New Forest airfields

During WW II, hundreds of airfield existed in the UK, and here is a great map where you can see them all. 

Close to home, there were about a dozen airfields in the New Forest; the precise number depends on what you consider an 'airfield'. The largest four were Stoney Cross, Beaulieu, Ibsley and Holmsley South. One day last month, we drove by each of them, to see what's still left. 

RAF Stoney Cross

We have spent quite a lot of time on Stoney Cross over the years, as it's the site where we practice our sport kite pair-flying. But that's not relevant for this blog post, other than that we're well aware of its history and layout.

First a schematic of what was where on the airfield in the 1940s, and an aerial photo of what the site looks like now. 

There's an information board next to one of the two car parks given some background. 

From the air, the runways are still clearly visible, and, if you know where they are, you can also see them on the ground.

Here and there along where the runways were are still remnants to be found. 

Ocknell camping makes use of the hardstands that were used to station the aircraft.

I couldn't find any information as to whether Spitfires were ever stationed at Stoney Cross, and this was confirmed by the Friends of the New Forest Airfields. Of course, that doesn't rule out that, on occasion, a Spitfire landed and took off there.  

RAF Beaulieu

First again the schematics then and an aerial photo now.

An information is present at the east side of the airfield. 

If you know what you're looking for, you can still sort of see where the runways were ...

... but the old airfield is mostly covered in heather, gorse (and ponies).

At the eastern side, a small stretch of one of the runways is still present. 

No Spits are known to be stationed at Beaulieu Heath, but, as I mentioned before, they may well have landed there occasionally. 

RAF Ibsley

Schematic and aerial photograph first again. 

Basically, nothing is left of Ibsley airfield; it's all under the Blashford Lakes now, except a control tower on private land.

Spitfires definitely flew from Ibsley! There is a photo of a Spit taking off from Ibsley

And at the northeast corner of where the airfield used to be is a memorial dedicated to the people lived, flew, fought, and died there.

This confirms indeed that several squadrons flying Spitfires were stationed at Ibsley.

RAF Holmsley South

Last of the four big New Forest airfield; first again a schematic and an aerial photo.

An information board is situated along the south-west - north-east runway.

And that long south-west - north-east runway is still very clearly visible.

A stretch of the north-west - south-east runway is still in place.

Spitfires definitely flew from Holmsley, as is clear from the general Airfield Memorial situated a little west of the airfield. 

If you want to know a bit more about WW II airfields in the New Forest, there is this neat little book: