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RAF Langford Lodge
No. 20 Satellite Landing Ground
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Crumlin, County Antrim in Northern Ireland
RAF Langford Lodge is located in Northern Ireland
RAF Langford Lodge
RAF Langford Lodge
RAF Langford Lodge is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Langford Lodge
RAF Langford Lodge
Shown within Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°37′10″N 6°18′00″W / 54.61944°N 6.30000°W / 54.61944; -6.30000
Type Satellite Station
Site information
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Controlled by RAF Maintenance Command
RAF Flying Training Command
Site history
Built 1941 (1941)
In use 1941-1953 (1953)
Battles/wars European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation 100 ft (30 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
02/20 6,000 ft (1,800 m) Concrete
06/24 4,600 ft (1,400 m) Concrete

Royal Air Force Langford Lodge or more simply RAF Langford Lodge is a former Royal Air Force station near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Today the airfield is owned by RLC (UK) a subsidiary of RLC Engineering Group which is headquartered in the Isle of Man. Langford Lodge is located on the eastern shores of Lough Neagh and close to RAF Aldergrove/Belfast International Airport and the former RAF Nutts Corner.

The site was also known as No. 20 Satellite Landing Ground.

History

Opened in 1942 the base was an air depot for the United States Army Air Forces, as such thousands of aircraft were processed on their way to active service in Britain, North Africa, the Mediterranean and mainland Europe.

The following units were here at some point:

  • No. 4 Air Navigation School RAF was formed here on 22 September 1952 but disbanded less than two months later on 15 November 1952
  • No. 5 Air Navigation School RAF from 15 November 1952 until 31 January 1953 using Avro Ansons until it was disbanded
  • Sub site of No. 257 Maintenance Unit RAF (March 1946– ?)

Langford Lodge was a target in Operation Grün (Ireland), a second front to Operation Sea Lion, which was the planned Nazi invasion of Britain. German paratroopers were to capture Langford Lodge, Aldergrove and Nutts Corner while RAF Long Kesh, Lisburn was to be destroyed.

Notably, on 2 March 1989 a Dan-Air BAe 748 from Newcastle, bound for Belfast International Airport, mistakenly landed at Langford Lodge.

Some of the wartime airfield facilities used to house the Ulster Aviation Society's Heritage Centre. Exhibits included a Blackburn Buccaneer, a Hawker Sea Hawk and a Westland Wessex. In 2005 the society moved to Maze Long Kesh, Lisburn.

Today

Langford Lodge is currently home to two model flying clubs; Langford Model Aviation and Langford Model Heli Club.

There is a 6,200 feet (1,900 m) rocket sled track owned by Martin-Baker for ejection seat testing. The track, running alongside the old main runway, has been in use since 1971.

See also

  • List of former Royal Air Force stations
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