Although named as a centre it is a museum and tour organisation on the former grounds of the RAF Upottery airfield and used by the USAAF and the 101st Airborne Division and Screaming Eagles (Band of Brothers). The Upottery Airfield Nissen Hut Heritage Centre, located in a preserved Nissen hut on Slough Lane near Smeatharpe, Devon, offers a vivid, immersive glimpse into RAF Upottery’s crucial World War II history.
Historical Significance
RAF Upottery (Station 462), built in 1943–44, served as a major transport hub for the USAAF’s 439th Troop Carrier Group. It hosted C‑47s that dropped paratroopers on D‑Day, notably from the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, earning decorations like the Distinguished Unit Citation and French Croix de Guerre.
Hundreds of troops from the 506th PIR (“Easy Company”, 101st) and glider units from the 325th and 401st GIR were staged here, making Upottery the final base before their Normandy jump. The centre commemorates additional operations such as Market Garden and antisubmarine patrols, reflecting RAF Upottery’s diverse wartime roles.
Exhibits & Experience
Housed within an original officers’ complex and Nissen hut, the centre features a rare photographic archive capturing pilots, crews, and paratroopers in training, briefing, and moments before takeoff. Film footage from D‑Day and models/dioramas recreating life on the airfield.
Authentic uniforms, weapons, and personal items—some available for children to try on—and memorabilia illustrating daily life, including exhibits on local War Effort organizations, there’s even an RAF display reflecting local wartime activity.
The Nissen Hut – uitknippen
The Nissen Hut is a prefabricated steel structure, originally developed during World War I by Major Peter Nissen of the British Army. Designed for quick assembly and transport, it features a distinctive half-cylindrical shape made from corrugated steel sheets. Widely used in World War II, Nissen Huts served as barracks, offices, storage units, and hospitals across military airfields like RAF Upottery. Their simple yet effective design allowed for mass production and global deployment. Today, preserved examples—like those at the Upottery Airfield Heritage Centre—serve as poignant reminders of wartime innovation and the lives of those who served within their curved walls.
Visit
There are a few parking spots in front of the Nissen Hut and one sided parking on the road, all free. The museum is not that big but is full of information, objects and information. The Nissen hut is wheelchair accessible.
You can book guided airfield tours by appointment, plus history talks by volunteer experts.
Check out the website for opening times and contact information.
