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Langford
Lodge
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1944
(©
Al Nance, USAAF)
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RAF
Langford Lodge airfield control tower - USAAF BAD 3 -
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Airfield Today:
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Agriculture,
aviation.
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Tower Type:
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This appears to have
been the first military airfield control tower in the UK to be provided
with inward-slanting glazing and is unique in terms of its internal layout
and design. Built to a Ministry of Aircraft Production specification.
It was designed as a two-storey building which for the last year and more
of the war was surmounted by a third storey in the form of a temporary,
pre-fabricated wooden and glass structure. Post-war this temporary structure
was removed.
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Tower:
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Was
the Ulster Aviation Society Museum but this closed 10/2004, current condition
not known
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Other
Buildings:
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Not
known
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History:
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Originally planned as 20 SLG for 23 MU, but transferred to USAAF. 
 02/1942 to 08/1945,
USAAF Base Air Depot 3 for aircraft maintenance and modification work.
Run by Lockheed Overseas Corporation on behalf of USAAF.08/1942, HQ First Service Area, 8th Air Force Service Command opened, B-24s and C-47s arriving 11/1942, later P-38, P-39, P-47 and B-17s. LOC assembled and flight tested 950 Lightings and Thunderbolts landed by sea at nearby RAF Belfast, then flown here for inspection and issue to Squadrons. 11/1942 to 08/1944, Over 3,000 aircraft were modified and 11,000 serviced, B-17 Flying Fortress and P-38 Lightnings were the most prolific types.
After closure of BAD 2 airfield retained for experimental
work and storage, RAF resumed control 03/1946. Later used by Martin-Baker for ejector seat development. |
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RAF
Langford Lodge airfield control tower - USAAF BAD 3 -
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1942
(©
USAAF via Ernie Cromie)
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1981
(©
Ernie Cromie)
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2003
(©
Mike Seaman)
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RAF
Langford Lodge airfield control tower - USAAF BAD 3 -
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Airfield:
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BAD 3
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Opened:
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/1942
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Closed:
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/1946
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Code:
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??
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USAAF Station:
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06/1942: R-3, 09/1942:
597
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Runways:
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2x - concrete, tarmac
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Hangars:
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1x -B1, 3x - Bellman,
7x - T2, (2 Motherwell Bridge type used as workshops)
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County:
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Antrim, Northern Ireland
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Location:
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3 miles W of Crumlin
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OS Ref:
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J100756
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Links:
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©:
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All
photographs © copyright as stated, ones from the Ulster
Aviation Society, via Ernie Cromie. Wall
art by artist of 325th Service Group, 8th
Air Force painted in 1944, photo taken 1981. The building on which these
pictures were painted has since been demolished (not by the UAS) so Ernie's
pictures are the only record in existence. See UAS website for details.
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RAF
Langford Lodge airfield control tower - USAAF BAD 3 -
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RAF
Langford Lodge airfield control tower - USAAF BAD 3 -
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2003
(©
Mike Seaman)
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RAF
Langford Lodge airfield control tower - USAAF BAD 3 -
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RAF
RAF Langford Lodge control tower + airfield = www.controltowers.co.uk
© robert truman 2002 -
- Langfodr Lodge - BAD 3 - updated 14/06/2017 - |