Beechwood Park
BEECHWOOD PARK: Satellite Landing Ground
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
I have to thank the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust web-site for pin-pointing this location
Military user: 12 SLG (RAF)
Location: Roughly 5nm WNW of Harpenden
Period of operation: 1943 to March 1946
NOTES: Apparently operated by 15 MU WROUGHTON (WILTSHIRE). Also 5MU based at RAF KEMBLE (WILTSHIRE) from November 1941 to September 1942.
It all seems a bit odd that two RAF Maintenance Units, both based in WILTSHIRE during WW2 would have a SLG for storage in HERTFORDSHIRE? Perhaps somebody can kindly explain? I do of course know that the purpose of SLGs was to have aircraft dispersed well away from the main airfield - but this seems a bit extreme?
In October 2020, Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', added this extra information:
"The main house became the headquarters for Spillers Foods, which had evacuated from London. An airfield was built in the grounds to land damaged and obsolete planes, Specially constructed hangars were used to house these planes and care was taken to camouflage the strip and the hangars. During WW11 Beechwood was a Satellite Landing Ground, with a runway of 1260 yards, (1152 metres), which ran SW to NE across the park to the north of the house, and was used until March 1946."
"Curtiss Seamew and Short Stirling were stored there". And, "In October 1946 there was an extensive fire."
What sparked my interest in this account was Graham mentioning the Curtiss Seamew, aka the Curtiss SO3C - a type I knew nothing about and apparently intended for service with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. A bit of research seems to reveal it was useless, never used in service? Which of course raises the question of how much other duff military equipment did the Americans off-load under Lend-Lease?
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
