- ICAO Code: EGVP
- Location: Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
- Type: Operational Fighter
- Parent: RAF Fighter Command
- Current Version: 1.2
- Download link: Download
- Required Libraries, Ted Andrews, Bill Womack, IJP
RAF Middle Wallop was one of a plethora of airfields planned, constructed and built during the inter-war years to house the rapidly expanding Squadrons of the fledgling Royal Air Force.
Intended originally to be a bomber station, it actually ended up in the hands of Fighter Command before construction was finished, being initially under the umbrella of 11 Group, then later being passed to 10 Group before the start of World War 2.
As a sector airfield covering the area containing the critically important naval facilities at Portsmouth and Southampton, as well as being well within range of London, Middle Wallop was very quickly brought into the conflict, with its Spitfire and Hurricane Squadrons scrambled almost as regularly as those of much more famous fighter fields in 11 and 12 Groups. It was also home during the Battle of Britain to a Squadron of Bristol Blenheims – the type being rapidly removed from front line bombing duties and used as heavy fighters instead.
Middle Wallop remained a fighter – and indeed Sector – airfield throughout the remainder of the war, with numerous types and Squadrons visiting during the period. This included, in 1943, a brief period of time under the control of the USAAF’s 9th Air Force, who located their HQ and an electronic warfare unit at the RAF station.
After the war, The Fleet Air Arm moved in and renamed the station “HMS Flycatcher”, although by 1947 it had been returned to the Air Force until the Army moved in in the late 1950s. It is the Army who control Middle Wallop today, still in a very similar state to that in which it fought World War II, as it is home to the helicopters and training school of the Army Air Corps.
Oh. Just in case you were wondering, the other two villages are “Over Wallop” to the North West and “Nether Wallop” to the South East. Neither are more than about a mile from the airfield.
Version 1.2 of this scenery adds full compatibility with Orbx FTX England/Global, preventing the airfield turning into golf course.
- Images:
