Also known as Davidstow Circuit
The story of RAF Davidstow Moor
Under the RAF it served Coastal Command from late 1942 until 1945. It was one of the command's lesser-used airfields, with short bursts of heavy activity. Squadrons came and went for weeks or months at a time. They included No. 53 Squadron in early 1943 and the Polish No. 304 Squadron from June to December 1943. In 1944 Beaufighters of No. 404 Squadron RCAF flew from the moor, as did Nos. 144 and 524 Squadrons. No. 282 Squadron flew air-sea rescue sorties from here.
The station closed in December 1945, and most buildings, including the hangars, were soon removed. The runways became Davidstow Circuit. Three Formula One races were held there in the early 1950s, including the first success for Lotus. Microlights and motor gliders still use parts of the three runways. Two museums now tell the airfield's story, beside the cheese creamery.
Flying units
| Unit | Years | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| No. 53 Squadron | 1943–1943 | |
| No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron | 1943–1943 | |
| No. 547 Squadron | 1943–1943 | |
| No. 282 Squadron (air-sea rescue) | 1944–1944 | |
| No. 404 Squadron RCAF | 1944–1944 | Bristol Beaufighter X |
What survives
- The disused watch office and control tower
- Three runways, partly used by the Davidstow Flying Club
- The former sergeants' shower block, now the Davidstow Moor RAF Memorial Museum
The museum on the airfield
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall at War Museum, DavidstowCamelford, Cornwall | £7 | 8 | Cornwall’s big WW2 / military museum on the old RAF Davidstow Moor Coastal Command field — aircraft, military vehicles, humour intact,… |