RAF Tilshead

Royal Air Force Tilshead or more simply RAF Tilshead is a former Royal Air Force station west of Tilshead, Wiltshire, England and 9 miles (14 km) east of Warminster.

RAF Tilshead
Tilshead, Wiltshire in England
RAF Tilshead is located in Wiltshire
RAF Tilshead
RAF Tilshead
Shown within Wiltshire
Coordinates51°13′40″N 001°58′13″W
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1925 (1925)
In use1925-1941 (1941)
Airfield information
Elevation124 metres (407 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete

The unpaved airfield was open from 1925 until 1941.[1] Nearby at Shrewton, a relief landing ground controlled by No. 38 Wing RAF was open from 1940 to 1946.[2][3]

Based units

No. 16 Squadron RAF flew the Westland Lysander as a detachment for RAF Weston Zoyland between 15 August 1940 and 8 September 1941, conducting reconnaissance protecting the country from the planned invasion and looking for enemy movements.[4]

No. 225 (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF also flew the Lysander[5] before moving to RAF Thruxton.[6]

The airfield also provided initial training period for the Glider Pilot Regiment providing basic flying training.[7]

Current use

The site is currently used by the British Army[1] as part of the Salisbury Plain training area and there is nothing left of the airfield.

References
  1. "RAF Tilshead". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  2. "Shrewton". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. "RAF Shrewton/Tilshead". Wartime Memories Project. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  4. "No. 16 Squadron (RAF): Second World War". History of War. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  5. "RAF Tilshead". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  6. "RAF Thruxton". Control Towers. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  7. "Staff Sergeant Billy Marfleet GPR". BBC History. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
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