| Summary : A former World War Two military airfield, part of the site is now a museum. The airfield's main role was as an Aircraft Storage Unit Site for the storage of reserve aircraft. Construction work on the airfield began in 1939 and it was opened in 1940. In that year perimeter defences were also constructed, as the airfield was also used for an aircraft factory for the assembly of aircaft to supply Battle of Britain units (and later also naval planes and gliders for the Allied invasion of Europe). For details of the defences, please see records 1376059, 1416416, 1416417, 1416425, 1416439, 1416464 and 1419564. A range of aircraft hangars were provided, dispersed around the edge of the airfield to minimise potential damage from enemy raids. For the same reason aircraft dispersal fields were situated away from the main flying field. Surviving aircraft hangars at Wroughton include four Type D, four Type L and two austerity versions of Type C designs. During the war there were also 27 Robin aircraft hangars. During the course of the war, the airfield was improved, with the addition of 3 concrete runways between 1941 and 1944. Parts of the main airfield continued to be used by the military in the Post-War period, however in the 1960s the outlying dispersals were sold back to farmers. In 1972 the airfield transferred to the Royal Navy as Royal Naval Aircraft Yard Wroughton and continued to function into the 1990s. From 1980 hangars on the northern side of the airfield were taken over by The Science Museum Wroughton. |
More information : Wroughton, Wiltshire. A former World War Two military airfield, now part of the site is a museum. The airfield's main role was as n Aircraft Storage Unit Site for the storage of reserve aircraft, one of 24 such facilities built between 1936-1940. After Kemble, Wroughton is the best preserved example of such a site, but does not have quite the same range of typology of buildings. Construction work on the airfield began in 1939 and it was opened in 1940. In that year perimeter defences were also constructed, as the airfield also was used for an aircraft factory for the assembly of Hurricane aircaft to supply Battle of Britain units (and later also naval planes and gliders for the Allied invasion of Europe). By 1942 700 people were employed in the final assembly of aircraft. A range of aircraft hangars were provided, dispersed around the edge of the airfield to minimise potential damage from enemy raids. Surviving aircraft hangars at Wroughton include four Type D, four Type L and two austerity versions of Type C designs. During the course of the war, the airfield was improved with the addition of 3 concrete runways between 1941 and 1944. (1)
A map of RAF Wroughton as it would have appeared in 1945 has been published in Airfield Review: this shows dispersal fields to the north-east, south-east, south-west and west away from the main flying field, with additional, more formally arranged dispersal areas marked to the east of the flying field. (2)
Wroughton Airfield, Wilshire, SU 139 786. The wartime hangar compliment was 2 Type B, three type C, 4 type D, 7 Type L and 27 Robin design. Part of the accommodation for personnel was permanent. (3)
The airfield continued to be used by the military in the Post-War period, however in the 1960s the outlying dispersals were sold back to farmers. In 1972 the airfield transferred to the Royal Navy as Royal Naval Aircraft Yard Wroughton and continued to function into the 1990s. From 1980 hangars on the northern side of the airfield were taken over by The Science Museum Wroughton. (4)
The Science Museum Wroughton includes storage facilities for part of the National Collections of The Science Museum, with 18,000 objects stored in 5 hangars. The museum website provides information on the museum and its collection including some virtual online displays. (5)
RAF Wroughton (No.15 MU) is one of twenty four Maintenance Units that were built by the Air Ministry during the Second World War. Its construction was planned before the war and the airfield opened in April 1940. In 1941, a second unit, MU No. 76, was set up at Wroughton to handle the packing of aircraft into crates for transport overseas. The airfield's principal role was aircraft maintenance and storage unit and more than 7,000 aircraft were modified, serviced or repaired there during the war. It was also involved in the assembly of aircraft to supply Battle of Britain units, and became the final assembly point, in the second half of 1943, for many naval planes and gliders used in the Allied invasion of Europe. After the War, Wroughton continued its maintenance function until it closed as a military airfield in 1978.
Wroughton airfield retains a number of military structures including Type B, C, D and L hangars, and ancillary buildings such as guardhouse, parachute packing shop and boiler house. (6)
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