Expansion Period Airfields
RAF Coltishall on 1 September 2010. Built under scheme 'L' the airfield opened in May 1940. A full list of airfields built as part of the 'Expansion Period' listed below.
SCHEME ‘A’
The first scheme (Scheme ‘A’), adopted in July 1934, construction begun in 1935 at:
Church Fenton
Cranfield
Feltwell
Harwell
Manby
Marham
Odiham
Stradishall
Tern Hill
Thorney Island
Waddington
SCHEME ‘C’
Scheme ‘C’ replaced Scheme ‘A’ and was implemented on 22 May 1935. New permanent RAF aerodromes were commenced at:
Debden
Dishforth
Driffield
Finningley
Hemswell
Hullavington
Leconfield
Scampton
Shawbury
Upwood
Wyton
SCHEME ‘F’
Scheme ‘F’ was approved in February 1936, this replaced Scheme ‘C’ before it was completed. A commencement was made on the construction of the first ASUs at:
Aston Down
Hullavington
Kemble
Shawbury
Tern Hill
Aircraft Repair and Engine Repair Depots were commenced at:
St Athan
Sealand
In 1937 other new permanent RAF stations planned under this scheme were:
Bassingbourn
Benson
Brize Norton (FTS & ASU)
Cosford (FTS & ASU)
Cottesmore
Honington
Linton-on-Ouse
Little Rissington (FTS & ASU)
Lossiemouth (FTS & ASU)
South Cerney
Wattisham
Watton
West Raynham
Wick
SCHEME ‘L’
Scheme ‘L’ was passed by the Cabinet on 27 April 1938. New permanent RAF stations Built under Scheme ‘L’ were:
Aldergrove (ASU)
Binbrook
Bramcote
Burtonwood (ASU)
Coltishall
Horsham St Faith
Kinloss (FTS & ASU)
Kirkbride (ASU)
Kirton Lindsey
Leeming
Lindholme
Middle Wallop
Newton
St Eval
Silloth (ASU)
Topclife
Wroughton (ASU)
SCHEME ‘L’ & SCHEME ‘M’
Middleton St George is caught within the transition from ‘L’ to ‘M’ (with ‘C’ and ‘J’ hangars)
Middleton St George
SCHEME ‘M’
Scheme ‘M’ was approved on 7 November 1938 and the stations planned in 1938/ 1939 were:
Colerne (Fighter & ASU)
Coningsby
Dumfries (ASU)
Hawarden (ASU)
High Ercall (ASU)
Lichfield (ASU)
Llandow (ASU)
Lyneham (ASU)
North Luffenham
Oakington
Ouston
Swanton Morley
Swinderby
Syserton
Waterbeach
West Malling
The first scheme (Scheme ‘A’), adopted in July 1934, construction begun in 1935 at:
Church Fenton
Cranfield
Feltwell
Harwell
Manby
Marham
Odiham
Stradishall
Tern Hill
Thorney Island
Waddington
SCHEME ‘C’
Scheme ‘C’ replaced Scheme ‘A’ and was implemented on 22 May 1935. New permanent RAF aerodromes were commenced at:
Debden
Dishforth
Driffield
Finningley
Hemswell
Hullavington
Leconfield
Scampton
Shawbury
Upwood
Wyton
SCHEME ‘F’
Scheme ‘F’ was approved in February 1936, this replaced Scheme ‘C’ before it was completed. A commencement was made on the construction of the first ASUs at:
Aston Down
Hullavington
Kemble
Shawbury
Tern Hill
Aircraft Repair and Engine Repair Depots were commenced at:
St Athan
Sealand
In 1937 other new permanent RAF stations planned under this scheme were:
Bassingbourn
Benson
Brize Norton (FTS & ASU)
Cosford (FTS & ASU)
Cottesmore
Honington
Linton-on-Ouse
Little Rissington (FTS & ASU)
Lossiemouth (FTS & ASU)
South Cerney
Wattisham
Watton
West Raynham
Wick
SCHEME ‘L’
Scheme ‘L’ was passed by the Cabinet on 27 April 1938. New permanent RAF stations Built under Scheme ‘L’ were:
Aldergrove (ASU)
Binbrook
Bramcote
Burtonwood (ASU)
Coltishall
Horsham St Faith
Kinloss (FTS & ASU)
Kirkbride (ASU)
Kirton Lindsey
Leeming
Lindholme
Middle Wallop
Newton
St Eval
Silloth (ASU)
Topclife
Wroughton (ASU)
SCHEME ‘L’ & SCHEME ‘M’
Middleton St George is caught within the transition from ‘L’ to ‘M’ (with ‘C’ and ‘J’ hangars)
Middleton St George
SCHEME ‘M’
Scheme ‘M’ was approved on 7 November 1938 and the stations planned in 1938/ 1939 were:
Colerne (Fighter & ASU)
Coningsby
Dumfries (ASU)
Hawarden (ASU)
High Ercall (ASU)
Lichfield (ASU)
Llandow (ASU)
Lyneham (ASU)
North Luffenham
Oakington
Ouston
Swanton Morley
Swinderby
Syserton
Waterbeach
West Malling
