Netheravon
Encyclopedia
Netheravon is a village and civil parish on the River Avon, about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the town of Amesbury
in Wiltshire
.
, spent most of his life in Netheravon as river keeper River Avon and died on the banks of the river near the parish church
. He developed the Pheasant Tail Nymph
for fly fishing and wrote the books Keeper of the Stream and Nymphs and the Trout.
, initially for balloon operations. Aircraft were flown by the Royal Flying Corps
, also before the First World War. The RFC became the Royal Air Force
in 1918. In the Second World War
the airfield was RAF Netheravon and was home to 296
and 297
squadrons.
The airfield is claimed to be the longest continuously operated airfield in the world and is now operated by 7 Regt AAC(V) of the Army Air Corps as AAC Netheravon.
The camp is also used as a parachute centre, on weekdays for the Joint Service Parachute Centre (JSPC) and at the weekends for the Army Parachute Association (APA).
Amesbury
Amesbury is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is most famous for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is in its parish, and for the discovery of the Amesbury Archer—dubbed the King of Stonehenge in the press—in 2002...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Notable people
The writer Frank Sawyer (1906-1980), although born in BulfordBulford
Bulford is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, close to Salisbury Plain. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,698.The name is derived from the Old English bulut ieg ford meaning 'ragged robin island ford'....
, spent most of his life in Netheravon as river keeper River Avon and died on the banks of the river near the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
. He developed the Pheasant Tail Nymph
Pheasant Tail Nymph
The Pheasant Tail is a popular nymph imitation used when fly fishing. It is used to mimic a large variety of creatures that many fish including Trout feed upon...
for fly fishing and wrote the books Keeper of the Stream and Nymphs and the Trout.
Netheravon airfield
The airfield was first used before the First World WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, initially for balloon operations. Aircraft were flown by the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, also before the First World War. The RFC became the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1918. In the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the airfield was RAF Netheravon and was home to 296
No. 296 Squadron RAF
No. 296 Squadron RAF was an airborne forces squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. With sister squadrons 295 and 297 it formed 38 Wing, which later expanded to create No. 38 Group RAF.-With the Airborne Forces:No...
and 297
No. 297 Squadron RAF
No 297 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was notable for being the first airborne forces squadron formed. With sister No 296 Squadron it formed No 38 Wing RAF -soon to be expanded with sister No 295 Squadron, which expanded later to become No 38 Group RAF.-Formation and World War...
squadrons.
The airfield is claimed to be the longest continuously operated airfield in the world and is now operated by 7 Regt AAC(V) of the Army Air Corps as AAC Netheravon.
The camp is also used as a parachute centre, on weekdays for the Joint Service Parachute Centre (JSPC) and at the weekends for the Army Parachute Association (APA).