Airfield search

Worthy Down

Major

Did you know?

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Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson may have already become great actors but unfortunately the same could not be said of their piloting abilities while at Worthy Down during World War Two. Both men wrecked or badly damaged quite a number of aircraft and the Fleet Air Arm eventually released them in 1944 so that they could form the Old Vic Theatre Company.

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Also known as: HMS Ariel II / HMS Kestrel / RAF Worthy Down / RNAS Worthy Down / Worthy Down Aerodrome / Worthy Down Camp
County: Hampshire
Current Status: Army barracks
Date: August 1918 - 1 December 1960
Current Use: Disused
Used By: RAF / FAA
Landing Surface Types: Unpaved
Prominent People: Arthur Harris / Laurence Olivier / Ralph Richardson
Aircraft Roles: Bomber / Naval aviation / Trainer
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2011):
  • South Wonston Parish Council
  • Winchester Sea Cadets
  • Worthy Down HIVE
  • Worthys Local History Group

Main unit(s) present:

  • No 1 AACU

  • No 7 Sqn

  • No 35 Sqn

  • No 49 Sqn

  • No 58 Sqn

  • No 102 Sqn

  • No 207 Sqn

  • No 215 Sqn

  • No 225 Sqn
  • No 700 Sqn

  • No 734 Sqn

  • No 739 Sqn

  • No 755 Sqn

  • No 756 Sqn

  • No 757 Sqn

  • No 763 Sqn

  • No 774 Sqn

  • No 800 Sqn

  • No 803 Sqn

  • No 806 Sqn

  • No 807 Sqn

  • No 808 Sqn

  • No 814 Sqn

  • No 815 Sqn

  • No 838 Sqn

  • No 848 Sqn

  • Artillery & Infantry Co-operation School

  • Electrical & Wireless School

  • RAF and Army Co-operation School

  • School of Army Co-operation

  • Southampton UAS

001geograph-2907871-by-Chris-Talbot.jpg

A hangar at Worthy Down, 21 March 2011.

Footage of Worthy Down. Courtesy of Lost Adventures

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Plan of Worthy Down, c. 1940s. © Royal Navy Research Archive. Click here for more information.

Satellite(s):

Bush Barn / Jersey / Thorney Island

Decoy Airfield(s):

Micheldever

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