Memorials planned for disused WW2 airfields

A charity that commemorates major airfields says two new memorials will be placed in Cambridgeshire to recognise the importance of the sites.

Memorials will be unveiled at Oakington and Bourn Airfields on 28 and 29 March to remember their contributions to World War Two.

The Airfields Of Britain Conservation Trust (ABCT) said while some sites were still used by the Royal Air Force others had been taken over by organisations or companies.

Bourn is undergoing development to become a combination of housing and industry and the Oakington site has become a new town.

ABCT said there had been "huge national public demand" for the memorials as the airfields of Britain had "proved to be the greatest assets this country has ever seen".

The Oakington site, now home to Northstowe, opened in July 1940 as a substantially built RAF bomber airfield.

Various units and aircrafts resided there during the war and it was remembered as home to No 7 Squadron and its initial use of Short Stirling heavy bombers, which had not long entered RAF service, said ABCT.

After the war it became Transport Command control before Flying Training Command took over in 1950.

It switched to multi-engined aircraft training in the early 1960s and closed in March 1975.

Since then it has been used as a British Army and immigration reception centre before redevelopment to create the new town of Northstowe.

"Despite such changes, Oakington still remains recognised as a famous and distinguished British airfield," said an ABCT spokesperson.

Bourn was originally Oakington's satellite airfield and was flagged for development shortly into wartime, opening during 1941.

Until the end of World War Two, several RAF Bomber Command squadrons served there with distinction and it was occupied by hangars for combat aircraft repair.

Other duties included meteorological reconnaissance, similar to Oakington.

It eventually became a significant civil airfield, notably being used by the Rural Flying Corps until general aviation activity finally ceased in 2020.

The Bourn Quarter has been redeveloped into a business park also providing accommodation for businesses, including some involved in the progression of defence technology.

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