Welcome to our Coastal Command series. This is Chapter 9 – RAF Thorney Island.
In this chapter we look at the role of the RAF Coastal Command airfield at Thorney Island.
No 487 Squadron RAF Thorney Island 1944 – Courtesy of New Zealand Bomber Command Association
From the outset of this series, the airfield at Thorney Island has remained prominent and been mentioned in almost every chapter. So, whilst recognising that other Coastal Command airfields also played prominent roles in the war, we decided to tell you about the history of this particular location and how it was used as a Coastal Command forward operating airfield throughout World War Two.
We hear about the aircraft, the squadrons and the stories.
Note the attempt to camouflage the airfield and runways as hedge and field patterns. Photo by No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (c) IWM
The research we undertook is authentic, but we are grateful to Robin Brooks. His book ‘Sussex Airfields in the Second World War’ became the spark for Pieter to research the airfield in more detail.
So, here is the story of RAF Thorney Island, a Coastal Command airfield, researched by Pieter Johnson and read by Gareth Stringer.
Recorded January 2022
Contact Us: GetInvolved@aviation-Xtended.co.uk
Listen now using the Xtended media player:
https://aviation-xtended.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Ep-132-Coastal-Command-9-RAF-Thorney-Island.mp3 You can also download this episode of Xtended by clicking below:
Xtended can also be found on Apple podcasts, the Google Podcast app and wherever else you normally listen to your favourite shows.
Please remember to rate us and leave comment if you can – it really helps!
Click on the relevant logo if it is your podcast player of choice:
Robin Brooks
Derrik Armson Oral History © IWM 32066
ROYAL AIR FORCE COASTAL COMMAND, 1939-1945. (CH 4774) Groundcrew scraping snow from a Lockheed Hudson of No. 233 Squadron RAF at Thorney Island, Hampshire. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210133
PO Johnson on Xtended Episode 73
Stuka Attack – Andy Saunders
RAF WEB
Ground staff prepare a No. 233 Squadron Hudson for flight in freezing conditions at Thorney Island, 19 January 1942. The ‘hot air van’ has been brought in to warm up the engines and de-ice the cockpit windscreen.
Series Supporters
• Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html
• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/
• Osprey Books https://ospreypublishing.com
• Helion Books https://www.helion.co.uk/
Aviation Xtended Partners
Show Supporters
You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):
For aviation and aerospace podcasts join:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo