                               R.A.F. IBSLEY
                               =============

        RAF Ibsley was located on the east side of the A338 Ringwood to
Salisbury road between Ringwood and Fordingbridge. The following notes
comprise an operational synopsis for this airfield and were to form the 
basis of a short book about the airfields of the New Forest - a project 
which was subsequently abandoned due to pressures of work several years 
ago. However, I have added some additional notes, predominantly about 
S/Ldr F.J. Howell, gleaned from material in Rodney Legg's recently 
published book, "Battle of Britain Dorset" - available from the Dorset 
Publishing Company (Tel: 01963 32583) or via good booksellers.

        Ibsley was regularly visited by distinguished guests including 
the Duke of Kent (twice), Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, and 
Air Vice Marshal Sholto Douglas. It was also the location used for the
film "First of the Few".

        Today the majority of the airfield and its runways have been
ravaged by Amey Roadstone's gravel extraction activities, though the old
control tower still stands on private farmland, and sundry small buildings
are still standing and used by farmers in the locality. I understand that
some sort of preservation/historical society was formed in 1993 and that
one of its aims was to ensure the continued existence of the control tower.
Moyles Court, now an Indendent Boarding & Day Preparatory School, was the 
Station Headquarters, and Chatley Wood the Officers' Mess.

        As can be seen by the number of incomplete dates below, much
detailed research remained to be done, but the notes are now offered
primarily as a pointer to those engaged in genealogical or historical
delving.

PERSONAL NAMES MENTIONED:

        Allison, Dixon M. (U.S.A.)       Kilian, R.C.
        Barclay, K.M.                    Kilmartin, J.I. (Irish)
        Birchfield, F.E.W.               Lefevre, P.W.
        Blake, M.V. (New Zealand)        Lewis, R.
        Brown, H.L.I.                    Lucas, P.B.
        Cremin, D.E.                     Malfroy, L.E.
        Crossley, M.N.                   Nelson, J.C. (U.S.A.)
        Currant, C.F.                    Russell, H.a'B.
        Fatjl, F. (Czech)                Seghers, E.G.A. (Belgian)
        Foit, E. (Czech)                 Tobin, Eugene Quimby "Red" (U.S.A.)
        Fulford,                         Vamel, F. (Czech)
        Gleed, I.R.                      Villa, J.W.
        Gonay, H.A.C. (Belgian)          Vybiral, A. (Czech)
        Haywood, G.S.K.                  Watts, L.W.   
        Hill, Sydney Jenkyn              Willis, S.C.
        Himr, J.J. (Czech)               Witorzenc, S. (Polish)
        Howell, Frank Jonathan           Wooten, E.W. (Dutch?)
        Johnston, H.A.S.                 Yule, R.D.

SQUADRONS MENTIONED:

R.A.F.  32, 46, 56, 66, 72, 92, 118, 124, 129, 165, 170, 175, 234,
        257, 263, 302, 310, 312, 313, 421, 501, 504, 587, 605, 616

R.A.A.F. 453

U.S.A.  1st Fighter Group (Sqdns 71 & 94), 100th Fighter Wing, 
        48th Fighter Group (Sqdns 492, 493 & 494), 367th Fighter Group, 
        371st Fighter Group

                            -----------------

 From       To

15/2/41             Ibsley opened as a satellite of Middle Wallop

16/2/41   17/4/41   32 Sqdn moved in with Hurricane 1's - engaged 
                    in convoy patrols
                    NOTE: CO's of 32 Sqdn were:-
                         S/Ldr   M.N.   Crossley  DFC  ??/8/40  - 
                         ??/??/?? and
                         S/Ldr H. a'B. Russell ??/??/?? -
                         ??/10/41
           
13/3/41             30 small bombs dropped by Luftwaffe

18/4/41   23/2/42   118 Sqdn moved in with Spitfires IIa's - 
                    engaged in defensive patrols over South Coast
                    (Subsequently used Spitfire IIb's from July
                    1941 until Sept 1941 and Vb's from then on)
                    Around this time 32 Sqdn moved to Pembrey.

                    NOTE: CO's of 118 Sqdn were:-
                         S/Ldr F.J. Howell DFC ??/2/41 - ??/10/41
                         Howell, a Londoner from Golders Green, 
                         had served with 609 Sqdn. On 18/7/40,
                         the then Flt. Lt. Howell (then based at
                         Warmwell) parachuted into the sea from Spitfire
                         R6634 during a mid-afternoon dog-fight five
                         miles from Swanage. A Royal Navy picked him up.
                         On 15/8/40 following an encounter between Warmwell
                         Spitfires and an estimated 100 enemy aircraft just
                         south of Portland Bill, Howell claimed a Junkers
                         JU88 kill. Again on 7/9/40 returned to Warmwell
                         claiming that he had shot down a Messerschmidt
                         Bf110 and on 13/9/40 claimed his 4th kill, a JU87
                         "Stuka" dive-bomber. On 15/9/40 Howell claimed a
                         Dornier Do17 bomber shot down and a hlaf-share in
                         another claimed by Pilot Officer "Red" Tobin.
                         On 21/10/40 Howell shared with P.O. Sydney Jenkyn
                         Hill (aged 23 of Ferndown, Dorset) the credit for
                         the destruction of a Junkers JU88 bomber,
                         609 Sqdn's 100th kill. (Hill was killed by a
                         Messerschmidt Bf109s on 18/6/41 & is buried in
                         Folkestone New Cemetery). Howell was awarded the DFC
                         on 25/10/40. He was posted to RAF Filton where he
                         formed 118 Sqdn on 20/2/41 (according to Legg). He
                         later moved to the Far East where he was catured by
                         the Japanese after the sinking of HMS Prince of 
                         Wales on 10/12/41. S/Ldr Howell lost his life in an
                         aerodrome accident on 9/5/48 when he was decapitated
                         by the wing of a Vampire whilst filming his jets with
                         a cine-camera.
                         S/Ldr H. a'B. Russell DFC ??/10/41 -
                         ??/1/42 (previously CO of 32 Sqdn - see
                         above)

4/5/41              118  Sqdn accidentally shot down  a  Whitley 
                    from which the crew managed to bale out.

??/5/41             Damaged a Ju88

??/6/41             Escorting Beauforts on anti-shipping strikes
                    against destroyers off Cherbourg
                    Also flew some night patrols

8/7/41              During one of these the CO shot down a He 111

17/7/41             P.O. Fulford shot down a Bf109

6/8/41              P.O. Fulford shot down another Bf109

5/8/41    25/1/42   501 Sqdn arrived - both 118 Sqdn & 501 Sqdn
                    equipped with Spitfire IIa's and engaged in
                    Rhubarbs, Ramrods, Roadsteads and convoy
                    patrols

                    NOTE:  CO's of 501 Sqdn were:-
                         S/Ldr  C.F.  Currant  DFC  ??/8/41  - 
                         ??/6/42 and
                         S/Ldr  J.W.  Villa  DFC & Bar ??/6/42  - 
                         ??/9/42
                         During  the Battle of  Britain,  Currant 
                         served  with 605 Sqdn and  Villa  served 
                         with 72 & 92 Sqdns.

11/10/41   1/11/411 302 Sqdn,  the first of the Polish squadrons 
                    to be formed in this country,  assisted  with 
                    bomber  escort work and convoy patrols  using 
                    Spitfire IIa's and Vb's

                    NOTE:  CO  was S/Ldr S.  Witorzenc who served 
                    with 501 Sqdn during the Battle of Britain

5/11/41   24/12/41  234 Sqdn arrived - operated with others as a
                    Wing under Wg Cmdr 'Widge' Gleed escorting
                    bomb-carrying   Hurricanes,   2  Group   light
                    bombers and the heavies of Bomber Command.

31/12/41  23/3/42   Return of 234 Sqdn.

                    NOTE: CO's of 234 Sqdn were:-

                         S/Ldr M.V. Blake ??/??/?? - ??/1/42 and
                         S/Ldr   F.E.W.   Birchfield  ??/1/42   - 
                         ??/10/42

                         Blake,    a   New   Zealander,    served 
                         previously with 238 Sqdn

7/2/42    3/7/42    Return of 501 Sqdn using Spitfire Vb's and,
                    from May 1942, Vc's.

7/3/42    3/7/42    Return of 118 Sqdn with Spitfire Vb's.

??/3/42   10/10/42  175 Sqdn using Hurricane IIb's.

16/3/42             Long-range  sweep of 300  miles  resulted  in 
                    shortage of fuel in bad weather - 28 Spitfires
                    landed at Exeter, 4 landed at Bolt Head and 4
                    crash-landed with the loss of one pilot

9/4/42              118 Sqdn lost four aircraft and six pilots in a
                    ferocious battle with Focke Wulf 190s.

27/4/42   3/7/42    66 Sqdn arrived and used Spitfire Vb's  (and 
                    later  Vc's)  on  sweeps,   bomber   escorts, 
                    Rhubarbs & occasional night patrols

                    NOTE: CO's of 66 Sqdn were:-

                         S/Ldr D.E. Cremin DFC ??/3/42 - ??/5/42
                         S/Ldr L.E. Malfroy DFC ??/5/42 - ??/6/42
                         S/Ldr R.D. Yule DFC ??/6/42 - ??/11/42

                         Yule  served  with 145 Sqdn  during  the 
                         Battle  of Britain and was killed  later 
                         in the war

15/5/42             Wing  escorted 8 Hurri-bombers against  three 
                    mine-sweepers  off Cherbourg - one  ship  blew 
                    up,  another  burst into flames and the  third 
                    was listing badly.  Despite heavy flak, only 2 
                    Spitfires  damaged and all Hurricanes returned 
                    safely

??/6/42             Operations  continued at reduced  rate  until 
                    Gleed  was  posted,  the  Wing  dispersed  and 
                    Ibsley was handed over to the USAAF

??/6/42             American advance party arrived

7/7/42    16/8/42   Return of 66 Sqdn under S/Ldr R.D. Yule DFC

7/7/42    16/8/42   Return of 118 Sqdn using Spitfire Vb's.  The 
                    squadron  now had a high proportion of  Dutch 
                    and Free French pilots

                    NOTE:  CO of 118 Sqdn was S/Ldr  E.W.  Wooten 
                         DFC  &  Bar  who served  with  234  Sqdn 
                         during the Battle of Britain

7/7/42    24/8/42   Return of 501 Sqdn using Spitfire Vc's.

16/8/42   22/8/42   Short spell for 421 Sqdn using Spitfire Vb's 
                    on  a  broad range  of  operations  including 
                    Circuses

                    NOTE: CO was S/Ldr S.C. Willis

20/8/42   24/8/42   Brief return of 66 Sqdn.
 
27/8/42   14/11/42  1st  Fighter Group (71 & 94  Sqdns)  flew  in 
                    their P38F Lightnings from Goxhill

29/8/42             94 Sqdn scrambled two aircraft to intercept a
                    Luftwaffe bomber - no contact made

25/10/42  28/2/43   Detachment of 170 Sqdn using Mustang I's.

14/11/42            1st Fighter Group left for Tafaroui (Algeria)
                    via Portreath (Cornwall) having flown 273 sorties 
                    & claimed one victory. Tragically two aircraft
                    were lost in transit.

12/12/42            Ibsley  transferred  to 10 Group  

23/12/42            66  &  118 Sqdns returned from Zeals using 
                    Spitfire Vb's on  a  broad  range of  
                    operations  including Circuses

                    NOTE:  CO of 118 Sqdn was S/Ldr  E.W.  Wooten 
                         DFC & Bar

30/12/42  30/6/43   504  Sqdn  arrived  - engaged  in   Circuses, 
                    Ramrods,   Rhubarbs  and  top  cover  for  B17 
                    daylight  raids  over France  using  Spitfire 
                    Vb's & Vc's

                    NOTE: CO's of 504 Sqdn were:-

                         S/Ldr R. Lewis ??/2/42 - ??/1/43
                         S/Ldr  J.I.   Kilmartin  DFC  ??/1/43  - 
                         ??/3/43
                         S/Ldr R.C. Kilian ??/3/43 - ??/7/43

                         Kilmartin,  an Irishman,  served with 43 
                         Sqdn during the Battle of Britain 

3/1/43              Departure of 118 Sqdn

??/1/43             Severe  gales  had the southern half  of  the 
                    airfield  under  water  despite  the  previous 
                    widening and straightening of drain culverts

??/1/43    ??/6/43  Detachment of 124 Sqdn using Spitfire  Vb's, 
                    VI's & VII's based here - activities unknown

                    NOTE:  CO  of 124 Sqdn was S/Ldr J.C.  Nelson 
                         (U.S.)

8/1/43    12/8/43   Detachment of 257 Sqdn using Typhoon Ib's.

9/2/43              Departure of 66 Sqdn.

2/1/43     15/3/43  616 Sqdn arrived using  Spitfire  VI's  and 
                    joined  504  Sqdn in their  operations.  They 
                    were impeded by lack of replacement  aircraft 
                    during the winter

                    NOTE: CO's of 616 Sqdn were:-

                         S/Ldr H.L.I. Brown DFC ??/2/42 - ??/1/43
                         S/Ldr G.S.K. Haywood ??/1/43 - ??/4/43
                         S/Ldr P.W. Lefevre DFC ??/4/43 - ??/4/43
                         S/Ldr P.B. Lucas DFC ??/4/43 - ??/7/43
                         S/Ldr L.W. Watts DFC ??/7/43 - ??/7/44

                         Lefevre  served with 46 Sqdn during  the 
                         Battle  of Britain but was  killed  some 
                         time later - at this station?

13/2/43   28/2/43   129 Sqdn joined the operations using Spitfire 
                    Vb's

                    NOTE: CO of 129 Sqdn was S/Ldr H.A.C. Gonay

                         Gonay,  a Belgian,  served with 235 Sqdn 
                         during  the  Battle of Britain  but  was 
                         killed sometime later - at this station?

13/3/43   28/6/43   Return of 129 Sqdn.

18/3/43             Return of 616 Sqdn using Spitfire VI's.

??/3/43   26/7/43   Detachment of 124 Sqdn using Spitfire VII's.

??/3/43             Took  part  in  Army  Co-operation   exercise 
                    Spartan.   Until  June  1943  were  escorting 
                    daylight raids over the Continent

??/3/43             616 Sqdn provided close escort on Churchill's
                    return from Casablanca

??/?/43             616 Sqdn provided close escort for the King on
                    his return from North Africa

30/6/43   30/7/43   Short stay by 165 Sqdns using Spitfire Vb's & 
                    Vc's on bomber and fighter-bomber escorts

                    NOTE: CO's of 165 Sqdn were:-

                         S/Ldr  E.G.A.   Seghers  DFC  ??/3/43  - 
                         ??/6/43 and
                         S/Ldr  H.A.S.  Johnston  DFC  ??/6/43  - 
                         ??/1/44

                         Seghers,  a Belgian, served with 46 & 32 
                         Sqdns  during the Battle of Britain  but 
                         was  killed  some time later  - at  this 
                         station?

28/6/43  20/8/43    Arrival of 453 Sqdn (R.A.A.F.) using Spitfire Vb's, Vc's
                    and IXb's on sweeps  and escorts,  mainly on 
                    anti-shipping strikes over the Channel 
                    Islands and Northern France and withdrawal 
                    escorts for Fortress attacks  deeper into 
                    France. They also used the  eastern airfields 
                    as refuelling bases to take part in raids 
                    over Belgium and Holland.

                    NOTE: CO was S/Ldr K.M. Barclay

17/9/43             Departure of 616 Sqdn.

19/9/43   2/12/43   310  Sqdn established as the  first  squadron 
                    formed  from Czech refugees  flying  Spitfire 
                    Vb's &Vc's on bomber escorts over France

                    NOTE: CO of 310 Sqdn was S/Ldr E. Foit

21/9/43   2/12/43   Joined  by  312  Sqdn  - the  second  Czech 
                    squadron

                    NOTE: CO's of 312 Sqdn were:-

                         S/Ldr A. Vybiral ??/1/43 (?) - ??/11/43
                         S/Ldr F. Vamel DFC ??/11/43 - ??/5/44

18/9/43   6/1/44    Joined by 313 Sqdn to form the Czech  Wing. 
                    Took  part in bomber escorts with many  raids 
                    against  V1 launching sites in  France.  When 
                    the  Spitfire  IX's arrived in the  New  Year 
                    they  were  converted  for  bombing.  Bombing 
                    practice  began  in February  though  bombing 
                    sorties did not begin until April

                    NOTE: CO's of 313 Sqdn were:-

                         S/Ldr J.J. Himr ??/6/42 (?) - 24/9/43
                         S/Ldr F. Fatjl DFC ??/9/43 - ??/2/44

                         Himr  served  with 56  Sqdn  during  the 
                         Battle  of Britain and was killed whilst 
                         commanding the squadron - see below

21/9/43             Skirmish  with Bf  110's  - otherwise  little 
                    action

24/9/43             During  a  Mitchell  escort,   the  squadron 
                    encountered  a force of  Bf110's,  destroying 
                    one and claiming a further one as a probable, 
                    but  losing two including the CO,  S/Ldr J.J. 
                    Himr

5/12/43   5/1/44    263 Sqdn arrived to convert to Typhoon Ib's - 
                    non-operational

20/1/44   20/2/44   Return of 313 Sqdn with Spitfire Vc's & IX's.

??/1/44 (?)         All RAF units left - control returned to USAAF

13/1/44             HQ  of  100th Fighter Wing (IXth  Air  Force) 
                    moved in - aircraft dispersals and airfield
                    defences strengthened

29/3/44             48th  Fighter Group (492,  493 &  494  Sqdns) 
                    arrived from USA

29/4/44             48th  Fighter  Group  flew  their  first  P47 
                    mission over France under the command of Col.
                    Dixon M. Allison. There were now almost 3000
                    Americans at Ibsley, many under canvas.

??/4/44    ??/5/44  371st Fighter Group on temporary stay  caused 
                    by the state of the base at Bisterne

??/4/44    ??/5/44  Intensive training on  Ashley  Walk  bombing 
                    range followed by pre-D-Day sweeps attacking
                    marshalling    yards,    airfields,    coastal 
                    batteries and radar stations

6/4/44              Convoy and beach cover for D-Day reverting to
                    sweeps afterwards. During June 1944, the 48th
                    Fighter Group flew 68 missions involving 1956
                    individual sorties. 

17/4/44             A Lightning failed to take off and burst into flames.
                    The pilot escaped but three firemen were killed when
                    the bomb load exploded.

??/5/44             Two Lightnings were destroyed in a mid-air collision
                    over Fordingbridge.

??/5/44   4/7/44    As Advance Landing Grounds on the Continent 
                    became available, the squadrons moved in, the
                    last leaving Ibsley on 4th July 1944

??/7/44   ??/7/44   A liaison squadron based for about a week

??/7/44   22/7/44   367th Fighter Group arrived from Stoney Cross
                    leaving for Beuzeville, France, after a short
                    stay

??/10/44            End of American occupation. Oxfords of No. 7
                    Flying Instructors' School move in from Upavon
                    for short stay

1/10/44   ??/??/??  Detachment of 587 Sqdn using Hurricane IIc's.

6/12/44             48th Fighter Group earned a Distinguished Unit
                    Citation for its ground support missions.

9/3/45              Transferred  from  11  Group  to  46  Group, 
                    Transport Command. No operational units based
                    here - used as a satellite by Stoney Cross &
                    Holmsley South

??/??/??  ??/10/45  Used by the Glider Pick-up Training Flight
                    which arrived from Zeals with Dakotas and
                    Hadrians. They moved to Ramsbury in October

15/8/45             Victory Dance held

??/??/??  ??/??/??  Used  by 160 Staging Post,  a  ground  unit, 
                    whilst awaiting a move to Guernsey

??/??/??  ??/??/??  200 & 201 Signals Units assembled in readiness
                    for Tiger Force

??/10/45            Transferred  to 47 Group though  last  flying 
                    unit already gone. Base personnel now down to 350.

??/1/46             Work started on new Station HQ

22/2/46             Moyles Court released from requisition. 

??/3/46             Grass between runways ploughed up, Nissen huts
                    sold  off  to local purchasers.  Some  of  the 
                    Blister hangars used by a detachment of 49 MU
                    for storage. Staff dispersed to Holmesley South,
                    Stoney Cross & Netheravon.

??/??/47            Ibsley became an inactive site. Ellingham to
                    Rockford Common road reopened

??/??/7?            Amey Roadstone began gravel extraction
 

SOURCES:  Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F.

          The Narrow Margin

          Action Stations Vol. 5

          Battle of Britain Dorset: Rodney Legg (Dorset Publishing Co)
          [ISBN 0948699434], 1995

PHOTOS:   page 250 of Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F.
          page 461 of Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F.

                 ----------------------------------------------
                 Maurice Sheppard, Poole, Dorset.  January 1995
                 ----------------------------------------------
