RAF Twinwood Farm

RAF Twinwood Farm

RAF Twinwood Control Tower (Watch Office), restored in 2002
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Location Bedford, Bedfordshire
Elevation AMSL 24 ft / 80 m
Coordinates 52°10′52″N 0°29′10″W / 52.181102°N 0.486131°W / 52.181102; -0.486131Coordinates: 52°10′52″N 0°29′10″W / 52.181102°N 0.486131°W / 52.181102; -0.486131
Website twinwoodairfield.co.uk
Map
RAF Twinwood Farm

Location in Bedfordshire

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
Aerial photograph of Milton Ernest (Twinwood Farm) airfield looking north, the control tower and airfield code are beneath the runway intersection, 28 March 1948.

RAF Twinwood Farm is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) station located 4 mi (6.4 km) north of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. For the majority of the war the airfield was home to RAF night fighters.

Royal Air Force use

Twinwood Farm opened in mid 1941 when the RAF began to use the grassed field. By April 1942 it had three concrete runways and additional temporary buildings.

From then until the end of the war the Bristol Blenheims, Bristol Beaufighters, Bristol Beauforts, Douglas Havocs and de Havilland Mosquitoes of No. 51 Operational Training Unit used 'Twinwoods', as it was generally known.[1]

Gallery - RAF aircraft operated at airfield

Bristol Blenheim. 
De Havilland Mosquito IV 
A-20 Havoc 
Bristol Beaufighter on display at the RAF Museum, Hendon 
Bristol Beaufort 
Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk 
P-51 Mustang 
Hawker Hurricane 

Other RAF Squadrons

In March 1943 North American Mustangs belonging to 164, 169, 239 and 208 Squadrons RAF engaged in Operation Spartan[1] which occurred between 1 and 12 March 1943 was conducted across southern and central England to test a wide range of procedures and tactics of British and Canadian Forces.[7]

United States Army Air Forces use

In 1944 the airfield was transferred to the U.S. Eighth Air Force and operated in conjunction with the nearby RAF Thurleigh.[1]

Glenn Miller

Main article: Glenn Miller

Twinwood Farm was where USAAF Major Glenn Miller's aircraft took off on 15 December 1944 for Paris. His plane disappeared over the English Channel and was never found.

Current use

The airfield closed in June 1945.[8]

The site is now home to the Twinwood Arena,[9] a large natural amphitheatre which plays host to various music festivals promoted by Twinwood Events[10] including the Rhythm Festival.

Glenn Miller Museum

The Glenn Miller Museum is located in the restored control tower and features displays about Glenn Miller, RAF Twinwood Farm, and the Second World War.

Other buildings house different displays including:

The group of museums are also known as Twinwood Airfield Museum, and are open seasonally.

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Twinwood Airfield Bedfordshire. Wartime Airfield Layout 1944 (website accessed: 28/07/10)
  2. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 33.
  3. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 81.
  4. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 100.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  6. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 76.
  7. ↑ Modern Air - Fowlmere Aerodrome – a brief history (by Vic Flintham, Dec 2004) (website accessed:28/07/10)
  8. ↑ Travelling Days _ Bedford and District *(website accessed: 29/07/10)
  9. ↑ twinwood arena
  10. ↑ Glenn Miller Festival and Rhythm Festival at Twinwood Arena

Bibliography

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