RAF Bognor

RAF Bognor (also known as Bognor Advanced Landing Ground (A.L.G.)) is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Bognor, West Sussex, England.[3]

RAF Bognor
Bognor, West Sussex in England
RAF Bognor is located in West Sussex
RAF Bognor
RAF Bognor
Shown within West Sussex
Coordinates50°47′15″N 000°42′30″W
TypeAdvanced Landing Ground
CodeOG[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Second Tactical Air Force
* No. 83 Group RAF
* No. 84 Group RAF
Site history
Built1943 (1943)
Built byRoyal Canadian Engineers
In useJune 1943-January 1945 (1945)[2]
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation7 metres (23 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/23 1,280 metres (4,199 ft) Sommerfeld tracking
07/25 1,463 metres (4,800 ft) Sommerfeld tracking

History

Survey work on the site was undertaken in "mid-1942", with construction beginning in early 1943, completed by the Royal Canadian Engineers.[4] Bognor was one of 82 planned Operation Hadrian sites planned with only 26 being built. The original budget for the site was £20,500.[5] The airfield became operational on 1 June 1943 with two intersecting Sommerfield track runways. The site was under the control of RAF Tangmere located four miles further north.

The site was originally a training site for aircrews to practise operating with few facilities, however, in Autumn 1943, extra over blister hangars were installed. These provided shelter for most aircraft that were stationed at Bognor, little accommodation was provided for the aircrews who lived in tented camps. The site was used as a forward staging base for a number of fighter and ground attack units for the D-Day assault, however, these soon moved to back to Tangmere and were replaced by 83 Group and 1310 Flight. 1310 flew Ansons from Bognor in an air ambulance and medical supply capacity to the advancing forces on the French coastline.[6][3]

83 Group left the site in late September 1944 and need for the airfield ceased to exist. Runway removal works were carried out during the Autumn of 1944 and by early 1945, the site had been returned to its original owners. Parts of the site have now been built over by the expanding Bognor Regis or returned to farmland with few noticeable remnants of the airfield remaining.

Units
SquadronDatesAircraft
No. 19 Squadron RAF6 Jun 1943 – 2 Jul 1943Supermarine Spitfire[7]
No. 66 Squadron RAF31 Mar 1944 – 22 Jun 1944Supermarine Spitfire[7]
No. 122 Squadron RAF1 Jun 1943 – 1 Jul 1943Supermarine Spitfire[7]
No. 331 Squadron RAF31 Mar 1944 – 22 Jun 1944Supermarine Spitfire[7]
No. 332 Squadron RAF31 Mar 1944 – 22 Jun 1944Supermarine Spitfire[7]
No. 602 Squadron RAF1 Jun 1943 – 1 Jul 1943Supermarine Spitfire[7]
No. 1310 Flight RAF25 Jun 1944 – 21 Jul 1944Avro Anson
No. 83 (Composite) Group Support Unit25 Jun 1944 – 25 Sep 1944Supermarine Spitfire,
Mustang IV,
Typhoon

Additional units:

References

Citations
  1. Falconer 2012, p. 54.
  2. "Bognor (Landplane)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  3. Delve, Ken (7 August 2005). The Military Airfields of Britain: Southern England - Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex (in English and English). pp. 44–45. ISBN 1-86126-729-0. OL 8629602M. Wikidata Q105271144.
  4. chichesterpost.co.uk (31 May 2019). "Changing Times - Farmland became bustling wartime airfield". Bognor Regis Post. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  5. "Advanced Landing Ground, Chalcraft Lane - Sylvia Endacott". Sussex Views Magazine. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  6. Cipirska, Isabella (20 May 2019). "Watch a Chinook helicopter land in Bognor for 75th anniversary event". Bognor Regis Observer. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  7. Jefford 1988, p. 00.

Bibliography
  • 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.
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