Intelligence Pan Macmillan ISBN 978 0 330 54349 1 Jefford 1988 p 34 Jefford 1988 p 37 Jefford 1988 p 97 Jefford 1988 p 46 Jefford 1988 p 77 National Archives RAF Tangmere Freedom of City of Chichester Retrieved 29 June 2021 No 22 Squadron RAF Web Retrieved 6 April 2023 subscription required Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 41 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 91 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 99 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 132 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 161 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 177 a b Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 147 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 112 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 273 Campaign to restore Tangmere s iconic airfield control tower 2 November 2017 Retrieved 20 May 2019 Unit History RAF Tangmere Forces War Records Retrieved 10 June 2019 Tangmere Pilots Historic England Watch Office Control Tower former RAF Tangmere 1403165 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 May 2019 Khoo Anna 27 March 2019 Recreation of Eisenhower s visit as Tangmere Tower campaign progresses Chichester Observer Retrieved 20 May 2019 Thomas Nick RAF Top Gun Teddy Donaldson CB DSO AFC and Bar Battle of Britain Ace and World Air Speed Record Holder Pen amp Sword 2008 ISBN 1 84415 685 0 Bibliography Edit Birtles P 2012 UK Airfields of the Cold War Midland Publishing ISBN 978 1 85780 346 4 Falconer J 2012 RAF Airfields of World War 2 UK Ian Allan Publishing ISBN 978 1 85780 349 5 Jefford C G 1988 RAF Squadrons A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Airlife ISBN 1 85310 053 6 Sturtivant R Ballance T 1994 The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 223 8 Sturtivant R Hamlin J 2007 Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912 UK Air Britain Historians ISBN 978 0851 3036 59 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Tangmere Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF Tangmere amp oldid 1160457370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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