The forgotten legacy of New Forest's WW2 airfields

In a corner of Hampshire sits a huge national park, famous for its large population of free-roaming ponies, ancient woodlands and picturesque villages.

But more than 80 years ago, urgent wartime demand saw the tranquil landscape of the New Forest reshaped.

During World War Two, it was home to a network of 12 airfields and landing sites that helped launch D-Day operations.

Very little of the built structure from the time remains today but some areas still contain hints of the vitally important role they played in this defining period of the UK's history.

Looking down what remains of a runway at former RAF Beaulieu, one of the 12 WW2 military airfields, the chalky cliffs of the Isle of Wight are just visible in the distance.

The Beaulieu airfield "is a particular passion of mine", said historian and author Marc Heighway.

There was a huge military presence in the south of England during the war and, while Southampton was being heavily bombed a few miles away, operations in the New Forest were rapidly being set up.

More than 45,000 buildings in Southampton were either destroyed or damaged by bombing, generating a huge amount of rubble that was brought by truck to the New Forest to construct the air bases.

Heighway said: "We're walking on tarmac but, underneath this, we've got blitz rubble from Southampton.

"When you see a brick, it could be something from a Southampton home... you'll find bits of tiling [and] think 'that's strange' until you realize what it is."

When RAF Beaulieu first opened in August 1942, "there would have been medium-range Liberator bombers taking off", he said.

"They're going out hunting German U-boats in the Atlantic and then you've got single seater fighter bombers flying out here."

By April 1944, the airfield was completely under US control, with P-47 Thunderbolts and American medium range bombers coming in, he said.

"By 1945, it becomes an experimental station. So, you've got German aircraft, German helicopters that have been captured, brought here to be tested," said the historian.

Still visible at the site of the old airfield are the concrete letters BL - its pundit code, a unique two-letter identification code to help pilots recognise their location from the air.

But not everything is above ground.

"Every large airfield like this had a battle headquarters", said Heighway.

"If the airfield had been invaded by the Germans, the commanding officers of the airfield would've retreated to that underground HQ and coordinated the defence.

"It's very romantic, the fact there's an underground bunker, however, in about 1960, it was completely backfilled with gravel. Sadly, you can't get into it."

On the western edge of the forest is Sopley village, home to a heritage centre, whose collection tells the story of the New Forest's aviation history.

Samuel Ruddy, Friends of New Forest Airfields chairman, looks after the heritage centre and a memorial at Holmsley South.

He said: "There were some main airfields like Beaulieu, Ibsley, Stoney Cross, Holmsley South, but you also had smaller airfields, which were just set up for D-Day - Bisterne, Winkton, Needs Oar Point - also, there was an emergency landing ground at Sway.

"When you add them all together, you get the figure of 12."

The New Forest provided the perfect place to build the airfields because it is "very flat", said Ruddy.

"Also, these aircraft didn't have exceptionally long range, so, if you're attacking someone, you want to be as close as possible to that area that you want to attack," he added.

The forest was also home to radar sites and living quarters for thousands of personnel.

"It's strange to think where we're standing now, just up the road is Sopley Pick Your Own, which was RF Winkton," said Ruddy.

"There were 90 Thunderbolts on that site and 1,000 men but there's no real sign of it," he said.

While the majority of the sites were returned to forest land, one airfield is still operational - Bournemouth Airport.

The then RAF Hurn had a very long runway and was used for transatlantic flights, Ruddy said, adding: "After the war, they decided to keep it going."

Once handed over to civilian control, Bournemouth Airport served as the UK's primary international transatlantic airport from 1945 until Heathrow opened fully a few years later.

Few people flying in or out of the Hampshire airport today may be aware of the history that lies beneath them.