UNITS WHO SERVED AT NEW FOREST AIRFIELDS
Pilot divine, and Lord of all on high
Thine are the starry squadrons of the sky!
Lead us whose wings for freedoms sake now soar,
Into our hearts thy faith and courage pour
Oh hear our prayer.
Set Thou our course whose trust is laid
in Thee!
Oh Thou who chartest all eternity!
Through cloud and sunshine, through darkest night
Guide Thou our wings who battle for the right
Oh hear our prayer.
Father and friend, in whose almighty
name
We dedicate our lives to freedom's flame,
Bless now our wings as on through space we wend.
Bless us who to Thy care our souls commend
Oh hear our prayer!
This list is an attempt to record all the flying units, civil and military that operated on the New Forest Airfields during their heyday, i.e. before 1950. History has not yet recorded all the detachments at took place, such as that of Fleet Air Arm rocket equipped Swordfishes at Holmsley South on anti E boat patrols, not has it left a record of all of those many RAF, civilian and US units that built and maintained these airfields or defended them on the ground. We know that flights of the RAF's 5005 airfield construction squadron worked in the New Forest, as did the company of Mowlems, the RAF regiment and the USAAF's 883rd Engineering Aviation Battalion, elements of its 312 service team, and Team B US 83rd service group were operating in the New Forest. For a definitive history of RAF squadrons try "RAF Squadrons" by Wing Commander C G Jefford published by Airlife ISBN 1-84037 - 141 -2. This book neatly cross references squadrons, aircraft and locations.
RAF Holmsley South was home to many civil and military lodger units such as the RAF's 422nd Fuel and Ammunition Park, but their role and even their existence is poorly recorded by historians.
Even at the advanced landing grounds there were elements of many different units. As an example the list below details the USAAF units at the advanced landing ground at Winkton that are usually forgotten and are just lumped in with the 404th Fighter Group. Our thanks to Peter Oliver for the following details.
HQ and HQ Sqn 404th Fighter Group.
506th Fighter Squadron 507th Fighter Squadron 508th Fighter Squadron
210th Medical Dispensary Aviation 2149th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon Detachment "A" 1293rd MP Co Aviation
9th SERVICE COMMAND UNITS
379th Service Sqdn 1591st Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Co Aviation Detachment "A" 30th Mobile Repair & Reclamation Squad
Detachment "C" 857th Chemical Co Detachment "A" 1028th Signal Co Detachment "A" 1242nd Quartermaster Co Aviation
Detachment "A" 2204th Quartermaster Truck Co Aviation
HQ 9th Air Force units
85th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Sqn Detachment "ZN" 21st Weather Sqn Detachment "ZN" 40th Mobile Com Sqn
|
Unit (RAF squadron unless otherwise stated) |
Nation |
Command |
Location |
Location key |
||
|
26 |
RAF |
sx |
be |
Beaulieu |
||
|
32 |
RAF |
ib |
ca |
Calshot |
||
|
46 |
RAF |
sx |
ch |
Christchurch |
||
|
53 |
RAF |
be |
eb |
East Boldre |
||
|
58 |
RAF |
ho |
ho |
Homlsley South |
||
|
66 |
RAF |
ib |
hu |
Hurn |
||
|
79 |
RFC |
eb |
ib |
Ibsley |
||
|
84 |
RFC |
eb |
no |
Needs Oar Point |
||
|
88 |
RAF |
be |
sx |
Stoney Cross |
||
|
88 |
RAF |
hu |
sw |
Sway |
||
|
103 |
RFC |
eb |
wi |
Winkton |
||
|
118 |
RAF |
ib |
bi |
Bisterne |
||
|
123 |
RAF |
hu |
ly |
Lymington |
||
|
124 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
125 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
129 |
RAF |
ho |
Note |
|||
|
129 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
136 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
146 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
158 |
RAF |
be |
||||
|
164 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
165 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
167 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
170 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
170 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
174 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
175 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
175 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
175 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
181 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
182 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
182 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
183 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
184 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
193 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
193 |
RAF |
no |
||||
|
197 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
197 |
RAF |
no |
||||
|
198 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
201 |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
209 |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
224 |
RAF |
be |
||||
|
228 |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
230 |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
232 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
232 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
234 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
239 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
239 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
240 |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
242 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
243 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
245 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
246 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
247 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
257 |
RAF |
be |
||||
|
257 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
257 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
257 |
RAF |
no |
||||
|
263 |
RAF |
be |
||||
|
263 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
263 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
266 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
266 |
RAF |
no |
||||
|
268 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
277 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
295 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
295 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
296 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
296 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
297 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
297 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
299 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
302 |
RAF (Polish) |
ib |
||||
|
306 |
RAF (Polish) |
ho |
||||
|
310 |
RAF (Czech) |
ib |
||||
|
311 |
RAF (Czech) |
be |
||||
|
312 |
RAF (Czech) |
ib |
||||
|
313 |
RAF (Czech) |
ib |
||||
|
315 |
RAF (Polish) |
ho |
||||
|
405 |
RCAF |
be |
||||
|
412 |
RCAF |
hu |
||||
|
418 |
RCAF |
ho |
||||
|
418 |
RCAF |
hu |
||||
|
421 |
RCAF |
ib |
||||
|
438 |
RCAF |
hu |
||||
|
439 |
RCAF |
hu |
||||
|
440 |
RCAF |
hu |
||||
|
441 |
RCAF |
ho |
||||
|
442 |
RCAF |
ho |
||||
|
443 |
RCAF |
ho |
||||
|
453 |
RAAF |
ib |
||||
|
486 |
RNZAF |
be |
||||
|
501 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
502 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
504 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
547 |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
570 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
570 |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
587 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
602 |
RAF |
ch |
||||
|
604 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
609 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
616 |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
620 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
657 |
RAF |
be |
||||
|
10th Fighter Squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ly |
|||
|
116 wing |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
121 wing |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
133 wing |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
134 Wing |
RAF (Polish) |
ib |
||||
|
144 wing |
RCAF |
ho |
||||
|
146 wing |
RAF |
no |
||||
|
14th Laision Squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
16 reserve squadron |
RFC |
eb |
||||
|
1st Fighter Group |
USAAF |
8th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
210 Training reserve squadron |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
23 reserve squadron |
RFC |
eb |
||||
|
238 MU (marine craft) |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
29 Training Depot squadron |
RAF |
eb |
||||
|
313 fighter squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ly |
|||
|
323 Bomb Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
334BS 93 BG |
USAAF |
8th Airforce |
ho |
|||
|
345 flight |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
346 flight |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
365 Fighter Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
367th Fighter Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
367th Fighter Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
371 Fighter Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
bi |
|||
|
386 Fighter Squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
387 Bomb Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
387 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
388 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
392 Fighter squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
392 fighter squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
393 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
393 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
394 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
394 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
394th Bomb Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ho |
|||
|
397th Bomb Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
404 fighter squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
bi |
|||
|
404th fighter group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
wi |
|||
|
405 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
bi |
|||
|
405th Fighter Group |
USAAF |
9 Airforce |
ch |
|||
|
406FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
bi |
|||
|
410 flight |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
422 Night Fighter squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
425 Night Fighter squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
453 bomb squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
454 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
455 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
456 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
48th Fighter Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
492 Fighter Squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
493 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
494 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
506 Fighter Squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
wi |
|||
|
507 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
wi |
|||
|
508 FS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
wi |
|||
|
509 Fighter Squadron |
USAAF |
9 Airforce |
ch |
|||
|
50th Fighter Group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ly |
|||
|
510 FS |
USAAF |
9 Airforce |
ch |
|||
|
511 FS |
USAAF |
9 Airforce |
ch |
|||
|
556 Bomb Squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
557 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
558 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
559 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
sx |
|||
|
584 Bomb Squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ho |
|||
|
585 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ho |
|||
|
586 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ho |
|||
|
587 BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ho |
|||
|
596th BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
597th BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
598th BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
599th BS |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
6 coastal OCU |
RAF |
be |
||||
|
60 transport carrier group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
62 transport carrier group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
64 transport carrier group |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
hu |
|||
|
67th recce unit |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ib |
|||
|
71st Pursuit squadron |
USAAF |
ib |
||||
|
81st Fighter squadron |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
ly |
|||
|
84th Fighter Wing HQ |
USAAF |
9th Airforce |
be |
|||
|
87 reserve squadron |
RFC |
eb |
||||
|
94 Pursuit squadron |
USAAF |
ib |
||||
|
AFEE (RAF/FAA/Army) |
MoS |
be |
||||
|
4768 Flight, 5004 Airfield Construction Squadron |
RAF |
ib |
||||
|
AFEE Drop Zone |
MoS |
eb |
||||
|
Airspeed (later de Havilland) shadow factory |
MAP then private |
ch |
||||
|
BOAC |
private |
hu |
||||
|
BSAA |
private |
hu |
||||
|
Christchurch flying club |
private |
ch |
||||
|
Fighter Intercept Unit |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
1426 Enemy Aircraft Flight |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
flight 1419 ? |
RAF
|
hu
|
||||
|
flight 1425 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
flight 1458 |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
flight 1320 |
RAF |
|
ho, be | |||
|
FTS |
RFC/RAF |
eb |
||||
|
Fying Boat training unit and 235 OCU |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
Glider repair unit |
RAF/Army? |
sx |
||||
|
HMS Raven detachment |
FAA |
ch |
||||
|
HQ RAF 10 Group |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
KLM |
private |
hu |
||||
|
Marine craft Air Sea Rescue unit |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
Marine craft training unit |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
Marine craft unit |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
Matropolitan VIP flight |
RAF |
ho |
||||
|
New Forest Flying School |
private |
eb |
||||
|
PAA |
private |
hu |
||||
|
Quantas |
private |
hu |
||||
|
RAF High Speed Flight |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
RAF Regiment |
RAF |
sx |
||||
|
Rail Air Services |
private |
ch |
||||
|
RNAS patrol base |
RNAS |
ca |
||||
|
SAA |
private |
hu |
||||
|
Sabena |
private |
hu |
||||
|
Sch of Naval Co-op & Air Nav |
RAF |
ca |
||||
|
Seaplane experimental centre |
RNAS |
ca |
||||
|
Special duty flight (anti aircraft co-operation unit) |
RAF |
ch |
||||
|
Special duty flight (telecommunications and radar) |
RAF |
ch sx |
||||
|
special duty flight/telecommunications flying unit |
RAF |
hu |
||||
|
TWA |
private |
hu |
||||
|
US Glider assembly unit |
USAAF |
sx |
||||
|
Western Airways |
private |
ch |