Monument record 8540/1 - Hinton Airfield (WWII)

A World War Two military airfield, opened 1940, closed for military use in 1945. This airfield is situated to the west of the village of Hinton-in the-Hedges. The wartime airfield consisted of three concrete and tarmac runways, with 23 hard standings and one each of B1, T1 and Blister type aircraft hangars for aircraft. It was operated by Royal Air Force Bomber Command. By 1st January 1944 it was functioning as a Radio Storage Unit assigned to 26 Group. Few buildings related to the wartime airfield are said to survive, its control tower was ruinous by 1969 and has subsequently been demolished.

{1} Home of Hinton Flying Club. Some runways are still in use.

{2} In summary from Bowyer (1990): The airfield opened in November 1940 with use by 13 Operational Training Unit (OUT) aircraft. In July 1942, Hinton became a satellite of 16 OUT Upper Heyford. Radio trials, also involving Finmere, were carried out from Hinton from mid and involved fitting of radio installations. The station was also used by the Signals Development Unit (SDU) from mid 1943. At the end of 1944 SDU moved away and Hinton was put on to Care and Maintenance. Private flying continues "from a site which is mainly agricultural land".

{3} Plan of airfield and associated sites in April 1945; identification of resident flying units and aerial photo from January 1947 on pp260-1. "Aircraft code - HI; elevation 505ft amsl. Built as a grass surface satellite of Bicester, concrete runways installed later"Extent, location and condition of wartime airfield remains (if any) are undetermined.

{5} Hinton-in-the-Hedges World War Two military airfield, Northamptonshire, SP 545 371, opened 1940, closed in 1945. A sketch map accompanying the source shows the airfield situated to the west of the Village of Hinton-in the-Hedges. The wartime airfield consisted of three concrete and tarmac runways, with 23 hard standings and one each of B1, T1 and Blister type aircraft hangars for aircraft. It was operated by Bomber Command. By 1st January 1944 it was functioning as a Radio Storage Unit assigned to 26 Group.

{6} Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield is noted on a web page concerned with military control towers and airfields: "few" buildings related to the wartime airfield are said to survive, judging by accompanying photographs on the web page its control tower was ruinous by 1969: the web page text states that it has subsequently been demolished. The main uses of the airfield are reported as agricultural and "aviation".

{7} Hinton-in-the -Hedges: Hinton airfield: according to the Banbury Guardian web page, the site is now (2004) used for parachuting, sky diving and gliding. The airfield is used as a base for Aquila Gliding Club.

[8} The site is noted as Airfield (disused) on the OS 1:10000 sheet for SP 53 NW, 1982 edition, centered at SJ 545 371 (NAT).

{9} Hinton-in-the-Hedges airfield is noted on the Defence of Britain Database as "RAF Hinton-in-the -Hedges Airfield", Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Northamptonshire, SP 545 371.

<1> CADMAN G.E., 1997, Oral report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN39697.

<2> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, p.14 (unchecked) (Report). SNN104868.

<3> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, p.260-1 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.

<4> Hayter P.D.G. (Editor), 2000, Charlton and Newbottle: The History of Two Villages, pp.191-2 (checked) (Extract). SNN107359.

<5> Willis, S. and Holliss, B., 1987, Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945, p. 105 (Book). SNN111556.

<6> Truman, R, 2003, Control Towers: Hinton in the Hedges Airfield, accessed 18-MAY-2004 (Website). SNN114114.

<7> Banbury Guardian, 2003, Banbury Guardian Village trail: Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield, accessed 18-MAY-2004 (Website). SNN114115.

<8> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), 1:10000, 1982 (Map). SNN112944.

<9> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<10> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:19PM