IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Bibury, CIRENCESTER, GL7 5FF

The airfield closed in 1950, and was later Mill Engineers in the 2000s, and is now the Classic Motor Hub. http://classicmotorhub.com/

The main site of RAF Bibury was situated either side of the road here. A blister hangar has been rebuilt on the left. The tractor, which has been spreading dung over newly harvested fields, is turning into Garnes Barn, where there are more relics of the WW2 airfield.

A view across the fields to the curiously named The Hanger Piece, the home of an engineering company. Some of the buildings remain from RAF Bibury. RAF Bibury was built in 1939 for use as a relief landing ground. In the Battle of Britain the airfield had very few buildings and a grass runway and was used to base detachments of fighter aircraft. The site was not used for flying after 1944 and was home to a maintenance unit until it closed in 1945. The walk starts at Arlington Corner and follows a footpath to Ablington, where the River Coln is crossed, and then a byway northeast to Saltway Barn. Another byway, the historic Salt Way, is then followed southeast before a right turn onto a bridleway which runs south past Hale Barn to Bibury. The River Coln is recrossed at Bibury Mill and a footpath is then followed back to the starting point. Just over 5 miles.

View looks southwards towards Ablington.

On a gatepost by the Salt Way near Bibury.

Although originally created on Ablington Down as a relief landing ground for training purposes RAF Bibury served as a Battle of Britain fighter station. During the summer of 1940 Hurricanes and Spitfires of 87 and 92 squadron were at various times based here. Indeed, the airfield was strafed by a Ju88 on the 19th August 1940 with one fatality. The German aircraft did not get far as it was subsequently shot down by Spitfires scrambled from RAF Bibury. A much more peaceful scene now.