RAF Down Ampney

[Shaun]

Hi all,

I am trying to get some time to visit the old airfield at Down Ampney to see where 181 ALFA took off from. Will update when i go.

[brian]

look forward to it good ariel shots on google earth !

[Shaun]

After a few problems at home... I am planning on visiting Down Ampney next weekend. Is there anything anyone would like me to get photos of?

[brian]

any remaing buildings etc

[Shaun]

Hi Brian,

Will do!

Have had a quick google Earth (Aint this just great for reccie!! Eh?!) And have seen it is quite close to Fairford and the dual carraige way. So should be easy to find.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=raf%20down%20ampney&gbv=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Shaun

[brian]

Typical A frame pattern , i spy with my little eye a wartime airfield! had a quick look round upottery , and Dunkerswell last week , Upottery has not got much there and is on private land but Dunkerswell on the other hand is well worth a visit still plenty left to see !

[Shaun]

Sadly now this will have to wait till next weekend, as someone struck the side of my car and is currently being repaired!!

[Shaun]

Well I managed to get RAF Down Ampney today, the airfield itself was very hard to find as you will see later the actual airfield is now on private property (CO-OP Farm!). The route itself was only off the A419 once off this road it was a quick 10 min drive to, what was the airfield now a farm. But no sign of the Memorial.... Following my instinct I drove on round following a, what looked like an old taxi track... I ended up going through the village which sits right next to the airfield... Again I followed the road towards where I thought the airfield would have continued. Slowly losing hope that I would find the memorial. I came to a gate which had a sign for the memorial!!! The memorial itself was in a very quite spot and I spent a few minutes in my own thoughts thinking about the guys from 181 ALFA who flew from here. However it is hard to work out where the runway is as new trees have been planted....

Here are the photos enjoy!!!
Coming off A419


Signpost for Down Ampney


The Start of the taxi track


The Farm


The Farm


One of many aircraft manovering areas or taxi ways or even part of a runway that was locked away.


And another


Down Ampney Village


Local Walks through the area


Memorial sign


Memorial in distance.


Bench


Memorial Stone


Me looking at stone


Wording on stone

[brian]

Nice one mate shame some arsehole had to vandalise the map with walks pathways on have a look with google earth it is amazeing what you can still see

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