RAF Middle Wallop

51.1415, -1.5726 — view on OpenStreetMap ↗

About

RAF Middle Wallop opened in Hampshire in 1940 and became one of the key fighter stations of the Battle of Britain, its Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes — including those of Nos. 609 and 238 Squadrons — defending the south-west against the Luftwaffe. Later in the war it flew night-fighter Bristol Beaufighters and de Havilland Mosquitoes and was used by the United States Ninth Air Force as Station 449 for reconnaissance. Since 1957 it has been the home of the Army Air Corps; the airfield now flies Apache and other helicopters and houses the Army Flying Museum.

Sources: This page was compiled from publicly available historical sources, including Middle Wallop — Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust and Middle Wallop — Wikipedia. The text is original and has been written from factual source material; no source text has been copied unless specifically quoted and attributed.

Photographs

An engine fitter watches the CO of No. 504 Squadron, Squadron Leader R. Lewis, in his Spitfire Mk VC at Middle Wallop, December 1942. An engine fitter identified only as 'Lofty' featured in a series of official photographs taken at Middle Wallop in December 1942, intended to illustrate the vital but unsung daily activities of a typical 'erk' (as all junior RAF ground staff were known). Lofty is seen here with his charge, Spitfire VC EE624/TM-R, flown by Squadron Leader R. Lewis, commanding No 504 Squadron.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:An_engine_fitter_watches_the_CO_of_No._504_Squadron,_Squadron_Leader_R._Lewis,_in_his_Spitfire_Mk_VC_at_Middle_Wallop,_December_1942._CH8010.jpgView source & full licence →
Mustang Mark I, AG431 'D', of No. 16 Squadron RAF, being prepared for a reconnaissance sortie at Middle Wallop, Hampshire, UK. The pilot, Flying Officer D W Samson RAAF, is buckling on his parachute by the nose.
ⓘ licence & credit(Pilot Officer) Miller, Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allisonmustang!_(beautiful_picture).jpgView source & full licence →
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Hawker Hurricane. Three Hurricane Mark IVs (KX413 ‘FJ-H’ nearest) of No. 164 Squadron RAF undergoing servicing, lined up at Middle Wallop, Hampshire. The aircraft are armed with 40mm Vickers S anti-tank guns.
ⓘ licence & creditMiller T (Pilot Officer), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Hawker_Hurricane._CH10223.jpgView source & full licence →
AWM Caption: HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND. 1943-09-23. AIRCREW MEMBERS OF A MOSQUITO NO. 456 SQUADRON RAAF OF FIGHTER COMMAND BASED AT RAF STATION MIDDLE WALLOP. LEFT TO RIGHT: * 409368 FLYING OFFICER (FO) M. N. AUSTIN, MELBOURNE, VIC * 411157 WARRANT OFFICER A. S. MCEVOY, SYDNEY, NSW * 411411 FO R. S. WILLIAMS, PATONGA BEACH, NSW * 404891 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT G. PANITZ, SOUTHPORT, QLD * 403330 PILOT OFFICER (PO) G. F. GATENBY, BATEMANS BAY, NSW * 404897 PO J. M. FRASER, BRISBANE, QLD * 404543 FO J. W. NEWELL, MAREEBA, QLD * 403128 PO A. M. ABBEY, COFFS HARBOUR, NSW * 414280 FO S. D. P. SMITH, BRISBANE, QLD * 403654 FLIGHT SERGEANT A. J. KEATING, SYDNEY, NSW (IN FRONT)
ⓘ licence & creditnot stated / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:456_Sqn_(UK0562).jpgView source & full licence →

No people are cross-referenced to this airfield yet. Links appear as squadron postings, crews and service records are added.