RAF Langar: Difference between revisions
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The airfield was opened in [[September]] [[1942]] and during World War II it was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Ninth Air Force]]. It was also known as USAAF Station 490, Station Code: LA. |
The airfield was opened in [[September]] [[1942]] and during World War II it was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Ninth Air Force]]. It was also known as USAAF Station 490, Station Code: LA. |
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== RAF Use == |
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Langar airfield was built during the early months of [[1942]] and was first used by a flying unit in [[September]] when No. 207 Squadron arrived with Lancaster bombers from RAF Bottesford. 207 Squadron was a major RAF Bomber Command unit and participated in major raids on occupied Europe. |
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The RAF remained until [[October]] [[1943]] when it moved to RAF Spilsby. |
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== USAAF Use == |
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In [[November]] 1943 Langar was transferred to the USAAF [[Ninth Air Force]] as a troop carrier group base. The airfield was used as a reception base for troop carrier groups flying in fron the United States. The 10th Service Group and 27th Mobile Repair Maintence Squadron was established to support these transitory groups before they moved onto their permanent airfields. |
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=== 435th Troop Carrier Group === |
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The '''435th Troop Carrier Group''' arrived at Langar on [[3 November]] 1943 with 56 C-47s. |
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The group began operational training, however it was moved in late [[January]] [[1944]] to [[RAF Welford]] to train alongside the 101st Airborne Division. |
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=== 438th Troop Carrier Group === |
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Langar remained vacant for about a month until the '''438th Troop Carrier Wing''' arrived in [[February]] [[1944]]. |
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However the group only remained for a short time until being transfered to [[RAF Welford]] at the end of the month. |
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=== 441st Troop Carrier Group === |
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The 441st arrived at Langar on [[17 March]], but only remained until [[25 April]] until being moved to [[RAF Merryfield]]. |
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=== IX Troop Carrier Command Depot === |
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Although no further flying combat units were stationed at Langar, the airfield became a major maintence and supply depot for the IX Troop Carrier Command. In additon, Langar became a center for modification of CG-4A gliders, primarily the fitting of reinforced noses for better crew protection in rough landings. |
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In [[August]] [[1944]] Langar was released to RAF control for operational use, however the need for forward operating bases in connection with [[Operation Market-Garden]], the 441st Troop Carrier Group using the airfield as part of the operation. |
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On [[17 September]] 45 C-47s of the 441st TCG dropped paratroops of the 82d Airborne near Nimegen Holland. Five aircraft were lost to Flak. On [[18 September]], 40 C-47s, all towing CG-4A gliders carried out a reinforcement mission without loss or casualties. |
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No further missions were flown until [[23 September]] when 90 C-47s, all towing gliders to Holland encountered flak that brought down one C-47. This was the last operational mission by the USAAF from Langar, and ended the association of the Ninth Air Force with the airfield |
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== Post D-Day Use == |
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In [[October]] 1944, RAF Bomber Command returend to Langar moving in with No. 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit with 32 Lanasters which used the station until [[March]] [[1945]]. Although retained by the [[Ministry of Defense]], the airfield was deserted until [[1952]] when the Royal Canadian Air Force took up residence. |
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== Postwar NATO Use == |
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After the war, the field was used by the Royal Canadian Air Force as RCAF Langar as part of NATO, the only Canadian base in the UK. The 137th (Transport) Flight operated five Bristol Freighters and a Beech C-45. Amajor unit was the 312th Supply Depot handling spares fpr F-86 Sabres. |
After the war, the field was used by the Royal Canadian Air Force as RCAF Langar as part of NATO, the only Canadian base in the UK. The 137th (Transport) Flight operated five Bristol Freighters and a Beech C-45. Amajor unit was the 312th Supply Depot handling spares fpr F-86 Sabres. |
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The base was closed in [[1963]] and is now |
The base was closed in [[1963]] and is now HQ of the British Parachute School. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 13:46, 3 January 2007
RAF Langar is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 9 miles SE of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire.
The airfield was opened in September 1942 and during World War II it was used by the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force. It was also known as USAAF Station 490, Station Code: LA.
RAF Use
Langar airfield was built during the early months of 1942 and was first used by a flying unit in September when No. 207 Squadron arrived with Lancaster bombers from RAF Bottesford. 207 Squadron was a major RAF Bomber Command unit and participated in major raids on occupied Europe.
The RAF remained until October 1943 when it moved to RAF Spilsby.
USAAF Use
In November 1943 Langar was transferred to the USAAF Ninth Air Force as a troop carrier group base. The airfield was used as a reception base for troop carrier groups flying in fron the United States. The 10th Service Group and 27th Mobile Repair Maintence Squadron was established to support these transitory groups before they moved onto their permanent airfields.
435th Troop Carrier Group
The 435th Troop Carrier Group arrived at Langar on 3 November 1943 with 56 C-47s.
The group began operational training, however it was moved in late January 1944 to RAF Welford to train alongside the 101st Airborne Division.
438th Troop Carrier Group
Langar remained vacant for about a month until the 438th Troop Carrier Wing arrived in February 1944.
However the group only remained for a short time until being transfered to RAF Welford at the end of the month.
441st Troop Carrier Group
The 441st arrived at Langar on 17 March, but only remained until 25 April until being moved to RAF Merryfield.
IX Troop Carrier Command Depot
Although no further flying combat units were stationed at Langar, the airfield became a major maintence and supply depot for the IX Troop Carrier Command. In additon, Langar became a center for modification of CG-4A gliders, primarily the fitting of reinforced noses for better crew protection in rough landings.
In August 1944 Langar was released to RAF control for operational use, however the need for forward operating bases in connection with Operation Market-Garden, the 441st Troop Carrier Group using the airfield as part of the operation.
On 17 September 45 C-47s of the 441st TCG dropped paratroops of the 82d Airborne near Nimegen Holland. Five aircraft were lost to Flak. On 18 September, 40 C-47s, all towing CG-4A gliders carried out a reinforcement mission without loss or casualties.
No further missions were flown until 23 September when 90 C-47s, all towing gliders to Holland encountered flak that brought down one C-47. This was the last operational mission by the USAAF from Langar, and ended the association of the Ninth Air Force with the airfield
Post D-Day Use
In October 1944, RAF Bomber Command returend to Langar moving in with No. 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit with 32 Lanasters which used the station until March 1945. Although retained by the Ministry of Defense, the airfield was deserted until 1952 when the Royal Canadian Air Force took up residence.
Postwar NATO Use
After the war, the field was used by the Royal Canadian Air Force as RCAF Langar as part of NATO, the only Canadian base in the UK. The 137th (Transport) Flight operated five Bristol Freighters and a Beech C-45. Amajor unit was the 312th Supply Depot handling spares fpr F-86 Sabres.
The base was closed in 1963 and is now HQ of the British Parachute School.
See also
References
- Freeman, Roger A., UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now, 1994
- www.controltowers.co.uk RAF Langar
- Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
External links
 | This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |