IBSLEY
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Lat/Long 50 52 30N/01 46 53.Grid ref SU 153087.80 feet ASL.IDENT"IB"USAAF Station No 347(1944 RT callsign "Lardit")

RUNWAYS 01/19 1000x50yds(extended to 1600 yds),05/23 1350x50 yds,32/14 1400x50 yds.

ALT TITLE
IBSLEY PLAN 1945(Air Ministry)

Building at Ibsley started in late 1941 and was completed in early 1942.The field opened for flying on 16/02/42 as part of 11 Group RAF.In 1942 and again in 1944 the USAAF used Ibsley as "US Airfield No.347".After D-Day the airfield reverted to the RAF who continued to use it until March 1946.After a short time as a maintenance Unit the airfield closed in 1947.In later years the site was excavated for gravel.

The name"IBSLEY" lived on in aeronautical circles for several decades as the IBY(Ibsley)VOR at 50 53 37N/01 44 54W.

IBSLEY from the air.the extention to the N/S runway can be clearly seen.
IBSLEY from the air 50 years later - not much left to see now- just one big gravel pit
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RAF UNITS
32 SQ,Hurricane I,arr 16/2/41,dep 17/4/41.
66 Sq,Spitfire VB/VC,arr 27/4/42,dep 3/7/42.
66 Sq,Spitfire VB/VC arr 7/7/42,dep 16/8/42.
66 Sq.Spitfire VB/VC ,arr 20/8/42,dep 24/8/42/.
66 Sq,Spitfire VB/VC,arr 23/12/42,dep 9/2/43.
118 Sq,Spitfire IIA/VB,arr 18/4/41,dep 23/2/42
118 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 7/3/42,dep 3/7/42.
118 Sq Spitfire VB,arr 7/7/42,dep 16/8/42.
118 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 23/12/42,dep 3/1/43.
124 Sq,Spitfire VII,detachment 2/43
129 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 13/2/43,dep 28/2/43
129 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 13/3/43,dep 28/6/43.
165 Sq,Spitfire VC,arr 30/6/43,dep 30/7/43.
170 Sq,Mustang I,detachment 10/42.
175 Sq,Hurricane IIB,detachment 3/42.
234 Sq,Spitfire IIA/VB,arr 5/11/41,dep 24/12/41.
234 SQ,Spitfire VB,arr 31/12/41,dep 23/3/42
234 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 4/4/42,dep 27/4/42.
257 Sq,Typhoon IB,detachment 1/43,
263 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 5/12/43,dep 5/1/44.
310 Sq,Spitfire VC,arr 19/9/43,dep 2/12/43.
310 Sq,Spitfire LFIX,arr 15/12/43,dep 19/2/44
312 Sq,Spitfire VC,arr 21/9/43,dep 2/12/43.
312 Sq,Spitfire LFIXB,arr 18/12/43,dep 19/2/44.
313 Sq,Spitfire VC,arr 18/9/43,dep 6/1/44.
313 SQ,Spitfire IX,arr 20/1/44,dep 20/2/44
421 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 16/8/42,dep 22/8/42.
453 Sq,Spitfire IX,arr 28/6/43
501 Sq,Spitfire IIA/VB,arr 5/8/41,dep 25/1/42.
501 SQ,Spitfire VB/VC,arr 7/2/42,dep 3/7/42.
501 Sq,Spitfire VC,arr 7/7/42,dep 24/8/42.
504 SQ,Spitfire VB/VC,arr 30/12/42,dep 30/6/43.
587 Sq,Detachments various times from 10/44 to 46.
616 Sq,Spitfire V,arr 2/1/43,dep 15/3/43.
616 Sq,Spitfire V,arr 18/3/43,dep 17/9/43.
No 7 Flying Instructors School,Oxford,arr 12/10/44,dep 23/3/45.
1579 Glider Pick-up Flight,Dakota/Hadrian,arr 21/3/45,dep 10/45
49 MU, 1945/1946.
USAAF UNITS
1 FG(27/94 Sqs),P-38(aircraft codes HV/UN) ,arr24/08/42,dep 14/11/42
48 FG(492/493/494 Sqs)[Group and Squadron patches below],P-47D(Aircraft Codes F4/I7/6M).arr 29/03/44,dep 03/07/44
371 FG(404/405/406 Sqs),P-47d(Aircraft Codes 9Q/8N/4W),arr April 44,dep May 44.
367 FG(392/393/394 Sqs) ,P-38(Aircraft codes H5/8L/4N),arr 05/07/44,dep 27/07/44.
392FS/367FG
The two pictures above(Left) show Brig Gen Frank O'D. Hunter (Commander VIII AF Fighter Command) chatting with the C.O. of Ibsley ,Col.J N Stone, and (right) the Brigadier Gen. departing to continue his tour of US air bases in the UK.(Sept 4th 1942)
P-47D 44-33204 of 48FG/493FS
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