RAF Tilshead

{{Infobox military installation

| name = RAF Tilshead

| ensign=Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg

| ensign_size=90px

| native_name =

| partof =

| location = Tilshead, Wiltshire

| nearest_town =

| country = England

| image =

| caption =

| pushpin_map = Wiltshire

| pushpin_label = RAF Tilshead

| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Wiltshire

| coordinates = {{Coord|51|13|40|N|001|58|13|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}

| type = Royal Air Force station

| code =

| site_area =

| height =

| ownership = Air Ministry

| operator = Royal Air Force

| controlledby =

| open_to_public =

| condition =

| built = {{Start date|1925}}

| builder =

| used = 1925-{{End date|1941}}

| materials =

| fate =

| battles =

| events =

| current_commander =

| past_commanders =

| garrison =

| occupants =

| elevation = {{Convert|124|m|0}}

| IATA =

| ICAO =

| FAA =

| TC =

| LID =

| GPS =

| WMO =

| r1-number = 00/00

| r1-length =

| r1-surface = Concrete

| r2-number = 00/00

| r2-length =

| r2-surface = Concrete

| r3-number = 00/00

| r3-length =

| r3-surface = Concrete

| website =

}}

Royal Air Force Tilshead or more simply RAF Tilshead is a former Royal Air Force station west of Tilshead, Wiltshire, England and {{Convert|9|mi||0|abbr=}} east of Warminster.

The unpaved airfield was open from 1925 until 1941.{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/tilshead|title=RAF Tilshead|publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|accessdate=4 April 2012}} Nearby at Shrewton, a relief landing ground controlled by No. 38 Wing RAF was open from 1940 to 1946.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/shrewton/|title=Shrewton|last=|first=|date=|website=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/airfields/index.php|title=RAF Shrewton/Tilshead|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|accessdate=4 April 2012}}

Based units

No. 16 Squadron RAF flew the Westland Lysander as a detachment for RAF Weston Zoyland between 15 August 1940 and 8 September 1941, conducting reconnaissance protecting the country from the planned invasion and looking for enemy movements.{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/16_wwII.html|title=No. 16 Squadron (RAF): Second World War|publisher=History of War|accessdate=4 April 2012}}

No. 225 (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF also flew the Lysander{{cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-T.htm#Tilshead|title=RAF Tilshead|publisher=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation|accessdate=4 April 2012}} before moving to RAF Thruxton.{{cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Thruxton.htm|title=RAF Thruxton|publisher=Control Towers|accessdate=5 April 2012}}

The airfield also provided initial training period for the Glider Pilot Regiment providing basic flying training.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/88/a1074188.shtml|title=Staff Sergeant Billy Marfleet GPR|publisher=BBC History|accessdate=5 April 2012}}

Current use

The site is currently used by the British Army as part of the Salisbury Plain training area and there is nothing left of the airfield.

References

External links

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/88/a1074188.shtml BBC History - Staff Sergeant Billy Marfleet GPR]

Category:Gliding in the United Kingdom

Category:Military units and formations established in 1925

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Wiltshire

Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom