RAF Holmsley South
Royal Air Force station in Hampshire, England / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Royal Air Force Holmsley South or more simply RAF Holmsley South is a former Royal Air Force station in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Christchurch, Dorset; about 90 miles (140 km) southwest of London
RAF Holmsley South USAAF Station AAF-455 | |||||||||||
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New Milton, Hampshire in England | |||||||||||
Coordinates | 50°47′18″N 001°41′58″W | ||||||||||
Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||||
Code | HM | ||||||||||
Site information | |||||||||||
Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||
Operator | Royal Air Force 1942-44 & 1944- United States Army Air Forces 1944 | ||||||||||
Controlled by | RAF Coastal Command 1942-44 RAF Fighter Command 1944 RAF Transport Command 1944-46 | ||||||||||
Site history | |||||||||||
Built | 1941 (1941)/42 | ||||||||||
Built by | John Laing & Son Ltd | ||||||||||
In use | September 1942 - October 1946 (1946) | ||||||||||
Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II | ||||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||||
Elevation | 6 metres (20 ft)[1] AMSL | ||||||||||
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Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a bomber and later as a transport airfield. After the war it was closed in late 1946. Christchurch Council from December 1946 to 1961 used the old accommodation sites including WAAF Nissen Huts as temporary accommodation for families waiting for a council house.
Today the remains of the airfield are part of a Forestry Commission project near the New Forest.