RAF Leicester East

Royal Air Force Leicester East, more commonly known as RAF Leicester East (ICAO: EGBG), is a former Royal Air Force station, near the village of Stoughton, 4 NM (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) east southeast of Leicester,[1] England.

This article is about the military base. For civilian use, see Leicester Airport.

RAF Leicester East

Summary
Airport typeRoyal Air Force station
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationStoughton, Leicestershire
Built1942 (1942)
In use1943–1947 (1947)
Elevation AMSL469 ft / 143 m
Coordinates52°36′28″N 001°01′55″W
Map
EGBG
Location in Leicestershire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 490 1,608 Asphalt
06/24 335 1,099 Grass
10/28 940 3,084 Asphalt
15/33 495 1,624 Asphalt
16/34 418 1,371 Grass
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]

It was constructed in 1942 and formally opened in October 1943. The airfield is now Leicester Airport.

History

The following squadrons were posted to the airfield at some point:

On 10 August 1944, General Eisenhower visited RAF Leicester East to review 12,000 troops of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was accompanied by Brigadier General James M. Gavin, Major General Matthew Ridgeway and Lieutenant General Lewis H. Brereton.

On 19 February 1945, a Dakota of No. 107 OTU returning to Leicester East with personnel who had attended training at RAF Zeals, Wiltshire, crashed soon after taking off with the loss of 21 RAF, RAAF and RACF lives.[2]

In March 1945 all operational military aircraft left Leicester East, and the airfield was placed on Care and Maintenance until its closure on 31 December 1947.

Current use

Today, the former RAF Leicester East is now known as Leicester Airport, and was previously known as Stoughton Aerodrome.

The airfield, control tower, and other smaller buildings are now used by the Leicestershire Aero Club.

See also

References
  1. Leicester - EGBG
  2. "Memorial: Crew of Dakota TS436". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
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