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Aerial photo of Chalgrove taken 1956
Chalgrove Common, as it was known, was considered an ideal site for an Airfield during World War
Two. Construction began during 1943 and it was designated Station 465 for the United States Army
Air Force (9th Air Force) which was being transferred from North African Operations. This was a
Tactical Air Force 'building up' its operational strength towards the intended invasion of German
Occupied Europe. Early January 1944 saw Units of the 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group arriving
with four Squadrons of Lockheed F5 (Lightning) and a Flight of Douglas F3's for Night Photography.
Their task was to photograph all areas of the occupied countries that were to become potential invasion
sites, also to record, the results of raids on important targets by the 9th Air Force's Tactical Bomber
Squadrons. In addition to these, dangerous low level 'Dicing Missions', as they were known, were
also flown along the proposed invasion beaches photographing the enemy defences.
Three F3 (Havoc) of the 155th Flight were the first aircraft to fly over Normandy on the night of the 5th
June 1944 photographing any possible movement by the German Army; none were reported. After a
'foothold' had been established in Normandy the whole Group transferred to airfields in France by
August 1944.
Following their departure four Squadrons of C47 Transport Aircraft were based at Chalgrove together
with Pathfinder Paratroops of the 101st Airborne division, U.S. Army. The 'Pathfinders' were
parachuted into Holland for the 'Market Garden' operation in September. Later some of the survivors
returned to Chalgrove.
Lockheed
F5s of the 33rd Photo
Reconnaissance Squadron in 1944
The next
vital operation was the resupplying of the beleaguered U.S. Army at
Bastogne during the 'Battle of the Bulge'. Pathfinder troops were 'dropped' first to mark the correct drop zones to receive
essential supplies being carried by the on following C47 Squadrons. This period around the end of
1944, was the Airfields busiest during its 18 months of operations. All these squadrons and troops had
departed from the airfield by March 1945.
April 1945
then saw the arrival of the 7th P.R.G., U.S.A.A.F. from Mount
Farm (Berinsfield), shortly before
the
end of the
hostilities. All the U.S.A.A.F. personnel had left
Chalgrove by October 1945.R.A.F. Chalgrove finally became a satellite of R.A.F. Benson with a small contingent of airmen based
here for a few months.
At the same time, from 1946 onwards the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited had received M.O.D.
permission to use the airfield for aircraft ejection seat trials. Still based here today they are now the
world's leading ejection seat manufacturers. The Martin Baker website can be accessed by clicking here
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