Langford Lodge

[alain charpentier]

Hello
Do you know if a team of pilots was attached to the air depot of Langford Lodge to ferry american aircrafts to air base in England ?

If so, what was the name of this special unit ?

Thank you for your help.

Alain.

[dp_burke]

A number of various units were based there at times:

http://www.history.army.mil/reference/ireland/niair.htm

from the above, the 311th and 312th Ferrying Squadrons were based there in 1944 for a time, and these were I think parented by the 27 Air Transport Group.

What is your interest in the base? There are a number of historical grous in Northern Ireland who could help out.

Dennis
Dublin, Ireland

[alain charpentier]

Hello Dennis,

thank you for your help, I would like to find the name of the pilots,
notably a Lt Guerrero or Guerriero.

Alain

[dp_burke]

There was/is a website but from pervious contact they unit did not have a tidy fixed establishment, ferry pilots came and went. Did this pilot crash an aircraft, there might be some other way to ID him, please give all the details you have.

[alain charpentier]

I have no details on him unfortunately, I know that he went with a P38 Lightning at Coningsby in june and July 44, the 5 Group tested it as controler aircraft in several ops.
So Lt Guerrero or Guerriero went to show how to fly it to the RAF pilots, he also learnt to fly on Mosquito (from 627 squadron).
I found his name in some logbooks.
So I would like to trace him, hoping to consult his logbook, to know more about the use of P38 by Bomber Command.
Not an easy way, but ...

with all the sun of Moorea !
Alain

[Sky Dancer]

Hi Alain,

I share your interest in 5 Groups use of the P-38! Would you by chance have any photo's, or serials of the aircraft involved?

I believe that the version used was the Droopsnoot, which were modified at Langford Lodge. I had a book somewhere, I'm afraid I can't remember the title, which had a couple of photo's - these were not of great quality, but appeared to show that they retained their U.S. markings, but with black undersides.

A few years ago "Flypast" magagzine published a photo of a P-38 Droopsnoot in R.A.F. markings, it was natural metal overall, although the radiator housing looked like it was P.R.U. blue - hard to judge as it was a black and white photo. IIRC, this aircraft ended up in a training college in Holland or Belgium post-war.

You may want to contact the Ulster Aviation Society - before being forced to move they had an aircraft collection at Langford Lodge, and had restored the control tower. I was a member until the early 2000's when family commitments got in the way. Several events were held there, including veterans returning.

They are still active, although the aircraft are at a new location. I'm sure that some-one will be able to help.

In the meantime I try to check for the book title.

Regards,
Michael

[alain charpentier]

Hi Michael,

I have three P38 which have been used at Coningsby:

-44-23482 transferred to US 5th A.F in September 1944.

-44-23517 this one ended at Delft University in Holland in 1948.

-44-23360 scrapped in October 1945.

It would be well to know if at one time they were more than one in activity at Coningsby....
W/C Owen, and W/C Jeudwine flew on it and ride it on ops.
A/C Sharp flew also and Gibson too but just for fun and to "taste" it ...
It would be well to consult the Control Tower log of Coningsby to see movements of these kite in 1944, if these documents are still in existence ....perhaps at Coningsby ???

Alain

[Sky Dancer]

Hi Alain,

Pretty sure on the info. you've given that it was 44-23517 that was given the R.A.F. markings and colour scheme. I think it was given a serial in the DP range, but my memory could be playing tricks! A decal company produced a set of decals for this aircraft in 1/48th scale, will try to find which company.

Not sure whether the ATC logs would still be at Conningsby, or if they would have gone to the Public Record Office at Kew. Would be great to find out....

If I find any more info. I'll get back to you!

Regards,
Michael

[Sky Dancer]

Hi Alain,

Just checked, this droopsnoot wore the code "DPA" on its tailboom. The code "DP" was not assigned to any RAF squadron during WW2, neither was "PA" - so "DPA" could perhaps have been the personal code of a high ranking pilot. This was common during WW2- "D-B" for Douglas Bader, "JE-J" for Johnnie Johnston etc.

Do you know if any pilots with the initials "DPA" ever flew it? The fact that Wing Commanders and an Air Commodore flew it means that this could be a possibility.

By the way, the decal sheet was produced by Dutch Decals/Kits at war - sheet K7/15, it was a 1/72nd scale sheet rather than 1/48th scale.

Regards,
Michael