Langford Lodge Page 1

Important announcement. Aviation Heritage Centre to relocate. Click here to read the official Press Release.

(How to get there.)

On the left, the control tower at Langford Lodge nearing completion in 1942.

And on the right, as it is today, 56 years later.

Langford Lodge is an ex WW2 airfield and home of our Heritage Collection. The main exhibits are the aircraft. We have a Tucano, Vampire, Seahawk, Wildcat, Buccaneer and a Shorts 330, the cockpit of which you can enter, sit at the controls, and pretend to be a pilot! Some of the aircraft are under restoration so if you stand still for too long you may find yourself with a job! Work is ongoing on the Wildcat and the Vampire and there are numerous other exhibits in the main hangar also. The Parachute shed nearby is also open to visitors. This contains numerous artifacts, a large model collection donated by members and refreshments are available. Opening hours are Saturday afternoons from 1.00pm to 6.00pm.

Click on the B17 icon below to view a text file giving a brief history of the airfield.

Here is a list of the units which served here during World War 2 and a list of the base's commanding officers. For visitors pleasure I have also included a selection of photographs taken at Langford past and present. To eliminate long download times I have broken these up into pages. Download and do as you wish with these pictures. I ask only that you credit the source and the Ulster Aviation Society. Enjoy!

ORGANIZATIONS AT AAF STATION 597 LANGFORD LODGE 1942-45

HQ & HQ Squadron, 8th Air Force Service Command
Lockheed Overseas Corporation
HQ Langford Lodge Air Depot
7th Air Depot Group
2nd Depot Supply Squadron
2029th Air Depot Group
403rd Air Depot Group
42nd Depot Supply Squadron
5th Airdrome Squadron
2211th Quartermaster Truck Company Aviation
897th Military Police Company Aviation
984th Military Police Company Aviation
HQ 3rd Base Air Depot
31st Statistical Control Unit
597th Detachment 18th Weather Squadron
36th Station Hospital
4556th Quartermaster Service Company
Detachment 'A' 520th Service Squadron
Detachment 'B' 401st Signal Company
No 636 Army Postal Unit
402nd Station Gas Defence Detachment
1145th Military Police Company Aviation
1195th Military Police Company Aviation
1st Platoon 22nd Veterinary Detachment Aviation
Detachment 'C' 2002nd Ordnance Maintenance Company Air Force
761st Chemical Depot Company Aviation
Detachment 'A' Maintenance Division Base Air Depot 1
Detachment 'C' Maintenance Division Base Air Depot 2
Detachment 'M' Supply Division Base Air Depot 1
Detachment 24th Army Airways Communications Squadron
Detachment 'D' HQ & HQ Squadron 27th Air Transport Group
311th Ferrying Squadron
312th Ferrying Squadron
325th Ferrying Squadron
HQ & HQ Squadron 325th Service Group
321st Air Transport Squadron
328th Service Squadron
3rd Station Complement Squadron
343rd Service Squadron
HQ Storage & Experimental Station
597th Station Complement Squadron
1st Platoon 55th (US) Field Hospital
Detachment 'A' 28th Postal Regulating Section
325th Service Group
Station Complement Squadron, Base Air Depot No.3
37th Station Complement Squadron
38th Signal Company
442nd Quartermaster Platoon, Air Depot Group
694th Quartermaster Company (Medium Maintenance)(Aviation)
759th Quartermaster Truck Company (Colored)
1947th Quartermaster Truck Company (Colored)
769th Ordnance Company, Aviation (Air Depot)
1694th Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company, Aviation
1253rd Military Police Company, Aviation

COMMANDING OFFICERS

Col E W Hill July 1942 - September 1942
Col J L Stromme September 1942 - February 1943
Lt Col M W Kincaid February 1943 - February 1943
Col W M Lanagan February 1943 - October 1943
Col J H Houghton October 1943 - January 1944
Col T W Scott January 1944 - February 1944
Col J A Laird February 1944 - April 1944
Col J S Sutton April 1944 - August 1944
Col C P Gilger August 1944 - November 1944
Lt Col R J Reid November 1944 - July 1945