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RAF Duxford
RAF Duxford was built as an RAF fighter base in 1918, twinned with nearby Fowlmere. It was home to 8 Squadron in 1919-20, then 2 FTS. 19 Squadron was formed at Duxford on 1 April 1924 and were the first Squadron to re-equip with the Mk1 Spitfire in 1938.
Duxford was operational during the Battle of Britain, involved in the 'Big Wing' controversy. RAF Fighter Command Squadrons operating from the station included: 19, 56, 66, 111, 133, 181, 195, 222, 242, 264, 266, 310 312, 601, 609, 611, AFDU.
Duxford was handed over to USAAF 350th FG 10/42 flying P-39 Airacobras. The 78th FG took over 04/43 flying P-47 until late 1944, then P-51D's until November 1945.
RAF took control from 01/12/45 until closure 01/08/61, flying Meteors, Hunters and Javelins.
In 1968 Duxford was used in the film 'The Battle of Britain' during which a Belfast Truss hangar was blown up.
Today the station is home to the Imperial War Museum.
September 1939 Convoy patrols
3rd September 1939 Experimental radar
16th January 1940 New Spitfires damaged in snow
25th April 1940 On patrol
27th April 1940 Aircraft refitted
12th May 1940 Sweep over the Netherlands
13th May 1940 Dogfight over Holland
16th May 1940 Relocated
25th May 1940 Dunkirk
25th May 1940 Retired for repairs
2nd June 1940 Big Wing
4th June 1940 Armour plating
5th June 1940 Return to Duxford
24 July 1940 Relocated
16th Aug 1940 Bombers intercepted
27th Aug 1940 Air Raid
30th Oct 1940 Re-equipped
21st May 1941 Training
13th June 1941 Damaged by mid-air explosion
26th June 1941 On the Move
25th August 1941 Operational
1st October 1941 Re-equipped
30th March 1942 Back into combat operations
1st September 1942 New fighter Squadron formed
12th Sep 1942 Aircraft
27th September 1942 Pilot killed in aerobatic practice
16th November 1942 New Squadron formed
19th November 1942 New Squadron relocated
28th November 1942 Operational
10th December 1942 Typhoons relocated
20th December 1942 Pilot killed on the day of relocation for ops
22nd January 1943 Oil installations
23rd January 1943 Aerobatics
1st March 1943 Exercise Spartan
5th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
5th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
6th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
6th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
7th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
7th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
8th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
8th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
8th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
9th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
9th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
9th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
10th March 1943 Detachments
10th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
10th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ended
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ended
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ends
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ends
25th March 1943 Offensive role over France
27th March 1943 Relocation disrupted
30th March 1943 Typhoons arrive at new base
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served at RAF Duxford during the Second World War 1939-1945. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to know more about RAF Duxford? There are:60 items tagged RAF Duxford available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Sydney Whitcombe DFC. 195 Squadron My father Sydney Whitcombe did not talk much about his experiences of his service in the RAF.
He was a navigator for the 195 Squadron and received the DFC for his bravery.
Interestingly enough he was at first a conscientious objector when war broke out, later joining the RAF having spent most of the initial years dragging bodies from bombed buildings in London. I have a photograph of him and some of his crew with their names but would love to find out more about anyone connected to the 195 squadron and any other photographs.
The names of the crew members were:
Frank Wilcock (wireless operator)
Len Parsons (bomber)
‘Paddy’ (air gunner)
Stan Renaut (air gunner)
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Ft.Sgt. Arthur Raymond Veal 601 Squadron Ray Veal was my father and he served as ground crew in 601 Squadron throughout WW2. Before and during the Battle of Britain he was based at various locations in the south of England including Duxford where he met my mother. He then went to Africa and followed the allied campaign through Egypt and North Africa, then across to Sicily and Italy.
He survived the war and led a full family life until his death aged 92. He was very proud of his service and the squadron and never missed an opportunity to show us the planes and engines that he worked on. Although he must have seen harrowing times he talked mostly of the comradeship and adventure that he experienced.
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Harry Barr My father, Harry Barr, was stationed at Duxford during WWII. He was with the USAAF, but flew Spitfires as well as P39s.
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F/Lt. William Radcliffe Assheton DFC. 222 Squadron  William Assheton was born on 12th December 1917 in Kent and attended Sherborne School in Dorset. He went on to study Electrical Engineering at Jesus College, Cambridge but before completing his degree he joined the RAF on a short service commission in early 1939.
He was posted to 222 Squadron at Duxford in early November.
In August 1940 the squadron was at Hornchurch when the Battle of Britain began. On the 30th Assheton crash-landed at Bekesbourne Aerodrome in Spitfire R6720 after combat over Canterbury.
On 11th September he made a forced-landing on Parsonage Farm, Fletching, in Spitfire R6638, after an action over the Maidstone area
Assheton's third escape came on 20th September when he baled out with slight burns, after being shot down in a surprise attack by Me109's over the Thames Estuary. He landed at Latchington and was admitted to St. Peter's Hospital, Maldon. His Spitfire, K9993, crashed and burned out at Linkhouse Farm, West Hanningfield.
In 1945 Assheton was awarded the DFC (gazetted 10th April 1945) for service with 540 Squadron, a Mosquito photographic-reconnaissance unit.
He remained in the RAF after the war, graduated from the RAF Staff College and retired on 22nd November 1957 as a Squadron Leader.
He then moved to Spain where he died in November 2009.
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Aldridge "Finn" Haddock No. 181 Squadron Aldridge Haddock was a pilot with No. 181 Squadron at RAF Duxford. His Typhoon fighter-bomber was shot down over northern France by five Me109s in July 1943, but he was able to parachute to safety. Although initially sheltered by the French Resistance, he was eventually captured and held in Stalag Luft III, the POW camp made famous in the movie The Great Escape.
His obituary reads: Doctor Aldridge
"Finn" Haddock, wartime fighter pilot, doctor and artist extraordi-naire, has died peacefully at his Grimsby home after a long illness.
He was a general practitioner in the town for many years, but was perhaps just as well-known for his night-
mare-style paintings
which some attribute to his wartime experiences.
Born and educated in County Durham, he started his career as a fighter pilot in the RAF, doing much of his initial training in the United. States. He was eventually posted to 181 squadron at RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire.
But in July 1943 while on an airfield destroying mission over Northern France his Typhoon fighter-bomber developed engine trouble and was shot down by a formation of five Me109s. He parachuted to safety with only seconds
to spare as his plane
crashed in flames just metres away.
He was eventually picked up by the French Resistance and hid out in several locations for several months. He once travelled about disguised as a football player.
But he was eventually captured by the Germans while hiding out in a large Chateau. Without a uniform or proper identity, he was accused of being a spy and relentlessly interrogated and tortured by the Gestapo to reveal the names of those who hid him and their escape routes.
Despite threats of execution and extreme pain he steadfastly refused to give in.
Dr Haddock was later sent to Stalag Luft III, the camp of Great Escape fame, from where only a few months earlier 50 of the 72 original escapers were shot.
After the war he pursued his original ambition to become a doctor, training at Durham University.
In 1958 he moved south to Grimsby setting up a general practice at Dudley Street where he remained until his retirement in 1992. He was also company doctor for a number of firms including SCM Chemicals and United Biscuits.
A long-time friend, Sdn Ldr Tony Smith, said "He enriched the lives of many people and always had a willingness to help others. In particular he will be remembered for his generosity and his irrepressible zest for life".
An accomplished
artist whose paintings portrayed a distillation of his life, especially his time under torture, Dr Haddock had 32 one-man exhibitions. His works are now held in
private collections
throughout the world including Paris and New York.
He was also a keen sportsman from his earliest days and was well-known in local golfing, squash, tennis and rugby circles.
Dr Haddock leaves a wife, Patricia, daughter Jamanda, son Alexander and three grandchildren. The funeral will be held at St Giles' Church, Scartho at a date still to be announced.
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