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Woburn Park

Major

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Referred to as Woburn Park, the airfield is known for its links to the Duchess of Bedford, who mysteriously disappeared in 1937 whilst on a flight.

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Also known as: No 34 SLG / RAF Woburn Park / Woburn
County: Bedfordshire
Current Status: Aviation / Parkland
Date: 1926 - 31 May 1947
Current Use: Limited flying
Used By: RAF / Civil
Landing Surface Types: Unpaved

Woburn remains famous in an aviation context for its use between both world wars by the Duchess of Bedford. Flying started in the late 1920s and she proceeded to own a selection of light aircraft until her unexplained disappearance on 23 March 1937. Pieces of wreckage from her plane were found off the East Anglian coast but her body was never found. Despite this tragedy, that was not the end of flying by any means as Woburn Park became No 34 Satellite Landing Ground (SLG) for aircraft storage. From July 1941 it was used by Nos 6 and 8 Maintenance Units and became the largest SLG of them all. As time progressed a large number of Short Stirlings arrived to eventually be scrapped after the end of war. However, Woburn was not clear of Stirlings and indeed the RAF until as late as May 1947.

The first public helicopter rally in Britain occurred here in 1959. Until recently Woburn hosted the de Havilland Moth Club's annual International Moth Rally. As many as 100 aircraft could be seen at each yearly event.


The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2011):

  • St Mary's Church, Woburn
  • Woburn Parish Council

                         

Main unit(s) present:

  • No 6 MU
  • No 8 MU

Photographs from the unveiling of the ABCT marker at Woburn Park on 25 May 2013:
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The Duchess of Bedford and Mr Kenneth Bannerman, Director General of ABCT unveiling the ABCT memorial stone in Woburn Park.

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Thank you again to all the members of the Royal British Legion Riders for their continued support.

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Local members from the Woburn Heritage Centre Trust.

Thank you to all who helped us make the day possible and an special thanks to the Woburn Park Estate team for all your hard work.

 

Click here to read the Bedford today article about the unveiling. 

Looking north across the airfield site - 2 May 2014.png

Looking north across the airfield site, 2 May 2014. © Richard Flagg

Looking south across the airfield site - 2 May 2014.png

Looking south across the airfield site, 2 May 2014. © Richard Flagg

Footage from Woburn Park, 1959. Courtesy of British Pathé

Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s):

Brize Norton / Little Rissington

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