RAF Croughton

RAF · Northamptonshire · England · United Kingdom

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

An RAF station and the RAF flag flies, but it is used by the USAF as a communication hub.
RAF Croughton. Latin : Fortis Ubique Volantis - Strong Flying Everywhere.
RAF Croughton. Latin : Fortis Ubique Volantis - Strong Flying Everywhere.
422nd Air Base Group USAF.
422nd Air Base Group USAF.
RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

2083 - Men.

191 - WAAF's.

4 - T2 hangar.

6 - Fighter pens.

1 - Grass airfield.

10 - Blister Hangars.

15 - Circular hardstands.

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RAF Croughton
RAF Croughton
RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton
Parking in a lay by on the A43 where I have marked with a P on the plan.

25 April 2010

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

A re clad T2 hangar.

History : RAF Croughton was built in 1938, it was first known as Brackley Landing Ground until 1940 when it became RAF Brackley. In July 1941 the name changed again and the station became RAF Croughton. (Wikipedia) No16 Operational Training Unit (OTU) from RAF Upper Hayford used Croughton as a satellite with Hampdons, Blenheims and Wellington's.

25 April 2010

Handley Page Hampdon.
Handley Page Hampdon.
Cockpit.
Cockpit.
T2 hangar.
T2 hangar.

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton
There is no way to get inside, but from the road you can see a very good set of fighter pens. Also a Braithwaite water tower.

25 April 2010

Plan.
Plan.
Fighter pen 11070/41 plan.
Fighter pen 11070/41 plan.
Bristol Blenheim.
Bristol Blenheim.

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton
Fighter dispersal pens Type B 11070/41 (B for Blenheim type, slightly larger). On satellite airfield there were only 6 pens for one squadron of 12 aircraft. A major airfield would have had 12 pens for 24 aircraft and two squadrons.

25 April 2010

This pen from the air.
This pen from the air.
Plan of the air raid shelter built into the pen.
Plan of the air raid shelter built into the pen.
Typhoon in a pen.
Typhoon in a pen.

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

Two more T2 Hangars.

History :1942 and No.1 Glider Training Unit arrived with Hectors, Harvard's & Masters towing Hotspur Gliders and Dakotas towing the heavier Horse’s. 1943 and No.20(Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit with Oxfords to train pilots for Bomber Command. 1944 and back to gliders with No.1 Glider Conversion Unit.

25 April 2010

Plan.
Plan.
Hector training glider.
Hector training glider.
Miles Master.
Miles Master.

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton
History: with the war ended and the cold war starting, communications was the game and now the Americans run the camp with large domes and satellite dishes. The station is home to the 422nd Air Base Group and operates one of Europe's largest military switchboards and processes approximately a third of all U.S. military communications in Europe.(Wikipedia)

25 April 2010

422nd Air Base Group.
422nd Air Base Group.

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton
Back to the first T2.

25 April 2010

Plan.
Plan.
RAF Croughton.
RAF Croughton.

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton
01 July 1942 photo showing the new airfield unfolding.

01 July 1942

Glider pilots wings.
Glider pilots wings.
RAF Croughton
RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton
Plan 1945.

1945 Google

Unknown type of control tower?
Unknown type of control tower?
Building a T2 hangar.
Building a T2 hangar.
Putting on the doors.
Putting on the doors.

RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton