RAF Wroughton

RAF Wroughton was a Royal Air Force station based near Wroughton, Wiltshire which was closed in the late 70s. The airfield and some of the original buildings still exist today.

Wroughton handled 62 different types of aircraft during the war, more than 7000 aircraft. When the war was over, most of the remaining operational aircraft made their way back to Wroughton, where they were broken up - surplus to requirements.

In 1972, the RAF left, and the Navy took over - largely because the RN took over responsibility for servicing all military helicopters. This continued until Wroughton closed (as a military airfield) in 1978.

An branch of the Science Museum, located on the station, expanded its stock of exhibits which is still open today. The Museum had a particular desire to keep examples of commercial aircraft to add to its large fleet of obsolete (but interesting) models which deserved preservation.

History

The building of Wroughton Airfield was planned before the war began - and it was to play a major role in keeping the Allies flying. During the conflict, more than 7,000 aircraft - of no less than 62 different types - were modified, serviced or repaired at Wroughton's maintenance unit (or MU No. 15 as it was known in the RAF).

In 1941, another unit, MU No. 76, was also set up at Wroughton to handle the packing of aircraft into huge crates for transport overseas.

Invasion Gliders: Wroughton played key role
Wroughton also became the final assembly point, in the second half of 1943, for many of the gliders that were to play a key role in the liberation of Europe the following summer. Made from wood, they arrived in sections from furniture and cabinet makers across the country and were assembled, flight-tested and then despatched from Wroughton's three runways during the build-up to D-Day. On the eve of the invasion, nearly 600 aircraft were on site - but if it was to herald the beginning of the end for the Nazi empire, Wroughton still had a bright future.

De-mobbed Lancaster bombers were sent there - most to be scrapped - while work continued on Avro Lincoln and Meteor jets. In 1953, the first of many Canberra bombers arrived, and Wroughton was to provide support for this aircraft throughout the next 19 years. Mosquitoes and more Lancasters made their last flights to Wroughton during the 1950s, usually destined for the scrapheap, but one Lancaster - PA474 - came in for an overhaul in 1964, ready to join the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, of which it is still a member.

The 1960s even saw work on Westland helicopters at Wroughton, but by 1972 its life as a maintenance unit was over. Still the site proved resilient - and found that it had a long-term future that was rooted in the past, when, in 1978, the Science Museum unveiled Wroughton as the store for its aircraft collection and other large exhibits.

It should provide new generations of local folk with just a flavour of their rich and proud aircraft heritage - and there can be no denying the key role that previous generations from Swindon and the surrounding area played in what history now calls 'our finest hour'.

Aircraft manufacture and engineering also proved to be a crucial chapter in the history of Swindon. The diversification away from the railways and the establishment of new skills, new industries and new employers made possible the post-War development of the town - not to mention its long-term success.

Factfile and links: For many years, a preserved South Marston-built Spitfire was on display outside the Vickers factory. This was a Mark 21, LA226, which returned in 1968, shortly after it was used in the movie, Battle of Britain. It remained there until 1984 and is currently stored, dismantled, in the RAF Museum Store at Cosford.

The Short Stirling was the tallest and longest plane to fly with the RAF during the Second World War, but was superseded by the Lancaster and the Halifax. Sadly, no Stirlings were preserved and none exist today. Even the original drawings have gone, destroyed in a fire.

Many of Swindon's railways workers were in reserved occupations, which meant that they were exempt from active service during the Second World War - but that didn't necessarily mean they remained in Swindon for the duration. As well as being sent to work at South Marston, Blunsdon, Sevenhampton or Wroughton, others were also despatched to other aircraft factories in cities such as Southampton.

At least three South Marston-built Spitfires are currently on display - but none of them are airworthy: LA198, a Mark 21, built in 1944, is at the Museum of Transport, Glasgow (see www.glasgowmuseums.com). It is due to remain there until it is moved to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, also in Glasgow, in early 2006. PK683, a Mark 24, built in 1946, can be seen at the Southampton Hall of Aviation [www.spitfireonline.co.uk], which is also home to a Supermarine Scimitar and the Supermarine archives. VN485, a Mark 24, built in 1947, was the 11th from last Spitfire to be delivered to the RAF. It is now at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford.

A typical South Marston Spitfire had a wingspan of 36ft 11 inches and was 32 ft 8 inches long. It had a top speed of 450mph at 19,000ft - 520mph when diving. It could fly to a maximum of 43,000ft and had a range of 580 miles - 965 miles if fitted with an additional fuel tank.

The world record-breaking Swift, WK198, can be seen at the North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland (see [www.neam.co.uk]) - but minus its wings. Complete (but not airworthy) Swifts are on display at the Newark Air Museum, Nottinghamshire (see www.newarkairmuseum.co.uk) and Tangmere Military Aviation Museum at Chichester, Sussex (see www.tangmere-museum.org.uk). A preserved Attacker can be seen at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton (see www.fleetairarm.com). Many Canberras survive, including at the RAF Museum, Hendon (see www.rafmuseum.org.uk) and the Imperial War Museum, Duxford (see [www.iwm.org.uk/duxford/index.htm]). Sadly, no Miles Masters survive today and the closest we have is a replica of a sister plane, the Martinent, and some original components, at the Museum of Berkshire Aviation at Woodley, near Reading (see www.iwm.org.uk/duxford/index.htm for more information about Miles aircraft).

South Marston Spitfires are not easy to spot because the plane went through dozens of variations over many years. They are especially difficult to spot on film, but in still pictures, there are some telltale clues that can at least narrow things down. All of those built at South Marston were Mark 21s or later - and these all had propellors with five blades. Seafires, the Naval equivalent of the Spitfire, are usually pictured on aircraft carriers with their wings folded for storage, but South Marston only output versions without folding wings - and, to the untrained eye, these are also more or less indistinguishable from Spitfires.

As well as the key aircraft engineering sites, the Swindon area also played host to important operational airfields. Blakehill Farm, near Cricklade, Wanborough, Clyffe Pypard and, of course, Lyneham, all saw active service.

No bombs fell on any of the aircraft manufacturing facilities in the area during the war - and the Swindon area as a whole was relatively untroubled by the Luftwaffe (especially compared with similar towns) throughout the war.

The name Supermarine still lives on in Swindon in the name of two major sports clubs in the town. Both Supermarine Rugby Club and Football Club still play on pitches that were once part of the Vickers Armstong site, and were born out of the sports and social club that thrived during the heyday of the main factory until it closed in the early 80s. (see [www.supermarinefc.com] and [www.supermarinerugby.co.uk] for more information).

See also

*List of RAF stations