Type

Monument

Title / Name

Long Newton Aerodrome

Summary

The former First World War and Second World War military airfield, known as RAF Long Newnton. The majority of the Second World War buildings and structures have subsequently been removed or demolished, most by 1975. The site is private and its main use is for agricultural purposes.

MILITARY AIRFIELD; AIRCRAFT HANGAR; CONTROL TOWER; DECONTAMINATION BUILDING; OPERATIONS BLOCK; PERIMETER TRACK, First World War to Second World War (1914 to 1945)

Source Detail: Priddle, R., 2003

Title: Wings Over Wiltshire: An Aeronautical History of Wiltshire

Summary: Publication Source ID: SWI22354

Description: Long Newnton Aerodrome, ST 923 920. A former military airfield used in both World Wars. It began as an air gunnery range and military training site for the Royal Australian Flying Corps in 1918. In World War Two the site was used from 1939 onwards, including initially for ammunition storage by 11 Maintenance Unit and as a relief landing ground for units from South Cerney, but was redeveloped in 1942 with Sommerfeld track, a type of metal mesh matting, being laid as runways. It was intended to act as a satellite. The redeveloped site straddled the Fosse Way and lay in both Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, with the flying field in the latter county and the aircraft hangars (Type T1 and Blister variants) and other buildings distributed between the two, mainly parallel with the Fosse Way. Some Blister aircraft hangars were also on the south side of the flying field. The airfield was then used by Number 15 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit. In the summer of 1945 Number 11 Maintenance Unit returned to the site and remained until the airfield closed in 1950. In 2003 the perimeter track, control tower, an aircraft hangar (type T1), the operations block, decontamination building and a number of huts were reportedly still extant. The site is private and its main use is for agricultural purposes. It is not open to the public. A former Fighter Training Command aerodrome. The first buildings were built early in World War II, and the airfield was developed as a satellite in early 1942. Two Sommerfield Track runways were laid Northeast/Southwest and East/West, and these were encircled by a concrete perimeter track. Four 65 foot span Over Blister Hangars were built on the west side of the Fosse Way. The Technical Site buildings were established parallel with and between the Roman Road and the track, also on the western side of the field. Six additional Extra Over Blister hangars were erected around the perimeter track. A T1 Type hangar was built next to the Roman Road. In addition it had a Guard Room, and a Watch Office.

Source Detail: Google, 2001-24

Title: Google Earth

Summary: Digital Satellite Imagery Source ID: SWI26100

Source Detail: Willis, S. + Holliss, B., 1987

Title: Military Airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945

Summary: No summary information. Source ID: SWI26227

Description: Long Newnton Airfield, Wiltshire opened 1940. The airfield was affiliated as to Babdown Farm and South Cerney.

Source Detail: Ordnance Survey, 1979-80

Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Plan

Summary: No summary information. Source ID: SWI26228

Description: The majority of the buildings and structures have subsequently been removed or demolished, most by 1975; the only extant buildings visible in 2006 were the Control tower (ST9243 9195), instructional operations room (ST9242 9195), equipment and vehicle stores (ST9243 9198 and ST 9246 9201), the link trainer (ST9257 9234), gas and clothing repair store (ST9240 9215), the MT shed (ST9231 9201), the parachute store (ST9237 9210), instructor and trainer room (ST9219 9198), the turret instructional tower (ST9221 9197), the T1 Hangar (ST9251 9238), two Romney huts (ST9241 9240), and the lubricant and inflammable store (ST9219 9186). Further detailed information and photographs of these extant buildings can be found in source.

Source Detail: Historic England, Various

Title: National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) Entry

Summary: Data held by the NRHE database. The data is made available and licenced under the Open Government Licence version 3. Source ID: SWI29488

Description: The former First World War and Second World War military airfield, known as RAF Long Newnton. The majority of the Second World War buildings and structures have subsequently been removed or demolished, most by 1975. The site is private and its main use is for agricultural purposes.

Source Detail: Historic England,

Title: Historic England Archive (HEA) Oblique Aerial Photographs (MASTER)

Summary: No summary information. Source ID: SWI30705

Description: Part of the site of Long Newton Aerodrome is now covered by a solar farm. The solar farm sits within the southern part of the perimeter track covering approximately one third of the total airfield area. This feature was recorded from EH Reconnaissance aerial photographs of 2012.

Source Detail: English Heritage,

Title: NMR Aerial Photographs (master)

Summary: No summary information. Source ID: SWI9475

Description: The Second World War airfield referred to by the above authority is visible on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of The Cotswolds Hills NMP survey. The airfield comprises of the main airfield, with two runways and an outer peritrack. To the west of the airfield situated alongside the Fosse Way is the main and technical site (included in this record), with dispersed domestic sites located further to the west of the airfield and recorded separately. These included four airmen's quarters ST99SW 67/1517261, ST99SW 66/1517260 , ST99SW 65/1517259 , ST99SW 64/1517258 (ST9142 9264; ST 9176 9322, ST 9251 9324 and ST 9187 9261 respectively), the WAAF's quarters ST99SW 68/1517263 (ST 9173 9294), the Sick Quarters ST99SW 69/1517266 (ST 9203 9273), and the Communal Area ST99SW 70/1517267 (ST 9204 9291). The runways and peritrack have not been mapped as they are clearly shown in the 1979 Ordnance Survey Plan. The airfield had 10 blister hangars (ST9216 9208, ST 9219 9216, ST9227 9219 and ST 9234 9217); the other six were dispersed around the perimeter of the airfield to the southwest (ST9213 9161 and ST 9222 9153), south (ST9277 9151, ST 9285 9158 and ST9297 9163) and northeast (ST9336 9212) and one type T1 hangar (ST9251 9238). The airfield was used for ammunitions storage on aerial photographs taken in 1946.