RAF Merston
RAF Merston![]() | |
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Near Chichester in the United Kingdom | |
![]() Aerial photograph of RAF Merston on 21 September 1946 | |
![]() ![]() RAF Merston Location of RAF Merston within West Sussex | |
Coordinates | 50°49′13″N 0°44′37″W / 50.8203°N 0.7435°WCoordinates: 50°49′13″N 0°44′37″W / 50.8203°N 0.7435°W |
Site information | |
Operator | ![]() |
Site history | |
Built | May 1941 |
Demolished | 13 November 1945 |
Events | World War II |
Royal Air Force Merston or more simply RAF Merston is a former Royal Air Force station located in West Sussex, England.
History[]
RAF Merston was built In May 1941, as a grass airfield satellite to the neighbouring RAF Tangmere. The site was used by RAF fighter squadrons from May 1941 to August 1942. The site briefly closed for redevelopment in from August 1942 until its reopening in May 1943 as an RAF fighter station. It was used by the Royal Navy as a storage site for surplus war equipment until it closed on 13 November 1945.[1][2]
Units[]
The following units were here at some point:[2]
- No. 41 Squadron RAF[3]
- No. 80 Squadron RAF
- No. 118 Squadron RAF
- No. 124 Airfield
- No. 130 Squadron RAF
- No. 131 Squadron RAF
- No. 145 (French) Airfield
- No. 145 (French) (Fighter) Wing RAF
- No. 145 Squadron RAF
- No. 174 Squadron RAF
- No. 181 Squadron RAF
- No. 182 Squadron RAF
- No. 184 Squadron RAF
- No. 229 Squadron RAF
- No. 232 Squadron RAF
- No. 247 Squadron RAF
- No. 274 Squadron RAF
- No. 303 Squadron RAF
- 307th Fighter Squadron
- No. 329 Squadron RAF
- No. 340 Squadron RAF
- No. 341 Squadron RAF
- No. 402 Squadron RAF
- No. 412 Squadron RAF
- No. 416 Squadron RAF
- No. 421 Repair & Salvage Unit
- No. 485 Squadron RAF
- No. 2701 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2703 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2720 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2723 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2742 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2757 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2761 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2762 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2765 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2766 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2767 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2790 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2795 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2803 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2813 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2956 Squadron RAF Regiment
- Air Sea Rescue Flight RAF, Merston/Westhampnett (1941) [4]
References[]
Citations[]
- ^ "Merston". American Air Museum. Imperial War Museum. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Merston". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 38.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 22.
Bibliography[]
- Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
Categories:
- Royal Air Force stations in West Sussex