RAF Chilbolton

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hydealfred

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Location
Hampshire
RAF Chilbolton is located on a plateau 91 metres above the River Test and Chilbolton village in Hampshire.

The airfield was intended to act as a dispersal site for the bomber base being built at Middle Wallop. By the time the work was finished Middle Wallop was a Fighter Command Sector Station for No 10 Group. In order to relieve the pressure on Middle Wallop during the Battle Of Britain, Hurricanes of No 238 Squadron were dispersed to Chilbolton. Various units and squadrons continued flying from Chilbolton until 1943 when the airfield was rebuilt prior to the USAAF moving in. During the rebuild three concrete runways were laid, along with forty eight loop type hard standings and two T2 hangars were constructed. The USAAF flew P47 Thunderbolts (395th 396th and 397th FS) from the airfield and was involved in support of D-Day operations. Following the departure of the P47’s to France, C-47’s arrived at the airfield bringing back wounded and undertaking supply flights. C-47 and Hadrian gliders continued to fly from Chilbolton in support of the on-going invasion of Europe. This included participation in Operation Market Garden - which led to a bridge too far.

Chilbolton returned to the RAF in March 1945 with the final squadron No 247 being the first to fly the De Havilland Vampire in front line service. In November 1946 the airfield was abandoned by the RAF.

In February 1947 Vickers Armstrong Ltd moved in and test work on the Attacker and Swift was undertaken. In 1953 Folland Aircraft Ltd also moved in to test the Gnat trainer and Midge fighter. Vickers left in 1957 with Folland following in 1961.

In 1963 work commenced on building an observatory for the Radio Research Station, this opened in 1967 and is a very prominent landmark in the area being visible for miles. A small grass strip is located near the communal site to the east where flying continues to this day.

Aerial View
Chilbolton.jpg

Stanton Air Raid Shelter Entrance
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Stanton Shelter Escape Hatch
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Internal View Stanton Shelter
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81mm Mortar Round Ammunition Box
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Original AMSL Marker 292'
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Cockpit Remains Piper 112 Tomahawk G-REPM
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Internal Cockpit View G-REPM
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General Store
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Wartime Storage Hangars
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Wartime Buildings
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Piper 112 Tomahawk G-PRIM With Station Gymnasium Behind
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Wartime T2 Hangar
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T2 Hangar Roof Structure Detail
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Original Hangar Lighting
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Original Lighting Switches
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Remains Of Runway 12
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Remains Of Runway 02
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Remains Of Runway 25
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Redundant Electrical Box Looking Towards The Observatory
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Airfield Defence Pill Box
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Unidentified Wartime Building
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Even Modern Technology Becomes Redundant Very Quickly
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High Level Water Tower - Still In Use By Southern Water
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T2 Hangar Door Runner
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Airfield Memorial
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Thanks for looking
 
Last edited:
Wonderful photos.
It is astounding to see no graffiti whatsoever,if only all sites could be of such perfection.
My last thread was more a documentation of vandalism,as oppose to the decay of the site.
It is great to see a place hitherto untouched by the hand of vandals.
Many thanks for such great photos.
 
Nice pictures and report, it's good to see so many well-preserved buildings. :)

I'm afraid the pictures are still too big though, 1024x768 is the limit really. Some members have quite slow connections and/or low monthly bandwidth allowances.
 
Fantastic pictures and a great report. Great to see so much unspolit dereliction and original details on a site these days.
I particularly like the air-raid shelter for its condition, the hangars and the water tower. Did you manage to climb the water tower on your visit?
 
Fantastic pictures and a great report. Great to see so much unspolit dereliction and original details on a site these days.
I particularly like the air-raid shelter for its condition, the hangars and the water tower. Did you manage to climb the water tower on your visit?

No it is fenced in and I'm not good with heights - which is odd being that I've climbed many Scottish mountains!
 
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I really like your report, what a great site. I got to the photo of the ammo box and thought 'great some relics', and then you surpassed it with bits of aeroplane! Great report, and a top site.
 
Great report, that tomahawk is looking mighty neglected. Could you confirm that the pillbox is the one listed as S0012708 in the DoB database.

Cheers

Steve
 
Great report, that tomahawk is looking mighty neglected. Could you confirm that the pillbox is the one listed as S0012708 in the DoB database.

Cheers

Steve

I have checked the OS map ref SU 389 374 and it is the same pillbox as on the DoB Database.
 

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