Originally Posted by tonker
Interesting thread. I instructed locally for a time and always wondered about this fields origins and history.
About 5 miles south west next to and east abeam the M5 are the remnants i believe of another field quite visible from the motorway. The hangers and part of the runway can be seen and 1/4 mile SSW is the outline of a runway NE/SW.
Any information would be appreciated.
http://multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?cl...p.x=187&up.y=3
You are referring to RAF Moreton Valence.
11/39 to /41, Opened as RAF Haresfield landing ground with Avro Ansons from the No. 6 Air Observers Navigation School at Staverton. Airfield then closed while it was rebuilt and upgraded.
9/41 to 12/44, Reopened as RAF Moreton Valence and part of 6 AONS moved here, renamed No. 6 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit 6/43.
12/44 to 12/45, No. 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit with Oxfords.
10/43 to 7/62, Gloster flight test factory opened, test flying Meteors (and a Bell Airacomet in 1943) and post-war, Javelins.
It closed in 1962.
When the M5 was built the (by now disused) main runway became the main
carriageway of the motorway.
Javelins taking off from Moreton Valence
Mel