RAF Chelveston

RAF Chelveston USAAF Station 105
Located Near Chelveston, Northamptonshire, England
Aerial photograph of RAF Chelveston, oriented north, 9 May 1944
RAF Chelveston USAAF Station 105 Location in Northamptonshire
Coordinates	52°18′06″N 000°32′00″W / 52.30167°N 0.53333°W / 52.30167; -0.53333Coordinates: 52°18′06″N 000°32′00″W / 52.30167°N 0.53333°W / 52.30167; -0.53333
Type	Air Force Station
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1940
In use	1940-1962

Royal Air Force Chelveston or more simply RAF Chelveston is a former Royal Air Force station located on the south side of the A645 (former A45 road), 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Wellingborough, near the village of Chelveston in Northamptonshire, England. During the Second World War the airfield was occupied by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces. It was given the USAAF designation Station 105.

During the Cold War, Chelveston housed some flying units, however its main role was that of a readiness station to receive USAF units from the United States in case of an emergency. In the mid-1970s, the majority of the airfield was sold by the Ministry of Defence to private landholders, with the exception of a military housing area occupied by U.S. servicemembers assigned to RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth.

Construction of Chelveston began in 1940 with short grass runways and three hangars grouped together. The airfield opened in August 1941 as a RAF station. It was first used for the Central Gunnery School, then the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment took over with its gliders.

However, the grass landing strips were deemed unsuitable for heavy 4-engine bombers, so concrete runways were constructed along with taxiways and hardstands. The airfield was upgraded to Class A airfield standards before being used by the U.S. Eighth Air Force as a heavy bomber airfield.