Langford Lodge

Airfield
A P-38 Lightning (CL-K) of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group fitted with a "droop snoot" for bombing missions. media-401194.jpg FRE 2442 A P-38 Lightning (CL-K) of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group fitted with a "droop snoot" for bombing missions. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo.

Object Number - FRE 2442 - A P-38 Lightning (CL-K) of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group fitted with a "droop snoot" for bombing missions.

Planned to be a Satellite Landing Ground for No. 23 Maintenance Unit at RAF Aldergrove, Langford Lodge was selected in October 1941 to be developed as an air deport for the maintenance and repair of USAAF aircraft. A scheme was devised whereby the British Ministry of Aircraft Production would build the airfield and necessary facilities, while the American Lockheed Aircraft Corporation would staff the depot with civilian employees. Built during January-October 1942, and extended during the winter of 1943-44, the 3rd Base Air Depot had eventually two concrete runways, 26 pan hardstandings with 100 'fingers’ for aircraft storage, and nine T2, eight Robin and some 20 Butler hangars, plus a Lockheed-designed hangar. During 1942 the station was considered as a transport base for USAAF Air Support Command and for the Eighth Air Force but never used as such. Although transferred officially to the Eighth Air Force in December 1942, the Depot continued to be run by Lockheed until closed in August 1944. The station was occupied briefly by the 7th Air Depot Group of VIII Service Command during September 1943 to January 1944.

Connections

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Aircraft

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-52532) nicknamed "Virgo ?" of the 486th Bomb Group. The nose art was painted by the artist Phillip S Brinkman.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Virgo Miss Mynookey
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 832nd Bomb Squadron 834th Bomb Squadron 485th Bomb Group 828th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ding Dong Daddy From Dixie Capricorn
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 486th Bomb Group 834th Bomb Squadron 835th Bomb Squadron 98th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Scorpio
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 486th Bomb Group 833rd Bomb Squadron 834th Bomb Squadron 465th Bomb Group 781st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: We Dood It
  • Unit: 403rd Air Depot 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3

Revisions

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Sources
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Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / David J. Smith, Action Stations 7: Military Airfields of Scotland, the North-east and Northern Ireland (Cambridge, 1989)

Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)

Langford Lodge: Gallery (35 items)