Monument record 1293/1 - Spanhoe Lodge Airfield

The remains of a World War Two military airfield. Airfield constructed in 1943 and officially opened 7th January 1944 as Air Station 493. Three runways.The wartime airfield comprised three concrete and tarmac runways and perimeter track. It was equipped with two aircraft hangars (Type T2). It was used from February 1944 until April 1945 by the United States 9th Army Air Force 315th Troop Carrier Group and the airfield was designated as USAAF Station 493 by them. The 315th flew from Spanhoe Lodge as part of the major operations of D Day, Arnhem and the Rhine crossing. In May 1945 the station was handed back to the RAF, Maintenance Command, No 40 Group, who used it for the repair and disposal of military vehicles. Between July 1945 and March 1946 No 253 Maintenance Unit had 16,069 vehicles in store. They had departed in the spring of 1947 and the airfield closed down. Part of the airfield has been quarried away although sections of perimeter track remain and are used to host air displays and displays associated with the history of WWII.

{1}USAAF 315th Troop Carrier Group of 9th Air Force based here;

{2} This is one of the many airfields built during 1943 and handed over to the Americans as their bomber force increased in England. It was a typical wartime bomber airfield and was built to class 'A' specification. Three runways, the main one 2,000yds long; encircling perimeter track with 50 looped hardstandings; two 'T2' hangars. Technical site in same southern area as the latter with the living accommodation, mess and sick quarters on the S side of the country road, in and around Spanhoe Wood. The pyrotechnic and bomb store in wooded area SE of airfield with 72,000 gallon fuel store at the northern end and two further such stores near the western boundary. Spanhoe officially opened 7th January 1944 as Air Station 493. By the end of April the station was up to stregth with a full complement of four sqaudrons. Aircraft mainly comprised C-47 transports (troop carriers) plus gliders. The station was at "bursting point" just before D-Day. Other airborne missions followed including Arnhem. American units moved out early in 1945 and in May the station was handed back to the RAF, Maintenance Command, No 40 Group, who used it for the repair and disposal of military vehicles. "Flying had ceased and the base was non-operational". Between July 1945 and March 1946 No 253 Maintenance Unit had 16, 069 vehicles in store. They had departed in the spring of 1947 and the airfield closed down. In August 1960 a Valiant from Wittering crashed at Spanhoe. The control tower and "most of the technical site still remain" though the western side of the airfield has been quarried away.

{3} Plan of the airfield and associated sites in January 1945, list of resident flying unit and aerial photo from January 1945

{5} "Sqdn Office, Main Workshop/Stores (Romneys), Fire-tender shed, trainers, MT Section etc. Farm/industrial site."

{6, 7, 10} Sites of removed blast shelters have been identified on an aerial photograph at SP93939640, SP93859637, SP93959633, SP93719643, SP93629639, SP93669635, SP93569634, SP93569629, SP94409568. The site of a removed Stanton shelter has been identified at SP94469541.

{8} Spanhoe, a World War Two military airfield, Northamptonshire, SP 935 970. The airfield was opened 1943 and closed in 1947. The wartime airfield comprised three concrete and tarmac runways and perimeter track. It was equipped with two aircraft hangars (Type T2).

{9} Airfield (disused) SP 935 970 (NAT).

{11} Spanhoe or Spanhoe Lodge Airfield was used from February 1944 until April 1945 by the United States 9th Army Air Force 315th Troop Carrier Group and the airfield was designated as USAAF Station 493 by them. The 315th flew from Spanhoe Lodge as part of the major operations of D Day, Arnhem and the Rhine crossing. In 1983 a war memorial was erected at the southern end of the airfield.

<0> Cadman G.; Northants Field Group, 2000, Visit to Area In And Around Spanhoe Wood, (unchecked) (Note). SNN104817.

<1> Northamptonshire Enterprise, 1994, World War II American Airfield Nostalgia, (checked) (Pamphlet). SNN28528.

<2> HALPENNY B.B., 1991, Action Stations 2: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and The East Midlands, P. 170-173 (Book). SNN45875.

<3> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, P. 274-275 (Book). SNN100276.

<4> Cadman G., 1997, Spanhoe Airfield, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN104815.

<5> Osbourne, O. Dr., 1998, Spanhoe Airfield, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN104816.

<6> Pillbox Study Group, Unknown, Pillbox Study Group, e44181-3, e44185, e44187-90, e44680, e44681 (Website). SNN111964.

<7> Imperial War Museum, 2020, The American Air Museum, English Heritage USAAF photograph: US_7PH_GP_LOC190_PORT_12040 (Website). SNN112114.

<8> Willis, S. and Holliss, B., 1987, Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945, p. 179 (Book). SNN111556.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), 1:10000, 1981 (Map). SNN112944.

<10> Imperial War Museum, 2020, The American Air Museum, English Heritage RAF photograph: RAF_CPE_UK_1925_FS_3139 (Website). SNN112114.

<11> Mallen, G, 2005, "Look out below", Accessed 31-May-2005 (Website). SNN114553.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:34PM