RAF Bitteswell
| Company type | Military airfield (former) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, Aircraft assembly and maintenance |
| Founded | March 1940 |
| Defunct | 1983 |
| Fate | Redeveloped into business park (Magna Park) |
| Headquarters | Bitteswell, Leicestershire , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Aircraft assembly, maintenance, jet engine testing |
Overview
Royal Air Force Bitteswell, commonly referred to as RAF Bitteswell, served as a satellite airfield for the Royal Air Force. It is situated approximately 2.0 miles (3.2 km) to the west of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, and about 6.1 miles (9.8 km) north of Rugby in Warwickshire, England.
The airfield's initial construction began in March 1940, featuring grass runways, and it became operational by June 1941. Between February and June 1943, these grass surfaces were upgraded to concrete and asphalt runways. Throughout the Second World War, RAF Bitteswell was primarily utilised for bomber missions and training purposes. Additionally, during and following the war, the site functioned as a centre for aircraft assembly, maintenance activities, and the advancement of jet engine technology.
Second World War
Throughout the Second World War, RAF Bitteswell hosted a variety of units and aircraft types. Among them was No. 1513 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (BAT Flt), which operated Airspeed Oxford aircraft from locations including RAF Bramcote, RAF Lindley, and Bitteswell itself between 23 October 1942 and 13 May 1946.
The airfield served as a base for numerous operational training units (OTUs), specialized in instructing aircrew in flying, navigation, and basic Morse code. Unlike other training formations, OTUs conducted active missions such as bombing raids—including participation in the 1,000 Bomber raids—air-sea rescue operations, and occasionally mine laying. For example, No.18 Operational Training Unit flew aircraft like the Avro Anson, Fairey Battle, and Vickers Wellington mainly from their primary station at RAF Bramcote, with Nuneaton (Lindley) and Bitteswell functioning as satellite airfields. This unit operated from 14 November 1940 until 25 January 1943 and was designated as RAF Bomber Command’s Polish training unit.
- No. 29 Operational Training Unit RAF (29 OTU), which flew the Vickers Wellington, utilized Bitteswell as a satellite airfield from their main base at RAF Bruntingthorpe between 1 June 1943 and 1 November 1944.
- No. 105 (Transport) Operational Training Unit RAF, operating Wellingtons and Douglas Dakotas, was based primarily at Bramcote with Bitteswell serving as a satellite from 5 April 1943 to 19 November 1945. This unit later transitioned into No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF, maintaining its main base at Bramcote and continuing to use Bitteswell between August and November 1945.
- Additionally, No. 2735 Squadron RAF Regiment was stationed at the airfield during this period.
Post war units
After the war, RAF Bitteswell continued to function as a satellite airfield supporting aircraft dispersal and maintenance activities. The Transport Command Air Crew Examining Unit RAF operated from Bramcote but made use of Bitteswell between December 1945 and August 1946. Similarly, No. 266 Maintenance Unit RAF was present from January 1946 until sometime in 1947. Furthermore, No. 20 Service Flying Training School RAF based at RAF Church Lawford employed Bitteswell as a relief landing ground from July 1946 through May 1947.
Aircraft manufacturing
In 1943, a production facility was established adjacent to the airfield where Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft carried out assembly of planes originally produced at Baginton, Coventry. This site remained active for aircraft assembly, testing, and maintenance operations until 1983. In 1947, Armstrong Siddeley set up an Experimental Flight Section at Bitteswell focused on the flight testing and development of jet engines mounted on flying test beds. The airfield was fully acquired from the Air Ministry in 1956.
Types of aircraft operated
Incidents and accidents
| Date | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 29 September 1941 | Wellington R3216 from No.18 Operational Training Unit (OTU) stalled during landing. LAC S W J Green received the George Medal for rescuing the rear gunner; however, the remaining crew members did not survive | |
| 23 October 1941 | Wellington R1138 belonging to No.18 OTU collided with a tree at Ullesthorpe. All four crew members sustained injuries | |
| 29 June 1943 | Wellington Z1668 of No.29 OTU made a forced landing at Bitteswell due to engine failure; crew escaped unharmed | |
| 16 August 1943 | Wellington BK550 from No.29 OTU overshot the runway while landing at Bitteswell; crew were uninjured | |
| 6 September 1943 | Wellington BK442 of No.29 OTU performed a belly landing after engine failure; no crew injuries reported | |
| 11 April 1944 | Miles Martinet JN427 from No.29 OTU flipped over upon landing | |
| 17 October 1944 | Wellington X3879 of No.29 OTU crashed during a forced landing at Bitteswell following engine failure; crew survived without injuries | |
| 5 March 1945 | Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress serial number 44-6464 from the 612 Bomb Squadron, 401 Bomb Group crashed after crew evacuation by parachute | |
| 17 April 1945 | Wellington NC667 of No.105 OTU crash-landed in the circuit due to engine failure | |
| 11 May 1945 | Wellington NC713 from No.105 OTU crashed on approach to Bitteswell following engine failure; all three crew members lost their lives | |
| 23 June 1945 | Wellington LP822 of No.105 OTU overshot the landing at Bitteswell and sustained damage beyond repair | |
| 7 July 1945 | Wellington HE908 from No.105 OTU conducted a belly landing after mid-air collision with an Oxford aircraft; no injuries occurred | |
| 18 May 1954 | Westland Wyvern VZ747 crashed near Pailton during engine-out testing; Armstrong-Siddeley's chief test pilot, Mr E S Griffiths, was fatally injured | |
| 14 August 1954 | Hawker Hunter F.2 WN905 was destroyed during a test flight departing from Bitteswell when the port undercarriage leg detached during a high-speed run; pilot successfully ejected | |
| 10 November 1954 | English Electric Canberra B.2 WD933 crash-landed and overturned; crew survived the incident | |
| 21 November 1958 | Fairey Gannet AS.1 WN345 made a belly landing after failure of nose wheel deployment; no casualties reported |
- Fatality of Sidney Cook
Sidney Cook, an aeronautical engineer employed by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, suffered a fatal accident on 5 January 1949 while conducting ground tests on a Meteor aircraft. He was pulled into the port engine during testing, which was promptly shut down. Despite being rushed to hospital, he passed away on the same day.
- Fatality of Hugh Reeves
Hugh Reeves, a British inventor and engineer involved in jet engine noise reduction projects, died on 25 October 1955 while performing tests at RAF Bitteswell. He was working on a Hawker Hunter Mark V equipped with a Sapphire engine when he was unexpectedly drawn into the intake of the silencer device, resulting in his death.
Current use
In 1984, the airfield changed ownership to Doug Arnold, who utilized the site to house part of his "Warbirds of Great Britain" vintage aircraft collection, which featured several Spitfires, a P-51D Mustang, a B-17G Flying Fortress, and a Lancaster. During 1985, the location also hosted two Drag Racing events. By 1987, the property was sold with the intention of transforming it into a Distribution Park.
Today, the former airfield has been redeveloped into an extensive business park known as Magna Park, where many street names pay homage to aviation heritage, including Wellington Parkway, Buccaneer Way, Hunter Boulevard, and Vulcan Way.
Citations
Bibliography
- Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
- Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.