RAF Weston Zoyland
Former Royal Air Force station in Somerset, England / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Royal Air Force Westonzoyland, or more simply RAF Westonzoyland, is one of the United Kingdom's oldest airfields, being established in the early 1920s. The airfield is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) east-southeast of Bridgwater, Somerset; about 125 miles (201 km) west-southwest of London.
Royal Air Force Station Westonzoyland USAAF Station AAF-447 | |
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Located Near Bridgwater, Somerset, United Kingdom | |
Coordinates | 51°06′23″N 002°54′30″W |
Type | Military airfield |
Code | ZW |
Site information | |
Controlled by | Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces |
Site history | |
Built | 1925 (1925) |
In use | 1942-1947 |
Battles/wars | European Theatre of World War II Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 |
Garrison information | |
Garrison | RAF Transport Command Ninth Air Force |
Occupants | No. 525 Squadron 442d Troop Carrier Group |
It was opened in 1925 with summer camps lasting from May until September each year. It was later used by the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as an army co-operation airfield but several squadrons were based there with a variety of aircraft, including Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mosquitos. Gloster Meteor jets were stationed there for a short time before moving to RAF Culmhead in Somerset. After being stood down in 1947 it was recommissioned in 1952 as a Meteor jet training station to support the demands of the Korean War. It was home to No. 209 Advanced Flying School RAF whose pupils included future Air Chief Marshals Lord Craig and Sir Patrick Hine.
Today the remains of the airfield are a mixture of farmland and a base for Civil Air Patrol activities.