The aifield RAF Upottery was a Royal Air Force station located in Devon, England, near the village of Upottery. During World War II, it played a significant role as a base for Allied air operations, particularly involving the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The airfield’s strategic location in southwest England made it an ideal launching point for bombing missions over occupied Europe and the Atlantic.
Construction and Layout
RAF Upottery was built in 1943 as part of the rapid expansion of airfields to support the Allied air campaign. It featured three concrete runways in the classic triangular pattern common to many wartime airfields, along with extensive taxiways, hangars, and support buildings. The airfield was designed to accommodate heavy bombers and fighter aircraft, with facilities for maintenance, refueling, and crew accommodations.
USAAF Use
Though originally built for the RAF, RAF Upottery was transferred to the USAAF in 1944 and designated Station 462. The airfield was assigned to the Ninth Air Force, which was responsible for tactical air support to ground forces. The Ninth Air Force’s role was distinct from the Eighth Air Force’s strategic bombing campaigns; it focused on close air support, interdiction, and reconnaissance missions to aid the advancing Allied armies.
At Upottery, the primary tenant was the 439th Troop Carrier Group, which operated C-47 Skytrain aircraft. These transport planes were essential for airborne operations, including dropping paratroopers and towing gliders during major assaults. The 439th played a key role in the build-up to D-Day, training intensively for airborne drops and preparing for their role in the liberation of Europe.
Role in D-Day and Beyond
RAF Upottery’s most famous contribution came during the Normandy invasion in June 1944. The 439th Troop Carrier Group flew numerous missions dropping paratroopers behind enemy lines as part of the airborne assault. These operations were critical in securing key objectives such as bridges and roadways to facilitate the main beach landings.
In addition to D-Day, Upottery-based aircraft supported Operation Market Garden in September 1944, another major airborne operation aiming to capture bridges in the Netherlands. The airfield’s crews flew supply missions, casualty evacuations, and reinforcement drops throughout the Allied advance across Western Europe.
Post D-Day and Closure
After the initial phase of the invasion, the 439th continued to operate from Upottery, supporting ongoing operations across Europe until the group moved to the continent in late 1944. The airfield itself was returned to RAF control and gradually wound down operations as the war progressed and frontlines moved further east.
Following the war, RAF Upottery was closed and eventually returned to agricultural use. Today, little remains of the original airfield structures, though the site’s historical importance is commemorated through local memorials and historical societies dedicated to preserving the memory of the airmen who served there.
Legacy
RAF Upottery stands as a symbol of Allied cooperation and the vital role of airpower in the liberation of Europe. Its use by the USAAF’s troop carrier units exemplified the critical link between air and ground forces, showcasing the importance of airborne operations in modern warfare. The bravery of the crews flying from Upottery contributed directly to the success of some of the war’s most daring and pivotal missions.
RAF Upottery – RAF and USAAF airfield – Upottery, United KingdomRAF Upottery, located in Devon, England, was a vital airfield during WWII, used primarily by the USAAF’s 439th Troop Carrier Group. This group operated C-47 Skytrain aircraft, which transported and dropped paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division during critical airborne operations. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, aircraft from RAF Upottery carried the “Screaming Eagles” behind enemy lines in Normandy, enabling their mission to secure key objectives and disrupt German defenses. The airfield’s support was essential to the 101st’s success, demonstrating the crucial link between air transport and ground forces in airborne warfare.
Visit
Most of the former airfield is private property, farmland or a race track. Guided tours can be booked at the Upottery Airfield Nissen Hut Heritage Centre.
The runways can be seen from small parking spots, and there is a memorial near the road.
