RAF Beaulieu
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RAF Beaulieu USAAF Station AAF-408  
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Beaulieu airfield on 4 March 1944, just after the 365th Fighter Group arrived.
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator |
Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces |
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| Location | Beaulieu, Hampshire, England. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Built | 1942 | ||||||||||||||||||
| In use | 1942-1959 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 39 ft / 12 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 50°48′27″N 001°30′17″W / 50.80750°N 1.50472°WCoordinates: 50°48′27″N 001°30′17″W / 50.80750°N 1.50472°W | ||||||||||||||||||
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 RAF Beaulieu
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Royal Air Force Beaulieu or more simply RAF Beaulieu is a former Royal Air Force station in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. It was also known as Beaulieu airfield, Beaulieu aerodrome and USAAF Station AAF 408. It is located next to the village of East Boldre, about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the village of Beaulieu and 5 miles (8.0 km) east-northeast of Lymington.
During the First World War there was a Royal Flying Corps training airfield, RFC Beaulieu, at East Boldre that was closed in 1919; the new RAF Beaulieu was built on the opposite side of the road.[]
Opened on Saturday 8 August 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and then later United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used as a bomber and fighter airfield. After the war, it was used for experimental work before it was closed in 1959.
Today the remains of the airfield are on heathland managed by the Forestry Commission. Areas of the old airfield are now designated as a flying area for model aircraft.
Beaulieu was known as USAAF Station AAF 408 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. Its Pundit Code was "BL".
From 1 March 1944 Beaulieu airfield was made available for USAAF Ninth Air Force use. With the imminent arrival of more bomber groups in Essex the 365th Fighter Group was transferred from RAF Gosfield on the 5 and 6 March 1944.
The 365th was a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt group, with the following operational squadrons:
The 365th was a group of Ninth Air Force's 84th Fighter Wing, IX Tactical Air Command. The 365th Group began its move to Europe on 21 June 1944, the first squadron taking up residence at Azeville, France (A-71) on 26 June.
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