Disused near Witney?

[tmmorris]

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.823877&lon=-1.516104&z=16.3&r=0&src=msa

Is this a disused? Northwest of Witney. Running through the middle is the Roman Road Akeman Street.

Or was it a decoy?

Tim
(PS always wondered about this, too, south of Chipping Norton:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.924385&lon=-1.527791&z=16.7&r=0&src=msa)

[BEagle]

Yes, that's the disused aerodrome 'Akeman Street', which first opened in July 1940 as an RLG for Brize. It closed in Feb 1947.

The other aerodrome, (just south of Chateau Jeremy Clarkson), was also opened in July 1940 as RAF Chipping Norton. It closed in Dec 1945 and was disposed of in the 1950s.

Also, inside or very close to the Brize CTR, you will find the disused aerodromes of Broadwell, Kelmscot, Kingston Bagpuize, Shellingford, Southrop, Stanton Harcourt, and of course, Witney itself.

[Wee Jock McPlop]

Just had a nosey over at Upper Heyford. Can't believe the number of cars still parked there. Surely they can't be still Rovers and MGs stored there? Waste of a bloody good airfield - pity about the electricals.

[tmmorris]

Thanks BEagle - yes, I was aware of the vast majority of the ones you list. (Indeed I had rather a nice view of Broadwell several times sitting in the back of a Merlin doing radar approaches to Brize - there are some consolations to working with cadets :-) )

Never managed to find Kelmscot, though, from the air or on the ground. (I know where the village is... where's the airfield?)

Tim

[BEagle]

Kelmscot had a small grass landing strip only. It was used as an RLG by pilots practising Beam Approaches from Watchfield.

It was immediately north of Kelmscot village - I can't see any evidence of it on Google Earth - perhaps it was the field which borders the B4449 immediately north of Kelmscot?

Kate Moss International airport seems to have vanished!