RAF Down Ampney

RAF Down Ampney
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Owner		Air Ministry
Operator		Royal Air Force
Location		Down Ampney, Gloucestershire
Built		1943
In use		1944-1947
Elevation AMSL		270 ft / 82 m
Coordinates		51°40′01″N 01°50′22″W
Map
RAF Down Ampney Location in Gloucestershire
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
03/21	6,000	1,829	Asphalt
09/27	4,200	1,280	Asphalt
15/33	4,200	1,280	Asphalt

RAF Down Ampney was a Royal Air Force station located 1.8 miles (2.9 km) north east of Cricklade, Wiltshire and 3 miles (4.8 km) south west of RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. The airfield operated during World War II from February 1944 until February 1947.

Down Ampney was part of a group of 3 airfields with RAF Broadwell and RAF Blakehill Farm dedicated to air transportation.

Based units

No. 48 Squadron RAF and No. 271 Squadron RAF flew Douglas Dakotas on major missions. On D-Day they dropped the main elements of the 3rd Parachute Brigade in Normandy as well as towing Airspeed Horsa gliders across the English Channel. They were also active in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem) and the Rhine crossing.

Memorial

A memorial has been erected at the southern end of what was the main runway. which reads:

FROM THIS AIRFIELD IN 1944-5

DOUGLAS DAKOTAS FROM 48 AND
271 SQUADRONS RAF TRANSPORT
COMMAND CARRIED THE 1ST AND 6TH
AIRBORNE DIVISIONS UNITS OF
THE AIR DESPATCH REGIMENT
AND HORSA GLIDERS FLOWN BY
THE GLIDER PILOTS REGIMENT TO
NORMANDY - ARNHEM AND ON THE
CROSSING THE RHINE OPERATIONS
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

External links

• Old Airfield
• The R.A.F Down Ampney Association
• R.A.F Down Ampney Memorial