Monument record 8136/1 - RAF Croughton

RAF Croughton was built in 1938 and was commonly known at Brackley Landing Ground. It became RAF Brackley in 1940 and RAF Croughton in 1941. The airfield closed in 1946. The airfield was used for flying training by 23 Group Advanced Flying Unit. It was a grass airfield with four Type T2 aircraft hangars and ten Blister aircraft hangars. There were also six blast pens for fighter aircraft. There was temporary accomodation for the personnel at the base. The remains of three Type C Fighter Pens and associated earth embankments survive well. The fighter pens were designated Grade II in 2011. In 1950 the USAF took over the airfield and it took on a new role as a communications base.

{1} Originally known as Brackley. In use from February 1940 shortly before it became a 16 Operational Training Unit satellite. Bombed in September and December 1941. From July 1942 used for glider and pilot training. Flying ceased at Croughton on 25th May 1946.

{2} Plan of the airfield c.1945 with list of resident flying units. Airfield code AW; elevation 450ft amsl. Grass surfaced airfield.

{3} Three items recorded, FC construction pillbox with two gun mounts in situ and 2 Seagull Trenches noted as being v-shaped. NGR SP583332 is the same for all three and places them in Evenly parish. All three presumed located with airfield.

{5} RAF Croughton: opened 6/41 - closed 5/46. Pundit code: AW. Elevation 450ft. Opened as satellite for Upper Heyford 6/41. Transferred to flying training control 7/42. Now MOD wireless station.

{7} RAF Croughton was built in 1938 as part of the RAF’s massive pre-war expansion programme, started in 1935 in response to Hitler’s move to increase the strength of the German armed forces. It was then known as Brackley Landing Ground but in 1940 it became RAF Brackley and obtained the name of RAF Croughton in July 1941. It consisted of a grass airfield with three grass runways, surrounded by a perimeter track. From June 1940 until July 1942 the station functioned as a satellite for RAF Upper Heyford and the No. 16 Operational Training Unit (OTU), providing extra airfield space for night-flying training. In September 1940, during the Battle of Britain, the base became designated as an emergency airfield in order to provide assistance to any operational aircraft returning damaged or with engine problems. The airfield was bombed several times in 1941. From July 1942 onwards, RAF Croughton functioned as a training base; most of this time was for training on gliders, which played an important role during D-Day and the Battle of Arnhem. Training continued until after the war, but ceased on 25th May 1946. In 1950, the USAF took over the base, starting RAF Croughton’s new communications role which remain as such to the present day.

<1> Falconer J., 1992, RAF Bomber Airfields of World War Two, p.24 (unchecked) (Book). SNN40644.

<2> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, p.250 (checked) (Book). SNN100276.

<3> Dr M Osbourne, 1997, List of Northamptonshire Pillboxes, (unchecked) (Note). SNN101917.

<5> Falconer J., 1992, RAF Bomber Airfields of World War Two, p.24 (unchecked) (Book). SNN40644.

<6> MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, Croughton Airfield site plan, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN106648.

<7> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2010, Proposed Scheduling report, (unchecked) (Report). SNN107021.

<8> Bowyer M.J.F., 1990, Action Stations 6: Military Airfields of The Cotswolds and The Central Midlands, (unchecked) (Book). SNN39505.

<9> Willis, S. and Holliss, B., 1987, Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945, p. 38 (Book). SNN111556.

<10> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<11> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

<12> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), 1:10000, 1982 (Map). SNN112944.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:17PM