Blakehill Aerodrome to the North West of Purton Stoke played a vital part in the Normandy Invasion of the 6th June 1944. Details of precisely what happened there, were difficult to determine because of the veil of secrecy which surrounded the entire area. One farmer recalled that for a week before D-Day the whole of the area was completely sealed off. The farmers were told that even lorries wishing to deliver cow-cake would not be allowed through the farms. Absolutely nothing had to enter this area at all. It was later discovered that gliders carrying airborne troops left Blakehill on that summer morning and that large quantities of supplies for the Invasion were stored in the quiet woods of the Red Lodge Estate.
Blakehill Aerodrome was specificaly constructed for the D-Day landings and until recently was in use as a communications centre.
It has now been taken over by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.