Ensign of the British Royal Air Force

A Satellite Landing Ground (SLG) is a type of British Royal Air Force (RAF) aviation facility that typically consists of an airfield with one or two grass runways which is designed throughout to be hidden from aerial observation by blending into forests and other natural features to hide the presence of aircraft and associated buildings. The landing grounds were mainly used by RAF Maintenance Units (MU) which used the areas to disperse aircraft to reduce the likelihood of attacks from the air. Some improvements and upgrades to aircraft were performed at these sites but overall it was kept to a minimum. Some support buildings came about by using requisitioned buildings on the land.

A satellite station is not the same as a Satellite Landing Ground.

The former No. 5 SLG Berrow
Open land on the former site of No. 5 SLG Berrow
Site 1 of the former No. 15 SLG Bodorgan
The Watch Office at the former No. 26 SLG Stravithie

Satellite Landing Grounds

NumberNameLocationCountyDates when used as a SLGUnits
No. 1 SLGRAF Slade Farm51°53′48″N 001°15′46″W / 51.89667°N 1.26278°W / 51.89667; -1.26278Oxfordshire1 December 1940–10 January 1946Used by No. 39 MU RAF Colerne
No. 2 SLGRAF Starveall Farm51°51′18″N 001°20′42″W / 51.85500°N 1.34500°W / 51.85500; -1.34500Oxfordshire14 June 1941–29 September 1945.Satellite to No. 39 MU RAF Colerne
No. 3 SLGRAF Middle Farm52°00′01″N 001°05′00″W / 52.00028°N 1.08333°W / 52.00028; -1.08333Oxfordshire1 April 1941–10 January 1946Used by 8 MU RAF Little Rissington
No. 4 SLGRAF Rudbaxton51°53′00″N 004°56′00″W / 51.88333°N 4.93333°W / 51.88333; -4.93333Pembrokeshire1941–1943Used by 38 MU[1]
No. 5 SLGRAF Berrow52°00′15″N 002°16′45″W / 52.00417°N 2.27917°W / 52.00417; -2.27917Worcestershire1941–1945No. 5 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Kemble between March 1941 and late 1941.
No. 20 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Aston Down between 1941 and August 1942.
No. 6 SLGRAF St Brides51°26′00″N 003°35′00″W / 51.43333°N 3.58333°W / 51.43333; -3.58333Glamorgan1941–September 1945No. 19 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF St Athan between 15 December 1940 and July 1945.
No. 7 SLGRAF Chepstow51°39′13″N 002°41′19″W / 51.65361°N 2.68861°W / 51.65361; -2.68861Monmouthshire3 May 1941–December 1944No. 19 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF St Athan from 13 May 1941 and 21 February 1942.
No. 38 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Llandow from 21 February 1942.[2]
No. 8 SLGRAF Hutton in the Forest54°34′00″N 002°49′00″W / 54.56667°N 2.81667°W / 54.56667; -2.81667CumberlandJune 1941–August 1945No. 22 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Silloth
No. 9 SLGRAF Hornby Hall54°39′25″N 002°39′50″W / 54.65694°N 2.66389°W / 54.65694; -2.66389CumberlandMarch 1941–July 1945No. 18 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Dumfries between July 1940 and September 1940.
No. 22 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Silloth.
No. 12 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Kirkbride.[3]
No. 10 SLGRAF Wath Head54°49′04″N 003°06′40″W / 54.81778°N 3.11111°W / 54.81778; -3.11111Cumberland1941–1 December 1945No. 12 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Kirkbride between early 1941 and 12 January 1944.
No. 18 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Dumfries between 12 January 1944 and September 1945.
No. 11 SLGRAF Low Eldrig54°49′00″N 004°58′00″W / 54.81667°N 4.96667°W / 54.81667; -4.96667Wigtownshire1 July 1941–September 1942No. 18 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Dumfries.
No. 12 SLGRAF Beechwood Park51°49′23″N 000°29′04″W / 51.82306°N 0.48444°W / 51.82306; -0.48444Hertfordshire1943–March 1946No. 15 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Wroughton from mid 1943.
No. 13 SLGRAF Tatton Park53°19′47″N 002°22′32″W / 53.32972°N 2.37556°W / 53.32972; -2.37556CheshireAugust 1941–May 1943No. 48 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Hawarden
No. 51 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Lichfield.
No. 14 SLGRAF Overley Park51°44′00″N 002°01′00″W / 51.73333°N 2.01667°W / 51.73333; -2.01667Gloucestershire1941–1944For No. 20 MU until 1942, used by 10 MU in 1944.
No. 15 SLGRAF Bodorgan53°11′06″N 004°25′45″W / 53.18500°N 4.42917°W / 53.18500; -4.42917Gwynedd1940–1944For No. 48 MU
No. 16 SLGRAF Ballywalter54°33′08″N 005°29′07″W / 54.55222°N 5.48528°W / 54.55222; -5.48528Down1941–1945For No. 23 MU
No. 17 SLGRAF Maydown55°02′00″N 007°14′23″W / 55.03333°N 7.23972°W / 55.03333; -7.23972Londonderry1941–1941Used by 23 MU, developed into a full size airfield.
No. 18 SLGRAF St Angelo54°24′56″N 007°39′05″W / 54.41556°N 7.65139°W / 54.41556; -7.65139FermanaghApril 1941–September 1941Used by 23 MU RAF Aldergrove but not used. Later became a fighter sector station.
No. 19 SLGRAF Murlough54°15′00″N 005°54′00″W / 54.25000°N 5.90000°W / 54.25000; -5.90000Down1941–1945Used by No. 23 MU
No. 20 SLGRAF Langford Lodge54°37′02″N 006°18′11″W / 54.61722°N 6.30306°W / 54.61722; -6.30306Antrim1941–1942Used by No. 23 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Aldergrove.[4] developed in a full size airfield.
No. 21 SLGRAF Ollerton52°49′59″N 002°30′27″W / 52.83306°N 2.50750°W / 52.83306; -2.50750Shropshire1941–1942Used by 29 MU, 37 MU and 27 MU from RAF Shawbury. Transferred to the Navy and renamed Hinstock/HMS Godwit.
No. 22 SLGRAF Barnsley Park51°46′00″N 001°53′23″W / 51.76667°N 1.88972°W / 51.76667; -1.88972Gloucestershire1941–1945Used by 6 MU then 5 MU
No. 23 SLGRAF Down Farm51°35′00″N 002°15′00″W / 51.58333°N 2.25000°W / 51.58333; -2.25000Gloucestershire1941–1946Used by 10 MU
No. 24 SLGRAF Methven56°24′39″N 003°32′05″W / 56.41083°N 3.53472°W / 56.41083; -3.53472Perthshire1941–1944Used by 44 MU
No. 25 SLGRAF Findo Gask56°22′29″N 003°36′33″W / 56.37472°N 3.60917°W / 56.37472; -3.60917Perthshire1941–1942No. 44 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Edzell. Developed into a full size airfield.
No. 26 SLGRAF Stravithie56°18′00″N 002°45′00″W / 56.30000°N 2.75000°W / 56.30000; -2.75000Fife1941–1942No. 44 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Edzell.
No. 27 SLGRAF Lennoxlove55°55′59″N 002°45′08″W / 55.93306°N 2.75222°W / 55.93306; -2.75222East Lothian1941–1946No. 18 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Dumfries.[5]
No. 28 SLGRAF Barton Abbey51°55′13″N 001°20′03″W / 51.92028°N 1.33417°W / 51.92028; -1.33417Oxfordshire1943–1945No. 39 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Colerne until March 1943.
No. 6 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Brize Norton from 1943.
No. 29 SLGRAF Hodnet52°50′27″N 002°34′28″W / 52.84083°N 2.57444°W / 52.84083; -2.57444Shropshire1941–1945Used by 24 MU, 37 MU, 51 MU and 27 MU from RAF Shawbury
No. 30 SLGRAF Brockton52°37′00″N 002°25′00″W / 52.61667°N 2.41667°W / 52.61667; -2.41667Shropshire1941–1945Used by 9 MU
No. 31 SLGRAF Everleigh51°18′00″N 001°44′00″W / 51.30000°N 1.73333°W / 51.30000; -1.73333Wiltshire1941–1945Used by 15 MU and 33 MU from RAF Lyneham from September 1942.
No. 32 SLGRAF Hoar Cross52°47′40″N 001°49′23″W / 52.79444°N 1.82306°W / 52.79444; -1.82306Staffordshire1941–1945Used by 51 MU
No. 33 SLGRAF Weston Park52°41′14″N 002°17′12″W / 52.68722°N 2.28667°W / 52.68722; -2.28667Shropshire1941–1945No. 27 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Shawbury, transferred to the Royal Navy.
No. 34 SLGRAF Woburn Park51°59′19″N 000°36′01″W / 51.98861°N 0.60028°W / 51.98861; -0.60028Bedfordshire1941–1947Used by 6 MU and 8 MU
No. 35 SLGRAF Blidworth53°06′21″N 001°06′51″W / 53.10583°N 1.11417°W / 53.10583; -1.11417Nottinghamshire1941–1942Used by 51 MU
No. 36 SLGRAF Winterseugh55°01′00″N 003°19′00″W / 55.01667°N 3.31667°W / 55.01667; -3.31667Dumfriesshire1941–1942Used by 18 MU
No. 37 SLGRAF Hardwick Park53°10′18″N 001°18′07″W / 53.17167°N 1.30194°W / 53.17167; -1.30194Derbyshire1941–1943Used by 27 MU and 51 MU
No. 38 SLGRAF Grove Park53°18′42″N 000°53′57″W / 53.31167°N 0.89917°W / 53.31167; -0.89917Nottinghamshire1942–1945Used by 51 MU and 27 MU
No. 39 SLGRAF Brayton Park54°46′26″N 003°18′04″W / 54.77389°N 3.30111°W / 54.77389; -3.30111Cumberland1941–1946Used by 12 MU
No. 40 SLGRAF Dornoch57°52′20″N 004°01′35″W / 57.87222°N 4.02639°W / 57.87222; -4.02639Ross & Cromarty1941–1945Used by 45 MU
No. 41 SLGRAF Kirkton57°57′23″N 004°01′51″W / 57.95639°N 4.03083°W / 57.95639; -4.03083Sutherland1941–1945No. 45 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF.[6]
No. 42 SLGRAF Black Isle57°37′37″N 004°09′37″W / 57.62694°N 4.16028°W / 57.62694; -4.16028Ross & Cromarty1941–1945Also known as Black Stand [7] Used by 46 MU
No. 43 SLGRAF Leanach57°29′00″N 004°02′00″W / 57.48333°N 4.03333°W / 57.48333; -4.03333Invernessshire1941–1946Used by 46 MU
No. 44 SLGRAF Bush Barn51°39′42″N 001°29′03″W / 51.66167°N 1.48417°W / 51.66167; -1.48417Oxfordshire1941–1943Used by 5 MU, later used by Royal Navy
No. 45 SLGRAF Townsend51°27′00″N 001°53′00″W / 51.45000°N 1.88333°W / 51.45000; -1.88333Wiltshire1941–1943No. 33 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Lyneham until September 1942
No. 15 Maintenance Unit RAF from RAF Wroughton from September 1942.
No. 46 SLGRAF Brinklow52°24′00″N 001°23′00″W / 52.40000°N 1.38333°W / 52.40000; -1.38333Warwickshire1941–1944Used by 29 MU
No. 47 SLGRAF Southgrove51°19′00″N 001°41′00″W / 51.31667°N 1.68333°W / 51.31667; -1.68333Wiltshire1941Was for 5 MU but was not used.
No. 48 SLGRAF Teddesley Park52°44′19″N 002°04′52″W / 52.73861°N 2.08111°W / 52.73861; -2.08111Staffordshire1941–1946Used by 27 MU
No. 49 SLGRAF Knowsley Park53°25′56″N 002°49′55″W / 53.43222°N 2.83194°W / 53.43222; -2.83194Lancashire1941, 1942–1944Used by 37 MU until declared unfit, later 48 MU

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields" (PDF). Cambria.org. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Chepstow Racecourse". RCHMW. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "RAF Hornby Hall: Satellite Landing Ground". Russell W. Barnes. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:". Ronald V. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  5. ↑ "Lennoxlove". East Lothian at War. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "Kirkton Airfield". Scotlands Places. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "Black Isle, Blackstand Airfield, Satellite Landing Ground". Scotlands Islands. Retrieved 30 November 2012.

Bibliography

  • Ashworth, C. Action Stations: Military airfields of the South West v. 5. Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1990. ISBN 1-85260-374-7.
  • Ashworth, C. Action Stations: Military airfields of the Central South and South East v. 9 Wellingborough, Nottinghamshire .Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1985. ISBN 0-85059-608-4.
  • Bowyer,M,J,F. Action Stations: Wartime military airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 v. 1. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1979. ISBN 0-85059-335-2.
  • Bowyer,M,J,F. Action Stations: Military airfields of the Cotswolds and the Central Midlands v. 6.Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1983. ISBN 1-85260-431-X.
  • Halpenny,B,B. Action Stations: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-484-7.
  • Halpenny,B,B. Action Stations: Military airfields of Yorkshire v. 4. Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1982. ISBN 0-85059-532-0.
  • Halpenny,B,B. Action Stations: Military airfields of Greater London v. 8. Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1993. ISBN 1-85260-431-X.
  • Smith,D,J. Action Stations: Military airfields of Wales and the North West v. 3. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1990. ISBN 1-85260-375-5.
  • Smith,D,J. Action Stations: Military airfields of Scotland, the North East and Northern Ireland v. 7.Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1983. ISBN 0-85059-563-0.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.