Milton Ernest Hall
Note: This map only gives a rough idea of the position of this site within the UK. If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
MILTON ERNEST HALL: Military airstrip
Military user: US Army 8th Air Force liaison aircraft
Also it appears: SOE (Special Operations Executive)
Location: Near Milton Ernest village on the A6, about 4.5nm NNW of Bedford town centre
Period of operation: 1943/44 only?
NOTES: The history of the SOE is fascinating to say the least. For example the staggering navigation abilities of their pilots finding a single field in Europe where perhaps only a torch being flashed was the only clue as to where to land at night seems to me almost impossible to contemplate, but they did just this! Time and time again at various locations.
Obviously I am guessing, but would it be reasonable to assume that only Westland Lysanders were using this site?
Nigel Perry
This comment was written on: 2026-03-18 12:59:13Milton Ernest Hall USAAF Station 506 in use from 2/43 till 6/45. HQ Support Command. Behind the hall a PSP airstrip was laid with a connecting Bailey bridge across the River Ouse. Site was heavily defended with pill boxes and machine gun posts. Used by officers to commute most probable type The Piper L-4 Cub and Fairchild Ranger. In January 1945 RAF Transport Command based there 47th Group Comms Flight HQ here. The airfield was at Little Staughton operating Anson's and Proctors till March 1948. I have log book evidence of Miles Messenger 4 RG327 being used to convey officers to/from Lt Staughton. Larger USAAF aircraft UC-64 and UC-78s used Twinwood Farm airfield only 2 miles away.
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