Yelverton Air Field

United Kingdom / England / Horrabridge-Yelverton /
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At the beginning of the Second World War, a large airfield was constructed at adjacent Harrabeer as a fighter station for the air defence of Devonport Dockyard and the Western Approaches. A 19th century terrace of houses, then mostly converted into shops, had to have its upper storey removed to provide an easier approach. One tall building which was not altered was Yelverton Church, but unfortunately the tower was hit by a plane, resulting in a warning light being fitted. The layout of the runways are still very clear and although these are substantially grassed over the many earth and brick protective bunkers built to protect the fighters from attack on the ground, are all still in place. Many American airman and anti-aircraft battery units were stationed here during the second half of the war.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yelverton,_Devon
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   50°29'25"N   4°5'54"W

Comments

  • The majority of active, rescue, and fighting air and flight crew stationed at RAF Harrabeer were drawn from British/Canadian volunteers and conscripts, Polish volunteers and Czechoslovak volunteers. These were later supplemented by some from other origins as above.
This article was last modified 11 years ago