RAF Lichfield
Encyclopedia
Royal Air Force Station Lichfield also known as Fradley Aerodrome, was an operational training station from 1940 until 1958. It was situated in Fradley
, 2 miles north east of Lichfield
, Staffordshire
, England
. The airfield was the busiest airfield in Staffordshire during World War II
. The airfield supported its own units as well as providing safe haven for many more. It was a control point for all aviation traffic that passed through the Birmingham
area during the war and saw more aircraft movements that any other Staffordshire airfield.
In April 1941, 27 Operational Training Unit was formed; its role was to train aircrew on Wellington bombers, and here the crews, largely from Australia
and other Commonwealth countries
, were formed before going on to their squadrons. However, operational bombing missions were flown in 1942–43, including the 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne in May 1942. After 1943 most sorties were 'Nickel' raids
, the dropping of propaganda leaflets over German cities. The unit was disbanded in June 1945.
After the war the airfield once again became a maintenance site. No. 51 Maintenance Unit found work preparing planes for service with foreign air forces and civilian use. The unit also began breaking up surplus planes from the war including 900 Typhoons
. The unit eventually became surplus to requirements and disbanded in July 1954. In its final years No. 99 Maintenance Unit, 5003 Airfield Construction Squadron and the Maintenance Command Ground Defence School used the airfield. The airfield was closed in 1958 and the entire site was disposed of by the Air Ministry
in May 1962 for £240,000.
Over the last 15 years the former aerodrome has been renamed Fradley Park, where a number of major developments have occurred, including industrial units and over 750 new homes, however virtually all of the hangars still exist and the majority have been refurbished to be used for industrial purposes.
Fradley
Fradley is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England, about north-east of the City of Lichfield and 1 mile south-west of Alrewas. Until 1 April 2009 it had been part of the larger parish of Alrewas and Fradley. The parish council is a joint one with Streethay...
, 2 miles north east of Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The airfield was the busiest airfield in Staffordshire during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The airfield supported its own units as well as providing safe haven for many more. It was a control point for all aviation traffic that passed through the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
area during the war and saw more aircraft movements that any other Staffordshire airfield.
History
RAF Lichfield, known locally as Fradley Aerodrome, was constructed in from mid 1939 to 1940. The airfield was set out in the usual triangular pattern with two runways 1km in length and a main runway of 1.46km. Initially it operated as a maintenance site, being home to the No. 51 Maintenace Unit from August 1940. Manufacturers sent newly built aircraft to Fradley to carry out any modifications before delivery to squadrons. After the war, large numbers of aircraft were broken up and many aircraft were prepared before being sold to the air forces of other countries. The unit remained active until the closure of the airfield in 1958.In April 1941, 27 Operational Training Unit was formed; its role was to train aircrew on Wellington bombers, and here the crews, largely from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and other Commonwealth countries
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
, were formed before going on to their squadrons. However, operational bombing missions were flown in 1942–43, including the 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne in May 1942. After 1943 most sorties were 'Nickel' raids
Airborne leaflet propaganda
Airborne leaflet propaganda is a form of psychological warfare in which leaflets are scattered in the air. Military forces have used aircraft to drop leaflets to alter the behavior of people in enemy-controlled territory, sometimes in conjunction with air strikes...
, the dropping of propaganda leaflets over German cities. The unit was disbanded in June 1945.
After the war the airfield once again became a maintenance site. No. 51 Maintenance Unit found work preparing planes for service with foreign air forces and civilian use. The unit also began breaking up surplus planes from the war including 900 Typhoons
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
. The unit eventually became surplus to requirements and disbanded in July 1954. In its final years No. 99 Maintenance Unit, 5003 Airfield Construction Squadron and the Maintenance Command Ground Defence School used the airfield. The airfield was closed in 1958 and the entire site was disposed of by the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
in May 1962 for £240,000.
Over the last 15 years the former aerodrome has been renamed Fradley Park, where a number of major developments have occurred, including industrial units and over 750 new homes, however virtually all of the hangars still exist and the majority have been refurbished to be used for industrial purposes.