The story
Alt Name: Thurleigh. Opened: 1941. Status in 1944: 8th AF. 306th Bomb Grp. Current use: Disused. Remarks: Was RAE Bedford (EGVW) - closed 1993. 5 runways still extant plus many buildings in the vicinity (wind tunnels etc). When Thurleigh was being developed after the war, the original plan included a 5-mile runway extending out to Little Staughton and with its maintenance area close to Twinwoods Farm. Defence cuts stopped this but just South of Thurleigh a narrow country lane still suddenly splits into two carriageways as it passes through a dip where a taxiway to Twinwoods was due to have passed across!
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.