RAF Woolfox Lodge

Royal Air Force Woolfox Lodge or more simply RAF Woolfox Lodge is a former Royal Air Force station 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.

RAF Woolfox Lodge
Pickworth in England
RAF Woolfox Lodge
Shown within Rutland
Coordinates52°42′34″N 000°34′33″W
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940-1965 (1965)
Airfield information
Elevation10 metres (33 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete

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 was 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 1,149 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 Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missile site under No. 62 Squadron RAF 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

The following units were here at some point:[2]

Current use

The site is now used for agriculture and employment purposes.[3]

The Cold War-era Bloodhound missile site, while derelict, is well preserved. Hardstandings for 32 Bloodhound missiles are present. During the summer of 2018 the parch marks of various World War II-era buildings became visible on the former technical site within the boundaries of the missile site.

The landowner in 2019 has proposed it as a site for a possible garden village.[4][5]

References
  1. Jefford 1988, p. 158.
  2. "Woolfox Lodge". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  3. "WOOLFOX LODGE". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  4. Martin, Dan (28 March 2019). "Huge 7,500 home 'garden village' planned for Rutland former RAF base". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  5. "Woolfox Garden Village". Retrieved 28 March 2019.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.


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