RAF Greenham Common 1944

The site was first used by the RAF from the mid 1930`s, in 1942 construction work began to adapt the site for use by Bomber Command. The airfield was constructed to the standard A-shape with one runway of 4,800ft, a second of 3,300ft, and a third of 5,988ft (which was later to remain as the sole runway when the base was rebuilt). Accommodation was built on the eastern perimeter, along with two T2 hangars, a technical area and a 27 pan hardstanding. It was decided that the site would be used by the forces of the US Army Air Force (USAAF).

The base was near completed in the summer of 1942. Its first unit was the 51st TCW who arrived September 1942 and stayed until Novemebr, when they were being deployed to North Africa for Operation Torch.

Greenham briefly passed back to the control of RAF groups 92 and 70 and was used for flight training on Airspeed Oxfords of No 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (PAFU) until the end of September 1943 and from May 1943 No 1511 Beam Approach Training Flight from RAF Upwood used the site.

The base was then reassigned to the USAAF on October 1st 1943 becoming USAAF Station 486. The base was finally handed to the 8th ASC USAAF on November 8th.

The first role of the base was to re-equip the 354th FG (Fighter Group), 9th AF with the mighty P-51B Mustang. They stayed one week before moving to Boxted. The airfield then played host to a number of units including the 368th FG flying P-47 Thunderbolts.

On March 16th 1944, Greenham's role changed to accommodate troop transport aircraft of the 438 TCG. The group undertook training at the base and became fully operational in April that year flying Douglas C-47 Dakota transports. Greenham Common became the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing HQ under the command of the USAAF's IX Troop Carrier Command.

Further construction was undertaken to support the new roles. Loop hardstandings were built in addition to the panhandles, steel track marshalling areas were constructed either end of the main runway. These allowed gliders such as the Horsa to be positioned on the runway with tugs still capable of moving alongside, allowing mass take-offs. A number of long buildings were also constructed for storing and examining glider cables.

By early June 1944, the forces at the base were at a high state of readiness having undertoken a number of training exercises, leading to a final Operation Eagle exercise on the night of May 11th. The exercise held over the Berkshire Downs was set up to test the D-Day operation as closely as possible. All four squadrons of the 428th TCG were then fully trained on glider towing and paratroop drops both day and night. On the night of June 5th, the base was ringed with armed troops and the base had been sealed off for the previous few days. White invasion stripes were painted on the aircraft taking part on the impending mission. It was at Greenham on this night that General Eisenhower gave his famous "Eyes of the world are on you" speech.

Greenham Common also played a role in the Arnhem landings in Holland on Sunday September 17th 1944.

On December 12th 1944, a tragedy occured when one of the gliders crashed at the base. Over 30 American soldiers were killed in the accident and their memory is kept every year in December by the Royal British Legion.

By February 1945, the 438th began moving to Prosnes in France to support the front. American ground units remained at Greenham until the end of the European campaign. The base was then handed over to Transport Command in June 1945.

The base was closed on June 1st 1946

Greenham Common was formally handed back to the RAF on July 1st 1964 In January 1967, Greenham and RAF Sculthorpe in Norfolk were brought back into American use. On June 17th 1980, the British Government announced that Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire would be the two cruise missile bases in Britain. The cayuse of much protest at the site.

RAF Greenham Common was closed for the final time on September 11th 1992, and was handed back to the RAF in a closing ceremony before remaining USAF personnel flew home. The Ministry of Defence sold the land in 1997, but the runways were broken up in the Spring of 1995. The concrete was used to build the Newbury Bypass. The area was renamed New Greenham Park. Today, the site is home to a business park. The old barrack blocks were demolished in 1998