Royal Flying Corps Bases in Leicestershire

38 Squadron

Hello
Please find a link to the history of 38 squadron.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/h38.html

Yours
11group

Desford Airfield (Peckleton ) in the first world war

Hello
Taken from the book Aviation in Leicestershire and Rutland by Roy Bonser.
On pages 16 and 17 of the above book the bases listed are the ones I listed above in early reply.
The pages have five line maps of the bases at Blaston,Burton on the Wolds ,Queniborough ,Scalford and Welham.
The ten bases all have small write ups about them.The same books chapter nine pages 171 to 192 is called a Desford.The next chapter 10 pages 193 to 202 this called Desfords Spitfires and the twins.
The first world war as a small write up saying 38 Squadron did not use the site much and landing were few.This was said to have suited the sergeant in charge because it enabled him to send a great deal of his time in the local inns.
At the start it does say 38 Squadron was flying Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2s and BE.12 biplanes.These chapters does not have any pictures early then 1928 or any map before the 1930.
Hope all of the above helps.

Yours
11group

The aircraft of 38 Squadron made many attempts to intercept raiders.

Hello

Taken from the book Aviation in Leicestershire and Rutland by Roy Bonser.
The aircraft of 38 Squadron made many attempts to intercept raiders.The squadron met with scant success.Here this a incident.
On the night of 1/2 October 1916 the airship LZ-21 commanded by Oberleutnant zur see k Frankenburg got as far as Oakham.A weather sortie was flown by Captain C T Black ended in a force landing the aircraft was wrecked and Captain Black slightly injured.
Here is another incident.On the night of 19/20 October 1917 a FE.2B flown by Lieutenant G H Harrison was flying at 13000 feet.When he seen a Zeppelin maybe LZ-45 above him at 15000 feet.The pilot got to within 1000 feet and fired three bursts in to the tail of the airship.His guns jammed and he tryed to clear the stoppage but was unsuccessful.He broke of the engagement and landed at Stamford.The encounter had not been one -sided.
The airplane B422 had damaged in several places in its wing fabric.

Yours
11group
3

Airship LZ-20

Hello

Taken from the book Aviation in Leicestershire and Rutland by Roy Bonser.
On page 14 of the above book the airship LZ-20 story this told .The kapitanleutnant Franz Stabbert left Tondern as part of a nine airship force with orders to attack England middle or south,if possible Liverpool.After being airborne for over 7 1/2 hours LZ-20 is belielieved to have crossed the coast between the Humber and the Wash at 7.45pm.The airship proceeded inland and Stabberts raid report indicates that an hour later LZ-20 was faintly lit by searchlights through cloud and fired on by a battery which was silenced after six explosive bombs were released.The missiles fell on Loughborough ten people were killed 12 more injured and considerable damage caused to civilian property.
Stabbert thought he was in the vicinity of Sheffield and carryed on westwards for a short time but after engine trouble dropped the main load on Burton-Upon-Trent.
I will post some more some other time.

Yours
11group

Many thanks for that – is there much information and/or any maps/photos of the Peckleton strip, or if they ever successfully intercepted any enemy aircraft? That’s very local to me (well, when i’m in Leicestershire). Shame 38 Squadron arrived rather too late to do anything about the raid on Loughborough by Zeppelin L20 in January 1916 – incidentally, the raid was blamed on a local German national, who, it was claimed, directed the Zeppelin to its target using the headlights of the car, despite the fact there was no black out in place and said German national had been in Germany since before the start of the war!

Royal Flying Corps bases in Leicestershire

Hello
Taken from the book Aviation in Leicestershire and Rutland by Roy Bonser.

The squadron was 38 {Home Defence } squadron.This unit was reformed at Castle Bromwich on 14 July 1916 for the purpose of defending the midlands from the Zeppelin menace.By 1 of October 1916 unit headquarters moved to Melton Mowbray and the units 3 flights were deployed
at Buckminster (B),Leadenham (C) and Stamford (A).All of the flight stations were in Lincolnshire.
The Squadron Commander until mid-1917 was Captain A T Harris ,who was to become CIC of Bomber Command 1942-1945.

In May 1918 the unit left for France to begin night bombing.They left behind a small nucleus to form 90 Squadron.
The landing grounds listed are :

Blaston

Brenthingby

Buckminster

Burton on the Wolds

Castle Donington

Loughborough Meadows Not strictest sence an established landing ground used by Brush Electrical Engineering.

Peckleton became part of Desford Aerodrome.

Queniborough

Scalford

Welham
This this a short list the book gos into details over 4 pages the landing grounds take up about 1 1/3 of a page.
If you need any more help feel free to ask.

Yours
11group.