LOST AIRFIELDS | EPISODE 5 • RAF NORTH LUFFENHAM "THE TRAINING STATION OF RUTLAND"

Описание: Ted and I have travelled back in time once more to cover another episode of the Ted Coningsby’s Lost Airfields. In this episode, we are at former RAF North Luffenham, a base that was once home to 61 Squadron and 144 Squadron during World War Two. These runways once served Avro Manchester and Hampden Bombers. After the war, it became home to the Royal Canadian Air Force and then later, a Thor Missile Station.

RAF North Luffenham opened in December 1940. Just like RAF Coningsby, the airfield was constructed first with grass runways in the Class A triangle configuration. This configuration of 60 degrees formation of an A shape set of runways allowed the aircraft to operate in 6 possible directions of travel. The station was initially used by 17 Elementary Flying Training School with Tiger Moths and in July 1941 it began its transition to become a bomber station. RAF North Luffenham was transferred to Number 5 Group of Bomber Command with 61 and 144 Squadrons making the station their new home with Hampdens. 61 Squadron converted to Avro Manchester bombers and took part in major raids into Europe during their short stay as they left in October 1941 whilst 144 Squadron left in April 1942. However, 144 Squadron would return to North Luffenham with a very different role 17 years laters.

61 Squadron engaged in many raids over Berlin, one significant incident led to a change in the rules when flying. On the night of 2nd September 1941 Avro Manchester L7388 with its crew of 7 men, took off on for a raid on Berlin. L7388 was shot down by flak and amongst the 7 crew killed, both 61 Squadron Commander and the Station Commander were amongst those 7. This led to a rule change that a Station Commander and a Squadron Commander would never fly in the same operation. 408 RCAF were also stationed here for a very short period of time with Hampdens.

Just like Operation Conversion Units (OCU) that we have today, where a specific squadron trains pilots and crew on a specific aircraft, during World War 2, there were equivalent units called Operational Training Units (OTU). Today, at RAF Coningsby we have 29 Squadron who train Typhoon pilots, 207 Squadron who train both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Pilots on the F-35B. During WW2 there were other types of training units such as Heavy Conversion Units and Heavy Glider Conversion Units too. Forming here at RAF North Luffenham was 29 Operational Training Unit who were created and trained airmen on Wellington bombers.

In June 1943 the base closed in order to have concrete hard runways and reopened in March 1944. First to operate on the new runways were HGCU’s (Heavy Glider Conversion Unit) and by 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit which was initially equipped with Stirlings but converted to Lancasters. Many squadron’s were beginning to convert to the new Avro Lancaster.

In 1951, the station was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force to become the temporary home of 1 Fighter Wing, the first Canadian NATO base in Europe. 1 Wing moved to Marville, France in 1955.

In late 1955, No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit, temporarily renamed No. 238 OCU, was detached to North Luffenham from RAF Leeming which was having its runways extended to 7000 ft to accommodate Gloster Javelins. The OCU remained for over a year before returning to Leeming.

Then in 1959, RAF North Luffenham was chosen to be one of four main PGM-17 Thor intermediate range ballistic missile stations. This brought back to life 144 Squadron and all Thor Missile squadrons had a new addition to their title, SM, Strategic Missile. The Thor missiles were operated under a dual key system, with the British in control of the launch sequence, and the Americans responsible for arming the missiles nuclear warhead, giving each nation a veto on using the missiles. The squadron, along with the rest of the Thor force, was brought to full readiness during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The station was taken over by the British Army and renamed St George's Barracks in 1998.

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