"Welcome to Bovingdon Airfield Site" Information Notice

Image: © David Hillas Taken: 27 Aug 2020

This information notice is located on the B4505 Chesham Road, and is maintained by Bovingdon Parish Council. It has the following wording: WELCOME TO BOVINGDON AIRFIELD SITE Before you lies the site of Bovingdon Airfield, first used by the American 8th Air Force in 1942, ceasing operation as an airfield by the RAF in 1968. The airfield was constructed for use by heavy bombers by John Laing Ltd. the depth of concrete on the main runway being some 1.8m (6 feet). American B.17 bombers, known as 'Flying Fortress' flew out of Bovingdon; the most well known being 'Memphis Belle', you may remember the film. At the end of WW2 Bovingdon became airport for London before Heathrow Airport was built. The airfield also played its part in the 1948-9 Berlin airlift (see the commemorative plaque on the Village Memorial Hall). Left Column Photo: Bovingdon March 1944 Dispersal points for the bombers radiated out from the airfield reaching Whelpley Hill. Due to close proximity to London the airfield was used by US Air Transport Command, flying in not only high ranking commanders such as General Eisenhower but entertainers such as Clark Gable, Bob Hope and Glenn Miller. At the end of WW2 many thousands of Americans returned home via Bovingdon in its role as the base of their European Air Transport Service. Photo: Bob Hope Troupe Middle Column Image: Badge of US 8th Air Force - WW2 Photo: B.17 bomb loading at Bovingdon Image: Badge of US Strategic Air Command Map of Bovingdon Airfield and Village Photo: Bovingdon VORbeacon The airspace above the airfield and nearby Chesham is known as the Bovingdon stack and is a holding area for aircraft approaching Heathrow Airport, a VOR navigational beacon is sited on the airfield. Image: Cherries One time a plane crashed loaded with cherries, the strewn fruit was enjoyed by villagers for days afterwards. Right Column Image: Ensign of the Royal Air Force Photo: Control Tower, Bovingdon Airfield The control tower operated traffic lights on Chesham Road, halting vehicles so aircraft could take off and land. Photo: Mitchell Bomber 'Brenda's Boys' The airfield today is a favourite location of film makers, being used for Harry Potter, Star Wars, 633 Squadron and Sherlock. The picture shows one of the Mitchell bombers used in 'Hanover Street' starring Harrison Ford. Part of the site, now managed by the Box Moor Trust, adjacent to Bovingdon Green was home to some of the many Nissen huts. Image: MOD map of operational airfield.

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