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RAF South Cerney: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°41′27″N 001°55′28″W / 51.69083°N 1.92444°W / 51.69083; -1.92444
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{{short description|Former RAF station in South Cerney near Cirencester in Gloucestershire, England, in use 1930-1971}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
⚫
| name = RAF South Cerney
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
| nativename = [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]]
{{Infobox military installation
| nativename-a =
⚫
| name = RAF South Cerney
| nativename-r =
| image = Control Tower on the Airfield (geograph 2541212).jpg
| ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
| image-width =
| ensign_size = 90px
| native_name =
⚫
| caption = Control Tower on the Airfield
| type =
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
⚫
| location = [[South Cerney]], [[Gloucestershire]]
⚫
| owner = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| country = England
⚫
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| image = [[File:Control Tower on the Airfield (geograph 2541212).jpg|250px]]
| city-served =
⚫
| caption = Control Tower on the Airfield
⚫
| location = [[South Cerney]], [[Gloucestershire]]
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
| built = 1937
| alt2 =
⚫
| used = 1937 - 1972
| caption2 =
⚫
| elevation-f = {{Convert|111|m|disp=output number only|0}}
| type = [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force Station]]
| elevation-m =111
| coordinates = {{coord|51|41|27|N|001|55|28|W|type:airport_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| latd = 51 | latm = 41 | lats = 27 | latNS = N
| gridref =
| longd= 001 | longm= 55 | longs= 28 | longEW= W
⚫
| pushpin_map = Gloucestershire#UK
| coordinates_type = airport
⚫
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Gloucestershire
| coordinates_region = GB
⚫
| pushpin_label = RAF South Cerney
⚫
| pushpin_map = Gloucestershire
| pushpin_label_position =
⚫
| pushpin_label = RAF South Cerney
⚫
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
⚫
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gloucestershire
⚫
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| website =
| controlledby = [[RAF Flying Training Command]]
⚫
| r1-number = 01/19
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| r1-length-f = 2,925
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
⚫
| r1-length-m = {{Convert|2925|ft|disp=output number only|0}}
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
⚫
| r1-surface = Grass
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
⚫
| r2-number = 09/27
| code = <!--facility/installation code -->
| r2-length-f = 3,225
| built = {{Start date|1936}}
⚫
| r2-length-m = {{Convert|3225|ft|disp=output number only|0}}
⚫
| used = 1937 - {{End date|1972}}
⚫
| r2-surface = Grass
| r3-number =
| builder =
| r3-length-f =
| fate =
| r3-length-m =
| condition =
| battles = [[European theatre of World War II]]
⚫
| r3-surface =
| r4-number =
| events =
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| r4-length-f =
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| r4-length-m =
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| r4-surface =
| stat-year =
| designations =
| stat1-header =
| website =
| footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox -->
| stat1-data =
<!-- begin airfield information -->
| stat2-header =
| stat2-data =
| IATA =
| footnotes =
| ICAO = EGCY
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO =
⚫
| elevation = {{Convert|111|m|0}}
⚫
| r1-number = 01/19
⚫
| r1-length = {{Convert|892|m|0}}
⚫
| r1-surface = Grass
⚫
| r2-number = 09/27
⚫
| r2-length = {{Convert|983|m|0}}
⚫
| r2-surface = Grass
| h1-number =
| h1-length = <!--{{Convert| |m|0}}-->
⚫
| h1-surface =
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!-- end airfield information -->
}}
}}
'''RAF South Cerney''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[Royal Air Force station|station]] located in [[South Cerney]] near [[Cirencester]] in [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]]. It was built during the 1930s to conduct flying training. The airfield was turned over to the [[British Army]] in 1971 and is now known as the [[Duke of Gloucester Barracks]].
'''Royal Air Force South Cerney''' or more simply '''RAF South Cerney''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Station]] located in [[South Cerney]] near [[Cirencester]] in [[Gloucestershire]], England. It was built during the 1930s to conduct flying training. The airfield was turned over to the [[British Army]] in 1971 and is now known as the [[Duke of Gloucester Barracks]].


==History==
==History==
Construction of the airfield began in 1936 and it was still underway when it opened on 16 August 1937. [[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF|No. 3 Flying Training School]] was the initial tenant and was equipped with a variety of [[biplane]] aircraft which were replaced by [[Airspeed Oxford]]s in mid-1938. When [[Second World War]] began in August 1939, the school was redesignated as a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) and was equipped with 44 Oxfords and 31 [[Hawker Hart]]s. Shortly afterwards the headquarters of [[No. 23 Group RAF]], responsible for advanced flying training, was transferred to South Cerney with its communications flight. By the late summer of 1940, the Oxfords had replaced all of the Harts and the school was dedicated to multi-engine training.<ref>Berryman, pp. 276–77</ref>
Construction of the airfield began in 1936 and it was still underway when it opened on 16 August 1937. [[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF|No. 3 Flying Training School]] was the initial tenant and was equipped with a variety of [[biplane]] aircraft which were replaced by [[Airspeed Oxford]]s in mid-1938. When the [[World War II|Second World War]] began in August 1939, the school was redesignated as a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) and was equipped with 44 Oxfords and 31 [[Hawker Hart]]s. Shortly afterwards the headquarters of [[No. 23 Group RAF]], responsible for advanced flying training, was transferred to South Cerney with its communications flight. By the late summer of 1940, the Oxfords had replaced all of the Harts and the school was dedicated to multi-engine training.<ref>Berryman, pp. 276–77</ref>


No. 15 Service Flying Training School was transferred to the base in early June 1940 with its Oxfords and [[North American T-6 Texan|North American Harvard]] trainers, but it moved to [[RAF Kidlington]] at the end of August. Soon afterwards, the syllabus of 3 SFTS changed to intermediate flying training and it continued in this role until 14 March 1942 when it was converted into [[No. 3 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit]] to orient foreign-trained pilot to British conditions and standards.<ref>Berryman, p. 278</ref>
[[No. 15 Service Flying Training School RAF]] was transferred to the base in early June 1940 with its Oxfords and [[North American T-6 Texan|North American Harvard]] trainers, but it moved to [[RAF Kidlington]] at the end of August. Soon afterwards, the syllabus of 3 SFTS changed to intermediate flying training and it continued in this role until 14 March 1942 when it was converted into [[No. 3 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF]] to orient foreign-trained pilot to British conditions and standards.<ref>Berryman, p. 278</ref>


During the Second World War a number of training units were posted to the airfield:<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/south-cerney |title=South Cerney |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref>
During the Second World War a number of training units were posted to the airfield:<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/south-cerney |title=South Cerney |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref>

* No. 1 Initial Training School
* No. 1 Initial Training School
* [[No. 2 Flying Training School RAF|No. 2 Flying Training School]]
* [[No. 2 Flying Training School RAF]]
* No. 27 Group Communications Flight
* [[No. 27 Group RAF|No. 27 Group Communication Flight RAF]]
* No. 83 Gliding School
* [[No. 83 Gliding School RAF]]
* No. 1519 Beam Approach Training Flight
* [[No. 1519 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF]]
* No. 1539 Beam Approach Training Flight
* [[No. 1539 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF]]
* Air Crew Allocation Unit
* Air Crew Allocation Unit
* Aircrew Officer Training School
* Aircrew Officer Training School


The airbase was handed over to the Army on 1 July 1971 and was renamed the [[Duke of Gloucester Barracks]].<ref>Berryman, p. 279</ref>
The airfield was handed over to the Army on 1 July 1971 and was renamed the [[Duke of Gloucester Barracks]].<ref>Berryman, p. 279</ref>

Parts of [[Piece of Cake (TV series)|"Piece of Cake"]], a 1988 British six-part television serial depicting the fictional life of a Royal Air Force fighter squadron during the first year of the Second World War, were filmed here.


==Runways==
==Runways==
The site has two short [[runway]]s that are regularly used by two commercial freefall parachuting businesses.<ref>[http://skydivesouthcerney.co.uk/ Skydive South Cerney] {{wayback|url=http://skydivesouthcerney.co.uk/ |date=20110319021543 }}</ref><ref name="SilverStars">{{cite web|url=http://www.silverstars.me.uk |title=Welcome to the SILVER STARS Website|publisher=Silver Stars - RLC Parachute Centre|accessdate=5 May 2011}}</ref>
The site has two short [[runway]]s that are regularly used by two commercial freefall parachuting businesses.<ref>[http://skydivesouthcerney.co.uk/ Skydive South Cerney] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319021543/http://skydivesouthcerney.co.uk/ |date=19 March 2011 }}</ref><ref name="SilverStars">{{cite web|url=http://www.silverstars.me.uk|title=Welcome to the SILVER STARS Website|publisher=Silver Stars - RLC Parachute Centre|accessdate=5 May 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419220649/http://www.silverstars.me.uk/|archivedate=19 April 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 74: Line 91:


==References==
==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Bibliography==
===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|last1=Berryman|first1=David|title=Action Stations Revisited: The Complete History of Britain's Military Airfields.|date=2006|publisher=Crécy|location=Manchester|isbn=978-0-85979-121-2|edition=New|volume=5: South West England}}
*{{cite book|last1=Berryman|first1=David|title=Action Stations Revisited: The Complete History of Britain's Military Airfields.|date=2006|publisher=Crécy|location=Manchester|isbn=978-0-85979-121-2|edition=New|volume=5: South West England}}

==External links==


{{Royal Air Force}}
{{Royal Air Force}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:South Cerney}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:South Cerney}}
[[Category:Military installations closed in 1971]]
[[Category:Military parachuting in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Gloucestershire]]

Latest revision as of 20:23, 26 October 2024

RAF South Cerney
South Cerney, Gloucestershire in England
Control Tower on the Airfield
RAF South Cerney is located in Gloucestershire
RAF South Cerney
RAF South Cerney
Shown within Gloucestershire
RAF South Cerney is located in the United Kingdom
RAF South Cerney
RAF South Cerney
RAF South Cerney (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates51°41′27″N 001°55′28″W / 51.69083°N 1.92444°W / 51.69083; -1.92444
TypeRoyal Air Force Station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Flying Training Command
Site history
Built1936 (1936)
In use1937 - 1972 (1972)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: EGCY
Elevation111 metres (364 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
01/19 892 metres (2,927 ft) Grass
09/27 983 metres (3,225 ft) Grass

Royal Air Force South Cerney or more simply RAF South Cerney is a former Royal Air Force Station located in South Cerney near Cirencester in Gloucestershire, England. It was built during the 1930s to conduct flying training. The airfield was turned over to the British Army in 1971 and is now known as the Duke of Gloucester Barracks.

History

[edit]

Construction of the airfield began in 1936 and it was still underway when it opened on 16 August 1937. No. 3 Flying Training School was the initial tenant and was equipped with a variety of biplane aircraft which were replaced by Airspeed Oxfords in mid-1938. When the Second World War began in August 1939, the school was redesignated as a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) and was equipped with 44 Oxfords and 31 Hawker Harts. Shortly afterwards the headquarters of No. 23 Group RAF, responsible for advanced flying training, was transferred to South Cerney with its communications flight. By the late summer of 1940, the Oxfords had replaced all of the Harts and the school was dedicated to multi-engine training.[1]

No. 15 Service Flying Training School RAF was transferred to the base in early June 1940 with its Oxfords and North American Harvard trainers, but it moved to RAF Kidlington at the end of August. Soon afterwards, the syllabus of 3 SFTS changed to intermediate flying training and it continued in this role until 14 March 1942 when it was converted into No. 3 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF to orient foreign-trained pilot to British conditions and standards.[2]

During the Second World War a number of training units were posted to the airfield:[3]

The airfield was handed over to the Army on 1 July 1971 and was renamed the Duke of Gloucester Barracks.[4]

Parts of "Piece of Cake", a 1988 British six-part television serial depicting the fictional life of a Royal Air Force fighter squadron during the first year of the Second World War, were filmed here.

Runways

[edit]

The site has two short runways that are regularly used by two commercial freefall parachuting businesses.[5][6]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Berryman, pp. 276–77
  2. ^ Berryman, p. 278
  3. ^ "South Cerney". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  4. ^ Berryman, p. 279
  5. ^ Skydive South Cerney Archived 19 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Welcome to the SILVER STARS Website". Silver Stars - RLC Parachute Centre. Archived from the original on 19 April 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Berryman, David (2006). Action Stations Revisited: The Complete History of Britain's Military Airfields. Vol. 5: South West England (New ed.). Manchester: Crécy. ISBN 978-0-85979-121-2.
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