Langar

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Langar airfield looking south west, the control tower and technical site are at the top, the bomb dump is at the bottom, 17 April 1945. Photograph taken by No. 309 Fighter Training Unit, sortie number RAF/106G/LA/226. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-643.jpg RAF_106G_LA_226_FP_1005 Aerial photograph of Langar airfield looking south west, the control tower and technical site are at the top, the bomb dump is at the bottom, 17 April 1945. Photograph taken by No. 309 Fighter Training Unit, sortie number RAF/106G/LA/226. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_106G_LA_226_FP_1005 - Aerial photograph of Langar airfield looking south west, the control tower and technical site are at the top, the bomb dump is at the bottom, 17...

Langar was built in the latter half of 1942 in the parish of Harby, which is the name locals used to refer to the base. It was built to a standard Class A specification, with 6,000 foot and 4,200 foot runways, hardstandings for aircraft (originally 36, then increased to 50) and two T2 hangars (increased to four when part of the airfield was used as Horsa glider storage). The airfield was home to a series of Troop Carrier Groups in 1944: the 435th, 438th and 441st. The airfield was also used as a centre for the modification of CG-4A gliders. RAF Bomber Command took over the airfield in October 1944, and left in March 1945. Retained by the Ministry of Defence, the airfield was selected by the Royal Canadian Air Force as an air supply base, to support its role as part of NATO. The airfield was improved and several different types of transport aircraft used it until, in 1943, the RCAF left. Today, British Parachute Schools operate from the airfield, providing sky-diving training.

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English Heritage's Record Description

A former World War Two and Post-war period military airfield, now a civilian parachute school and an industrial/ storage site. It was opened in 1941 as a "Class A" bomber base: that is one with three long hard-surfaced runways, with two aircraft hangars (type T2). In 1942 the Avro Repair Organisation opened a repair facility for aircraft at the south-west side of the airfield. In 1943 the hangarage was doubled and hard standing provision for aircraft was increased. Initially the Royal Air Force operated the airfield, it passed to the United States 9th Air Force in 1943, and was used by both air forces in 1944. Its main role was for bomber units, both operational and training, but it was also used for assault gliders: the Americans used the airfield for part of Operation Market Garden, the attack on Arnhem. A prisoner of war camp was based at the airfield towards the end of the war. It operated as a work camp for German prisoners, who worked as labourers in the local area. This could have been in use up until 1948. Post-war the base was operated by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The military phase of use finished between 1964- 1968 and the aircraft repair facilities closed by 1967. Since 1966, part of the site has been used by John Deere Limited for offices training and storage of agricultural machinery parts, and since 1977 by British Parachute Schools.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 99th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2059927
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 99th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-811516
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 99th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14159844
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 99th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-740215
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 99th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37556540
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Nicknames: Buzz Job Mike
  • Unit: 441st Troop Carrier Group 99th Troop Carrier Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Historic England National Monument Record SK 73 SW 23

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

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Langar: Gallery (6 items)