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Recently, we set out in search of the Control Tower for the New Forest RAF Ibsley WW2 airfield site to see if anything was left of the runway.
What we found was a very sad sight indeed.
Here is the Control Tower for R.A.F.Ibsley.
This New Forest World War Two airfield does still exist, as you can see, but is just a ghostly reminder of its glory days.
It stands forlornly looking over gravel lakes which are on the site where the actual WW2 runway was for this airfield.
If you have any comments or wartime memories or questions you would like to add, please fill in the form at the bottom of the page - your memories, views and comments can be shared by us all.
Latest news
There is now hope for the future of this WW2 airfield - find out more from
The RAF Ibsley Airfield Heritage Trust
newsletter and discover all the exciting plans for the future.
The land is privately owned by a gravel company who have extracted gravel over the years and left vast areas of deep water lakes.
It is on private land and therefore not accessible.
I always thought the gravel lakes were a wonderful environmental and wildlife contribution to the area.
I didn't realise, at the time, what once stood on the site.
Now, I'm stunned the history and area where the control tower stands today, has just been left to decay and become a sad ruin.
However, it appears that there is help at hand.
R.A.F. Ibsley Historical Group
is making a valiant effort to keep this history alive. If you visit their website you will be able to find out why the group was formed and what its aims are for the future.
There seems to be no trace left of the runway and airfield apart from the control tower.
Further along the road towards the crossroads at Ibsley, on the opposite corner to the little chapel, there is a lovely memorial erected.
As you can see from these pictures it holds the plan of the airfield in relation to the surrounding village.
It also has the WW2 RAF memorial names of those who flew out from RAF Ibsley and shows that the crews came from many countries.
They flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, Typhoons, Hawker Typhoons, Lightnings, Thunderbolts and Mustang.
This memorial is quite a recent addition to the village and is well maintained thanks to the R.A.F.Ibsley Historical Groups hard work.
It appears someone cares about keeping the history of this area of the New Forest during World War Two alive in our memories.
I know it is not a good idea to return to an area because you are often disappointed but I feel the site of the RAF Ibsley Control Tower in such a sorry state would upset anyone who came to try to retrieve WW2 New Forest history or trace family members who may have flown from here.
I found it quite sad to think this must once have been a really lively area.
You can imagine the buzz there must have been as these brave aircrew prepared to set off on dangerous missions.
You can see a painting of the Control Tower as it was during active duty during WW2 which was painted in 2001.
Update Dec 2009: I've tried contacting this group but had the email returned so at this time not sure how active this group is today!
Please share your memories, views or comments with us here...
Do you have a great WW2 memory you can share?
WW2 memories are heartfelt, poignant and very personal. Some of them can be funny - have you got one to share?
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Life at Ibsley circa 1951
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I was stationed at RAF Ibsley in 1951 having finished my basic training at RAF Padgate in Lancashire I was shipped to Ibsley in July '51. The actual ...
ron cook was living in reading ww11
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I remember seeing a lone German bomber approaching from south to north around noon. He veered toward Reading and the bombs hit the peoples pantry. He returned ...
Recently, we set out in search of the Control Tower for the New Forest RAF Ibsley WW2 airfield site to see if anything was left of the runway.
There seems to be no trace left of the runway and airfield apart from the control tower.
