RAF Zeals

RAF Zeals was a grass (unpaved) airfield built on the Stourhead Estate in 1941/2 between the villages od Zeals in the south and Stourton in the North. It was operational between May 1942 and January 1946.
Between May 1942 and August 1943 it was home at various times to No 66, 118, 132, 174, 184, 263 RAF and No 421 RCAF flying Spitfires. Hurricanes and Westland Whirlwinds.
In August 1943 it was transferred to USAAF flying P-47 Thunderbolts as the airfield proved unsuitable for the heavy C-47 Skytrains. Known as USAAF Station AAF-450.
From March 1944 it returned to RAF ownership with Nos 286 RAF, 410 RCAF, 488 RNZAF and 604 RAuxAF flying Hurricanes, Miles Martinet and Mosquitos.
After D-Day, Zeals was used for glider training in preparation for action against Japan and was the scene of a Dakota DC 3 TS436 tragic crash.
In April it transferred to the Royal Navy (known as HMS Hummingbird or Royal Naval Air Station Zeals) for carrier training. It hosted 771, 704, 759, 760 and 790 Naval Air Squadrons flying Wildcat, Mosquito, Corsair, Firefly and Oxford aircraft.
The airfield was closed down in January 1946 and all buildings apart from the control tower removed/demolished. The control tower is now a private residence. Much of the concrete perimeter track and aircraft bays are still in existance.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!