Bognor Regis, West Sussex, GB 🇬🇧 Closed Airport
GB-0126
-
22 ft
GB-ENG
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 50.796205° N, -0.702928° E
Continent: EU
Type: Closed Airport
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
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September 1944
Military redundancy following the successful invasion of Normandy. RAF Bognor was a temporary Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) built specifically to support Operation Overlord (D-Day). Once Allied forces established airbases in France, the forward airfields in Southern England were no longer needed and were decommissioned. The land was then returned to its original agricultural use.
There are no visible remains of the airfield today. The site, located between the Bognor Regis suburbs of North Bersted and South Bersted, has been completely redeveloped. The land is now occupied by extensive residential housing estates, commercial properties, and light industrial units, such as the Southern Cross Industrial Estate. The A259 road runs through the area where the airfield once stood. The ICAO code GB-0126 is a historical identifier and does not correspond to any active aviation facility.
RAF Bognor was a crucial, albeit short-lived, military airfield during World War II. Opened in July 1943, it was one of many temporary Advanced Landing Grounds constructed in Southern England to house tactical fighter squadrons in preparation for the invasion of Europe. It was primarily used by the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force. Key units based at RAF Bognor included No. 132 (Norwegian) Wing, which comprised No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron and No. 332 (Norwegian) Squadron, both flying Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXs. These squadrons flew fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions over occupied France, contributing significantly to gaining air superiority before and during the D-Day landings in June 1944. The airfield's existence was vital for concentrating air power close to the English Channel for the invasion.
There are zero prospects for reopening. The site has been fully and densely developed with residential and commercial infrastructure, making it physically impossible to restore it as an airfield.
I always wondered why I was born in Bognor Regis, now it makes sense to me. My parents were Lived in London until just after the war (my mother born in London and my Father born near his ancestral home of Ely, but grew up in West Ham). My Father was a Fighter pilot during the Second world War and in 1945 his was with 83 G.S.U. training on Typhoon fighters to go to the far east for the fight against the Japanese. At this time 83 G.S.U. was stationed at Bognor then Westhampnet (Goodwood today). So this would explain where My parents got the notion to move to Bognor Regis. My father had spent time there and knew what it was like.