Having a day off work i finally got around to visiting this site after a kind recommendation. The weather turned out fine, a day off work and eventually 7 hours of walking and i still couldn't get to a dutch barn, 7 pillboxes and a Pickett Hamilton Fort S0013770. I actually ran out of camera battery such was the vast array of remains dotted on both sides of the A34. I failed to find on pillbox which is apparently located North of South Wonston S0012721 but i need to get out there again to cover three pillboxes on the south eastern section and a line of three and one further north so i shall give that another attempt.
A brief history of the site :
Photographically
1917
1920's
1946
Present day
Accommodation in 1937
Spitfires at Worthy Down (undated)
Worthy Down was built on the old Winchester Racecourse,which was acquired for the purpose in August 1917.The airfield opened August 1918 for use by the RAF,who retained control until 24/5/39.On this date control passed to the Admiralty,and the station became HMS Kestrel.During WW2 ,in addition to the FAA use,Supermarine used the airfield from 12/40 until 3/44 for Spitfire development flying.Post war flying was reduced and on 9/1/50 the station closed after 2 years on Care and Maintenance.In June 1952 the airfield was reopened as HMS Aerial II with the Air Electrical School in occupation.No flying units were based there although visits by communications aircraft were common.Eventually in November 1960 the Air Electrical School left,and in December 1960 the airfield was closed.After closure the site passed to the Royal Army Pay Corps,who continue to occupy it today.A helipad is in use in a corner of the old airfield,but there is no other aviation activity although many of the original buildings remain.
http://www.airshowspresent.com/worthy-down-airfield.html
RAF Units:
7 Sq, Virginia VII/Heyford II/III/arr 7/4/27,dep 3/9/36
35 Sq,Gordon/Wellesley/Battle,arr 26/8/36,dep 20/4/38.
58 Sq,Vimy/Virginia V/III/VI/VII/IX/X,Reformed 1/4/24,dep 13/1/36
102 Sq ,Heyford II/III,reformed from B Flt/7Sq 1/10/35.dep 3/9/36.
215 Sq,Virginia X,reformed from C Flt/58 Sq 1/10/35,dep 14/3/36
Southampton UAS,Tiger Moth,extant 1945/1946
FAA (Fleet Air Arm) units
700 Sq reformed 6/45,dep dep 1945.
734 Sq Whitley GRVII,formed 2/44,dep 1945
739(BADU)Sq,Oxford,arr 9/43,dep 9/44.
755 Sq,Shark/Osprey/Lysander/Curtiss Seamew,Formed 1939,
756 Sq,Shark/Osprey,Formed 1939,disbanded 1943.
757 Sq,Shark/Osprey,Formed 1939,disbanded 1943
763 Sq,Swordfish ,arr 12/39,became No.1 TSR Pool,dep 6/40
763(FAA Pool)Sq,arr 2/41,disbanded 7/41
800 Sq,Nimrod/Osprey/Gladiator,arr 1938,dep 1939,
803 Sq,Skua,Formed 21/11/38,
806 Sq,Fulmar,arr 5/40,dep 5/40
807 Sq,Fulmar,formed 15/9/40.
808 Sq,Fulmar,formed 1/7/40,dep 5/9/40
808 Sq,Fulmar,formed 6/40.
811 Sq,arr 10/39
815 Sq,Swordfish,Formed 15/10/39 from remnants of 811 and 822 Sqs,dep 5/40
822 Sq,arr 10/39
848 Sq Whirlwind HAS7,reformed 11/59,dep 3/60.
Air Electrical School,arr 6/52,dep 1/11/60.
Entering the site via Connaught Road i found a convenient spot and started making my way around the site.
Thankfully the base is at the far end of this housing estate and didn't impact on my explore.
Married Quarters
Perimeter track (south western corner)
The Original water tower.
PICKETT HAMILTON FORT: S0013769
Located in the field and thankfully there was a nice track leading up to this. The farmer seemed to realise the great interest in the site and left tracks for access around the site.
Walking around the edge of the field with sufficient width to walk without damaging the crop, i headed up to the area where a copse of trees hid the first of the two Quetta Huts on either side of the A34. The Quetta huts were used as Guard posts. Note the remains of hessian screening.
North West Perimeter track.
Northern section.
A view of the North eastern section of track.
Access track which cuts through to the housing estate.
The view of the Dutch Barn and behind the copse of trees is what could possibly be the flight hut.
The Flight hut? This building is now a private residence so it was a quick peek before moving on.
The Dutch Barn Hangar
Used to store naval aircraft with folding wings due to the barn being narrow.
Site of the Torpedo Store which was knocked down due to being unsafe.
The Fusing Store
Originally built in 1929, the outer protective wall was built for added protection (possibly prior to the outbreak of WW2). Originally the fusing store has two points of entry and exit but one was bricked and skimmed when the outer wall was built.
High Explosive bomb storage area. The fused and spare bomb stoage area has now been completely removed. There is evidence still laying around.
Earth Banking still exists.
Perimeter track leading into the Bomb storage areas.
Could this be the remains of a Picket Hamilton fort located just away from the bomb storage area?
The dead end and having to double back on myself.
Heading out over South Wonston i attempted to find S0012721 but failed to locate it. I continued across the field following the rear gardens backing onto the fields and eventually came across the first of many pillboxes which surround the main site and the dispersal site which was located on the other side of the A34. This dispersal site was accessed by a taxiway.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0012723
My first view of a turnbull mount.
Due to the amount of remains that are located in this area i shall continue covering the dispersal site and the southern section of the airfield in another post. The site whole site gave me some interesting first hand experience of the picket forts and Quetta huts, mounts, that i had not come across before so i thoroughly enjoyed this visit.
Thanks for reading.
A brief history of the site :
Photographically
1917
1920's
1946
Present day
Accommodation in 1937
Spitfires at Worthy Down (undated)
Worthy Down was built on the old Winchester Racecourse,which was acquired for the purpose in August 1917.The airfield opened August 1918 for use by the RAF,who retained control until 24/5/39.On this date control passed to the Admiralty,and the station became HMS Kestrel.During WW2 ,in addition to the FAA use,Supermarine used the airfield from 12/40 until 3/44 for Spitfire development flying.Post war flying was reduced and on 9/1/50 the station closed after 2 years on Care and Maintenance.In June 1952 the airfield was reopened as HMS Aerial II with the Air Electrical School in occupation.No flying units were based there although visits by communications aircraft were common.Eventually in November 1960 the Air Electrical School left,and in December 1960 the airfield was closed.After closure the site passed to the Royal Army Pay Corps,who continue to occupy it today.A helipad is in use in a corner of the old airfield,but there is no other aviation activity although many of the original buildings remain.
http://www.airshowspresent.com/worthy-down-airfield.html
RAF Units:
7 Sq, Virginia VII/Heyford II/III/arr 7/4/27,dep 3/9/36
35 Sq,Gordon/Wellesley/Battle,arr 26/8/36,dep 20/4/38.
58 Sq,Vimy/Virginia V/III/VI/VII/IX/X,Reformed 1/4/24,dep 13/1/36
102 Sq ,Heyford II/III,reformed from B Flt/7Sq 1/10/35.dep 3/9/36.
215 Sq,Virginia X,reformed from C Flt/58 Sq 1/10/35,dep 14/3/36
Southampton UAS,Tiger Moth,extant 1945/1946
FAA (Fleet Air Arm) units
700 Sq reformed 6/45,dep dep 1945.
734 Sq Whitley GRVII,formed 2/44,dep 1945
739(BADU)Sq,Oxford,arr 9/43,dep 9/44.
755 Sq,Shark/Osprey/Lysander/Curtiss Seamew,Formed 1939,
756 Sq,Shark/Osprey,Formed 1939,disbanded 1943.
757 Sq,Shark/Osprey,Formed 1939,disbanded 1943
763 Sq,Swordfish ,arr 12/39,became No.1 TSR Pool,dep 6/40
763(FAA Pool)Sq,arr 2/41,disbanded 7/41
800 Sq,Nimrod/Osprey/Gladiator,arr 1938,dep 1939,
803 Sq,Skua,Formed 21/11/38,
806 Sq,Fulmar,arr 5/40,dep 5/40
807 Sq,Fulmar,formed 15/9/40.
808 Sq,Fulmar,formed 1/7/40,dep 5/9/40
808 Sq,Fulmar,formed 6/40.
811 Sq,arr 10/39
815 Sq,Swordfish,Formed 15/10/39 from remnants of 811 and 822 Sqs,dep 5/40
822 Sq,arr 10/39
848 Sq Whirlwind HAS7,reformed 11/59,dep 3/60.
Air Electrical School,arr 6/52,dep 1/11/60.
Entering the site via Connaught Road i found a convenient spot and started making my way around the site.
Thankfully the base is at the far end of this housing estate and didn't impact on my explore.
Married Quarters
Perimeter track (south western corner)
The Original water tower.
PICKETT HAMILTON FORT: S0013769
Located in the field and thankfully there was a nice track leading up to this. The farmer seemed to realise the great interest in the site and left tracks for access around the site.
Walking around the edge of the field with sufficient width to walk without damaging the crop, i headed up to the area where a copse of trees hid the first of the two Quetta Huts on either side of the A34. The Quetta huts were used as Guard posts. Note the remains of hessian screening.
North West Perimeter track.
Northern section.
A view of the North eastern section of track.
Access track which cuts through to the housing estate.
The view of the Dutch Barn and behind the copse of trees is what could possibly be the flight hut.
The Flight hut? This building is now a private residence so it was a quick peek before moving on.
The Dutch Barn Hangar
Used to store naval aircraft with folding wings due to the barn being narrow.
Site of the Torpedo Store which was knocked down due to being unsafe.
The Fusing Store
Originally built in 1929, the outer protective wall was built for added protection (possibly prior to the outbreak of WW2). Originally the fusing store has two points of entry and exit but one was bricked and skimmed when the outer wall was built.
High Explosive bomb storage area. The fused and spare bomb stoage area has now been completely removed. There is evidence still laying around.
Earth Banking still exists.
Perimeter track leading into the Bomb storage areas.
Could this be the remains of a Picket Hamilton fort located just away from the bomb storage area?
The dead end and having to double back on myself.
Heading out over South Wonston i attempted to find S0012721 but failed to locate it. I continued across the field following the rear gardens backing onto the fields and eventually came across the first of many pillboxes which surround the main site and the dispersal site which was located on the other side of the A34. This dispersal site was accessed by a taxiway.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0012723
My first view of a turnbull mount.
Due to the amount of remains that are located in this area i shall continue covering the dispersal site and the southern section of the airfield in another post. The site whole site gave me some interesting first hand experience of the picket forts and Quetta huts, mounts, that i had not come across before so i thoroughly enjoyed this visit.
Thanks for reading.
Last edited:
. I had to wade through a flooded dip in the perimeter track and rounded the corner to see that main gate. I had no option but to wade back through it all again.
