Harrington
| Also known as: | RAF Harrington / RAF Station, Harrington / USAAF Station 179 |
| County: | Northamptonshire |
| Current Status: | Farmland / Museum / Public roads |
| Date: | December 1943 - August 1963 |
| Current Use: | Disused |
| Used By: | RAF / USAAF |
| Landing Surface Types: | Paved |
| Aircraft Roles: | Espionage support (main role) / Missile (main role) / Trainer |
Home to the United States Army Air Force during 1944/45, Harrington Airfield, in Northamptonshire, played an extremely important role during WW2. One of the squadrons based there, the 801st Bomb Group, became best known by the code name given to their mission - Carpetbaggers. It involved delivering secret agents and supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied Europe. These vital, and extremely dangerous, sorties, helped win WW2, as did the other activities carried out by units based here, including bomber offensives and resupplying ground troops with fuel supplies. The airfield later became one of Britain’s important Thor missile nuclear sites during 1959-63.
Visit the Carpetbagger Aviation Museum:
http://harringtonmuseum.org.uk/CarpetbaggerMuseumHomePage.htm
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/07/2013):
- Carpetbagger Museum
- Harrington Parish Council
Main unit(s) present:
- No 25 MU
- No 84 OTU
- No 218 Sqn
Aerial view of Harrington airfield, 1995. © Dave Welch.
Remains of the airfield, 29 June 2013.
Remains of a missile launch pad at Harrington, 3 August 2020.
| Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s): |