Chattis Hill
In the South of England on Thursday 26th September 1940 the day dawned fair with a little high cloud. The staff at the Supermarine works would have been going about their daily business of building Spitfires that were so vital to the life and death struggle that was the Battle of Britain, which was raging in the skies over Southern England at the time.
The Luftwaffe were aware through photo reconnaissance that earlier attacks on the Woolston Works had not been very effective. Therefore, it was decided that an all out attack should take place early in the afternoon of the 26th September. The unit assigned to undertake the attack was Kampfgeschwader 55 stationed at Villaboublay. Fifty Nine Heinkel 111s crossed the southern coast and headed straight for the Supermarine Works. Over 70 tons of bombs were dropped on the two plants located at Woolston and Itchen and both were wrecked. The bombing also claimed the lives of 30 Supermarine workers at the two plants.
Following the attack Lord Beaverbrook, the minister for aircraft production, visited the site and decreed that the two factories be abandoned. Aircraft production was to be dispersed to less obvious sites to make them less vulnerable to attack. Chattis Hill was one such site in the South of England where Spitfire production was moved following the abandonment of Woolston and Itchen.
The Luftwaffe were aware through photo reconnaissance that earlier attacks on the Woolston Works had not been very effective. Therefore, it was decided that an all out attack should take place early in the afternoon of the 26th September. The unit assigned to undertake the attack was Kampfgeschwader 55 stationed at Villaboublay. Fifty Nine Heinkel 111s crossed the southern coast and headed straight for the Supermarine Works. Over 70 tons of bombs were dropped on the two plants located at Woolston and Itchen and both were wrecked. The bombing also claimed the lives of 30 Supermarine workers at the two plants.
Following the attack Lord Beaverbrook, the minister for aircraft production, visited the site and decreed that the two factories be abandoned. Aircraft production was to be dispersed to less obvious sites to make them less vulnerable to attack. Chattis Hill was one such site in the South of England where Spitfire production was moved following the abandonment of Woolston and Itchen.
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Chattis Hill is located two miles west of Stockbridge in the Test Valley in the County of Hampshire. Today anyone driving along the A30 between Stockbridge and Lopcombe Corner will see a country lane named Spitfire Lane. This leads to the former dispersed site where Spitfire production continued following the attacks of 26th September. |
A 120 acre rectangular field at Chattis Hill had seen use as an airfield previously in 1917. The site had been used as a landing ground for the Royal Flying Corp. It was not an ideal site for flying operations as it was prone to water logging and also at times could be very windy. The first Squadrons to occupy the site were 91 and 93 both of which formed in September 1917. A fortnight later the two squadrons were joined by 92 which came to Chattis Hill from London Colney. Many of the personnel at the airfield were billeted in nearby Stockbridge.
As the First World War continued it was intended to build more permanent facilities at Chattis Hill, however, as the war ended construction was halted. The airfield was used for aircraft storage following cessation of hostilities, but by late 1919 the field had closed.
Following the raids at Woolston, Chattis Hill was brought back into operation with jigs and tools being brought over from the wrecked plants. Hangars were built within the shelter of trees which gave natural camouflage and production of Spitfires commenced in December 1940. The first deliveries of Spitfires commenced three months later. The airfield was primarily used for the final erection and test flying of Spitfires. From research it appears that Chattis Hill delivered its first Spitfire I, serialled R7250, on 18 March 1941.
Responsibility for flying out the completed Spitfires was given to the pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary based at Hamble. Often the ATA's taxi aircraft, Avro Ansons and Fairchild Argus, could be seen with their female pilots at Chattis Hill.
Spitfire production continued throughout the war but at its end flying ceased from the airfield. Parts for Spitfires continued to be manufactured at Chattis Hill until May 1948. Following this the airfield returned to nature with the removal of the assembly sheds and infrastructure. However, it is still possible today to see remains of the airfields wartime role and the following photographs show some of what is left for those with an interest in the sites history.
As the First World War continued it was intended to build more permanent facilities at Chattis Hill, however, as the war ended construction was halted. The airfield was used for aircraft storage following cessation of hostilities, but by late 1919 the field had closed.
Following the raids at Woolston, Chattis Hill was brought back into operation with jigs and tools being brought over from the wrecked plants. Hangars were built within the shelter of trees which gave natural camouflage and production of Spitfires commenced in December 1940. The first deliveries of Spitfires commenced three months later. The airfield was primarily used for the final erection and test flying of Spitfires. From research it appears that Chattis Hill delivered its first Spitfire I, serialled R7250, on 18 March 1941.
Responsibility for flying out the completed Spitfires was given to the pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary based at Hamble. Often the ATA's taxi aircraft, Avro Ansons and Fairchild Argus, could be seen with their female pilots at Chattis Hill.
Spitfire production continued throughout the war but at its end flying ceased from the airfield. Parts for Spitfires continued to be manufactured at Chattis Hill until May 1948. Following this the airfield returned to nature with the removal of the assembly sheds and infrastructure. However, it is still possible today to see remains of the airfields wartime role and the following photographs show some of what is left for those with an interest in the sites history.
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Just inside the main gate the Compass Swinging Platform remains in place. It is quite thought provoking to think how many Spitfires have passed over this platform. |
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A number of Direction Markers remain embedded in the Compass Swinging Platform. |
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The floor of one of the Assembly Shops remains in place. |
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Part of the dispersal area can be found on the opposite side of the road to the main site. |
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The site has a number of shelters scattered amoungst the trees. |
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Within the shelters are these curious 'plugs' which I assume would have been inserted into the holes in the wall in the event of gas attack. |
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Internal detail within one of the remaining buildings. |
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Some of the heating pipework remains in place within the sites buildings. |
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The remains of electrical switchgear within one of the buildings. |
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Static water tank. |
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Main gate runners still in-situ. |
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Recently it has come to light that one of the former Robin Hangars from Chattis Hill was to be found in the centre of Stockbridge. The photograph on the left shows the hangar in November 2012.
My thanks go to Richard Drew for bringing this to my attention. www.atlantikwall.co.uk |
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It's nice to see that the owners of the nearby house have named it after the Spitfire's iconic Rolls Royce engine. |
If you ever find youself on the A30 to Salisbury and you pass Spitfire Lane, spare a moment and have a look at this long forgotten site hidden away in isolation within the trees. Whilst you are there try to cast your mind back to the time when Britain was experiencing its darkest hours and the role Chattis Hill played in helping to turn the tide of war.
Sources
- Spitfire Postscript - C.R. Russell
- Spitfire The History - Eric B Morgan & Edward Shacklady
- Hampshire Airfields In The Second World War - Robin J Brooks
- Action Station 9 Military Airfields Of The Central South & South East - Chris Ashworth