Location.
Approx. four miles west of Burford, immediately south of the A40.
Ordnance Survey Reference SP185115 - Landranger Sheet
163.
A view of Windrush Watch Office taken during late 2001. The "UR" cut into the grass is the airfield's wartime code.
Wartime Windrush.
RAF Windrush was first used as a Relief Landing Ground for the North American Harvard and Airspeed Oxford training aircraft of No.15 SFTS (Parent Station - RAF Chipping Norton) during the early Summer of 1940. The circuit was soon busy with aircraft, including the Oxfords and Avro Ansons from the nearby No.6 SFTS at RAF Little Rissington.
The airfield had grass runways at this time and a number of Nissen huts to house the detached ground crews.
On 19th August 1940 the station's parent unit changed - it was now officially the RLG for No.6 SFTS - Little Rissington. The association was to continue throughout World War II.
An incident which made RAF Windrush famous occurred on Sunday 18th August 1940, when Sergeant Bruce Hancock of No.6 SFTS flew his unarmed Anson into a Luftwaffe Heinkel He.111. Further details of this incident are available through the above link.
The Luftwaffe visited Windrush again on 2nd September 1940, dropping a string of high explosive bombs a mile from the airfield. records show a number of these failed to explode. Another 'visit' on 11th September resulted in a further ten bombs being dropped a mile to the north east of the airfield. It appeared that the bright lights of Windrush's landing ground were attracting the Luftwaffe, drawing attacks away from the larger establishment at Little Rissington. Little damage resulted.
In 1941 aircraft from No.2 SFTS (Stationed at RAF Brize Norton) began to use Windrush too, although it was Little Rissington's Oxfords which were by far the most common site in the busy circuit.
During 1942 RAF Windrush was somewhat modernized. A concrete perimeter track was constructed, and two Sommerfeld Track (Steel net) runways were laid. This gave the station a vestige of all-weather capability. At the same time more permanent accommodation was built for the Airmen and WAAF's detached to Windrush. Nine Blister hangars were also erected, allowing some degree of cover for maintenance crews working on aircraft. A standard RLG Watch Office (Control Tower) was built to the north of the landing ground.
The accommodation and domestic sites were to the North West of the landing ground, some positioned quite close to the A40. To the North West other concrete and brick buildings were constructed to provide training facilities.
The airfield continued to serve as a Relief Landing Ground, finally closing as an RAF station on 12th July 1945.
Windrush Today.
As at December 2001, Windrush remains an airfield for light aircraft use and parachuting. It appears that no aircraft are actually based though.
Some buildings from the station's wartime days can still be found, many of which are used by the local farmer. Most domestic buildings are little more than decrepit, however, crumbling away leaving little but foundations.
The Watch Office contains a visitors' book, showing some four or five aircraft to have used the field during 2001. It is obvious that the site owners have spent time and money restoring this building. A substantial pill-box is to be found close-by.
The photographs on this page show the substantial buildings which remain today.
Windrush Watch Office
December 2001
To War Department Drawing 13276/41
Nissen Hut
December 2001
To the North West of the control tower.
Blister Hangar
December 2001
One of two remaining - appear to be used to store farm equipment.
Pill Box
December 2001
Possibly built during 1940 when the threat of German airborne landings was a possibility.