RAF Woolfox Lodge

RAF Woolfox Lodge
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Pickworth
Coordinates 52°42′34″N 000°34′33″W / 52.70944°N 0.57583°W / 52.70944; -0.57583Coordinates: 52°42′34″N 000°34′33″W / 52.70944°N 0.57583°W / 52.70944; -0.57583
Map
RAF Woolfox Lodge

Location in Rutland

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete

Royal Air Force Station Woolfox Lodge is a former RAF aerodrome next to the A1 road in Rutland, UK. The airfield is split between the parishes of Empingham and Greetham. It was open from 1940 until 1965.

History

Woolfox opened as a reserve landing ground for RAF Cottesmore then became a satellite to RAF North Luffenham in October 1941. Full station status granted from June 1943. The wartime airfield comprised three tarmac runways and one Type B1 and four T2 aircraft hangars. There was temporary accommodation for 1149 male and 252 female personnel.

RAF Woolfox Lodge was used in later years as a relief landing ground but the runways deteriorated to such a degree that the airfield had to be closed to flying by spring 1954. In 1960 a Bloodhound surface-to-air missile site under No. 62 Squadron was positioned in a secure area adjacent to the A1 road near the former technical site.

RAF units and aircraft

[1]

Unit Dates Aircraft Variant Notes
No. 61 Squadron RAF 1941-1942 Avro Manchester
Avro Lancaster		 Lancaster from April 1942
No. 62 Squadron RAF 1960-1964 Bristol Bloodhound I
No. 218 Squadron RAF 1944 Short Stirling III
No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF 1945 Avro Lancaster

Current use

The site is now used for agriculture and employment purposes.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Jefford 1985, page 158
  2. ↑ "WOOLFOX LODGE". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. September 1, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
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