Tarrant Rushton Airfield

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Reference WMO/97433

Address:

Entrance to Disused airfield

(Known as Windy Corner)

Tarrant Rushton

DT11 8SB

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Roadside
Description: Stone of remembrance
Materials:
  • Metal Brass
  • Stone Stone (any)
Lettering: Inscribed on a plaque
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: Geographical Marker: The memorial is a free standing stone within a paved and walled area with three separate plaques on it. Each plaque represents an aspect of the history of the airfield, but the memorial constitutes a single entity. One plaque (probably the first) refers to all who served here, with specific groups mentioned on it. A second on the front face refers to 298 and 644 squadrons of the RAF who towed the gliders from the Army Air Corps, Glider Pilot Regiment for the raids on D Day including the initial Op to take 'Pegasus' bridge and the River Orne bridge . Glider Pilots from this Airfield also flew Heavy Hamilcar Gliders, which could transport small tanks and other heavy equipment to the battlefield to support Airborne units. The third, on the side refers to RN and Fleet Air Arm personnel. The airfield was in commission 1943-45, then was taken over by Flight Refueling Ltd and played a significant role in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949. It was closed and reverted to farmland in 1980. However the perimeter road is still intact and is a public right of way, and the building behind the memorial in the photos is a surviving wartime hangar. And on the day of my visit I was able to vouch unreservedly for the moniker 'Windy Corner'. Anyone unfamiliar with Dorset lanes might struggle to find the airfield. Either take the B3078 Wimborne to Cranborne road, turn off at the sign to Witchampton, then at Witchampton follow the sign to Tarrant Keyneston. Or take the B3082 Wimborne to Blandford road, turn off at the True Love's Knot pub and follow the sign to Tarrant Monkton (ignoring the sign to Tarrant Rushton village). Take the fork in the road for Witchampton. On arrival you cannot miss the big black hangar.
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Plaque: THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES ALL WHO OPERATED/ FROM/ TARRANT RUSHTON AIRFIELD 1943 - 1980/ UNVEILED 6TH JUNE 1982 Plaque: TO HONOUR ALL WHO SERVED/ WITH 298 AND 644 SQUADRONS R.A.F./ C SQUADRON GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT Plaque: TO/ COMMEMORATE/ ROYAL NAVY AND FLEET AIR ARM/ PERSONNEL/ WHO SERVED ON THIS AIRFIELD/ 1943 - 1945

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