| World / United Kingdom / England / Papworth Everard, 5 km from center | Coordinates: 52°10'51"N -0°6'56"E |
Gransden Lodge was an airfield built to Class A standard during 1941-42. Located seven miles south-east of St Neots, it was necessary to close the road between Great Gransden and Longstowe and another lane running from the latter to the north. Gransden Lodge, after which the airfield was named, lay on the northern boundary of the airfield.
The three concrete runways were 04-22 at 1,600 yards, 10-28 at 1,220 yards and 17-35 at 1,200 yards. However, it appears that the runways were lengthened before the airfield was brought into use, 04-22 out to 2,000 yards and the others to 1,400 yards each. Of the 36 pan hardstandings, two were lost by hangar construction being replaced by two loops. A B1 and T2 hangar lay north of the technical site between runway heads 17 and 22, near Great Gransden village. A second T2 stood on the south side of the airfield between runway heads 04 and 35 and the bomb stores were situated off the east side between runway heads 28 and 35. The dispersed camp lay in fields to the north-west around Great Gransden village and consisted of two communal, two WAAF, six domestic and sick quarters. Total accommodation allowed for 1,867 males and 252 females.
First allocated to No. 3 Group as a satellite for Tempsford, the secluded location made the station ideal for secret activities. Its first occupants were Nos. 1418 and 1474 Flights with Wellingtons, which arrived in April 1942. These were engaged respectively in radio navigation checking and wireless interrogation. No.1418 Flight was later absorbed by the Bomber Development Unit while No.1474 became the source of No. 192 Squadron formed at the station in January 1943. Both were moved to Feltwell in April 1943 when the station was passed to No. 8 Group.
Under No. 8 Group, Gransden Lodge received No. 405 Squadron and its Halifaxes transferred to pathfinder duties from No. 6 (RCAF) Group at Leeming. This had been the first Canadian heavy bomber unit in Bomber Command and the squadron had suffered severely. It converted to Lancasters in August 1943. In October that year No. 142 Squadron was re-formed at Gransden equipped with Mosquitos to expand the highly successful Light Night Striking Force. One hundred and two Bomber Command aircraft were missing or crashed in the UK in operations flown from this station; 27 Halifaxes, 61 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos.
After VE-Day No. 405 Squadron rejoined No. 6 Group and took its Lancasters to Linton-on-Ouse. No. 692 Squadron's Mosquitoes arrived from Graveley in June and gradually wasted until disbandment in September 1945. The station then passed to Transport Command and for a few weeks Liberators of No. 53 Squadron were in residence. Thereafter the airfield was run down, although kept in a fairly intact until the early 1950s. In subsequent years agriculture took over resulting in the removal of most of the runways. The B 1 hangar and control tower remain together with a reduced width of the perimeter track as a farm road.
Category: gliding airport
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22 months ago Glider Pilot | 0 |
 
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This is not Little Gransden, which is approx 5km SW from here, this is Gransden Lodge Airfield, but is used by Cambridge Gliding Club. See http://www.glide.co.uk/ | ||||
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