Bedford (Thurleigh)
| Also known as: | Bedford Autodrome / DERA Bedford / RAE Bedford / RAF Station, Thurleigh / RAF Thurleigh / Thurleigh Aerodrome / Thurleigh Airfield Business Park / USAAF Station 111 |
| County: | Bedfordshire |
| Current Status: | Aviation / Industry / Leisure activity (main position) / Museum |
| Date: | Opened 24 July 1941 |
| Current Use: | Active |
| Used By: | RAF / USAAF / Civil |
| Landing Surface Types: | Paved |
| Aircraft Roles: | Bomber (main role) / Experimental (main role) / Trainer |
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2011):
- 306th Bombardment Group Museum
- Akita Security Services Ltd
- Bedford Aeronautical Heritage Group
- Bedford Central Library
- Bletsoe Parish Council
- Bolnhurst and Keysoe Parish Council
- Chaos Visual Productions Ltd
- Charlie's Angels Security Services Ltd
- Deep Consultants Ltd
- Eden Remarketing Ltd
- GB Accounting Solutions Ltd
- Hudson Kapel
- Kazbar Systems Ltd
- Leasecontracts Ltd
- MotorSport Vision Limited - owner
- Orion Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Ltd
- PalmerSport
- Paragon Automotive Logistics Ltd
- Photoreverie At Bedford Autodrome
- QinetiQ - Bedford
- Riseley Parish Council
- St. Modwen Ventures
- Seven Son Ltd
- Smash It PR Ltd
- SMH Fleet Solutions Limited
- Teleport London International Ltd
- Tenwell Services Ltd
- Thurleigh Parish Council
- Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre
The following alternative information/mass media sources have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 30/11/2018):
- Bletsoe Online
- Riseley Village
- Thurleigh Village
Main unit(s) present:
- No 18 OTU
- 40th BW, Heavy
- 40th Combat BW (Heavy)
- 40th Combat BW, Heavy
- No 160 Sqn
- 306th BG
- 367th BS
- 368th BS
- 369th BS
- 423rd BS
- No 813 Defence Sqn
- No 2813 Sqn RAF Regiment
- Central Gunnery School
- Radar Research Sqn
- Station Flight, Thurleigh
Control Tower at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
The control tower at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
Maintenance Hangar (Hangar 1) at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
Hangar 2 at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
Aero Flights Hangar (Hangar 3) at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
Unknown building at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
Unknown building at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
306th Bombardment Group Museum at Bedford, 25 August 2008. © Richard Flagg
Aerial view of Bedford, 14 March 2009. © Richard Flagg
View over the north-west part of the airfield, 22 April 2010.
A hangar at Bedford, 22 April 2010.
Footage from an RAF Open Day at Bedford. Courtesy of British Movietone
The Short SC1 experimental aircraft at Bedford. Courtesy of British Movietone
A Helicopter Platform mimicking the deck of a ship at Bedford, 1963. Courtesy of British Pathé
An open day at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Bedford, 1964. Courtesy of British Pathé
Aircraft and personnel of the Bedford Blind Landing Experimental Unit, 1965. Courtesy of British Pathé
A Concord model is flown at Bedford, 1966. Courtesy of British Pathé
Footage of Bedford, March 1994. Courtesy of Gavin Weaver
Aircraft departing Bedford in March 1994. Courtesy of Gavin Weaver
More aircraft departing Bedford in March 1994. Courtesy of Gavin Weaver
Aerial footage of Bedford. Courtesy of Auto map