On the north side of the road.

A picket stone column with two small plaques attached showing dedication on one plaque and a list of USAAF groups who used the airfield on the other plaque. The plaques are inscribed in English in white lettering and are affixed on the front face of the column, one on top of the other. The top plaque bears the printed image of the Royal Air Force insignia while the 8^th and 9^th Air US Force on the lower plaque.

Built during 1940-41 as a fighter base satellite for RAF Middle Wallop, RAF Ibsley opened in 1941 when incomplete. It eventually had three concrete runways, 18 hardstandings plus 18 double pen dispersals, and two Bellman plus 12 blister hangars, after enlargement during 1943. Allocated to the Eighth Air Force as a fighter station, its first US occupants were the 71st and 94th Squadrons of the 1st Fighter Group, equipped with P-38s, from August to October 1942. Re-allocated to the Ninth Air Force as a tactical fighter base, the 48th Fighter Group, equipped with P-47s, arrived in March 1944 and was joined temporarily by the 371st Fighter Group, also equipped with P-47s, during April-May 1944. The 14th Liaison Squadron, equipped with L-5s and UC-78s, joined the 48th Fighter Group briefly during June-July 1944 until both moved to France. They were replaced at Ibsley until the end of July 1944 by the 367th Fighter Group, equipped with P-38s, which also moved to France. Handed back to the RAF in August 1944, flying ceased in 1946 and the station closed in 1952, after which the airfield quickly returned to agriculture.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.americanairmuseum.com

Source of photos: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

Top plaque:

R.A.F. STATION IBSLEY

1941 – 1947

This memorial commemorates all who served here.

LEST WE FORGET                                  1994

Lower plaque:

U.S. STATION 347

70th. FW. HQ.

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ALL US. PERSONNEL

WHO SERVED AT THIS STATION.