Weston airfield research

In recent weeks one of our very own archive volunteers has begun research on Weston airfield. After reading a number of items in the stores and gaining a better grasp on the history of the airfield, he searched through the archives media store to find some fantastic photos. Here are his findings;


Work began constructing Weston Airport in 1936 as an attempt to increase tourism in the area. However with the outbreak of World War 2 the airport was handed over to RAF control, in 1940 3-runways (1 paved and 2 grass) were laid out, once under RAF control the airport was renamed RAF Weston-super-Mare.

RAF Weston-super-Mare was perfect for RAF Locking, providing the base with fully functional airfield less than 1-mile away.

The Helicopter Museum was officially opened by HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York in 1989 with the clear mission of restoring and preserving historical aircraft.

Today the site remains abandoned and disused, the only last surviving ruminants of what once existed here are scattered pill-boxes and derelict buildings. The main hangars were converted into a business park and are now home to Worle Platoon of the Somerset ACF.