RAF Leicester East

Royal Air Force Leicester East, more commonly known as RAF Leicester East, (ICAO: EGBG), is a former Royal Air Force station, near the village of Stoughton, 4 NM (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) east southeast of Leicester,[1] Leicestershire.

This article is about the military base. For civilian use, see Leicester Airport.

RAF Leicester East
IATA: none ICAO: EGBG
Summary
Airport type	Royal Air Force station
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Stoughton, Leicestershire
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1943-1947 (1947)
Elevation AMSL	469 ft / 143 m
Coordinates	52°36′28″N 001°01′55″W
Map
EGBG Location in Leicestershire
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 04/22 490 1,608 Asphalt 06/24 335 1,099 Grass 10/28 940 3,084 Asphalt 15/33 495 1,624 Asphalt 16/34 418 1,371 Grass
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]

It was constructed in 1942 and formally opened in October 1943. The airfield is now Leicester Airport.

History

The following squadrons were posted to the airfield at some point:

• No. 190 Squadron RAF - flying Short Stirling
• No. 196 Squadron RAF - flying Short Stirling

On 10 August 1944 General Eisenhower visited RAF Leicester East to review 12000 troops of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was accompanied by Brigadier General James Gavin, Major General Matthew Ridgeway and Lieutenant General Lewis Brereton.

In March 1945 all operational military aircraft left Leicester East, and the airfield was placed on Care and Maintenance until its closure on 31 December 1947.

Current use

Today, the former RAF Leicester East is now known as Leicester Airport, and was previously known as Stoughton Aerodrome.

The airfield, control tower, and other smaller buildings are now used by the Leicestershire Aero Club

See also

• Airport information for EGBG at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
• Royal Air Force station
• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

1. Leicester - EGBG