RAF Stoke Orchard

RAF Stoke Orchard was a Royal Air Force station near the village of Stoke Orchard, north west of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire during World War II.

History
The airfield was developed in 1940-41, originally as a Relief Landing Ground. In September 1941 it became a training airfield for No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School with 50 Tiger Moths were based there. From July 1942 to January 1945 the airfield specialised in the training of glider pilots and instructors with No. 3 Glider Training School (3 GTS).

Aircraft production
It was also home to a Ministry for Aircraft Production shadow factory run by the Gloster Aircraft Company at Brockworth. There were two large buildings, one for production and one flight shed. This site became the Coal Research Establishment of the National Coal Board following the war.

Current use
Today the airfield has been returned to agriculture.