RAF Thruxton
Royal Air Force Thruxton or more simply RAF Thruxton is a former Royal Air Force station located 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Andover, Hampshire and about 66 miles (106 km) southwest of London.
RAF Thruxton USAAF Station AAF-407 | |||||||||||||||
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Thruxton Airfield - May 1945. Already large numbers of combat aircraft being stored at the airfield, parked wingtip to wingtip on the grass areas, prior to their being returned to the United States. | |||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Thruxton, Hampshire | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 320 ft / 90 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°12′29″N 001°36′02″W | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
RAF Thruxton Location in Hampshire | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces.
During the war Thruxton was used primarily as a combat fighter airfield.
However, paratroops who participated in the Bruneval raid (Operation Biting) in which German radar technology was captured took off from here in Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers on the evening of 27 February 1942. Also, gliders used in the D-day landings operated from here.
After the war it was closed in 1946.
Today the site is occupied by the Thruxton Circuit. It remains an active aerodrome at the same time, now named Thruxton Aerodrome.