RAF Saltby



RAF Saltby was a World War II airfield in Leicestershire, England. The airfield is located approximately 8 mi northeast of Melton Mowbray; about 90 mi north-northwestof London.

Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a transport airfield. After the war it was closed in 1945 and kept in reserve until 1955.

Today the remains of the airfield are located on private property and, now known as Saltby Airfield, is used primarily for gliding.

USAAF use
Saltby was known as USAAF Station AAF-538 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. It's USAAF Station Code was "SY".

314th Troop Carrier Group
Although a US ground party arrived in December 1943, it was not until the following February that a C-47 group moved in. This was the 314th Troop Carrier Group with Douglas C-47 and C-53 Skytrain transports which flew in from Sicily. Having earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations since May 1943 with Twelfth Air Force. Operational squadrons and fuselage codes of the 314th were:


 * 32d Troop Carrier Squadron (S2)
 * 50th Troop Carrier Squadron (2R)
 * 61st Troop Carrier Squadron (Q9)
 * 62d Troop Carrier Squadron (E5)

The 314th TCG was part of the IX Troop Carrier Command 52nd Troop Carrier Wing.

At the end of February 1945, a move was made to the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Poix, France (ALG B-44), the squadrons leaving Saltby in early March.

349th Troop Carrier Group
The USAAF returned to Saltby in May 1945 when a detachment of 349th Troop Carrier Group from RAF Barkston Heath with Curtiss C-46 Commandoes to carry British paratroops to Norway. These aircraft remained until the end of the month.

RAF Bomber Command use
Activities were gradually run down and the airfield was disposed of in 1955.

Civil use
Upon its release from military use, much of the airfield was returned to agriculture, although today, a large amount of the airfield still exists. Almost the entire main runway remains, along with the south-west (20) half of the 02/20 secondary runway. Only a small section of the NW/SE 31/13 runway remains, although the runway is clearly visible as disturbed earth in aerial photography where it is being used for agriculture. The perimeter track and loop dispersal pads are all removed, with some of the track being used as single-lane agricultural road. The technical site and associated buildings has long since been dismantled, although evidence of its existence remains with some single lane roads.

Flying continues today as Buckminster Gliding Club operates 7 days a week from Saltby Airfield using about half of the main runway (07/25) The club specializes in gliding, motor gliding and glider aerobatics.