Type

Monument

Title / Name

Zeals Aerodrome

Summary

A World War II aerodrome.

AIRFIELD, C20 (1941 to 1946)

Source Detail: Priddle, R., 2003

Title: Wings Over Wiltshire: An Aeronautical History of Wiltshire

Summary: Publication Source ID: SWI22354

Description: A World War II aerodrome building began in 1941, it was opened in 1942. It had three runways and a 50ft wide concrete perimeter track, with 30 hardstandings. A T1 hangar was built on the boundary close to the A303 road. There were 8 Over Blister hangars and a Control Tower with wind-sock. A Transmitter building, masts and antenna were sited close to the airfield off a lane leading to Pen Selwood. The majority of the domestic buildings were dispersed off of the airfield. There were eleven different sites including one with a purpose built hospital. A well was sunk to provide the base with water and there were water towers as well. The aerodrome was closed in June 1946 and was eventually returned to agriculture. Many of the Nissen huts were used as housing, the Flying control Tower is a private dwelling as is the former Armoury building. The gun butts and small Myacrete buildings are used for storage and numerous air-raid shelters survive. The airfield suffered from water logging and was out of commission for periods of the conflict. It was used by a succession of Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Army Air Force and Royal Navy crews. Source 1 gives unit details. The airfield closed in 1946.

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

Title: Military Airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945

Summary: No summary information. Source ID: SWI26227

Description: In December 1944 it was reportedly a ballon storage depot (not noted in the accounts of units in source 1). In 1985 the airfield site was used for agricultural purposes.