RAF Bitteswell airfield

07/41 to 12/41, Satellite to No. 18 (Polish) Operational Training Unit at Bramcote with Wellington bombers. Airfield then closed while grass runways were rebuilt in concrete and a new site was built to the south for Armstrong Whitworth as part of the dispersal plan for aircraft assembly lines.
06/43 to 11/44, Airfield reopened as a satellite to 29 OTU at Bruntingthorpe, again with Wellingtons.
11/44 to 07/45, Satellite to 105 OTU, Transport Command at Bramcote with Wellingtons then from 06/45, Dakotas.
08/45 to 11/45, No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit formed here from 105 OTU Dakotas.
12/45 to 08/46, Used by Transport Command Aircrew Examination Unit from Bramcote.
01/46 to 01/47, Used by No. 266 MU an equipment disposal depot from Bramcote.
07/46 to 05/47, Relief Flying Ground for 20 Service Flying Training School from Church Lawford.
/43 to 03/83, Airfield was also used by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft (AWA, later Whitworth Gloster, Hawker Siddeley and British Aerospace) for final assembly and flight testing of Lancaster bombers built at Baginton. Post-war became assembly, flight test, overhaul and experimental aircraft airfield for Meteor NF series, Sea Hawk, Hunter, Javelin, Argosy, Shackleton and Vulcan, Gnat, Hawk, etc, eventually coming under the control of British Aerospace.
11/84 to 12/87, Airfield bought by Douglas Arnold to house his WW2 aircraft collection.
Airfield then closed and redeveloped as an industrial estate.

RAF Bitteswell airfield
Airfield Today:	Business/retail park
Tower Type:	Watch Office for Bomber and OTU Satellite Stations, 13726/41
Tower:	Demolished March 1988
Other Buildings:	Few
History:	07/41 to 12/41, Satellite to No. 18 (Polish) Operational Training Unit at Bramcote with Wellington bombers. Airfield then closed while grass runways were rebuilt in concrete and a new site was built to the south for Armstrong Whitworth as part of the dispersal plan for aircraft assembly lines. 06/43 to 11/44, Airfield reopened as a satellite to 29 OTU at Bruntingthorpe, again with Wellingtons. 11/44 to 07/45, Satellite to 105 OTU, Transport Command at Bramcote with Wellingtons then from 06/45, Dakotas. 08/45 to 11/45, No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit formed here from 105 OTU Dakotas. 12/45 to 08/46, Used by Transport Command Aircrew Examination Unit from Bramcote. 01/46 to 01/47, Used by No. 266 MU an equipment disposal depot from Bramcote. 07/46 to 05/47, Relief Flying Ground for 20 Service Flying Training School from Church Lawford. /43 to 03/83, Airfield was also used by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft (AWA, later Whitworth Gloster, Hawker Siddeley and British Aerospace) for final assembly and flight testing of Lancaster bombers built at Baginton. Post-war became assembly, flight test, overhaul and experimental aircraft airfield for Meteor NF series, Sea Hawk, Hunter, Javelin, Argosy, Shackleton and Vulcan, Gnat, Hawk, etc, eventually coming under the control of British Aerospace. 11/84 to 12/87, Airfield bought by Douglas Arnold to house his WW2 aircraft collection. Airfield then closed and redeveloped as an industrial estate.
RAF Bitteswell airfield

RAF Bitteswell airfield
Airfield:		OTU
Opened:		07/41
Closed:		12/87
Code:		BT
USAAF Station:		N/A
Runways:		3x - concrete with wood chips
Hangars:		1x - B1, 2x - T2
County:		Leicestershire
Location:		2 miles W of Lutterworth
OS Ref:		SP514846
©:		All photographs copyright © as stated