RAF Weston Zoyland

'''Royal Air Force Westonzoyland''', or more simply '''RAF Westonzoyland''', is located approximately {{convert|4|mi|km}} east-southeast of [[Bridgwater]], [[Somerset]], UK.

'''Royal Air Force Westonzoyland''', or more simply '''RAF Westonzoyland''', is located approximately {{convert|4|mi|km}} east-southeast of [[Bridgwater]], [[Somerset]], UK.

It was opened in 1925 with summer camps lasting from May until September each year. It was later used by the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Forces]]. During the war it was used primarily as an army co-operation airfield but several squadrons were based there with a variety of aircraft, including Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mosquitos. [[Gloster Meteor]] jets were stationed there for a short time before moving to [[RAF Culmhead]] in Somerset. After being stood down in 1947 it was recommissioned in 1952 as a Meteor jet training station to support the demands of the Korean War. It was home to No. 209 Advanced Flying School RAF whose pupils included future Air Chief Marshals Lord Craig and Sir Patrick Hine.

It was opened in 1925 with summer camps lasting from May until September each year. It was later used by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF). During the war it was used primarily as an army co-operation airfield but several squadrons were based there with a variety of aircraft, including [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfires]], [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricanes]] and [[De Havilland Mosquito|Mosquitos]]. [[Gloster Meteor]] jets were stationed there for a short time before moving to [[RAF Culmhead]] in Somerset. After being stood down in 1947 it was recommissioned in 1952 as a Meteor jet training station to support the demands of the [[Korean War]]. It was home to No. 209 Advanced Flying School RAF whose pupils included future Air Chief Marshals [[David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley|Lord Craig]] and [[Patrick Hine|Sir Patrick Hine]].

Today the remains of the airfield are a mixture of farmland and a base for Civil Air Patrol activities.

Today the remains of the airfield are a mixture of farmland and a base for [[Civil Air Support|Civil Air Patrol]] activities.

==History==

==History==

To obtain the necessary amount of land for siting runways of sufficient length, the A372 to [[Othery]] was closed and diverted south on a former minor road.

To obtain the necessary amount of land for siting runways of sufficient length, the A372 to [[Othery]] was closed and diverted south on a former minor road.

In 1942, the Air Ministry decided to upgrade the airfield to bomber standard and, early in 1943, work began on laying concrete runways and a perimeter track to the [[Class A airfield]] standard, the main feature of which was a set of three concrete runways, at 60 degrees to each other in a triangular pattern.{{cite web|title=Westonzoyland airfield|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/research/landscapes-and-areas/national-mapping-programme/somerset-alsf-nmp/military-remains-in-the-somerset-levels/|publisher=[[English Heritage]]|access-date=5 September 2010}}

In 1942, the [[Air Ministry]] decided to upgrade the airfield to bomber standard and, early in 1943, work began on laying concrete runways and a perimeter track to the [[Class A airfield]] standard, the main feature of which was a set of three concrete runways, at 60 degrees to each other in a triangular pattern.{{cite web|title=Westonzoyland airfield|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/research/landscapes-and-areas/national-mapping-programme/somerset-alsf-nmp/military-remains-in-the-somerset-levels/|publisher=[[English Heritage]]|access-date=5 September 2010}}

The main runway was 5,775 ft long with headings 11/29, and the other two were 3,564 ft long at 05/23 and 4,101 ft long at 16/34. There were two 150 ft diameter hardstandings and 33 dispersal loops connected to the perimeter track which was the standard 50 feet width.

The main runway was 5,775 ft long with headings 11/29, and the other two were 3,564 ft long at 05/23 and 4,101 ft long at 16/34. There were two 150 ft diameter hardstandings and 33 dispersal loops connected to the perimeter track which was the standard 50 feet width.

[[File:442d Troop Carrier Group Douglas C-47A-15-DK Skytrain 42-92879.jpg|thumb|303rd TCS, 442d Troop Carrier Group Douglas C-47A Skytrain, seen at RAF Fulbeck 1944, shortly before moving to AAF-447 WestonZoyland]]

[[File:442d Troop Carrier Group Douglas C-47A-15-DK Skytrain 42-92879.jpg|thumb|303rd TCS, 442d Troop Carrier Group Douglas C-47A Skytrain, seen at RAF Fulbeck 1944, shortly before moving to AAF-447 WestonZoyland]]

====442nd Troop Carrier Group====

====442nd Troop Carrier Group====

There was a long delay before the allocated unit, the '''[[442d Troop Carrier Group]]''' arrived from [[RAF Fulbeck]] in early June 1944, just after taking part in the D-Day airlift. The 442d was a group of Ninth Air Force's [[50th Troop Carrier Wing]], [[IX Troop Carrier Command]], flying [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]s.

There was a long delay before the allocated unit, the '''[[442d Troop Carrier Group]]''' arrived from [[RAF Fulbeck]] in early June 1944, just after taking part in the [[D-Day]] airlift. The 442d was a group of Ninth Air Force's [[50th Troop Carrier Wing]], [[IX Troop Carrier Command]], flying [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]s.

Its operational squadrons were:

Its operational squadrons were:

* [[303rd Fighter Squadron|303rd Troop Carrier Squadron]] (J7)

* [[303rd Fighter Squadron|303rd Troop Carrier Squadron]] (J7)

===Subsequent RAF use===

===Subsequent RAF use===

The station had never been officially transferred from the RAF and the anti-aircraft support units were quick to return. Several Squadrons were based at Westonzoyland, but the longest stay was by [[No. 16 Squadron RAF]] with [[Westland Lysander]]s,{{cite web |url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_westland_lysander.html|title= Westland Lysander |access-date=2009-05-17 |year=2007 |work=History of War web site |publisher=J Rickard}} and later with the [[North American P-51 Mustang|North American Mustang]]. Later [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s became a common sight being flown by [[No. 19 Squadron RAF]] and others. Nos. [[No. 286 Squadron RAF|286]] and [[No. 587 Squadron RAF|587]] Squadrons with their mixture of [[Miles Martinet]]s, [[Hawker Hurricane]]s, [[Airspeed Oxford]]s, [[Vultee A-31 Vengeance|Vultee Vengeance]]s and [[North American T-6 Texan|North American Harvard]]s remained in residence until near the end of hostilities. 587 Squadron was formed at RAF Westonzoyland, on 1 December 1943, from [[No. 1600 Flight RAF|1600 Flight]], [[No. 1601 Flight RAF|1601 Flight]] and [[No. 1625 Flight RAF|1625 Flight]] for anti-aircraft co-operation duties over [[Wales]] and the south east of England. It operated a variety of aircraft in this role. Due to the ongoing training requirement the squadron was not disbanded at the end of the [[World War II|war]] and it moved to [[RAF Tangmere]] on 1 June 1946 to cover the south coast, but was disbanded shortly afterwards on 15 June 1946.Halley, James J. ''The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988''. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (historians) Ltd., 1988. {{ISBN|0-85130-164-9}}. page 414

The station had never been officially transferred from the RAF and the anti-aircraft support units were quick to return. Several squadrons were based at Westonzoyland, but the longest stay was by [[No. 16 Squadron RAF]] with [[Westland Lysander]]s,{{cite web |url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_westland_lysander.html|title= Westland Lysander |access-date=2009-05-17 |year=2007 |work=History of War web site |publisher=J Rickard}} and later with the [[North American P-51 Mustang|North American Mustang]]. Later [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s became a common sight being flown by [[No. 19 Squadron RAF]] and others. Nos. [[No. 286 Squadron RAF|286]] and [[No. 587 Squadron RAF|587]] Squadrons with their mixture of [[Miles Martinet]]s, [[Hawker Hurricane]]s, [[Airspeed Oxford]]s, [[Vultee A-31 Vengeance|Vultee Vengeance]]s and [[North American T-6 Texan|North American Harvard]]s remained in residence until near the end of hostilities. 587 Squadron was formed at RAF Westonzoyland, on 1 December 1943, from [[No. 1600 Flight RAF|1600 Flight]], [[No. 1601 Flight RAF|1601 Flight]] and [[No. 1625 Flight RAF|1625 Flight]] for anti-aircraft co-operation duties over [[Wales]] and the south east of England. It operated a variety of aircraft in this role. Due to the ongoing training requirement the squadron was not disbanded at the end of the war and it moved to [[RAF Tangmere]] on 1 June 1946 to cover the south coast, but was disbanded shortly afterwards on 15 June 1946.Halley, James J. ''The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988''. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (historians) Ltd., 1988. {{ISBN|0-85130-164-9}}. page 414

Four fighter squadrons came and departed during the months following the end of the war in Europe, but by 1947 the station was reduced to care and maintenance.

Four fighter squadrons came and departed during the months following the end of the war in Europe, but by 1947 the station was reduced to care and maintenance.

There was virtually no further flying at Westonzoyland until the summer of 1952 when, to meet the Soviet threat, an increase in the RAF's strength and a demand for more aircrews found Meteors and Vampires operating in a training role.

There was virtually no further flying at Westonzoyland until the summer of 1952 when, to meet the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] threat, an increase in the RAF's strength and a demand for more aircrews found Meteors and [[de Havilland Vampire|Vampires]] operating in a training role.

[[English Electric Canberra]] squadrons were present during the mid-1950s when Westonzoyland was used as a work-up station prior to overseas assignments. By 1958 the station was once more deserted of aircraft and, although retained by the Air Ministry for another ten years, it never reopened for military flying. Some of the Canberras flew out to Australia to take part in the British atomic bomb tests at Maralinga.

[[English Electric Canberra]] squadrons were present during the mid-1950s when Westonzoyland was used as a work-up station prior to overseas assignments. By 1958 the station was once more deserted of aircraft and, although retained by the Air Ministry for another ten years, it never reopened for military flying. Some of the Canberras flew out to Australia to take part in the [[British nuclear tests at Maralinga|British atomic bomb tests]] at [[Maralinga]].

==Current use==

==Current use==

[[File:Old airfield, Westonzoyland.jpg|thumb|The airfield in 2010]]

[[File:Old airfield, Westonzoyland.jpg|thumb|The airfield in 2010]]

Upon its release from military use, in the 1960s, the [[A372 road (Great Britain)|A372]] was restored to near its original route by using a considerable length of the former main runway. The former secondary runways are clearly evident in aerial photography, although most of the concrete has been removed. The former perimeter track has been reduced to a single-lane agricultural road and the pan and loop dispersal hardstands have been removed. Several derelict buildings still remain, including the control tower and a large cluster to the northwest of the perimeter track, including the base of what appears to be the remains of two large J-Type hangars and a support site. No evidence of the Pierced Steel Planking extensions to the runways remain nor of an ammunition dump.

Upon its release from military use, in the 1960s, the [[A372 road (Great Britain)|A372]] was restored to near its original route by using a considerable length of the former main runway. The former secondary runways are clearly evident in aerial photography, although most of the concrete has been removed. The former perimeter track has been reduced to a single-lane agricultural road and the pan and loop dispersal hardstands have been removed. Several derelict buildings still remain, including the control tower and a large cluster to the northwest of the perimeter track, including the base of what appears to be the remains of two large J-Type hangars and a support site. No evidence of the [[pierced steel planking]] extensions to the runways remain nor of an ammunition dump.

In the late 1960s, local people used the station's squash courts.

In the late 1960s, local people used the station's squash courts.

Although much of the airfield is no longer usable for aviation purposes, Westonzoyland is in use for [[microlight]]s which uses the northwest half of the 16/34 runway, and is a base for the [[Civil Air Support|Sky Watch]] Civil Air Patrol (SWCAP).

Although much of the airfield is no longer usable for aviation purposes, Westonzoyland is in use for [[microlight]]s which uses the northwest half of the 16/34 runway, and is a base for the [[Civil Air Support|Sky Watch]] Civil Air Patrol (SWCAP).

A second airstrip called Middlezoy Aerodrome started operating in 2018 on the south side of the former RAF Westonzoyland airfield. A Hangar and an original Nissen hut have been erected.https://www.mzaero.co.uk/

A second airstrip called Middlezoy Aerodrome started operating in 2018 on the south side of the former RAF Westonzoyland airfield. A hangar and an original [[Nissen hut]] have been erected.https://www.mzaero.co.uk/

== References ==

== References ==