RAF Colerne

RAF Colerne
Ad Meskens · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	RAF Colerne
Nearest town	Colerne, Wiltshire
Country	England
Coordinates	51.444°N 2.234°W
Type	Royal Air Force station
Used	1939–1975 (RAF), later Ministry of Defence
Owner	Ministry of Defence

RAF Colerne RAF Colerne was a Royal Air Force station located near Colerne, Wiltshire. The station played roles in training, transport, signals and logistics during the Second World War and the Cold War, serving alongside bases such as RAF Lyneham, RAF Brize Norton, RAF Eastleigh (County Durham) and RAF Weston Zoyland. It interfaced with organisations including the Royal Air Force, the Air Transport Auxiliary, the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), and NATO elements, while being proximate to communities such as Bath, Chippenham, and Bristol.

History

Colerne airfield was developed in the late 1930s as part of rearmament preceding the Second World War and was commissioned into service in 1939. During the Battle of Britain period and the broader European theatre of World War II the station supported operational training units and maintenance units linked to commands such as RAF Flying Training Command and RAF Transport Command. Post-1945, Colerne transitioned into Cold War roles, aligning with strategic priorities driven by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the evolving posture of the United Kingdom's defence establishment. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Colerne hosted units conducting airborne transport, signals work and logistics tied to theatres including Suez Crisis operations and commitments to British Army of the Rhine. The airfield's status changed in the 1970s amid defence consolidation that affected other installations like RAF Lyneham and RAF Northolt.

Units and Operations

A variety of Royal Air Force squadrons and support units were based at Colerne. Notable operational presences included transport and glider training affiliated with No. 49 Squadron RAF, detachment duties by elements formerly associated with No. 24 Squadron RAF and temporary postings of units from RAF Maintenance Command and RAF Technical Training Command. The station accommodated elements of the Air Training Corps and hosted aircraft types connected to units such as Handley Page Halifax maintenance detachments, Gloster Meteor training flights, and later support for rotary and fixed-wing logistics aircraft akin to those of Fleet Air Arm detachments. Signals and communications responsibilities involved personnel attached to organisations like Royal Corps of Signals and civil-military partnerships with GCHQ-aligned infrastructure contractors. Training collaborations occurred with establishments such as Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and nearby civilian aerodromes including Kemble Airfield.

Infrastructure and Facilities

The airfield featured hard runways, hangars and technical sites typical of wartime-built RAF stations, with construction overseen by contractors connected to projects at Air Ministry (United Kingdom) installations. Hangars accommodated aircraft maintenance similar to layouts seen at RAF Halton and RAF Henlow. On-site facilities included married quarters and NAAFI services used by personnel from units like the Women's Royal Air Force and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The station contained signals blocks and communication masts linked to the wider UK Air Defence Region network and hosted engine repair shops comparable to those at RAF St Athan. Proximity to transport routes such as the A4 road and rail links serving Chippenham railway station facilitated logistics and troop movements tied to deployments for operations including Operation Musketeer.

Post-military Use and Redevelopment

After reduction of RAF operations in the 1970s and eventual transfer to the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), the site found multi-purpose civilian and military reuse. Parts of the airfield were reutilised for vehicle storage, commercial aviation enterprises and training grounds used by units from the Army Reserve and volunteer organisations like the Territorial Army. Redevelopment proposals involved stakeholders such as Wiltshire Council and private developers, with adaptive uses mirroring conversions at former stations like RAF Lyneham and RAF Upper Heyford. The former technical and domestic sites have been repurposed for light industrial units, civilian housing and heritage initiatives connected to Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust and local history groups in Wiltshire. Aviation activities at the runway evolved into private flying operations alongside recreational events and occasional film-location use comparable to other decommissioned RAF sites.

Accidents and Incidents

Throughout its operational life Colerne experienced a number of accidents and incidents typical of training and transport stations. Recorded events involved aircraft types such as Boeing 707-era transports elsewhere, while wartime losses included training accidents with types comparable to Avro Anson and de Havilland Tiger Moth operations across RAF training units. Investigations into incidents drew on procedures established by bodies like the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and military courts martial protocols of the Judge Advocate General (United Kingdom). Local emergency response coordination referenced organisations such as the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and civilian hospitals including Royal United Hospital. Memorials and commemorative activities at or near the former station have involved veteran associations like the Royal British Legion and local parish councils.

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Wiltshire Category:Military installations closed in 1975