Monument record 8445/1 - Sywell Airfield

An airfield with military and civillian phases. It began as a civillian airfield run by Northamptonshire Flying Club in 1928. It was extended in 1932, and a club house opened in 1934. Its wartime role as a military airfield was with Royal Air Force Training Command, with Elementary and Advanced Flying Training Schools using the site (6 AFTS). There was also an aircraft factory for the assembly of Armstrong Whitworth Whitely aircraft, built 1942-1943. The wartime airfield was grass surfaced with a range of hangars including Blister variants and utilised existing civilian flying club hangars and club buildings. The military airfield closed in 1953 but by 1985 it was reused for private flying. For details of the large range of defensive installations defending the wartime airfield, please see the "child" monuments linked to this record.

{1} Airfield used to repair/ refurbish RAF Wellington bombers and for the completion and testing of Lancaster Mk 2 bombers. Several contemporary aircraft hangers present plus other buildings. Privately owned; previously with MoD. Airfield still in active use for private and commercial (inclu storage) use.

{2} Historical summary of the airfield.

{3} Plan of the airfield c1945; identification of resident flying units and aerial photographs can all be found in this book. Many other references and photographs of Sywell.

{4} Sites of removed Stanton shelters noted associated with the former airfield at SP81946806, SP81996786 and SP81936775.

{5} Sywell, Northamptonshire, SP 823 682. An airfield with military and civillian phases. It began as a civillian airfield and flying club in 1928. Its wartime role as a military airfield was with Royal Air Force Training Command, with an Elementary Flying Training School using the site. The wartime airfield was grass surfaced with a range of hangars including Blister variants and utilised existing civilian flying club hangars and club buildings. The military airfield closed in 1953 but by 1985 it was reused for private flying.

{6} Sywell Airfield, based on a Defence of Britain Project site recorders form, with 15 photographs, and sketch site plan. No 6 AFTS. Recorder- N. Cross.

{7} Sywell began as a civillian airfield run by Northamptonshire Flying Club in 1928. It was extended in 1932, and a club house opened in 1934. During WWII there was also an aircraft factory for the assembly of Armstrong Whitworth Whitely aircraft, built 1942-1943.

{8} The airfield is somtimes used for air displays and sales of aircraft.

<1> MANN C., 1996, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN46202.

<2> Bowyer M.J.F., 1990, Action Stations 6: Military Airfields of The Cotswolds and The Central Midlands, (unchecked) (Book). SNN39505.

<3> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, p.276-7 (checked) (Book). SNN100276.

<4> Pillbox Study Group, Unknown, Pillbox Study Group, e37010, e37011, e37012 (Website). SNN111964.

<5> Willis, S. and Holliss, B., 1987, Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945, p. 191 (Book). SNN111556.

<6> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<7> Airfield Research Group, 1996, Airfield Review, 1997/Vol 57/ (Journal). SNN114121.

<8> Airfield Research Group, 1996, Airfield Review, 1997/Vol 74/p. 30 (Journal). SNN114121.

<9> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:18PM