Typhoons at Holmsley
Series of photos showing Typhoons from 121 Airfield (Later Wing) that were based at Holmsley South Airfield during April and June 1944. These photos show Typhoons from 174, 175 and 245 squadrons.
Holmsley South opened in 1942; it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a bomber and later as a transport airfield. After the war it was closed in late 1946.
In December 1943 Holmsley was required for units involved in the Cross-Channel invasion planned for the following spring and became the home to Hawker Typhoon squadrons in the build up to D-Day.
All Photos are Credit: Norman Austin via Friends of New Forest Airfields
You can find out more about the various activities of Holmsley South in this overview article: Holmsley South Airfield – Overview
All these photos show Typhoons of 121 Airfield (later Wing) that was based at Holmsley between April and June 1944 but none of them depict aircraft of 174 Sqn (although it was part of 121 Airfield). The first two show Wg Cdr C.L.Green (WCF 121 Airfield) in his personal Typhoon ‘CG’ MN666. The next shows ‘MR-?’ MN819, Sqn Ldr Jack Collin’s aircraft (245 Sqn). The two crash photos show MR-B MN625 of 245 sqn and ‘HH-D’ JR142 of 175 Sqn.
Further to the above comment, I have now realised there is one more ‘hidden’ photo – the last one – and that does indeed show Typhoons of 174 Sqn. Nearest the camera is XP-U MN253..
Hi Chris thank you for your comments, the images have now been updated. This is exactly the sort of thing we are trying to encourage with this portal so we can continue to refine and improve our information.