RAF Abingdon

RAF Abingdon stands on the edge of Wootton, a village south-west of Oxford. The airfield opened in 1932 as a base for light bombers and grew into a busy station with several squadrons. Oxford University Air Squadron arrived soon after, followed by training units and bomber flights. By the mid-1930s the station hosted up to two squadrons at a time, expanding into a larger group before many units moved elsewhere. The station played a key role during the Second World War. Two bomber squadrons trained here before forming an operational training unit that stayed until 1946. After the war it became part of Transport Command and housed the Parachute Training School. Films such as The Red Beret and Carve Her Name With Pride used the airfield for scenes. The station also supported the Berlin Airlift and later maintained jet aircraft like the Jaguar and Hawk. Today Dalton Barracks occupies the site. The old hangars and runways remain, though flying has ended. Visitors can walk past the control tower and maintenance buildings where aircraft once stood. The broad tarmac still stretches across the flat ground, framed by the Berkshire Downs in the distance.