Colerne Airfield

Colerne Airfield (ICAO: EGUO), now known as Azimghur Barracks, is a British Army site at Colerne, Wiltshire, England. From 1939 to 1976 it was the home of RAF Colerne.

Colerne Airfield
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorBritish Army
LocationColerne
Elevation AMSL593 ft / 181 m
Coordinates51°26′21″N 002°17′11″W
Map
EGUO
Location in Wiltshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
01/19 1,095 3,593 Asphalt
07/25 1,664 5,459 Asphalt
Airport information for EGUO at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.

History

By October 1940 RAF Colerne was still partly in the course of construction, being a fighter station for the defence of Bristol. At that date the contractors were still building and the ground was a quagmire in many areas. Unfinished barrack blocks were cold and there was very little running water. Troops were taken in Bedford trucks once a week to the luxurious baths in Bath used in peacetime by wealthy invalids. These sunken baths, tiled and entered down steps by brass handrails, were in contrast to conditions at the camp. The 87 squadron was there and a Polish fighter squadron.

Later Defiants came but they were not a success as nightfighters and were superseded by the more suitable Beaufighter.

In 1985 the entire former RAF married quarter housing estate known as The Thickwood Estate was sold to Roger Byron-Collins company the Welbeck Estate Group. All 80 houses were upgraded and converted for civilian use.

Colerne Airfield was the filming location for Top Gear's "Airport Vehicle Race", featured in Series 14 Episode 4.

The airfield (as RAF Colerne) was previously a base for Bristol University Air Squadron before they moved to MoD Boscombe Down.

Present day

The site is a ground station for the Skynet 5 military satellite system that provides battlefield support (e.g. real-time imagery from remote-piloted drones[1] in various theatres of war). It is also in close proximity to the underground Corsham Computer Centre.

The site is also the location of Azimghur Barracks, home to 21st Signal Regiment.[2]

Future

In November 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that the airfield would close in 2018 (later extended to 2025[3]), and Azimghur Barracks in 2031.[4]

References
  1. "UK Skynet: Not to be confused with The Terminator". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  2. "21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) & Air Formation Signals History" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  3. "Is Your Military Base Closing? Read The Full List Of Sites Shutting". Forces News. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  4. "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
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