Saltby

Airfield
C-47 Skytrains of the 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Barkston Heath? Saltby?' media-408759.jpg FRE 3387 C-47 Skytrains of the 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Barkston Heath? Saltby?' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3387 - C-47 Skytrains of the 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Barkston Heath? Saltby?'

Initially a grass airfield satellite to RAF Cottesmore, Saltby opened in August 1941 as the home of No. 14 OTU, but closed for development in August 1943. When allocated to the Ninth Air Force in February 1944, it had three concrete runways, 33 loop and 17 pan hardstandings, and four T2 and plus one B1 hangars. The 314th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-47s and C-53s, occupied the station from February 1944 to March 1945, when it was handed back to the RAF. However, it was used briefly in May 1945 by a detachment of the 349th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-46s. The airfield closed in late 1945 & the station was used for storage until 1948. Sold in 1955, much of the site has since been demolished and returned to agriculture, but part remains active as Saltby Airfield, home to the Buckminster Gliding Club since 1971.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 314th Troop Carrier Group 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12097998 / O-700639
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 314th Troop Carrier Group
  • Service Numbers: 16121951 / O-700307
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 314th Troop Carrier Group 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13040275
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 314th Troop Carrier Group 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15058764 / O-525178
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 314th Troop Carrier Group
  • Service Numbers: 15074449 / O-729246
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, Action Stations 2: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands (Cambridge, 1984)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Saltby

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Gliding_Club

http://www.buckminstergc.co.uk/

Saltby: Gallery (8 items)