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RAF Lasham
RAF Lasham opened in November 1942 as a Forward fighter airfield. It was situated 6 miles south east of Basingstoke in Hampshire. It was initally home to 38 Wing, Army Co-operation Command and was transferred to Fighter Command in April 1943. The base became to home to 175 Squadron flying Hurricanes and Typhoons, 181, 182 and 183 Squadrons flying Typhoons, 412 and 602 Squadrons with Spitfires.
In August 1943 it was transferred to No 2 Group, Tactical AF, becoming home to 320 Squadron flying Mitchells, 107, 613 and 305 Squadrons flying Mosquitoes. These squadrons were Heavily involved in Operations Overlord and Market Garden. In November 1944 Lasham was transfered to No 84 Group Support Unit and used for the training replacement aircrews. After the war it became a Group Disbandment Centre and was fianlly home to 49 MU. and General Aircraft Ltd based servicing RAF Mosquitoes.
The airifeld closed in 1948 and has been used since for gliding and aviation engineering.
Squadrons stationed at RAF Lasham
- 38 Wing, Army Co-operation Command. Nov 1942 to April 1943.
- No: 181 Squadron. April 1943 to July 1943.
- No: 182 Squadron. April 1943 to Aug 1943.
- No: 183 Squadron. June 1943 to Aug 1943.
- No: 412 Squadron. June 1943 to Aug 1943.
- No: 602 Squadron. June 1943 to Aug 1943.
- No: 320 Squadron. Aug 1943 to Oct 1944.
- No: 613 Squadron. Aug 1943 to Oct 1944.
- No: 305 Squadron. Aug 1943 to Oct 1944.
- No: 107 Squadron. Feb 1944 to Oct 1944.
- No 84 Group Support Unit. from Nov 1945
- 49 MU. Jan 1945 to 1948
6th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
7th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
8th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
9th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
10th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ends
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ends
5th April 1943 Squadron on the move
29th April 1943 Inadequate accommodation
3rd May 1943 On the move
5th May 1943 Pilots take on Mess duties
7th May 1943 181 Squadron Medical Officer killed
7th May 1943 Back to Exercises
7th May 1943 Exercise Thunder
10th May 1943 Dentist and medicals
11th May 1943 Killed in fall
13th May 1943 Attack on Abbeville aerodrome
14th May 1943 Pilot lost over Normandy
17th May 1943 Attack on aerodrome
28th May 1943 No operations
29th May 1943 Relocated for new duties
30th May 1943 Attack Made
30th May 1943 On the move again
2nd June 1943 Move
3rd February 1944 New aircraft
1st Mar 1944 On the Move
11th May 1944 Missing
8th June 1944 Airman missing
5th July 1944 Killed in France
19th Sep 1944 Reorganisation
30th October 1944 Prepare for France
14th Nov 1944 On the Move
8th December 1944 Target Heimbach. (Dam)
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served at RAF Lasham during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Bakker Edward. (d.25th Oct 1943)
- Campbell David Mark. Flt.Lt. (d.17th March 1944)
- Hughes John Wilson. F/O. (d.15th Oct 1944)
- Siddell James Holt. FO (d.9th October 1944)
- Tarr Bertram John Charles. LAC.
- Wellings DFC.. Donald Maitland. Sqd.Ldr. (d.9th October 1944)
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 Lasham? There are:35 items tagged RAF Lasham 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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Edward Bakker 320 Squadron (d.25th Oct 1943) Since 2001 I am writing the life-story of a airgunner of Dutch 320 Squadron RAF. This veteran is 88 years old and is living in a house for Dutch veterans. On the 25th Oct 1943 Mr Jonker became very heavily wounded on a raid of the Dutch 320 Squadron to Lanveoc Poulmic Brest. His Mitchell (FR 169 42-32514) made that day a emergency landing at Exeter. In the month October 1943 the 2nd TAF (with the Mitchells B-25) made a several raids on the airfield Lanveoc Poulmic (Brest). On the 25th Oct 1943 there was a raid of the Dutch 320 and the British. 98th Squadron RAF together. On the 25th Oct 1943 Mr Jonker became very heavily wounded on a raid to Brest. On the same day 5 men of the same formation were killed. Their names are; E. Bakker, C.J. Bank, M. Bolk, HG Haaften, RWH van Pelt. For the lifestory of Mr Jonker and the chapter about 25-10-1943 and the raid to Brest, I would like to come in contact with the relatives of those Dutchmen. I am very interested about information of the raid on 25th Oct 1943. This date one Dutch Mitchell exploded in the sky (FR 178 W 42-64788) and another Dutch Mitchell (FR 166 R 42-32352) ditched in the sea. Five Dutchmen were killed that day. One of them is still missing. His name is Flying Officer C.J. Bank. He was born on the 27-08-1943 and killed on the 25-10-1943. Do you have information about the Flying Officer? Are there monuments around Brest in relation to this raids? I am also very interested what happened of the airfield Lanveoc Poulmic on that 25th Oct 1943. I have heard that on that 25th Oct day, a lot of high level German officers were on the base. Is that true? Three survivors of the ditched Dutch Mitchell escaped with a French Fisherboat. After the arrival in the harbour all of them were captured by the Germans. Does some one know what has happened with the Fishermen? Is there a (aerial) picture of the airfield of Lanveoc Poulmic? Could you help me with information about what has happened on the 25th Oct 1943 on the airfield Lanveoc Poulmic? Does some one has information about what has happened with the 98th Squadron (B-25), that day?
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F/O. John Wilson Hughes 107 Sqd. (d.15th Oct 1944) I am trying to find out more about John Wilson Hughes who served with 107 Squadron. He was a Flying Officer (Navigator) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His number was 154746 and he died on 15 Oct 1944, age 22. He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery (grave number 20. D. 17). He was the son of Arthur George and Ethel Hilda Hughes, of Isleworth, Middlesex. His girlfriend was Margaret Anne Hynard of Eynsford, Kent. Margaret Hynard is my mother and has just celebrated her 80th birthday. She would love to know more information about how John was killed and would also love to be in touch with any living relatives (John had a younger brother, but Margaret cannot remember his name) or colleagues from the RAF.
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LAC. Bertram John Charles Tarr 613 Squadron My father Bertram Tarr was stationed at Lasham as an Leading Aircraftman Armourer. He talked fondly of the De Havilland Mosquito and actually lost the hearing in one ear when a canon round exploded .
I believe he transferred with 613 Squadron to Cambrai in Belgium after D Day.
He passed away in 1988
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Flt.Lt. David Mark Campbell 107 Sqd. (d.17th March 1944) David Campbell was the Son of David and Elizabeth Campbell, of Kerrykeel.
He was 31 when he died and is buried in Clondevaddock (Christ the Redeemer) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Rosnakill, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
Aircraft lost wing in dive at Woodcott Range and crashed. 17.3.1944
The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Two Fatalities.
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Sqd.Ldr. Donald Maitland Wellings DFC. 613 Sqd. (d.9th October 1944) Squadron Leader Donald Wellings was the younger son of T/Maj. Evelyn Valentine Wellings, RASC of Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey.
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FO James Holt Siddell 613 Squadron (d.9th October 1944) Flying Officer (Navigator) James Siddell is buried in the Barneveld (Voorthuizen) General Cemetery, Gelderland, The Netherlands.
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