THORNEY ISLAND
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Updated 2 Dec 2014.

Code MAXV, later,EGUV(1960),later EGYT:
Lat/Long 50 49 08N/00 55 08W.
Grid ref SU 762025.
10 feet ASL.
2 miles south of Emsworth.
IDENT "TC",
1944 RT callsign "Whitewell" HF/DF RK5.

RUNWAYS.Concrete.06/24 1700x50 yds.01/19 1630x50 yds.12/30 1350x50 yds.

thorney map
THORNEY ISLAND.The short runway(12/30 )became disused in later years.

Actually in West Sussex(just) but for many years Thorney Island had a Hampshire postal address.Construction of the airfield at Thorney Island started in 1935.The project took rather longer than planned and the airfield did not open until 3/2/38 ,as part of 16 Group, Coastal Command.The station transferred briefly to no.17(Training) Group in March 38 before reverting to Coastal Command on 1/11 38 .On 15/7/47 the station passed to Fighter Command(No.11 Group),and in May 1950 to No.21 Group ,Flying Training Command.In January 62 control passed to No 38 Group ,Transport Command ,who remained in command until 31/10/75 .When Transport Command departed,the only remaining occupants were the SAR Squadron who eventually left in January 1976.On 31/3/76 the airfield was officially closed.Plans for use by the Navy,and later,as a general aviation field for Portsmouth both fell through. For a couple of years Britten-Norman rented hangar space to store Islanders,but there was no further use of the airfield.In August 1982 the Royal Artillery took over and they continue to use the base today.For more information on the Royal Artillery activities at Thorney visit the 21st Air Defence Battery Website

From Mike Bish, the two photos below show the crash of Hastings TG508 which occured on the 7th March 1962.The aircraft wing was hit by a huge crosswind which lifted the aircraft before the tail wheel had touched down and slewed the aircraft around heading toward the control tower. Fortunately the wheels snapped and it slewed to a halt just short of the CT bursting into flames. Pilot was Flt. Lt. Butler and Flt Engineer was M/Eng C G Bish. Crash occurred at 09.40 on 7 March 1962. All crew and students aboard managed to get out unharmed..

Since around 1991 Microlight aircraft have been flying here and using a hangar on the Southwestern corner of the field.However the field is still used occasionally by the RAF/FAA/Army for exercises with aircraft up to Hercules size landing there.An exercise has just taken place involving heliciopters and fixed wing types (April 2016).

Thorney 2000
A recent view of Thorney Island from the air.
beaufighter
You can visit the 46 Squadron website HERE
RAF Units
21 SQ,Mosquito VI,arr 18/6/44,dep 6/2/45.
22 Sq,Beaufort I,arr 25/6/41,dep 28/10/41
22 SQ,Beaufort I,arr 1/2/42,dep 16/2/42.
22 Sq,Sycamore HC2/Whirlwind HAR2,arr 15/2/55,dep 4/6/56.
22 Sq,Whirlwind HAR10,arr 1/4/74,dep 26/1/76.
42 Sq,Vildebeeste,arr 11/3/38,dep 28/9/38
42 Sq,Vildebeeste,arr 10/10/38,dep 18/8/39.
42 Sq,Vildebeeste,detachment 6/40.
42 Sq,Beaufighter TF10,Formed from 254 Sq 1/6/46.disbanded 15/10/47.
46 Sq,Andover C1,arr 9/9/70,disbanded 29/8/75
48 Sq,Anson I,arr 28/9/38,dep 10/10/38.
48 Sq,Anson I/Beaufort I,arr 25/8/39,dep 16/7/40.
53 Sq,Blenheim V,arr 24/11/40,dep 20/3/41.
53 Sq,Liberator VA,arr 29/4/43,dep 25/9/43.
56 Sq,Meteor F3,arr 2/2/48,dep 3/5/48.
56 Sq,Meteor F4,arr 23/6/48,dep 10/5/50.
59 Sq,Blenheim IV,arr 3/7/40,dep 23/6/41.
59 Sq,Hudson I/II/V,arr 22/7/41,dep 17/1/42.
59 Sq,Hudson VI/Liberator III/Fortress IIA,arr 29/8/42,dep 6/2/43.
59 Sq,Liberator V,arr 27/3/43,dep 11/5/43.
63 Sq,Spitfire LF16E/Meteor F3,arr 5/1/48,dep 14/5/48
63 Sq,Meteor F4,arr 29/6/48,dep 10/5/50.
80 Sq,Spitfire F24,arr 4/2/48,dep 11/2/48.
80 Sq,Spitfire F24,arr 10/5/48,dep 5/6/48.
86 Sq,Beaufort II,detachment 1/42.
86 Sq,Liberator IIIA,arr 1/8/42,dep 18/3/43.
129 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 30/7/42,dep 25/9/42.
130 SQ vSpitfire VC,arr 16/8/42,dep 20/8/42
131 Sq,Spitfire VB,arr 24/9/42,dep 7/11/42.
143 Sq,Blenheim IV,arr 11/6/42,dep 27/7/42.
164 Sq,Typhoon IB.arr 16/3/44,dep 12/4/44.
164 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 21/4/44,dep 18/6/44
183 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 1/4/44,dep 11/4/44
183 SQ,Typhoon IB,arr 22/4/44,dep 18/6/44
193 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 16/3/44,dep 6/4/44
198 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 6/4/44,dep 22/4/44.
198 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 30/4/44,dep 18/6/44.
217 Sq ,Beaufort I/II,arr 29/10/41,dep 6/3/42
220 Sq,Fortress II ,detachment 10/43.
222 Sq,Meteor F4,arr28/6/48,dep 9/5/50.
233 Sq,Hudson V, detachment 8/41.
233 Sq,Hudson V,arr 2/1/42,dep 12/7/42
235 Sq,Blenheim IF,detachment 6/40.
235 Sq,Blenheim IF,arr 10/6/40,dep 24/6/40
236 Sq,Blenheim IF/IVF,arr 4/7/40,dep 8/8/40.
248 Sq,Mosquito XVIII,arr 30/5/46,Disbanded 1/10/46.
254 Sq,Mosquito XVIII,arr 26/11/45,Disbanded 1/10/46.Be came 42 Sq.
278 Sq,Spifir VB/Sea Otter,arr 15/2/45,disbanded 15/10/45.
280 Sq,Anson I,Formed 12/12/41.dep 10/2/42
280 Sq,Anson I/Warwick I,arr 25/9/43,dep 21/10/43.
280 Sq,Warwick I,detachment at various times 10/44 to 6/46.
404 SqBlenheim IVF,Formed 15/4/41,dep 20/6/41.
407 Sq,Blenhein IVHudson III/V,Formed 8/5/41,dep 8/7/41
407 Sq Hudson V,arr 18/2/42,dep 31/3/42.
407 Sq,Hudson V,detachment 11/42.
415 Sq,Beaufort I/Hampden,Formed 20/8/41,dep 11/4/42.
415 Sq,Hampden,arr 16/5/42,dep 5/6/42.
415 Sq ,Hampden,detachment 9/42.
415 Sq,Hampden/Wellington XIII/Albacore,arr 11/11/42,dep 15/11/43.
415 Sq,wellington XIII/Albacore,detachment 11/43.
455 Sq,Beaufughter X,detachment 4/44.
464 Sq,Mosquito VI,arr 18/6/44,dep 7/2/45.
487 Sq,Mosquito VI ,arr 18/6/44,dep 5/2/45.
489 Sq,Blenheim IV/Hampden I,arr 8/2/42,dep 5/8/42.
547 SqWellington XI/Xiii/Liberator V,arr 25/10/43,dep 14/1/44
609 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 1/4/44,dep 22/4/44.
609 Sq,Typhoon IB,arr 30/4/44,dep 18/6/44.
612 Sq,Whitley VII,arr 18/8/42,dep 23/9/42.
2 ANS ,Anson T21/Wellington T10/Valetta T3/Varsity T1/Marathon T11/Vampire NF10.15/05/1950 till 15/01/1962
242 OCU/Hasting/Beverley/Argosy C1/Hercules C1,arr 1962,dep 31/10/75

FAA Units

703 SQ Barracuda/Avenger,formed 19/4/45 ,dep to Ford 22-4-50.
704 Sq,Mosquito,arr 6/45,dep 7/45
810 Sq,Barracuda arr 1/45
816 Sq Swordfish arr 9/42,dep 12/42.
819 Sq Sworfish,arr late 42,dep ?.
822 Sq ,Barracuda,arr 1/45,dep ?
833 Sq ,Swordfish arr early 43,dep ?.
836 Sq,Swordfish,arr early 43,dep ?.
838 Sq,Swordfish,arr 11/44,dep 1/45.
842 Sq,Swordfish,arr 11/44,dep 1/45
848 Sq,Avenger arr 6/6/44,dep 7/44.
854 Sq,Avenger arr 7/8/44,dep 8/44
855 Sq,Avenger,arr 7/8/44,dep 8/44
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