RAF Twinwood Farm

RAF Twinwood Farm is a former World War II airfield in England, located 4 miles N of Bedford. Twinwood Farm was where USAAF Major Glenn Miller aircraft took off on 15 December 1944 for Paris. His plane disappeared over the English Channel and was never found.

World War II use by RAF

Twinwood Farm opened in mid 1941 when the RAF began to use the grassed field. By April 1942 it had three concrete runways and additional temporary buildings.

From then until the end of the war the Blenheims, Beaufighters, Beauforts and Mosquitos of No 51 Operational Training Unit use 'Twinwoods', as it was generally known.

Glenn Miller

Even before that fateful December day in 1944 Twinwood Farm had established an association with Glenn Miller and his American Band of the Supreme Allied Command as it was originally known. It was based in Bedford in early July 1944 and they used the airfield on a couple of occasions for their tours. They gave a concert at Twinwood Farm on 27 August.

The order detailing Major. Miller's journey to France for another tour was issued on 12 December but fog delayed departure and a friend offered to help him out with an aircraft. This was to be a Canadian-built Noordugn UC-64A Norsman. It was a cold, rainy and foggy afternoon and Major Miller said to the band's manager, Lt Don Hayes, as he was boarding the aircraft, "Haynsie, even the birds are grounded today".

The aircraft took off at 1:55pm and was never seen again.

The airfield closed in June 1945. Although the site returned to agriculture it has become a mecca for Glenn Miller enthusiasts.

Use today

The site is now home to the Twinwood Arena [ [http://www.twinwoodevents.com/twinwoodarena.htm twinwood arena ] ] , a large natural amphitheatre which plays host to various music festivals promoted by Twinwood Events [ [http://www.twinwoodevents.com Glenn Miller Festival and Rhythm Festival at Twinwood Arena ] ] including the Rhythm Festival.

See also

* List of RAF stations
* Glenn Miller Orchestra

External links

* [http://multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?scale=25000&icon=x&lat=%2052.18230000&lon=-0.49052200&mapsize=big Aerial photo of RAF Twinwood Farm from Multimap.Com]
* [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Twinwood_Farm.htm Twinwood Farm historical photo album]

References