| Ross Marven's Modelling Pages |
RAF Exeter
History
Opened: September 1939 (31/5/37 as civil airport) - Closed: October 1946 (continued as civil airport).Units
Information derived from RAF Squadrons (Jefford), RAF Flying Training & Support Units (Sturtivant et al), Military Airfields of Britain - South Western England (Delve) and other books.N.B. (det) means only a part of the unit was detached to here from its main base, and possibly only for part of the period noted.
| Unit | Arrival | Departure | Aircraft | Notes |
| 42 Sqdn. | 13/7/37 | 17/7/37 | Vildebeest | |
| FAA | 15/3/39 | 23/3/43 | Skua | 803 Sqdn. |
| 37 E&RFTS | 3/7/39 | 3/9/39 | Tiger Moth | |
| 02 det. RAE | 14/9/39 | 2/42 | Virginia,Battle,Harrow,P4/34,Wellesly | officially the Research Department Flight |
| 416 Flight det. | 7/5/40 | 5/6/40 | Lysander | |
| GRU | 3/6/40 | 14/4/44 | various | Gunnery Research Unit |
| 213 Sqdn. | 18/6/40 | 7/9/40 | Hurricane | |
| 87 Sqdn. | 5/7/40 | 28/11/40 | Hurricane | |
| 601 Sqdn. | 7/9/40 | 17/12/40 | Hurricane | |
| 263 Sqdn. | 28/11/40 | 24/2/41 | Hurricane, Whirlwind | |
| 504 Sqdn. | 18/12/40 | 21/7/41 | Hurricane | |
| 93 Sqdn. det. | 1941 | 1941 | Havoc | early 1941 for Pandora / Long Aerial Mine ? |
| 66 Sqdn. | 24/2/41 | 27/4/41 | Spitfire | |
| 307 Sqdn. | 26/4/41 | 15/4/43 | Defiant, Beaufighter, Mosquito | |
| 317 Sqdn. | 21/7/41 | 1/4/42 | Hurricane, Spitfire | |
| Exeter UAS | 20/8/41 | 1943 | Tiger Moth | |
| 263 Sqdn | 30/11/41 | Jan 1943 | Whirlwind | Twelve aircraft |
| 247 Sqdn. | Dec 41 | 21/9/42 | Hurricane | |
| Station Flt. | 1942 | 1946 | various | |
| 1487 Flt. Det | Mar 42 | Aug 43 | Lysander | |
| 308 Sqdn. | 1/4/42 | 7/5/42 | Spitfire | |
| 310 Sqdn. | 7/5/42 | 26/6/43 | Spitfire | |
| 421 Sqdn. det. | 29/6/42 | 8/7/42 | Spitfire | |
| 257 Sqdn. | 21/9/42 | 8/1/43 | Spitfire | |
| 21 Sqdn. det. | 1942 | 1942 | Ventura | autumn 1942 |
| 16 Sqdn. | 21/11/42 | 1942 | Mustang I | |
| 536 Sqdn. det. | 1942 | 1942 | Havoc, Hurricane | late 1942 (Turbinlite Havoc) |
| FAA | 1943 | 1943 | Swordfish, Seafire | various FAA units throughout 1943 |
| 266 Sqdn. | 8/1/43 | 21/9/43 | Typhoon | |
| 125 Sqdn. | 15/4/43 | 14/11/43 | Beaufighter | |
| 124 Sqdn. det. | 1943 | 1943 | Spitfire | spring 1943 |
| 131 Sqdn. | 26/6/43 | 16/8/43 | Spitfire | |
| 165 Sqdn. | 30/7/43 | 8/8/43 | Spitfire | |
| 616 Sqdn. | 17/9/43 | 18/3/44 | Spitfire | |
| 19 Sqdn. det. | 1943 | 1943 | Spitfire | autumn 1943 |
| 406 Sqdn. | 15/11/43 | 14/4/44 | Beaufighter | |
| 610 Sqdn. | 4/1/44 | 7/4/44 | Spitfire | |
| USAAF | Apr 44 | Oct 44 | C-47 | |
| 275 Sqdn. | 22/10/44 | 12/1/45 | Spitfire | |
| 282 Sqdn. det | 1944 | 1945 | various | autumn 1944 - early 1945 |
| 26 Sqdn. | 8/12/44 | 14/1/45 | Spitfire | |
| 278 Sqdn. det. | 1945 | 1945 | Spitfire, Walrus | early 1945 |
| 3 GTS | Jan 45 | Jul 45 | Master II, Hotspur | Glider Towing School |
| 84 GS | Jun 45 | 1/9/55 | Cadet, Sedbergh | Gliding School |
| 691 Sqdn. | 1/8/45 | 29/4/46 | various | Target towing |
| 329 Sqdn. | 30/8/45 | 17/11/45 | Spitfire | |
| 222 Sqdn. | 11/12/45 | 8/7/46 | Meteor III | |
| 151 Sqdn. | 19/4/46 | 11/7/46 | Mosquito NF.XXX | |
| 10 RFS | Apr 49 | 20/6/54 | Tiger Moth, Anson, Chipmunk | Refresher Flying School |
| 2 CAACU | 18/3/51 | 31/12/71 | Mosquito TT35, Hunter, Vampire, Meteor TT.20 etc... | Target towing |
| 624 VGS | 1/9/55 | 3/9/65 | various | Volunteer Gliding School |
| 4 AEF | 8/9/58 | 27/12/95 | Chipmunk | Air Experience Flight |
References
- Airfield Focus 39: Exeter - Author: Jerry Brewer, Publisher: GMS Enterprises
- Exeter Airport in Peace and War - Author: ?, Publisher: ?
- Exeter Airport, 1938-88 - Author: Geoff Worrall, Publisher: Devon Books
- Exeter Airport website - Airport History
- Exeter Airport website - The War Years
- Exeter memories website airport photos
Modelling Notes for individual aircraft
- Virginia J7130 with the RAE detachment was at Exeter from 20/10/39 until sometime in December 39. It had been progressively upgraded and had an all metal airframe, Pegasus IIM3 engines with Townend rings and 4-blade propellers, a tailwheel and a vee windscreen (source: Putnam - Vickers Aircraft since 1908). There is a photo in the Putnam book but it looks pre-war.
- Imperial Airways Short L.17s Scylla and Syrinx moved to Exeter from Croydon via Whitchurch on the outbreak of war and were camouflaged in November 1939. Syrinx was condemned following a major inspection after its CofA expired just before Christmas 1939 with its fuselage adding to the office accomodation. Scylla was lost in a gale at Drem on 14th April 1940.
- The RAE detachment also included The Fairey P4/34(K5099), Battle (K9223), Wellesley (L7216), Wellington (P9210) and Harrow (K7021).
- The Gauntlets of A Flight 151 Squadron visited on 29/7/38 and performed an aerobatic display for the official opening of Exeter Airport on 30/7/38
- The GRU included the Taurus engined Gloster F9/37, serial L7999 for those willing to tackle the Magna kit
- JDR Rawlings 'Fighter Squadrons of the RAF & their Aircraft' has a photo of Beaufighter VI VA.T of 125 Sqdn.
My Hasegawa Beaufighter VI of 125 Sqdn. - There are 3 photos of Mosquito TT35s at Exeter on p41 of Modeller's Datafile 1, The De Havilland Mosquito
- Mosquito NFXXX NT306/G DZ.O is shown crashed at Odiham on 11th September 1946 on p46 of Mosquito, An Illustrated History by Stuart Howe. It would have served with 151 Squadron at Exeter from April 1946 to July 1946 when it probably carried the same code ?
- More when I get a chance !
| Pictorial References For Modellers | |||||||
| Type | Mark | Unit | Code | Serial | Reference | Page | Resident/Visitor |
| Balliol | T2 | 3 CAACU | T | WG213 | Devon Aerodromes | 73 | R |
| Beaufighter | TT10 | 3 CAACU | T | RD854 | Devon Aerodromes | 70 | R |
| Chipmunk | T10 | 4 AEF | - | WP833 | RAF Chivenor (Old Photos) | 117 | R |
| Gauntlet | II | 151 Sqdn | - | K5354 | Devon Aerodromes | 48 | V |
| Gauntlet | II | 54 Sqdn | - | K5335 | Devon Aerodromes | 48 | V |
| Hunter | F4 | 3 CAACU | - | WV401 | Devon Aerodromes | 74 | R |
| Hurricane | I | 504 Sqdn | TM.J | V6732 | Devon Aerodromes | 52 | R |
| Hurricane | I | 601 Sqdn | UF.K ? | P6886 | Action Stations Revisited 4 | 111 | R |
| Hurricane | I | 601 Sqdn | UF.L | V6632 | Battle for Britain | 71 | R |
| Hurricane | I | 601 Sqdn. | UF.K | P3886 | Battle for Britain | 73 | R |
| Hurricane | I | 87 Sqdn | LK.A | P2798 | Battle for Britain | 59 | R |
| Hurricane | I | 87 Sqdn | LK.G | P2829 | Devon Aerodromes | 50/51 | R |
| Hurricane | IIc | 247 Sqdn | ZY.S | BD936 | Xtradecal 72113 | R | |
| Javelin | FAW2 | 46 Sqdn | - | XA802 | Devon Aerodromes | 73 | V |
| Mosquito | NF.30 | 151 Sqdn | DZ.E | NT498 | Mosquito Illustrated Hisory Vol2 by Ian Thirsk | 153 | ? |
| Mosquito | TT35 | 3 CAACU | 49 | RS718 | Devon Aerodromes | 35 | R |
| Mosquito | TT35 | 3 CAACU | 54 | VP181 | Action Stations Revisited 4 | 114 | R |
| Spitfire | 21 | 3 CAACU | C | LA212 | Freightdog Decals 72011 | R | |
| Spitfire | IX | 131 Sqdn | NX.Z | MH852 | Devon Aerodromes | 61 | R |
| Spitfire | LF.Vb | Exeter Wing | FD | EP461 | Miniprint Decals 72513 | R | |
| Spitfire | LF16E | 3 CAACU | 43 | TE456 | Devon Aerodromes | 69 | R |
| Spitire | 21 | 3 CAACU | P | LA322 | Devon Aerodromes | 68 | R |
| Tiger Moth | - | 10 RFS | RSB.A | R-5243 | Devon Aerodromes | 67 | R |
| Vampire | FB5 | 3 CAACU | 24 | VZ304 | Devon Aerodromes | 71 | R |
| Vampire | FB5 | 3 CAACU | 21 | WE840 | Devon Aerodromes | 72 | R |
| Vampire | T11 | 3 CAACU | 50 | WZ512 | RAF Flying Training & Support Units (2nd ed) | 93 | R |
| Vampire | T11 | 3 CAACU | 71 | XH304 | Devon Aerodromes | 72 | R |
| Whirlwind | 263 Sqdn | H.HE | P6984 | Action Stations Revisited 4 | 239 | R | |
| Whirlwind | I | 263 Sqdn | HE.V | P6969 | Cornish Skies | 52 | R |
| Whirlwind | I | 263 Sqdn. | HE.H | P6984 | Battle for Britain | 92 | R |