Former RAF Harrington

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RAF Harrington is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 5.6 miles West of Kettering in Northamptonshire across the B576 road:

harringtonmuseum.org.uk/AirfieldHistory.htm

The airfield was opened in September 1943 and was originally planned as a satellite for No. 84 OTU at RAF Desborough. The airfield was built by 826th and 852nd Engineer Battalions of the US Army intended for heavy bomber use and was completed in the spring of 1944.

USAAF use
USAAF Station 179
Harrington was assigned USAAF designation Station 179.

801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)
The first United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force Group to use Harrington was the 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), arriving from RAF Alconbury on 25 March 1944.

Its operational squadrons were:

788th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
850th Bomb Squadron (C-47)
The 801st Bomb Group became best known as the Carpetbaggers. The purpose of the Carpetbagger project was to fly "Special Operations" which entailed delivering supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied countries. In addition, the 801st delivered clandestine personnel to the resistance groups in the field and occasionally brought back personnel from Nazi-controlled areas. Combat with the enemy was avoided as it only endangered the success of the mission.

To accomplish this mission, the 788th Bomb Squadron was temporarily assigned from the 467th Group, and the 850th from the 490th Group. These two squadrons flew clandestine missions to Occupied European Resistance forces until 13 August 1944 when the squadron designations were given back to the original BGs.

492d Bombardment Group (Heavy)

B-24 of the 492d Bomb Group from Harrington Airfield, England, on a mission over Nazi Occupied Europe.On 8 August 1944, the 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived at Harrington from RAF North Pickenham. The 492d was commanded by the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing of the 2nd Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Circle-U.

It's operational squadrons were:

856th Bomb Group (5Z)
857th Bomb Group (9H)
858th Bomb Group (9A)
859th Bomb Group (X4)
The 492d entered service in early 1944, and suffered tremendous losses in July. In the words of one veteran, "the whole group was wiped out." Subsequently, the organization was transferred to Carpetbagger duty at Harrington less personnel and equipment, and assumed personnel, equipment, along with the Carpetbagger mission of the 801st.

The Group operated chiefly over southern France with B-24's and C-47's, engaging in operations transporting agents, supplies, and propaganda leaflets to resistance groups in Nazi occupied territory.

The Group ceased these missions on 16 September 1944 to haul gasoline to advancing mechanized forces in France and Belgium, along with attacking airfields, oil refineries, seaports, and other targets in France, the Low Countries, and Germany until February 1945.

Also, in October 1944, the 492d began training for night bombardment operations and concentrated on night bombing of marshalling yards and goods depots in Germany, February-March 1945.

The Group returned to clandestine "Carpetbagger" operations over Germany and German-occupied territory, using B-24, A-26, and British Mosquito aircraft in March 1945 to drop leaflets, demolition equipment, and agents.

The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for these operations, performed at night despite adverse weather and vigorous opposition from enemy ground forces. The 492d was also cited by the French government for similar operations over France in 1944.

The unit flew its last Carpetbagger mission in April 1945 and then ferried personnel and equipment to and from the Continent until July.

The 492d Bomb Group returned to Sioux Falls AAFld, South Dakota during July and August 1945, and was redesignated as a B-29 (Very Heavy) group to be used over Japan. However, the Japanese surrender cancelled those plans and the Group was inactivated in October.

Postwar use
Former Thor Missile Base
After the war, Harrington gradually fell into disuse returning to farmland. However the base received a new lease of life when it was selected to become one of the RAF's Thor missile sites in 1958. Three rocket launch pads were constructed together with ancillary buildings, the whole area being declared top security, fenced off and floodlighted.

The IRBM WS-315A missile system had a range of 1,500 nautical miles and was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation during 1955-56. Deployment with RAF Bomber Command began in December 1958 before being phased out with the advent of the manned V-bombers in 1963.

With the deactivation of the Thor missiles, Harringon was returned to agriculture.
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