Remembering the Men and Women of RAF Silverstone

The history of RAF Silverstone and what events we have taking place at the Museum over the weekend in remembrance of those who heroically served and lost their lives.

Silverstone Circuit remains historically significant not only due to it’s rich motorsport history and prominence as the home of British motorsport, but also because of it’s significant ties to the country’s war efforts of the past.  

What is now the location of one of the most iconic tracks on any Motor Racing calendar, once began as the home of a small community in the heart of England, which relied on local farming and timber industries. The beginning of the Second World War saw Silverstone transform it’s identity from a quiet countryside community into a military training hub, renamed RAF Silverstone. The RAF selected Silverstone as a fitting location to build a new airbase to support war efforts because of it’s central location in the country and due to the surrounding land being flat and open, providing ideal conditions for building runways. 

In 1943 the newly erected base opened for operation and housed a total five large aircraft hangers, one B1 hanger and four T2 hangers; the main north to south runway, spanning 6,000 ft; two intersecting shorter runways measuring 3.900 ft and 4,200 ft respectively; as well as a 3-mile track which ran the perimeter. 

This site was to become home to the RAF No 17 Operational Training Unit, after their transfer from RAF Upwood. The No 17 OTU was charged with operating a fleet of Vickers Wellington two engine bombers, which were used to train bomber crews. Under the tutelage of experienced trainers who had completed at least 30 missions, trainees were instructed and practiced the specific tasks they would be expected to execute as a functioning member of a Wellington Bomber crew. These training sessions were completed over a six week period. To gain some insight into how some of this training may have looked, the Museum has three interactive training exercises for visitors to try their hands at where you can practice take off and landing techniques in the Link Trainer, practice defending from enemy attack in the Turret and test your accuracy by dropping leaflets on target, (just how the airmen really practiced), in the Bomber Trainer. 

In addition to the No 17 OTU, countless service men and women helped in keeping RAF Silverstone functioning. These included air traffic control officers, maintenance staff, medical staff caterers and transport staff. Members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force were also present at RAF Silverstone, supporting works on base, completing tasks such as packing parachutes and servicing aircraft. 

Members of the wider Northampton community also participated in active service during the war, including Lieutenant Commander Robert Hichens. Robert Hichens, who had a passion for motorsport having entered the 24 of Le Mans on four occasions during the 1930s, grew up in Northampton. During the war, he served not with the RAF at Silverstone, but as a member of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. During his naval career he would go on to be awarded a DSO for his work on gun boats, a DSC for his acts of bravery in Dunkirk and became the most highly decorated officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Lieutenant Commander Robert Hichens was tragically killed in action in 1943 after an altercation with an enemy vessel.

We also remember the men and women who tragically lost their lives whilst training at RAF Silverstone including Flight Sergeant George Lamb, Sergeant Jack Beach, Sergeant Alfred Longworth, Sergeant Frederick Smith, Sergeant John Speake and Flight Sergeant Harold Smith. The men regrettably lost their lives after their training flight returning to RAF Silverstone suffered a port side engine failure during their preparation to land. Due to the presence of another aircraft on the runway, the pilot was forced to crash land his craft off of the runway, ultimately loosing control and crashing into surrounding trees causing the vessel to burst into flames. Sergeant R.J. Wells and Sergeant Reginald Hyde were the only survivors of the crash. 

A memorial to the members of the No 17 OTU who lost their lives, remains to this day and is located near the Luffield Grandstand. 

You can learn more about these stories along with many others in the Memorial section, on the first floor of Silverstone Museum. 

Following the conclusion of WW2, RAF Silverstone was declared inactive and deserted by the military in 1947. At the same time, The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) were actively searching for new locations to develop new racetracks in an effort to embrace the return of motorsports, post-war. They saw abandoned RAF aerodromes as the perfect choice, on account of the tarmacked  runways being ideal surfaces to be repurposed into a race track. In 1948, The RAC began negotiations to secure the lease to Silverstone and in October of that same year, they hosted the first British Grand Prix at Silverstone. 

Whilst Silverstone has not been used as an active military base in 78 years, it’s war time history is still engrained into the very foundations of the site. Famously Silverstone’s second longest straight, the Wellington Straight, was once one of RAF Silverstone’s original runways and Silverstone Museum itself is built in one of the former WW2 RAF hangers, which has been restored and transformed into an important educational hub for motorsports.

In order to carry on the legacies and stories of the men and women lost in service during WW2, Silverstone Museum maintain a permanent section of our exhibition space, dedicated to RAF Silverstone where you can view original RAF uniforms and equipment, learn more about what life was like on base during the war and discover the untold stories of the individuals that lived and worked here.

At Silverstone Museum, we are incredibly proud of our rich history and hope you will join us in honouring the heroes of the past and showing appreciation the men and women who are currently serving. 

On Saturday 8th of November you will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the automotive history of WW2. Visiting the museum will be a lineup of 13 WW2 allied vehicles, brought in partnership with the WW2 Allied Vehicle Group. Additionally, we will be joined by people in historic dress who will explain workings and significance of the vehicles on display, and share the stories of those who served. 

Following this, on Remembrance Sunday, (November 9th), the museum will lay a wreath in remembrance at the Museum War Memorial. This will take place at 11am and be followed by two minutes of silence. 

Author: Annie Tuff