RAF Twinwood Farm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids RAF Twinwood Farm USAAF Station 506
Bedford, Bedfordshire in England
Aerial photograph, 28 March 1948
RAF Twinwood Farm Shown within Bedfordshire
Coordinates	52°10′52″N 0°29′10″W / 52.181102°N 0.486131°W / 52.181102; -0.486131
Type	Satellite Station
Code	TF
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces
Controlled by	RAF Fighter Command 1942- Eighth Air Force
Site history
Built	1941 (1941)/42
In use	April 1942 - June 1945 (1945)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	84 metres (276 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete

RAF Twinwood Control Tower (Watch Office), restored in 2002.

Royal Air Force Twinwood Farm, or simply RAF Twinwood Farm, was an important airfield in England during World War II. It was a "satellite station," meaning it was a smaller airfield that supported a larger main base. Located about 4 miles north of Bedford, this airfield was mainly used by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) for its night fighter planes. Later, it was also used by the American forces.

RAF Twinwood Farm: A Look Back

The Royal Air Force's Time There

RAF Twinwood Farm first opened in mid-1941. At first, it was just a grassy field. By April 1942, it had three concrete runways and more buildings. This made it a proper airfield.

From 1942 until the end of the war, the airfield was busy. It was home to a special training group called No. 51 Operational Training Unit. This unit used different types of planes like the Bristol Blenheim, Bristol Beaufighter, and de Havilland Mosquito. These planes were often used as night fighters, helping to protect the skies at night.

In March 1943, some North American P-51 Mustang planes also used Twinwood. They were part of a big training exercise called Operation Spartan. This exercise tested how British and Canadian forces would work together.

RAF Units at Twinwood

Many different RAF squadrons and units were based at Twinwood Farm, including:

• No. 26 Squadron RAF
• No. 268 Squadron RAF
• No. 613 Squadron RAF
• No. 169 Squadron RAF
• No. 239 Squadron RAF
• No. 164 Squadron RAF
• No. 14 Service Flying Training School RAF
• No. 19 Air Crew Holding Unit
• No. 2837 Squadron RAF Regiment
• Airborne Interception Conversion Flight RAF

American Forces at Twinwood

In 1944, the airfield was also used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). It worked closely with another nearby airfield, RAF Thurleigh. This helped the American forces in their fight during World War II.

The Mystery of Glenn Miller

One of the most famous stories connected to RAF Twinwood Farm is about the American musician Glenn Miller. He was a very popular bandleader. During World War II, he joined the US Army Air Forces. He led the Army Air Forces Band.

In June 1944, Miller and his band went to Europe. Their job was to entertain the soldiers and broadcast music. They were based near Bedford, England, and often broadcast from the BBC. They also performed at many air bases across the UK.

Glenn Miller's Disappearance

In December 1944, Glenn Miller was supposed to move with his unit from England to France. Bad weather caused his planned flights to be cancelled. On December 15, 1944, Miller decided to fly to France with another officer, Lt. Col. Norman Baessell. They flew in a small plane called a UC-64.

Even though the RAF training at Twinwood had stopped, the airfield was still open. The plane landed at Twinwood at 1:45 PM. Miller and Baessell got on board, and the plane took off at 1:55 PM. Sadly, the UC-64 plane and the three people on board were never seen again.

In January 1945, an investigation looked into what happened. They believed the plane went down over the English Channel. This was likely due to a mix of human mistakes, problems with the plane, and bad weather. The plane's remains have never been found. Glenn Miller is still listed as "Missing In Action." His name is on a memorial in Cambridge, England.

Twinwood Today

RAF Twinwood Farm closed as an airfield in June 1945.

Today, the site is home to the Twinwood Arena. This is a large outdoor area that hosts different music festivals. One popular event is the Rhythm Festival.

The Glenn Miller Museum

You can visit the Glenn Miller Museum at Twinwood. It's located in the old control tower, which has been restored. The museum has displays about Glenn Miller, the history of RAF Twinwood Farm, and what life was like during World War II.

There are also other interesting museums on the site:

• Twinwood Aviation Museum: This museum shows uniforms and items found from crashed German and Allied planes. It also shows what British aviation units were like during the war.
• 1940s Family Home: You can see rooms set up to look like a family home from the 1940s.
• Axis Museum: This museum has a recreated German bunker. It also displays Russian and German weapons. There's even a display about Winston Churchill and the British royal family.
• Fire Service Museum: This museum shows what a wartime fire station from the 1940s looked like. It has uniforms, equipment, and old fire vehicles.
• You can also see displays of old military vehicles.

These museums are sometimes called the Twinwood Airfield Museum. They are open during certain times of the year.

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations
• Glenn Miller Orchestra