RAF Bridgnorth was a

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

Station, created after the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

on 6 November 1939, at Stanmore, to the east of

Bridgnorth Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079. History B ...

Shropshire, England Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to t ...

. However, as

RAF Stanmore Park Royal Air Force Stanmore Park or more simply RAF Stanmore Park is a former Royal Air Force station in Stanmore, Middlesex (now the London Borough of Harrow). History The unit was opened in 1939 and closed in 1997. In 1939 RAF Balloon Command was ...

already existed in

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...

, it was named RAF Bridgnorth. Although during its existence various static aeroplanes were displayed as Gate Guardians, RAF Bridgnorth never had a runway. The first unit stationed there was No.4 Recruit Centre. Their role was to carry out the basic training of new recruits in the RAF, originally designed for 2,000 recruits and 500 permanent staff. In 1940 spare accommodation at Bridgnorth enabled it to be used as a transit and kitting out centre for troops returning from France. In August 1941 the Station was renamed No.1

Women's Auxiliary Air Force The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs (), was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Established in 1939, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000 at its peak strength in 1943, with over 2 ...

Depot involved with the training of WAAF recruits. By September 1942 saw another change of name to the No.1 Elementary Air Navigation School. Other changes subsequently took place as dictated by the needs of the war effort. From its inception until after the war, the station also had a 114 bed hospital.

World War II

The site was used for training WAAF, airmen and Aircrew during the Second World War. It was also a reception centre for forces personnel returning from

Dunkirk Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France. It retained that name until closure in 1963. The unit badge carried the Latin motto ''Haec porta moenia viri'' (This is the gate, the walls are men). In December 1943, a

flu Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These symptom ...

epidemic on the station meant that all the WAAF personnel were moved off camp so that their quarters and living areas could be fumigated. Training continued with Basic Recruits being billeted in hangars around the base. On

Armistice Sunday Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in Nov ...

6 November 1949, a massed parade of 3,400 men supported the Mayor of Bridgnorth. On 12 April 1950 the Borough of Bridgnorth granted RAF Bridgnorth the Freedom of Entry to the town. It was the first RAF Station to be granted Freedom of Entry in the UK. Also in 1950, No 7 School of Recruit Training was 'adopted' by Training Command under a patronage scheme that saw all 5 recruit training schools being adopted by one of the Royal Air Force Commands. On 7 June 1951, RAF Bridgnorth exercised its right for the first time to march through the town, via the North Gate, with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying. A Lancaster flew overhead. That was only possible after the RAF Service had received the King's Colours on 26 May 1951. Tens of thousands of recruits passed through Bridgnorth for their initial eight weeks training or ‘square bashing’ as it was called and included entertainer Des O’Connor, comedian

Ronnie Corbett Ronald Balfour Corbett (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016) was a Scottish actor, broadcaster, comedian and writer. He had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show ''The Two Ronnies''. He achieved promine ...

and ex-test cricketers

Cyril Washbrook Cyril Washbrook (6 December 1914 – 27 April 1999) was an English cricketer, who played for Lancashire and England. He had a long career, split by World War II, and ending when he was aged 44. Washbrook, who is most famous for opening the bat ...

and

Raman Subba Row Raman Subba Row (born 29 January 1932) is a former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire. Life and career Born in Streatham, Surrey, England to an Indian father Panguluri Venkata Subba Rao, of B ...

. One of the notable commanders on recruit training after the Second World War was Squadron Leader

George 'Johnny' Johnson Squadron Leader George Leonard Johnson, (25 November 1921 − 7 December 2022), better known as Johnny Johnson, was a British Royal Air Force officer who was the last surviving original member of No. 617 Squadron RAF and of Operation Chastis ...

, one of the aircrew who took part in the

Dambusters Raid Operation Chastise or commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by ...

. The Station closed down on Friday 8 February 1963. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the former '3' Wing mess hall / cook house chimney on 28 May 1994. The chimney is now in the part of the former RAF Station that has been designated a Country Park.

References

* ''The Official Programme for the Ceremony of the Closure of Royal Air Force Station Bridgnorth''

Sources

* * *

External links

RAF Bridgnorth web site; over 1,200 photographs of the former RAF Station

British Pathé Film of " The RAF receive 'Freedom on Entry' of Bridgnorth"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridgnorth RAF Royal Air Force stations in Shropshire Military units and formations established in 1939

RAF The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...