Oakington [formally Oakington Airfield & Oakington Barracks]
will always be the spiritual home of 7 Squadron yet the Squadron was based
there only from October 1940 to July 1945 but being unique in Bomber Command
having been based at the same station throughout its World War II operational
career.
Construction of Oakington began in the summer of 1939 - the site, some
5 miles north west of Cambridge, having been selected for an expansion scheme
airfield.Operational use started in July 1940 when it was used for 218 Squadron
(2 Group), which had recently returned from France, with the first offensive
operation in August 1940.
In September 1940 Oakington became part of 3 Group
when it was chosen as the base for the first Stirling squadron - 7 Squadron. 218
Squadron left Oakington in November 1940 so that 7 Squadron could have more
space. Then in November 1940 Spitfires of the recently formed 3 Photo
Reconnaissance Unit arrived - however because of the poor surface during the
winter months the Spitfires frequently used Alconbury.
Oakington's grass surface
was also the cause of problems for the heavy Stirlings during the winter of
1940/1941 - there were a number of landing and take-off accidents because of
the strain put on its undercarriages. Oakington was first used by 7 Squadron
for an offensive mission in February 1941 to attack Rotterdam docks.
But
because of the surface Oakington was frequently unserviceable with the result
that the Stirlings had to fly to Wyton to bomb-up for operations. In the spring
of 1941 runway construction began - the main runway 05-23 and 1700 yards long
was completed first with 01-19 (1300 yards) and 10-28 (1400 yards) completed
over the next twelve months. 05-23 was subsequently lengthened to 2000 yards
and 01-19 to 1530 yards.
Subsequent building work included realigning the
perimeter track and expanding the domestic accommodation to allow for nearly
2000 personnel. The Pathfinder Force, which 7 Squadron had joined in August
1942, became No. 8 Group in the January of 1943. Its policy was to have two
Squadrons per airfield. At Oakington 7 Squadron, which was being re-equipped
with Lancasters to replace the Stirling, was joined by 627 Squadron formed with
the Mosquito.
The latter Squadron moved to No. 5 Group in April 1944 being
replaced by the newly formed 571 Squadron. With the end of the conflict 7
Squadron moved to Mepal, 571 to Warboys with Oakington now becoming part of
Transport Command. During the summer of 1945 it was the base for 86 and 206
Squadrons flying ex-Coastal Command Liberators for long-range troop transport
to the Far East.
After these Squadrons were disbanded in April 1946 a series of
other transport squadrons occupied Oakington. It was then taken over by
Training Command towards the end of 1950. Eventually the Army took the station
over as a barracks. The final regiment to occupy the camp was the Royal Anglian
Regiment which moved out in 1999.
For a short period of time the complex and buildings were
used to house asylum seekers. The runways were removed for hard-core for the
construction of the nearby M11 Motorway (although the perimeter track remains).
Apart from a few buildings, the whole area has now been given over to the development
of the new Northstowe Town.
