RAF Broadwell Control Tower

[MarkG]

Situated in West Oxfordshire, RAF Broadwell wasn't completed until the later years of the war. Supplied under the lend lease agreement with the U.S., Broadwell became home to two squadrons of C-47 Dakota's, namely 512 and 575 squadron. Accompanying them were Horsa gliders.
April 1944 saw a lot of activity as training intensified in preparation for the D-Day landings. Finally, on 6th June 1944, 512 and 575 squadrons went into action from Broadwell flying troops into Normandy. By midday, the Dakota's were back at Broadwell, and this time they took off with Horsa gliders in tow.

For more information, Broadwell has already been covered by Steve Smith in his superb article.

http://www.aeroresource.co.uk/articles/2009/broadwell/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;








Stairs leading to the Op's room.


Op's/Control Room.




This would've been the flare locker.


Some of the original blue and cream paint still exists.

[sherriff]

Broadwell now has a planning notification for the side of the airfield which the tower is on.
It's to build an array of solar panels plus access roads and fencing.
If you want to see/visit the tower and remaining runway I would go and do it now, as some/all
of the wartime remains could soon disappear !

[SteveS]

Hi Sherriff,

Which council is the Application in with - and do you have a reference no? Would like to take a look to see exactly what they plan to do, as that would be an absolute travesty if it gets demolished.

Steve

[StuBie]

It would be west oxfordshire district council Steve.

Can't see any planning proposal on the website at the moment for the Broadwell parish but I'll keep looking and might even drop them an email to find out some more. The W.O.D.C planning site is here: http://planning.westoxon.gov.uk/MVM/Online/PL/home.aspx

[Watcher]

Unless otherwise restored and/or put to good use, more than enough of these WWII buildings throughout the UK have now been allowed to be erased from our proud history and surviving such buildings should be ordered to be kept and councils secure commemorative metal plaques to them, or nearby, educationally detailing their history (build year and buildings purpose, types of based aircraft and squadrons controlled, about any personnel lost, etc). Even if only ordered to be left to nature, if found still reasonably safe and sturdy enough then such buildings would possibly take hundreds of years to decay and fade away. But they most definitely shouldn't at all be demolished, apart from in cases where absolutely and unavoidably necessary.

" It's to build an array of solar panels plus access roads and fencing" - which should be built around or to accommodate historic Broadwell control tower staying put!

[StuBie]

It is a shame that some of the most important parts of this countries history are so easily forgotten about or torn down without a second thought. Many years ago Bradwell Grove military hospital was demolished and is now a housing/commercial park, this was situated a mile or two away from Broadwell.

[MarkG]

Thanks for the notice about this Sherrif. If this goes ahead, it'll be a shame to see the ol tower go along with more of our heritage.
This is another reason I think its important to photograph and document as many of these old places as possible, they weren't built to last and the winter months (especially the last) have a devastating effect on them!

[StuBie]

For those interested in seeing the planning application and plans:

Application:
http://planning.westoxon.gov.uk/documen ... tid=524851

Plans, supporting documents etc:
http://planning.westoxon.gov.uk/documen ... /0412/P/FP

Stu

[sherriff]

Top stuff StuBie.
Looks like the tower escapes this one......and maybe some of the runway too.
It's a shame there is no memorial at Broadwell.....lots of brave men flew into oblivion
from here on our behalf and it's also associated with famous D-Day actions (Ranville)
and the move through N Europe. It's a special place too....lots of wildlife and very peaceful.
I walk my pooch there several time a week.
Thanks agen for the info...top job !

[StuBie]

No worries Sherriff, I swung by the airfield on the way back from Fairford and grabbed the application number off the sign.

It would be nice to get some sort or memorial for the airfield, probably place it in the local chuch or something as it probably won't last 5 minutes out on the seclueded airfield. Also it is interesting to read in the information that they were planning a golf course and hotel on the site 20 years ago but the firm went in to liquidation berfore the plans could be put into action.

[sherriff]

Local press states that, although planning permission granted for the solar array, it has been shelved.
Now uneconomic since the recent government taxation changes regarding electricity generation by this
method on large scales, such as the proposed Broadwell array.

[REF]

There is a really interesting thread on AiX here;
http://www.airfieldinformationexchange. ... -Broadwell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It has a good amount of info on it regarding Broadwell including a story form a gentleman who was based in the tower there when it was active.

Cheers

Richard

[sherriff]

New pp 'yellow sheet' on the road thru Broadwell from W Oxon DC.

Looking to build a dwelling where the watch-office (tower) is.
Only just seen this, so no time yet to check out whether it's a conversion of the WW2 structure
or a demolish & rebuild. Hoping the former. They should call it "Merville House".

[StuBie]

Latest application and supporting documents:

Application: http://planning.westoxon.gov.uk/documen ... tid=581417

Supporting docs: http://planning.westoxon.gov.uk/documen ... tid=581418

By the looks of the supporting docs it is going to restored, however for residential use.

Former World War ll structures have been lost at a fast rate since
the War. This building is a very good unspoiled example of a pre
1943 "all commands type 14779/43" Airfield Control tower. Such
structures are highly uncommon and worthy of retention. These
proposals are intended to ensure that the external appearance is
restored to its original design and the internal layout be retained
almost entirely unchanged.

Stu

[ShillValleyAdmin]

MEMORIAL SERVICE AND UNVEILING OF PLAQUE TO REMEMBER THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE WHO SERVED AT BROADWELL AIRFIELD 1943 – 1947.

IN SHILTON CHURCH ON
SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2015 AT 3PM

FOLLOWED BY TEA AND CAKES IN THE OLD SCHOOL.

Everyone is welcome