RAF Keevil

RAF Keevil was built on farmland near Steeple Ashton in Wiltshire in 1941–42 and, after early use for Spitfire assembly and by United States Ninth Air Force transport and observation units, became an airborne-forces station in No. 38 Group. From it the Short Stirlings of Nos. 196 and 299 Squadrons towed Airspeed Horsa gliders and dropped paratroops, flying on the night of 5/6 June 1944 in Operation Tonga — the airborne opening of D-Day — and later in the Arnhem operation and supply drops to the resistance. Flying training followed after the war. The airfield is still in military hands as a relief landing ground, with gliding clubs and motorsport using parts of the site.