Spitfires and Autogiros

RAF Henley-on-Thames might not have been a famous fighter or bomber station but the role it played in its short existence, like so many other similar airfields, was of vital importance during the Second World War. From being a relief landing ground for the local airfields of White Waltham and Woodley to the training of would-be pilots and the assembly of photo reconnaissance Spitfires built in garages in nearby Reading to the daily comings and goings of 529 (Rota) Squadron, which employed autogiros and was the first RAF squadron to use helicopters, RAF Henley-on-Thames’s involvement in the war effort was significant. Not only is its history detailed here but also many other elements that evolved from it, such as the pilots who trained here and went on to join operational squadrons, the Spitfires that flew vital photographic missions over Europe and Asia and the important radar and anti-aircraft calibration work carried out by 529 Squadron.With fascinating contemporary photographs, this book documents the rich and varied history of this small airfield that made a big contribution to the Second World War.