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RAF Little Rissington
RAF Little Rssington was built in the 1930`s, situated 700 feet above sea level on the Cotswold plateau, it was one of the highest mainland RAF stations. Construction was overseen by the Council for the Protection of Rural England which ensured that the station's buildings were in keeping with the beautiful local villages such as Bourton on the Water and Great Rissington. Many buildings were constructed from Cotswold Stone and drystone walls were used in place of standard miltary fencing. The runways were grass strips, which caused problems in wet weather due to "swampy ground". During 1942 the grass strip runways were upgraded to the bomber command pattern of three interescting concrete runways.
In August 1938, 6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) arrived as the firts flying unit with their Audaxes, Furies, Harts and Ansons. In October that year No.8 Maintenance Unit (MU) was formed at the station, using the dispersed hangars for the storage and repair of of numberous aircraft. A service much in demand through out the war yers.
At the outbreak of war the station was briefly home to the Wellington aircraft of 215 Squadron. In October 1941 No.23 BAT Flight (Blind Approach Training) was formed, to train pilots in the use of 'blind flying aids'. No.23 BAT Flight was renumbered as No.1523 BAT Flight early in 1942; the unit remained at Little Rissington until November 1945.
No.6 SFTS was redesignated No.6 (P)AFU (Pilot-Advanced Flying Unit) on 22nd April 1942. This unit provided final training for pilots who had completed basic training in the commonwealth training schools. After polishing their skills pilots would move on to an operational training station.
During the war 5,444 pilots were trained by No.6 FTS/(P) AFU at Little Rissington. Of these, 705 were awarded various gallantry awards; four received the Victoria Cross.
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Those known to have served at RAF Little Rissington during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Milliken George Elliott. WOI
- Taylor Robert R..
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about RAF Little Rissington? There are:0 items tagged RAF Little Rissington available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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WOI George Elliott Milliken OTU 5 (c) I am looking for anyone who may have have known my father George Elliot Milliken - RCAF pilot who enlisted in June 1941 in Saskatoon Sask. He trained in Canada (No 2 MD Brandon Manitoba, No 2 ITS Regina Sask, No 14 EFTS Portage la Prairie Manitoba, No 2 SFTS Dauphin, Manitoba). He embarked at Y depot Halifax on the Akaroa on Apr 2 1942 and arrived in Liverpool on April 15. He was stationed at Little Rissingtion for AFU and then (after a brief period at Harrogate) was stationed to No 5 OTU Coastal Command in Turnberry Scotland from Sept 1942 to Feb 1943. While at Turnberry he crewed up with Sgt McKay (Navigator), Sgt Ingleson (Gunner) and Sgt. Freddie Faucus (Wireless Op & Gunner) flying a Handly Page Hampden. 5 OTU was then moved Long Kesh Ireland where he remained until June 1943. Due to numerous operations to resolve sinus/bleeding ear problems he was bounced around to Abbotsinch, Scotland and Warrington before returning home on the Queen Mary (Oct 18-24 1943). After brief periods as a staff pilot at Ottawa Ontario, Paulson Manitoba (No 7 B&G School) and Saskatoon (No 4 EFTS - refresher course) he was then a staff pilot at No 2 B&G school in Dafoe Sask from Mar 1944 until the base closed in January of 1945. Any information would be much appreciated.
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