Royal Air Force Kemble was constructed out of the third phase of the RAF's 'expansion plan', which concentrated on training and maintenance bases. Work started in August 1936 when contractors began clearing the site in preparation to receive aircraft the following year for storage. The first unit to arrive at Kemble was No.5 Maintenance Unit, which formed at Kemble on the 22nd of June 1938 and was to be the unit associated with Kemble for nearly all of its service life eventually becoming the RAF's oldest MU. At the end of 1939 there were already well over 600 aircraft on the airfield, the majority being Hurricanes.
A year later No4 Service Ferry Pool arrived from Cardiff to help with the distribution of aircraft from manufacturers to Kemble and then to deliver them on again after modification by the MU to their respective operational units.
The Overseas Aircraft Delivery Flight (OADF) formed at Kemble on the September 9th 1940 under the command of 44 Group. It was responsible for preparing Maryland, Wellington and Hudson aircraft for long hazardous flights over water and occupied territory to Africa and the Middle East. This unit later became known as the OAPU (Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit).
RAF Kemble as a whole turned out 2.300 aircraft of 41 different types throughout 1941 including 1300 Hurricanes and 200 Beauforts, that represents a staggering 191.6 aircraft per month.
During 1942 the main runway was constructed and late in 1943 it was extended to its present length and the short runway was built. Taxiways were also extended to connect up all the dispersals, some of which were nearly 2 miles away. January 1944 saw the airfield open again after all the construction and on the 7th January 1944 the first aircraft to arrive at the OAPU since November 18th were received when 3 Wellingtons arrived on the newly prepared airfield.
The 1950's arrived and Kemble was now receiving the new jet aircraft and preparing them for issue to squadrons. 550 Sabres appeared on the airfield in batches of 30 direct from Canadair all were prepared and sent to the RAF in Germany. The Hunters were now arriving in force and were to be the mainstay of Kembles' work through to the 1980's and Kemble gained the unofficial name of the "Hunter MU". Another feather in Kembles' cap was the Surface Finish Section that prided itself on the pristine condition that aircraft were turned out in after their treatment.
The Red Arrows came along with the Central Flying School during the 60's and operated from 'G' site for 16 years until the RAF handed over the base to the USAF for rectification work on A-10 Thunderbolts. The threat of closure loomed again when the Americans left in the early 1990's and Royal Air Force Kemble finally closed in March 1992 with a ceremony that involved the Red Arrows returning to their old base. In the hangars on Main Site a few aircraft remained and it was a very sad occasion.
Still, life goes on, and Kemble is now enjoying a new era with an established flying club and other operators. It is still owned by the MOD at the moment with all the tenants on leases.
Hunters can still be seen at Kemble with the Delta Jets fleet regularly taking to the air, appearing at airshows the length and breadth of the country. An amazing array of historic aircraft can now be seen at Kemble along with the newly opened Bristol Aero Collection Museum and with the very popular fly-ins that are held at regular intervals throughout the year.

Glen Morema

Glen would dearly love any information or pictures relating to the History of Kemble Airfield and its subsequent units, as he is compiling a book on this important part of Kemble's past.

Glen has let us show a brief extract from part of his work, which may be of interest to those who have been involved at the airfield in the past. Click here