RAF Tatenhill.

RAF Tatenhill opened in 1941as a Satellite Bomber Airfield for Wellington Night Bombers until it closed in 1947.

How ever for some reason the airfield proved inadequote for the Bombers and its focus turned to Navigational training and Night training.

In 1945 the RAF School Of Explosives was transferred to RAF Tatenhill from nearby RAF Fauld the scene of the biggest none nuclear explosion in the UK ever.

During this time Bomb Dumps where constructed to the South West of the airfield.

By 1947 the RAF School Of Explosives had been transferred else where and during the 1950s the RAF left Tatenhill for good with the land being turned over to the Crown or Duchy Of Lancaster.

The original Control Tower still remains to this day with its original wooden floors but sadly the Watch Office was demolished around 1982.

Despite RAF Tatenhill never really seeing much action during WWII it has always remained an Airfield in one way or another.

In 1959 IND Coope Breweries leased Tatenhill untill 1985 since then it has been home to Tatenhill Aviation ltd.

Over the years Tatenhill has been an RAF base a private airfield and even a chicken farm the latter occurred some time from the late 80s to early 90s.

Through out Tatenhills varied career it can lay claim to having one very special visitor, In 1992 the Queen flew into the airfield as part of an inspection of the Duchy Of Lancaster estates.

The airfield is still in use to this day and operates commercial flights as well as pilot training in both planes and helicopters.

Many of the WWII buildings remain to this day including the Bomb Dumps.

On entrance to Tatenhill the first thing that greets you is a WWII Royal Canadian Airforce North American Harvard T6 Texan Fighter which is still very much functional and flies on a regular basis.

The airfield is now split into two sections with the lower part being a private airfield, access is not permitted here at all unless you are a member.

This part houses some very rare planes by private collectors including a russian Antonov AN-2T and a P51 North American Mustang Fighter.

As well as the vast amount of WWII structures still in place it was also nice to see Tatenhill has remained an active airfield.