RNAS Yeovilton

In 1938, the potential of the land at Yeovilton for use as an airfield was spotted by Westland Aircraft's chief test pilot Harald Penrose, and an offer was made to buy the land. The owners, however, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of the Church of England, refused to sell it. In 1939, the Admiralty Air Division commandeered 417 acre of the land, and work began on the construction of the site. The runways being completed in 1941, despite problems with poor drainage. A main runway of 3645 ft and three subsidiary runways each of 3000 ft had been constructed. being refuelled by a petrol bowser at Yeovilton in September 1943.|alt=A Fleet Air Arm Supermarine Seafire being refuelled by a petrol…