- Tilstock Airfield
Tilstock Airfield (formerly RAF Tilstock) is a
World War 2 airfield located 3 miles south of Whitchurch inShropshire . The village of Tilstock is about 2 miles west of the airfield. The site is also known as Prees Heath, after the neighbouring village Prees. The airfield comprised of 3 runways of which only one remains in use today.The site was in use during
World War I as an Army training camp.Construction of the airfield was completed by mid 1942, the name 'Whitchurch Heath' being used until
1 June 1943 , when Tilstock was adopted. Between1 September 1942 and21 January 1946 , the airfield was used by No. 81Operational Training Unit and No. 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit Royal Air Force for the training of pilots and crews in the operation ofWhitley ,Stirling and Halifax heavy bombers. During the 1950's,Auster AOP.6 'spotter' aircraft ofNo. 663 Squadron RAF used the facilities of the otherwise non-operational airfield during weekends for liaison flights withRoyal Artillery units.Located near the junction of the A41 and A49, the airfield is still being used today at weekends for skydiving.
Skydiver s have used the airfield for Tandem Skydiving and running Parachute Jump Courses since 1966. The direction of the remaining runway is 33 (330) and 15 (150).
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.