Merryfield
MERRYFIELD: Military aerodrome
Note: All eight of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Note: What appears pretty obvious from the pictures above is that into the 2000s MERRYFIELD was still a very active airfield for helicopter operations, with helipads marked out for most of the letters in the alphabet. Presumably in anticipation of a major exercise? By the second decade in the 21st century it appears MERRYFIELD was in a period of decline, the runway and most of the helipads looking very faded.
Note. Pictures by the author and taken through perspex.
Military users: WW2: RAF Fighter Command
70 Group
It appears that later in WW2 the USAAF 9th Air Force had a presence here, with their 441st Troop Carrier Group
99th, 100th, 301st & 302nd Squadrons (Douglas C-47 Skytrains)
It also appears that the RAF Transport Command, 187 & 238 Squadrons where here also flying the C-47. Except that the RAF named them Dakotas.
And, RAF 53 Squadron, of Transport Command I assume (?) had a presence here with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. Designed originally as a bomber, the Liberator performed a very diverse range of duties, including long range anti-submarine forays into the Atlantic. It seems possible that 187 Squadron converted from Dakotas to Liberators?
It seems that 242 Squadron arrived here flying Short Stirlings with Transport Command during the latter stages of WW2, before converting to Avro Yorks before being posted abroad, shortly after WW2.
A LULL
It seems that MERRYFIELD, from about 1947 (?) went into Care & Maintenance?
REVAMPED
Being just a tad cynical, after the big bust up in World War 2, for the British government bugger all was happening, and the British goverment has generally loved nothing better than being at war, as do the U.S. American government of course. Lo and behold the opportunity for another major war soon arose in Korea. Lovely jubbly - let's start the killing again. Plus Aden, Cyprus and Malaya etc, etc.
And so, it appears MERRYFIELD reopened with 208 AFS (Advanced Flying School) flying the DH 100 Vampire and Gloster Meteors. It also appears, a bit later on, that 231 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) arrived here with English Electric Canberras.
Also, Westland used this airfield for flight testing of their Wyvern at around this period.
It seems that the last fixed wing operations here were by the Royal Navy flying DH Sea Venoms. And the airfield then closed in 1961.
BUT
It then appears that at least part of this airfield has been used, and perhaps still is (?) by the Royal Navy for helicopter operations. (See below)
Named RNAS MERRYFIELD and under the control of HMS Heron.
Location: 1nm NE of A358, 2nm NNW of Ilminster, 8nm SE of Taunton
Period of operation: 1943 to -
Runways: WW2: 10/28 1829x46 hard 17/35 1280x46 hard
04/22 1116x46 hard
2001: 09/27 1831x45 hard 16/34 1129x45 hard
03/21 1294x45 hard
NOTES: It strikes me as being a tad strange but in late 1944 this Care & Maintenance base is listed as having 3079 RAF personnel on station plus 216 WAAFs.
In the 1980s at least used extensively for military helicopter exercises and still going strong in the 2000s as a Royal Navy aerodrome but it seems to have kept a very low profile. Listed in about 1975 as due to reopen as a satellite for YEOVILTON for helicopter operations. Still listed as a military aerodrome in 2015, but what goes on here?
A CRACKING GOOD YARN
In July 2018 I was kindly contacted by Kenneth Beard who sent me some lovely mememories of WOODLEY (BERKSHIRE). Being an ex-paratrooper he has some super stories to tell, but this one from his ATC days really took my fancy.
A COMMUNICATION FLIGHT TO MERRYFIELD
"At the beginning of the 1950s as an ATC lad I used to get flights with Volunteer Reserve pilots keeping their hours up and RAF pilots from Flying Training Command who used to fly on communication flights from Woodley airport. On my first and only flight in a Harvard I was taken up by a Wing Commander who was the Fire Officer for the Command and we flew to Merryfield in Somerset."
"On arrival he handed me over to the ground crew and said, 'Look after him', before giving the time he would take off. The ground crew found me a mug and eating utensils and took me to the airmen's mess for lunch. After lunch I wandered back to the ground crew on the tarmac and watched the 'drome activity. During this time I saw a remarkable flying event when a Wyvern roared down the runway upside down with the cockpit only about ten feet above the ground. I always wondered what type of pilot would do this and then saw in this 'Guide' that Westland also used the airfield for testing and realised I had probably watched one of their test pilots."
"I can't remember if it was the outward or on the return trip, but we were at about ten thousand feet which incidentally at that time was the highest I'd been, when the pilot told me to look up. There high above us a whole flight of Vampires were peeling off and screaming down to attack us with some passing over our cockpit close enough to rock the plane."
"On getting back to Woodley the officer who was giving me back my logbook said the pilot who he referred to as a 'Kiwi' had flown from Malta at the time of 'Faith, Hope and Charity'." (My note: There was a short period during WW2 when the air defence of Malta rested on just three Gloster Gladiators - a 1930s biplane fighter - named 'Faith, Hope and Charity' and now of almost mythical status in the annals of aviation history.) ".....and after the war had pioneered the ferry routes for Vampires to the Far East. He seemed to be one of the RAF's well known characters and I only wish I could remember his name." (My note: I suspect this might well be revealed, given enough time, by some kindly visitor to the 'Guide').
"It seems pretty obvious that he had acted as 'the enemy' in a training exercise and I can still remember the elation of that flight to this day."
I bet you can Kenneth - what a fabulous memory. Which also goes to illustrate the opportunities many youngsters in the Air Training Corps had in those days. The likes of which, without much doubt, will never be seen again. But to be fair, the opportunities offered to ATC Cadets and University Air Squadrons today, albiet with a lot more organisation and red-tape still afford some great flying experiences.
John Lewis
This comment was written on: 2018-11-23 20:01:38Harald Penrose a former test pilot at Westland apparently used the vacant buildings and strip for his Currie Wot biplane G-APNT during the 1950/60 period. See his excellent book “Airymouse” published in 1967. JL
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi John, Many thanks. 'Airymouse' is on my long list of 'must read' books. Best regards, Dick
Ian Bishop
This comment was written on: 2018-12-03 21:25:29Although there's a notice displayed saying the airfield is closed, it's till in use tonight. 21.00hrs 3rd December 2018. As a relief ground for Yeovilton and practice field for Merlin 'Jungly' helicopters (just seen two) and often for the new Wildcat as well. The airfield is 6.5 miles almost due north of my house. The tower frequency is 378.525.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Ian, Many thanks - I shall keep this posted. Best regards, Dick
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