RAF Langar

RAF Langar USAAF Station AAF-490 RCAF Langar
Aerial photograph of RAF Langar airfield, the control tower and technical site are at the left, the bomb dump is to the right, 17 April 1945
Low oblique photo of Langar airfield, September 1943 looking to the northwest. Noticing the large number of C-47s and Gliders on the grass parts of the field along with the hardstands.
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces Royal Canadian Air Force
Location	Langar, Nottinghamshire
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1942-1963 (1963)
Elevation AMSL	121 ft / 37 m
Coordinates	52°53′30″N 000°54′07″W / 52.89167°N 0.90194°W / 52.89167; -0.90194Coordinates: 52°53′30″N 000°54′07″W / 52.89167°N 0.90194°W / 52.89167; -0.90194
Map
RAF Langar Location in Nottinghamshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 01/19 Unknown Unknown Asphalt 07/25 Unknown Unknown Asphalt

Royal Air Force Station Langar or more simply RAF Langar is a former Royal Air Force station located near the village of Langar, Nottinghamshire, England. The airfield is located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) east-southeast of Radcliffe on Trent and about 100 miles (160 km) north-northwest of London, England.

Opened in 1942 during World War II, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as troop carrier transport airfield. After the war it was provided to the Royal Canadian Air Force which used it as an operational base until 1963.

Today the airfield is the location for the British Parachute Schools, who use the original control tower for their headquarters. The former Avro industrial complex is used by private industry.

The first flying unit arrived in September 1942 when No. 207 Squadron arrived with Lancaster bombers from RAF Bottesford. 207 Squadron was a major RAF Bomber Command unit and participated in major raids on occupied Europe.

Also, in September 1942, A.V. Roe Ltd. prepared to use a large hangar complex on the west side of the Langar/Harby road to carry out major repair and maintenance of Lancasters.

The squadron remained until October 1943 when it moved to RAF Spilsby.

In November 1943 Langar was transferred to the USAAF Ninth Air Force as a troop carrier group base. Langar was known as USAAF Station AAF-490 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. Its USAAF Station Code was "LA".