Rednal
| Also known as: | RAF Rednal / RAF Station, Rednal / Rednal Aerodrome / Rednal Industrial Estate / Rednal Karting Raceway / West Felton |
| County: | Shropshire |
| Current Status: | Industry / Leisure activity / Public road |
| Date: | 8 April 1942 - 15 April 1946; subsequent minor use |
| Current Use: | Disused |
| Used By: | RAF / Civil (minor use) |
| Landing Surface Types: | Paved |
| Aircraft Roles: | Anti-aircraft co-operation / General aviation (minor use) / Trainer (main role) |
Rednal opened in April 1942 under the control of Fighter Command and No 61 Operational Training Unit (OTU) moved in, operating a large number of Supermarine Spitfires and Miles Masters. The airfield was given Montford Bridge as a satellite and Nos 6 and 7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Units (AACUs) joined the OTU for a while. No 61 OTU continued to operate throughout the war, with North American Mustangs gradually replacing some of the Spitfires from the end of 1944 and into 1945. This unit also had the unusual task of acting as parent unit of ‘Q’ Flight, which employed nine Gloster Gladiators to help make a public relations film about the Greek campaign of 1941.
During the summer of 1944 Rednal played another major role in receiving casualties from Normandy, with American Douglas C-47s bringing them here to be taken to various nearby military hospitals. Eventually the OTU moved to Keevil in June 1945 and Rednal was immediately put under self-accounting Care and Maintenance. By the following October it was already heavily run down in terms of personnel and closed in April 1946.
The majority of the three runways remain, as well as other buildings and the control tower. The airfield was used sporadically by private aircraft for a time, as well as by helicopters from nearby RAF Shawbury. A lot of the site has now been returned to agriculture, while it is also home to Rednal Industrial Estate and Rednal Karting Raceway, among other forms of recreational use.
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2024):
- Academy of Professional Transport Training Ltd
- Brian A Clarke
- Cambrian Powder Paints
- Chris Nangle Furniture
- D & R Forecourt Services
- D R Jebb & Sons
- Des Evans (Steel Fabrication) Ltd
- Foundation Piling (Holdings) Ltd
- Furniture Design
- GraniteCraft
- Hoverdays
- M J Engineering
- Martin Howard Furniture
- NORT Automotive
- North Shropshire Timber
- Oakencraft
- Oct Toilet Hire
- Peter Thomas
- Quickfreight Services
- Rednal Combat
- Rednal Karting
- Sparts Plant & Machinery Repairs
- Taylors & Lee
- Tom Wrigley Performance
- West Felton Parish Council
- Wrigleys Air Cool Specialist
Main unit(s) present:
- No 6 AACU
- No 7 AACU
- No 61 OTU
- No 2803 Sqn RAF Regiment
- 'Q' Flight
Video and photographs of ABCT's Rednal Airfield memorial unveiling, Thursday 26 September 2024. Courtesy of Ed Andrews
Remains of a runway at Rednal, 28 September 2010.
The control tower at Rednal, 28 September 2017.
Battle Headquarters at Rednal, 28 September 2017.
A Seagull trench at Rednal, 28 September 2017.
A karting circuit on one of the runways at Rednal, 5 July 2018.
Remains of the airfield at Rednal, 26 April 2020.
Plan of Rednal, c. 1945. Courtesy of Ed Andrews
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