RAF Weston Zoyland

Infobox Military Structure
name= Royal Air Force Station Weston Zoyland
USAAF Station 447
location= Located Near Bridgwater, Somerset, United Kingdom
coordinates=coord|51|06|23|N|002|54|30|W|


caption= Weston Zoyland airfield, 22 April 1944
type= Military airfield
code=ZW
built=1942
builder=
materials=
height=
used=1942-1947
demolished=
condition=
ownership=
controlledby=Royal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
garrison=RAF Transport Command
Ninth Air Force
commanders=
occupants=No. 525 Squadron
442d Troop Carrier Group
battles= European Theatre of World War II
Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 Location map|Somerset
label =
lat = 51.11
long = -2.91
caption = Map showing the location of RAF Weston Zoyland within Somerset.
float = right
background = white
width = 200

RAF Weston Zoyland was a World War II airfield in England located just east of Westonzoyland village alongside the A372 from Bridgwater on the edge of (King's) Sedgemoor, in Somerset.

During the war the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force cargo transports. It was also known as USAAF station 447.

Overview

Weston Zoyland airfield originated in the mid-1920s as a landing ground, being in use by 1926 for drogue tugs using the anti-aircraft gunnery range off Watchet in the Bristol Channel. At first, it was no more than an extended cow pasture, subject only to seasonal use until the Second World War loomed, when the site was occupied on a permanent basis. During the pre-war years, buildings were erected piecemeal as required and the landing ground area gradually enlarged but, with the fall of France, Weston Zoyland was no longer a backwater airfield.

In 1942, the Air Ministry decided to upgrade the airfield to bomber standard and, early in 1943, work began on laying concrete runways and the perimeter track, To obtain the necessary amount of land for siting runways of sufficient length, the A372 to Othery was closed and diverted south on a former minor road.

The runways were a main of 5.775 ft at 11-29, and ancillaries of 3,564 ft at 05-23 and 4,101 ft at 16-34. Two hardstandings were of 150ft diameter pans and there were 33 loops.

The mixture of hangars were three T-2s (two of 13 bays one of 14 bays), one Bellman, one Bessoneau and nine Blisters. The domestic sites situated to the north-west could accommodate 1,530.

RAF Transport Command Use

While this work was in progress. the airfield continued to be used by anti-aircraft co-operation units and the occasional Mustang squadron but in September, when the runways were ready, RAF Transport Command stepped in and formed No. 525 Squadron to operate Vickers Warwicks. No. 525 stayed for most of the winter, moving to RAF Lyneham in February 1944, where it eventually switched over to the C-47 Skytrain/DC-3 Dakota.

USAAF Use

Although not previously allocated for US Ninth Air Force use, IX Troop Carrier Command wished to move the four C-47 groups of 50th TCW from the Leicester-Grantham area to the southwest where they would be closer to the units of the 101st Airborne Division which they were to lift during the invasion. In consequence, the Air Ministry made available suitably-sited airfields including Weston Zoyland. All RAF flying units had moved out. Meanwhile, in common with most other bases designated for troop carrier use, US engineers laid some 500ft of Pierced Steel Planking (PSP) each side of the main runway heads and camp beds were set up in the hangars to accommodate the paratroops.

442d Troop Carrier Group

There was a long delay before the allocated unit, the 442nd Troop Carrier Group arrived after D-Day from RAF Fulbeck. Its operational squadrons were:

* 303d Troop Carrier (J7)
* 304th Troop Carrier (V4)
* 305th Troop Carrier (4J)
* 306th Troop Carrier (7H)

The 442d was a group of Ninth Air Force's 50th Troop Carrier Wing, IX Troop Carrier Command. The Douglas C-47/C-53 Skytrains of the group did not move in until 12/13 June although elements of the group had visited Weston Zoyland during the precceding weeks. With 50 C-47s on the airfield, there was a shortage of aircraft standings and, while many aircraft were parked on the turf, additional PSP standings were put down in case of wet weather.

Haulage of freight to the Continent and casualty evacuation occupied the 442nd until mid-July when the air echelons of three squadrons (303d, 304th, 305th) were sent to Follonica airfield in Italy from where they look part in the air drops for the invasion of southern France in August.

In their absence, the 306th TCS continued with air haulage to and from France, being temporarily based at RAF Ramsbury for two weeks prior to the return of the MTO detachment on 24 August.

For Operation "Market", the 442nd TCG air echelon moved to an advanced base at RAF Chilbolton to give better range and operated temporarily as part of 53rd TCW. The group suffered 13 crew casualties and lost 10 C-47s during the missions in support of the air operations over Holland, all of which were flown from Chilbolton.

It was then hack to supply carrying until the group was alerted that it would be going to its Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Peray Airfield (ALG A-44) France. The main party moved out between 4/6 October, the 442nd being the last of the 50th TCW groups to leave its English base. Although some US personnel remained until late that month, this was Weston Zoyland's last connection with the Ninth Air Force.

Legacy

From France the group flew resupply missions, hauling freight, and evacuating casualties in support of the Allied effort to breach the Siegfried Line. Continued transport duties until V-E Day but also participated in the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945 by releasing gliders filled with troops. The group carried supplies to ground forces in Germany (Apr-May), and evacuated prisoners who had been liberated.

Remained in the theater as part of occupation force after the war as part of United States Air Forces in Europe. Inactivated at Munich airfield Germany on 30 September 1946.

Subsequent RAF Use

The station had never been officially transferred from the RAF and the anti-aircraft support units were quick to return. Nos. 286 and 587 Squadrons with their mixture of Martinets. Hurricanes. Oxfords, Vengeances and Harvards remained in residence until near the end of hostilities.

Four fighter squadrons came and departed during the months following the end of the war in Europe but by 1947 the station was reduced to care and maintenance.

There was virtually no further flying at Weston Zoyland until the summer of 1952 when, to meet the Soviet threat. an increase in the RAF's strength and a demand for more aircrews found Meteors and Vampires operating in a training role.

Canberra squadrons were present during the mid 1950s when Weston Zoyland was used as a work-up station prior to overseas assignments. By 1958 the station was once more deserted of aircraft and, although retained by the Air Ministry for another ten years, it never reopened for military flying.

Civil Use

Upon its release from military use, in the 1960s, the A372 was restored to near its original route by utilizing a considerable length of the main runway. Today most of the concrete remains, as well as derelict buildings, including the control tower.

Although much of the airfield is no longer usable for aviation purposes, Westonzoyland Airfield is in use for Microlights, and is a base for the Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol (SWCAP).

ee also

* List of RAF stations
* USAAF Ninth Air Force - World War II
* 442d Fighter Wing

References

* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle ISBN 0900913800
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* [http://armyairforces.com http://armyairforces.com] 442d Troop Carrier Wing

External links

* [http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&X=336500&Y=134500&width=700&height=400&gride=336500.999999897&gridn=134500.883001897&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=grid&pc=&zm=0&scale=10000&out.x=5&out.y=9 Aerial Photo of RAF Weston Zoyland from Multimap.Com]