RAF Hartford Bridge
An area of Yateley Common was requisitioned in October 1941 for the construction of a new airfield. It took the firm of Robert McAlpine well over a year to build the large 3-runway airfield and its dispersal areas. RAF Hartford Bridge was officially opened on 7 Nov 1942, but was not finally completed until the spring of 1943. Announcement of the opening of the new aerodrome did not, of course, appear in the Camberley News, the only hints being that on the 25 Sep 1942 the newspaper reported the first RAF Dance at the Drill Hall. In the round-up of events at the end of the following year, the News stated:
The Vicar, the Rev R F Pechey, was appointed early in the year as Chaplain to the RAF.
Even before the official opening, the site had been used for glider trials by the RAE. On 7 Dec 1942 No 171 Squadron was transferred from Gatwick for reconnaissance duties along the French coast, but on 31 Dec 1942 the squadron was disbanded and the equipment was transferred to No 430 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which was formed at RAF Hartford Bridge on 1 Jan 1943.