Opened on 1st April 1941 Royal Navy Air Station Henstridge, was given the name HMS. Dipper. Used for training it was one of only two airfields in the UK to have 5 runways. One of these had a dummy deck 07/25 (the runway is now the only one left) which had wire cables across operated by a hydraulic system which pilots would practise dummy deck landings on. Various aircraft were stationed here, including Seafires, Barracuda, Fulmers and Miles Masters to name a few. Various detachments were also based there, including Sea Hurricanes and after the war Sea Furies while Yeoviltons runway was being resurfaced. The airfield was sold to Bristow helicopters in the 1950. It was then used for private flying a little until the recent owner purchased the airfield and has developed it into an airfield with ‘easy access‘ hangers.
It now is a thriving base for the local LAA Wessex Strut and local based pilots. Businesses now operate from here, offering engineering and spray painting while Tiger Moth Training Ltd has been formed to teach people top fly these old and popular bi-planes. The Yakovlevs aerobatic team also operate from Henstridge, as does the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. The LAA Wessex Strut hold their monthly meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month as well as their Easter Saturday fly-in.
