Welcome to Friends of the New Forest Airfields The Charity preserving our Aviation Heritage

Friends of the New Forest Airfields (FONFA)
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Friends of the New Forest Airfields (FONFA)
Home
About Us
Our Mission
Why Visit Us
New Forest Aviation
The FONFA Heritage Centre
The Airfields Memorial
Our Outreach Programme
The Airfields
The Aircraft
The Servicemen and Women
Join and Support FONFA
FONFA Newsletters
Our Reference & Archives
FONFA Members Page
Information Downloads
Useful Links
Contact Us
More
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Mission
  • Why Visit Us
  • New Forest Aviation
  • The FONFA Heritage Centre
  • The Airfields Memorial
  • Our Outreach Programme
  • The Airfields
  • The Aircraft
  • The Servicemen and Women
  • Join and Support FONFA
  • FONFA Newsletters
  • Our Reference & Archives
  • FONFA Members Page
  • Information Downloads
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Mission
  • Why Visit Us
  • New Forest Aviation
  • The FONFA Heritage Centre
  • The Airfields Memorial
  • Our Outreach Programme
  • The Airfields
  • The Aircraft
  • The Servicemen and Women
  • Join and Support FONFA
  • FONFA Newsletters
  • Our Reference & Archives
  • FONFA Members Page
  • Information Downloads
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
Hello

The Aircraft

Many different aircraft of both British and American origin operated from the New Forest Airfields in a range of different roles including fighters, bombers, Glider Tugs and Paratrooper carriers.  

Brief details of some of the aircraft can be found below.  

The British Aircraft

Hawker Hurricane

Supermarine Spitfire

Supermarine Spitfire

Whilst over 15,000 Hurricanes were produced, only a few briefly saw service in the New Forest.

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Supermarine Spitfire

Supermarine Spitfire

Supermarine Spitfire

Probably the best known WWII fighter, Spitfires operated from a number of New Forest airfields until they moved to FLGs in Normandy. 

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Hawker Typhoon

Supermarine Spitfire

North American P-51 Mustang

Typhoons were based at a number of New Forest airfields and played a key role during D Day and the battle for Normandy.

Find out more

North American P-51 Mustang

North American P-51 Mustang

North American P-51 Mustang

The Mustang's superior speed and range made it an ideal long range fighter to operate from the New Forest in support of D-Day and the Normandy landings.

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Vickers Wellington

North American P-51 Mustang

Douglas C-47 Dakota

The Wellington was the only bomber produced right through WII and it saw service in the New Forest as a medium bomber 

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Douglas C-47 Dakota

North American P-51 Mustang

Douglas C-47 Dakota

More than 16,000 of the iconic DC-3 derived transport planes were built. Over 300 were still flying in 2021, long after planes like the HS 748 that were designed to replace them have  gone out of production.

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The american Aircraft

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

The versatile Lightning fulfilled a number of roles operating from the New Forest airfields including long range fighter, fighter-bomber and night fighter. 

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Martin B-26B Marauder

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

The Marauders operating from the New Forest played a vital role in support of the ground troops during D-Day and the battle for Normandy. They were at their best operating as medium level bombers. 

Find out more

North American B-25 Mitchell

North American B-25 Mitchell

North American B-25 Mitchell

The Mitchell was a medium bomber that was very rugged with great survivability so it was popular with its crew. A number of Squadrons operated the Mitchel from Holmsley South airfield.

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Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

North American B-25 Mitchell

North American B-25 Mitchell

The Thunderbolt was one of the most successful aircraft of WW II. It operated from New Forest airfields in the ground attach role in support of D-Day and the battle for Normandy.

Find out more

The gliders

Airspeed AS51 Horsa

General Aircraft Hamilcar

General Aircraft Hamilcar

The Horsa ia a British glider that played a major role in the D-Day landings. Not only did many gliders depart from New  Forest airfields and many examples of the Horsa were built at Christchurch airfield.

General Aircraft Hamilcar

General Aircraft Hamilcar

General Aircraft Hamilcar

Around 30 of the Hamilcar gliders saw service in the New Forest in support of D-Day.  They were capable of carrying light tanks and other heavy anti tank guns in support of airborne forces.

Waco Hadrian

Waco Hadrian

Waco Hadrian

The Waco Hadrian was an American troop and cargo carrying glider and a number of these operated from New Forest airfields in the battle for Normandy in support of American airborne troops.

Glider Tow

Waco Hadrian

Waco Hadrian

A number of different aircraft were used as tow planes for the gliders including the Dakota, Sterling and Wellington.

A small group of these gliders undertook an incredible 17 hour tow from Britain to North Africa.

aircraft information

More detailed descriptions of some of the aircraft that flew from the New Forest Airfields can be found using the links below

THE MARTIN B26 Marauder (pdf)

Download

THE HAWKER TYPHOON (pdf)

Download

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  • About Us
  • Our Mission
  • Why Visit Us
  • New Forest Aviation
  • The FONFA Heritage Centre
  • The Airfields Memorial
  • Our Outreach Programme
  • The Airfields
  • The Aircraft
  • The Servicemen and Women
  • Join and Support FONFA
  • FONFA Newsletters
  • Our Reference & Archives
  • FONFA Members Page
  • Information Downloads
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us

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