RAF Bicester

RAF Bicester Bicester Aerodrome
Bicester Airfield from above.
IATA: none ICAO: EGDD
Summary
Owner	Bicester Heritage Ltd
Operator	Windrushers Gliding Club
Location	Bicester, Oxfordshire
Elevation AMSL	259 ft / 79 m
Coordinates	51°54′58″N 1°08′07″W / 51.91611°N 1.13528°W / 51.91611; -1.13528Coordinates: 51°54′58″N 1°08′07″W / 51.91611°N 1.13528°W / 51.91611; -1.13528
Map
EGDD Location in Oxfordshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 06/24 1,100 3,609 Grass 13/31 1,000 3,281 Grass 18/36 1,000 3,281 Grass

Bicester Aerodrome, formerly RAF Bicester, is an airfield on the outskirts of the English town of Bicester in Oxfordshire. Dating back to 1916, this military airfield is notable as the location of the first flight of the prototype Handley Page Halifax in 1939 and was later the home of No. 71 Maintenance Unit, RAF (Royal Air Force); the RAF finally left in 2004.

The airfield consists of 400 acres (160 ha) of well-drained short-mown grass, with three nominal runways (not marked) of 06/24, 13/31, 18/36, each 1,000 m (3,281 ft) long. The airfield surface is bumpy in places, due to collapsing field drains, requiring care on the part of pilots operating aircraft in those areas.

In 1911, flying first took place on the site, when Lt H.R.P Reynolds landed a Bristol Boxkite biplane on the field. Organised flying began in 1916 when a Training Depot was established. In January 1917, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) moved into the site, then 180 acres (0.73 km²), with the arrival of 118 night bomber squadron. Canvas-covered Bessonneau hangars were used until more substantial aircraft sheds were built.

In November 1918, No. 44 Training Station Depot arrived, followed in 1919 by 5 Squadron, flying Bristol Fighters returning from France, having flown in the First World War. All the squadrons disbanded by 1920, and the airfield was closed in 1920 after being used briefly as a clearing centre for repatriated soldiers.

In 1925, work began on redeveloping the site as a bomber station, and flying began again in January 1928. Various large RAF bombers operated from the field, including the Vickers Virginia. Other aircraft included Hawker Horsleys and, in 1935, Hawker Harts arrived. In November 1932, the only RAF squadron of Boulton Paul Sidestrands arrived, replaced by Overstrands in 1936.