Overview
Membury airfield was scheduled for construction for RAF operational training use. The major construction work was done in the spring and summer of 1942 to enable Membury to be ready for use that autumn.
The airfield was built to the Class A airfield standard, the main feature of which was a set of three converging runways each containing a concrete runway for takeoffs and landings, optimally placed at 60 degree angles to each other in a triangular pattern. It consisted of three runways of 4,554 ft (22/04), 3,430 ft (17/35), and 3,300 ft (27/09). Thirty-three "frying pan" hardstands were constructed connecting to an enclosing perimeter track, of a standard width of 50 feet.
The ground support station was constructed largely of Nissen huts of various sizes. The support station was where the group and ground station commanders and squadron headquarters and orderly rooms were located. Also on the ground station were where the mess facilities; chapel; hospital; mission briefing and debriefing; armory; life support; parachute rigging; supply warehouses; station and airfield security; motor pool and the other ground support functions necessary to support the air operations of the group. These facilities were all connected by a network of single path support roads.
The technical site, connected to the ground station and airfield consisted of at least two T-2 type hangars and various component maintenance shops to keep the aircraft airworthy and to quickly repair light and moderate battle damage. The Ammunition dump was located on the northwest side of the airfield, outside of the perimeter track surrounded by large dirt mounds and concrete storage pens.
Various domestic accommodation sites were constructed dispersed away from the airfield, but within a mile or so of the technical support site, also using clusters of Maycrete or Nissen huts. The Huts were either connected, set up end-to-end or built singly and made of prefabricated corrugated iron with a door and two small windows at the front and back. They provided accommodation for 2,368 personnel, including communal and a sick quarters.
While still under construction, on 11 June 1942, Membury was allocated for USAAF use as a transport or reconnaissance base and later for upgrading to provide maintenance and repair depot facilities. To this end, during early 1943, runway 17/35 was extended to the north to 4,790 ft as the terrain would not allow an extension to be made to the original main runway. 26 additional "loop" hard standings were added and eight pans eliminated. Two more T-2 hangars and additional workshops were erected on what was to be the depot area.
During airborne operations, when large numbers of airborne parachutists were moved to the airfield, tents would be pitched on the interior grass regions of the airfield, or wherever space could be found to accommodate the airborne forces for the short time they would be bivouacked at the station prior to the operation.
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