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 South West Airfields Heritage Trust

   “Preserving Aviation History for Future Generations”

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Tours & Talks Support for Schools  Corporate Sponsors  In-House Roles Support Our Work   RAF Chivenor Contact Us 

South West Airfields Heritage Trust, or SWAHT for short, is a non-profit making, educational, charitable trust founded in 2003.

Our objective and passion is to educate people about aviation history in the South West of England and in particular those events that happened during the second world war, so that today’s generations understand what took place and how those events have shaped the society we live in today

We do this in a number of ways

Firstly, we collect information, photographs and artefacts relating to these airfields and display them in our two dedicated Heritage Centres, at both Dunkeswell Airfield and also Smeatharpe, nearby to Upottery airfield , to illustrate the history of these airfields and what took place there during the second world war

Secondly, we give educational talks about what took place at a number of Airfields ; Clyst Honiton (Exeter) , Culmhead, Merryfield, near Ilminster, Upottery and Dunkeswell

Thirdly, we also provide airfield tours at Upottery, Culmhead and Dunkeswell, where members of the public can see the evocative  remains of the airfields.

Finally we have this website that is intended to form a research resource for those who are interested in the history of these establishments, or who are researching their ancestors and the part they played in the conflict.

We also honour and remember those who served at these airfields, so that their contribution to the freedom we enjoy today is not forgotten.

We hope you find our site informative and look forward to seeing you at one of our Heritage centres.

Please also do feel free to contact us with information, photographs or enquiries about your ancestors and we will do our best to help .

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Thank you for visiting us and we hope you enjoy browsing our site.     

                                                        

 

HERITAGE CENTRES - CLOSED FOR THE SEASON - RE-OPEN FRIDAY, APRIL 18th,  2025

Heritage Centres Open: Thurs - Sun  (and Bank Holidays) 11am - 4pm, to last Sunday in October

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