Monument record 1293/1/1 - Spanhoe Airfield War Memorial

A war memorial erected at the former Spanhoe or Spanhoe Lodge Airfield in 1983, by World war Two Troop carrier 315th Troop Carrier Association. The memorial takes the form of a flat topped tapered stone obelisk set on a stone plinth. On the shaft of the obelisk is a plaque recording that the airfield was used betweeen 1944 by the 315th Troop Carrier Group of the United States Army Air Force. It lists their major campaigns of Normandy, Arnhem and the Rhine. On the plinth is a further plaque with a list of the names of the 315th who lost their lives flying from Spanhoe, on one side of the obelisk shaft is a small shield, probably the units insignia.

{1} Memorial on site of main entrance to airfield.

{2} List Entry Description
Summary of Building
War Memorial to the 315th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF, erected in 1983.
Reasons for Designation
The 315th Troop Carrier Group War Memorial, which stands on the northern side of the road at the entrance
to Spanhoe Airfield, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the service and sacrifice of the 315th Troop Carrier Group,
USAAF;
* Design: a well-executed limestone obelisk.
History
The memorial was erected by the 315th Troop Carrier Group Association in 1983. It remembers those who
served from the Second World War airfield, and especially those who died in service.
Spanhoe Airfield was originally intended to be an operational bomber station. It was completed late in 1943
and opened in early 1944. The airfield was allocated to the US Army Air Force as part of the development of
the 9th Air Force. Its only operational use was by the 315th Troop Carrier Group, which, following intensive
training, employed C-47 and C-53 aircraft to drop paratroopers and deliver troops and supplies by glider
during the Allied invasion of Europe.
Forty-eight aircraft participated in the first assault on 4 June 1944. The Group was also employed in
Operation Market Garden in September 1944; resupply missions to support advancing Allied troops in
France; and in support of Operation Varsity, the crossing of the River Rhine, in March 1945. The Group left
the airfield in April 1945. For the accuracy of its work on D-Day, the Group was awarded the Presidential Unit
Citation and for its participation, and resulting losses, in Operation Market Garden, the Group is honoured
annually by the Royal Family of the Netherlands.
Following the end of the Second World War, the airfield was used by No253 Maintenance Unit. This unit
disbanded in 1947 and the airfield was returned to agricultural uses, except for the southern part which is still
in use as an airfield.
Details
The memorial comprises a c2.5 m high limestone obelisk of traditional design, the obelisk itself being set on
the out-sailing cornice of a square–sectioned plinth. The plinth stands on a shallow, square, base with a
flagged surround.
A bronze dedication plaque set on the front face of the lower part of the obelisk records a brief history of the
airfield’s wartime use:
SPANHOE AIRFIELD/ 1944 – 1945/ THE SQUADRONS OF 315TH TROOP CARRIER/ GROUP U.S. ARMY
AIR FORCES/ FLEW FROM THIS SITE/ ON AIRBORNE MISSIONS TO/ NORMANDY, ARNHEM AND THE
RHINE/ FOR THE LIBERATION OF WESTERN EUROPE/ AND THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM/ ERECTED
BY THE W.W.II 315TH/ TROOP CARRIER ASSOCIATION/ 1983
Below this, on the front face of the plinth, a second bronze plaque bears the names of those flying out of
Spanhoe Airfield who died in service: THOSE WHO GAVE ALL/ (54 NAMES)/ REST IN PEACE
On the left face of the obelisk is a small, bronze, unit badge of the 315th Troop Carrier Group. On the right
face is a small, bronze, badge of IX Troop Carrier Command.

Selected Sources
Books and journals
Delve, K, The Military Airfields of Britain: Wales and West Midlands, (2007), pp284-6
Websites
History of the 315th Troop Carrier Group, accessed 25/06/2015 from http://www.315group.org/315history.htm

{3} A war memorial erected at the former Spanhoe or Spanhoe Lodge Airfield in 1983, by World war Two Troop carrier 315th Troop Carrier Association. The memorial takes the form of a flat topped tapered stone obelisk set on a stone plinth. On the shaft of the obelisk is a plaque with the inscription "Spanhoe Airfield 1944-1945. The Squadrons of the 315th troop Carrier Group US Army Air Forces flew from this site on airborne missions to Normandy, Arnhem and the Liberation of Western Europe and the defense (sic) of freedom. Erected by the WWII 315th Troop Catrrier Assocaition 1983". On the plinth is a further plaque with a list of the names of the 315th who lost their lives flying from Spanhoe, on one side of the obelisk shaft is a small shield, probably the unit insignia.

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

<2> Historic England, 2015, Designation Assessment: Spanhoe Airfield War Memorial (Designation Advice Report). SNN110098.

<3> Mallen, G, 2005, "Look out below", Accessed 31-May-2005 (Website). SNN114553.

Record last edited

Dec 20 2022 4:18PM