Royal Air Force Shepherds Grove or more simply RAF Shepherds Grove is a former Royal Air Force station located in Suffolk, active from 1943–44 to 1966. Shepherds Grove was host to units of the United States Army Air Forces, Eighth Air Force. During the Cold war it was also one of the 20 Thor IRBM missile bases in the UK, as part of Project Emily.

RAF Shepherds Grove
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in England
RAF Shepherds Grove is located in Suffolk
RAF Shepherds Grove
RAF Shepherds Grove
Shown within Suffolk
Coordinates52°18′55″N 000°55′13″E / 52.31528°N 0.92028°E / 52.31528; 0.92028
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
United States Air Force
Controlled byRAF Bomber Command 1944-45
RAF Fighter Command 1945
Site history
Built1943 (1943)/44
In useApril 1944 - July 1963 (1963)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation61 metres (200 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
01/19 1,845 metres (6,053 ft) Concrete
08/26 1,220 metres (4,003 ft) Concrete
14/32 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) Concrete

Units

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The following units were here at some point:[2]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Falconer 1998, p. 78.
  2. ^ "Shepherd's Grove (Hepworth)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 50.
  4. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 67.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 84.
  6. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 97.
  7. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 129.
  8. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 45.
  9. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 215.
  10. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 86.

Bibliography

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  • Falconer, J (1998). RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2175-9.
  • Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.
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