RAF Upottery, RAF airbase in England, UK
RAF Upottery is a former airfield in East Devon, England, built during World War II and opened in 1944 as a transport and bombing station. The site features long concrete runways arranged in a cross pattern, remnants of semi-circular metal huts and brick buildings, along with a Heritage Centre displaying photographs, uniforms, weapons, and personal accounts from those who served there.
The base was constructed in 1943 and opened in 1944 to support American and British forces in training and transport missions. It played a key role on D-Day in June 1944 when aircraft transported paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division into France, and it closed after the war in 1948.
The site is named after the nearby village and serves as a place where visitors connect with stories of the soldiers and pilots who served there. The heritage displayed through exhibitions and preserved structures keeps the memory of American and British forces alive for new generations today. Walking through the grounds allows people to understand the daily lives and experiences of those who prepared for and participated in major wartime operations.
The site is best visited through the Heritage Centre, with most exhibition areas on ground level for easy access. Refreshments are available at the Centre or at the nearby Sidmouth Arms pub in the village while exploring the concrete runways and remains.
The site has a connection to the Band of Brothers television series, as soldiers whose stories are told in the show flew combat missions from this base. This link makes the place meaningful for visitors who want to connect the stories they watched with the actual historical location where those events took place.
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