Harman Patil (Editor)

RAF Little Horwood

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Operator
  
Royal Air Force

Elevation
  
116 m

Owner
  
Air Ministry

In use
  
1942-1946 (1946)

Year built
  
1942

RAF Little Horwood

Type
  
Royal Air Force station

Fate
  
Returned to civilian use

Garrison
  
No 26 OTU No 71 MU No 92 Gp Comms Flight No 1684 (Bomber) Defence Training Flight

00/00
  
1,800 metres (5,906 ft) Concrete

Raf little horwood rc flying club


RAF Little Horwood was established during World War II, and is located on the site of Greenway Farm in Aylesbury Vale, north east Buckinghamshire. The airfield sits within a triangle formed by Little Horwood, Great Horwood, and Winslow. It was in operation from September 1942 until January 1946. It is now mostly returned to agricultural use.

Contents

Raf little horwood fpv 17 4 2016


History

The airfield was established as a base for Operation Training Units to train recruits for combat and also for "nickelling", the dropping of propaganda leaflets. The airfield went operational on 2 September 1942 and served as a satellite for RAF Wing.

The runway was built of rubble from bomb damaged London. Wellington Bombers from No. 26 OTU arrived along with OTU Gunnery section and the 92 Group Communications flight to commence the basic training of recruits.

No. 1684 OTU Bomber Defence Training Flight moved to Little Horwood on 5 June 1943 and simulation battles were undertaken using Tomahawk aircraft. Flying ended at Little Horwood on 30 November 1945 with the remnants of No. 26 OTU remaining until January 1946.

On 7 August 1943, a Wellington Bomber X3790 from the airfield crashed into Winslow town centre killing four crew and 13 civilians.

The site has been subject to several major development proposals in recent years, but these have not been well received locally and have all been rejected.

References

RAF Little Horwood Wikipedia