Located within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is RAF Welford and we are very blessed to be able to operate in such a beautiful location. The base is keen to maintain a quality relationship with the surrounding area, and has recently been working with the AONB committee to discuss the view across the base following some construction work. The AONB committee would like to preserve the skyline following the erection of lightning protection poles and it has been agreed that RAF Welford will plant 384 trees, in order to obscure the new construction. The trees will include 23 wild cherry trees, and the rest are mainly Field Maple and Beech. The tree planting is set for later in the Fall when the saplings of appropriate size are available. We are very pleased to maintain our relationships and ensure that the base remains in keeping with the surrounding area.

Meetings took place in March with Welford Historical Society members who run the RAF Welford Museum, to discuss the future of the Museum. Our goal is to keep the Museum in a configuration that is both safer for patrons and easier to manage for the organisations who manage it; FFVW (Families, Friends & Veterans of Welford) and RMARG (Ridgeway Military Aviation Research Group). The RAF Welford leadership team sees the museum as irreplaceable and vital to community relations with our host nation partners.

On 31st March 1944, an RAF Lancaster Bomber from the 101 Squadron crashed at RAF Welford, and all crew members died in the crash. In conjunction with the RAF Welford Museum, the base has held many memorial services for the crew on or around the anniversary of the crash. Unfortunately, the current Covid restrictions meant the annual Memorial Service was unable to take place again this year, but the day was marked by the laying of wreaths on behalf of the families who lost their relatives.

The Memorial Grove at RAF Welford

The Memorial Grove at RAF Welford which lies to the east of the entrance to the Main Gate and can be clearly seen from Hangman’s Stone Lane.

This Memorial is maintained by Members of the Ridgeway Military and Aviation Research Group (RMARG) and Friends Family and Veterans of Welford (FFVW) who meet at RAF Welford Museum every Wednesday. The memorials are plaques in brass mounted on sarsen stones (the orangey/brown stones abound in this area and were moved here in the last ‘ice age’) and were dug up on the Base.

Memorial 1 commemorates the 50th anniversary of the opening of RAF Welford in 1943 and the dedication of this grove of mixed British and American trees. Also to the memory of all those personnel of the RAF and the United States Army Air Force and US Air Force Europe who served at this base 1943-1993 (Welford Fifty Committee June 1993).

Memorial 2 is RAF Welford 60 years of service 1943-2003.

Memorial 3 is the Millennium Dedication RAF Welford 31st March 2000 to American and British military and civilian personnel who served at Welford. “From Americans to British citizens, special thanks for your generosity, hospitality and friendship during our tour of duty. World War 2 veteran’s special appreciation to all, your dedication to duty and sacrifice contributed to a free Europe. Friends of Welford”.

Memorial 4 is the Cold War Memorial July 2005.

Memorial 5, 6th June 1994, is dedicated to the memory of the men who sacrificed their all for the cause of freedom. 435th Carrier Group Troop, 75th 76th 77th & 78th squadrons & group Head Quarters. ETO-MTO-WW2 campaigns Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Central Europe RAF Welford 1944-1945 United States 9th Troop Carrier Command.

Memorial 6 is a Memorial to the crew of Avro Lancaster DV 290 – an ABC equipped aircraft of ‘C’ flight 101 Squadron RAF Ludford Magna (Yorkshire) who died when their aircraft crashed on this airfield during the early hours of the 31st of March 1944 whilst returning from a raid on Nuremburg. Flight Sergeant EC Thomas RAF, Sergeant DA Addy RAF, Warrant Officer AN Rice RCAF, Flight Sergeant AH Wilson RAAF, Flight Sergeant IR McNay RCAF, Sergeant DR Billson RAF, Sergeant RAJ Collier RAF and Flight Sergeant EH Traeger RAAF. This was a ‘special’ aircraft with 8 crew (usually only 7), one of whom spoke fluent German and could listen in on the Luftwaffe and also send confusing messages on the airwaves. There are many conjectures as to why they crashed but no one really knows. We have a Memorial Commemoration each March the 31st at RAF Welford to honour them with both British and American service personnel in attendance. (Legend: (RAF) Royal Air Force (RCAF) Royal Canadian Air Force, (RAAF) Royal Australian Air Force)

Memorial 7 commemorates the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings USAAF service and civilian staff who were stationed at RAF Welford Park station AAF-474 whilst supporting Operation Overlord June 6th 1944.

Finally, Memorial 8 is in memory of John and Kathleen Stephens of Leckhampstead for their life long support and friendship to RAF Welford and the ‘AMMO Community’, laid November 2011.

Grahame Murphy