Stoke Orchard
STOKE ORCHARD: Military aerodrome later private airfield
Note: Both of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: RAF Flying Training Command 23 Group
10 EFTS [Elementary Flying Training School] (DH.82 Tiger Moths)
3 GTS [Glider Training School] (General Aircraft Hotspurs and Miles Masters acting as tugs)
Note: I have found references to Airspeed Oxfords being based here. Never used, (as far as I know), for glider tug duties? But, if it is correct that Oxfords used this site, what duties did they perform?
Also used by the US Army Air Corps. (Can anybody add to this?)
Location: SE of Stoke Orchard, E of Hardwicke, NNE of Elmstone Hardwick and, (according to the excellent ‘Military Airfields’ book published in 1985 by Steve Willis and Barry Hollis who were I believe were referring mainly to official records), 3.5 miles NNW of Gloucester. It is actually about 3.5 miles NNW of Cheltenham!
Period of operation: Military: 1941 to 1945 Civil: 1970s and 1980s only?
Runways: WW2: NW/SE 1097 grass N/S 1006 grass
NOTES: In the mid 1970s two rather unusual aircraft were based here; Glos-Airtourer 115 G-AYLA of the Vagabond Flying Group and SA.102.5 Cavalier G-BDKJ.
Norman Wyatt
This comment was written on: 2017-07-01 16:10:26My family lived in the wooden huts at Stoke Orchard during the late 1950,s , the place was used to house miss placed families by the council . We were placed there after we were evicted from our council home for rent arrears ! I was only a little child at the time but I remember living there quite well . I remember the old shelters which were in some cases full of stagnant water . It was a very dangerous place to live . Each wooden hut was divided into two living apartments and a family lived in each . The old place was a dumping ground used by the local council for families they had little time for , sad but true ! I will never forgive the powers to be of the time for what they put us through , it was hell .
Reply from Dick Flute:
Dear Norman, Many thanks for these memories which I shall keep posted. They also serve to illustrate the 'second-life' aspects that so many flying sites had, and often still have, many years and even decades after the operational flying activities ceased. Best regards, Dick
Audrey Littlewood
This comment was written on: 2017-12-14 04:40:15We (the Wright family) lived at Stoke Orchard, seven of us beong born there in the 40s and 50s. We were the first house by he telephone box which mum used to clean for the GPO. The school bus stopped right outside our front door to take the children to Bishops Cleeve Primary School. We were never allowed in the woods but it was full of bluebells so we went! I only have happy memories of Stoke Orchard.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Audrey, Many thanks for your fond memories, which I shall keep posted. Best regards, Dick
Peter Washington
This comment was written on: 2019-07-28 08:52:47Tragically my uncle Bill was killed here in a glider accident during training WW2, pity their is no memorial to these brave glider pilots.
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