Monument record 0690600000 - Little Horwood Airfield

Little Horwood airfield was established to act as as a base for Operation Training Units to train recruits for combat and for 'Nickelling' (dropping propoganda leaflets over France). Rubble from bomb damaged London was brought by rail and truck to the site to be used as hardcore for the runways, dispersal areas and roads. The airfield went operational on 2nd September 1942 and served as a satellite for Wing airfield. Wellington bombers from No 26 OTU arrived along with OTU Gunnery section and the 92 Group Communications flight to commence the basic training of recruits. A notable accident was the Wellington Bomber X3790 which crashed into Winslow Town Centre on 7th August 1943 killing four of the crew and 13 civilians. No 1684 OTU Bomber Defence Training Flight moved to Little Horwood on 5th June 1943 and simulation battles were undertaken using Tomahawk aricraft. Flying finished at Little Horwood on 30th November 1945 with the remnants of No 26 OTU remaining until January 1946 (B1).
RAF detailed plans of airfield in 1945 (B3-4).
Geophysical survey carried out in January and February 2008 identified a large number of strong magnetic disturbances corresponding to the edges of the former airfield runways, perimeter and access tracks and dispersal bays. Likely to represent spreads of hardcore from construction of the airfield (B6).
Trial trench evaluation confirmed presence of settlement identified during geophysical survey. See report for further details (B7).