Do you have more uptodate information about down ampney. The event was organised by the rev canon john swanton the vicar of all saints church, down ampney. To conclude the down ampney history i must record that on vj day 1945 when everyone was so relieved that we were not going to japan because of the atomic bomb being dropped, there was a. Operation market garden 75th anniversary raf down ampney. There is also a memorial stone to personnel who served at raf down ampney at the end of the old airfield.
Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of down ampney ho. Photograph taken by 7th photographic reconnaissance group, sortie number us7phgploc97. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner.
The ceremony took place to mark the 75th anniversary of the operation at all saints church, down ampney, adjacent to the disused raf airfield. During the second world war, the raf down ampney airfield was a base for planes seeing active service in the war. I note that you have not listed raf down ampney, an airfield set up for the d day landings. It was from here that raf 48 and 271 squadrons douglas dakotas on major missions. Do you have any photos taken at or near down ampney. Aerial photograph of down ampney airfield looking south west, the bomb dump is to the lower left of the airfield, the technical site and barrack sites are to the right, 4 december 1943.
The airfield operated during world war ii from february 1944 until february 1947. It was constructed along with broadwell and blakehill farm airfields to serve transport squadrons of 46 group in the allied invasion of normandy. Peter, a parish, in the union of stratfordonavon, upper division of the hundred of kiftsgate, e. There are 3 ways to get from reading to down ampney by train, taxi or car. This memorial is located at the site of the former down ampney airfield. History of down ampney, in cotswold and gloucestershire. From stoke orchard to temple guiting, northleach to bibury, its believed there are around 50 disused airfield sites in the county. Airfield historical research group an airbritain monograph. Raf down ampney was a royal air force station during world war ii. Down ampney ho photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries.
Come down o love divine is a hymn that is loved around the world. Church of england diocese of gloucester down ampney all saints church, down ampney, gloucestershire, gl7 5qw welcome to the parish of down ampney, which. Raf down ampney simple english wikipedia, the free. Down ampney itself was home to over 3,000 service personnel during the second world war as an raf based was here from 19441947. Collect photos, maps, memories and books of interest to you. At the other end of the village there is a the base of an old preaching cross, which is an historic monument. Reading to down ampney 3 ways to travel via train, taxi.
Down ampney tune by ralph vaughan williams to come. Ampney down, or downampney, a parish in cirencester district, gloucester. The site of a world war two military airfield opened in 1944 and closed in 19461947. Did you know that there are dozens of abandoned airfields in gloucestershire.
One year on, down ampney villager and ww2 down ampney airfield expert, david job shared with us his memories of the vigil held at the arnhem memorial, at the site of the gates to the airfield, to remember 70 years since the dday landings. It has a post office under cricklade, which is the money order and. First of all we flew to cricklade and blakehill farm and then circled down ampney airfield surprisingly in good condition with the dispersals, runways and. Media in category down ampney the following 48 files are in this category, out of 48 total. Raf down ampney was a royal air force station located 1.
Raf down ampney raf down ampney was a royal air force station. Guide to ampney, gloucestershire ancestry, family history, and genealogy. During the second world war, the raf down ampney airfield was a. I am currently researching the airfields of gloucestershire for an interactive display at the jet age museum, staverton and found your site most interesting.
The airfield was part of a group of three airfields. Bbc exploring gloucestershires abandoned airfields. The job of these three airfields was to transport move things by air. True, there isnt a lot there but ive been lucky enough to. Raf down ampney was a royal air force station located north east of cricklade, wiltshire and south west of raf fairford.
In september 1944 douglas dakotas towing horsa gliders took off from raf down ampney as part of operation market garden to take the arnhem bridges a bridge too far. An airfield was built at down ampney and the village became engulfed in a huge base to service it. Munster and their home base at down ampney in gloucestershire. In august 1946, biggin hill was handed to reserve command, under whose control it remained until november 1949, when it. The pretty cotswold village of down ampney is best known as the birthplace of composer ralph vaughan williams. Raf down ampney in the second world war 19391945 the.
Stoke orchard, chedworth, moretoninmarsh, little rissington, barnsley park, bibury, northleach, windrush, southrop, down ampney, fairford, south cerney. Amazing the history of the airfield and the unit that served there. Mar 22, 2020 browse and book from the best vacation rentals with prices in down ampney and nearby. These superbly detailed maps provide an authoritive and fascinating insight into the history and gradual development of our cities, towns and villages. Despite the shaft and head being later than the other parts of the cross, the village cross at down ampney survives well with many of its original elements intact in what is likely to be its original location. Down ampney, gloucestershire genealogy heraldry and history. Heritage list entry summary for pilgrims the old vicarage. Come down o love divine down ampney performed by the.
Also within the church are tombs to members of the powerful hungerford family although their. Despite taking up a brief space in the long history of the village, the airfield and its memories still loom large. Rvw was baptised here, and named his most famous hymn tune after it. The two had taken off from raf down ampney behind dakotas of 48 squadron. The down ampney arnhem association, in which the 48 and 271 squadron associations played a vital part, holds a service in all. All saints church, down ampney, gloucestershire, gl7 5qw. The seventieth anniversary of dday was celebrated with a vigil at. Its position in the centre of the village makes it an imposing monument and landmark. Staff sergeant bruce hobbs dfm in glider 266 was carrying six men. The cooperative farms down ampney estate cricklade model flying club. Ampney, down all saints, a parish, in the union of cirencester, chiefly in the hundred of crowthorne and minety, e. Old maps of down ampney historic maps of the down ampney area.
The other two were raf broadwell and raf blakehill farm. This particular version is performed by the world renowned choir of kings college. Down ampney was built in february 1944 and it was closed down in. Down ampney was built in february 1944 and it was closed down in february 1947. Bbc ww2 peoples war my time with 271 squadron chapter 3. It is relatively flat, and consists largely of arable and vegetative land. Ampney st peter, gloucestershire genealogy genealogy. There is a fascinating exhibit on down ampney s favourite son in the tower of all saints church. Only active for 3 years but an interesting history. A portion of this parish lies in the northern division of the adjoining county of wilts,and in the hundred of highworth. Raf down ampney in the second world war, the wartime memories project. The units that used down ampney were 271 and 48 squadrons. Royal air force station biggin hill biggin hill website. The following organisations are either based at, use andor have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield as at 010720.
A handful of them, such as fairford and staverton, are still in use, but most fell into disuse after world war ii. Scroll down in the article to the section court jurisdictions by parish. Geology the site is underlain by superficial deposits of the thames valley formation, which are composed primarily of. Ralph vaughan williams was born in the village of down ampney in 1872, and his father was vicar of all saints church. During the second world war, raf down ampney was based on the outskirts of the village of down ampney and was operational from february 1944 february 1947. Down ampney airfields of britain conservation trust uk.
Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. A tune he composed, used for the hymn come down, o love divine, is titled down ampney in its honour. Raf down ampney dispersed sites 14 photos in su0996. The old vicarage in down ampney was the birthplace of ralph vaughan williams in 1872. Vacation rentals in down ampney, england tripadvisor. As air commodore graham pitchfork points out in his book shot down and in the drink, four were forced down in the north sea. Down ampney was part of a group of airfields dedicated to air transportation, alongside raf broadwell and raf blakehill farm. Gloucestershire airfields and memorials airfield gallery.