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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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 5th Airdrome Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32384014
  • Role/Job: crew chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 403rd Air Depot Headquarters (403rd Air Depot)
  • Service Numbers: 32474205
  • Highest Rank: Private
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Service Numbers: O-20697
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Ordnance and Armament Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13114156
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 14th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron 48th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-394359
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Maggie
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
Film Director Major William Wyler looks through the waist gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-B) of the 91st Bomb Group during the filming of 'Memphis Belle'. Passed as censored 1 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How a Flying Fortress Protects Itself: Major William Wyler, who directed the famous film 'Mrs Minniver', is now busy directing an instructional film for the U.S. Army Air Force, showing how a 'Flying Fortress' protects itself against attack by enemy fighters. The Fortress is loaded w
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Bad Penny
  • Unit: 403rd Air Depot 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 324th Bomb Squadron Headquarters Squadron (8th Air Force)
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 312th Ferry Squadron 335th Fighter Squadron 552nd Fighter Training Squadron
 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group line up for take off, a B-17 nicknamed "Stinky" leads the lineup. A censor has obscured a structure in the background. Passed as censored 17 Oct 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'New "Fortress" Makes History In The Air. Oct. 1942. The most striking development of the war in the air is undoubtedly the sensational success of the American "Boeing" Flying Fortresses in the daylight bombing of enemy-occupied territory. In the most recent operation 105 German craf
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Stinky
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Yokum Boy
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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)