Proposed additions to the Harborough District Council Local List of Non-Designated Heritage Assets

Husbands Bosworth Airfield, Sibbertoft Road, LE17 6JJ

Ref: HBos/001

Construction Date: 1942/3 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd

Architect: British Air Ministry

Original Use: Airfield

Current Use: Airfield & Farm Land

Condition:

Occupancy: Occupied

Parish: Husbands Bosworth

Ward: Bosworth

Reason for Inclusion

Historic Interest

The airfield, named RAF Husbands Bosworth, was originally built as a satellite airfield to RAF Market Harborough. It came under 92 Group RAF and was home to No 14 Operational Training Unit, later re-badged as No 85 OTU. The No 85 OTU was tasked with training crews to undertake night bombing operations. Flying commenced in 1943 training mainly on Vickers Wellington aircraft.

The airfield was decommissioned in 1946 and post war the buildings were used by the National Assistance Board to house Polish displaced persons and other refugees until 1958. In 1950 the Polish camp housed over 500 people.

There is a Role of Honour in the club house to the flight crew who lost their lives while operating from the airfield.

The airfield has been home to the Gliding Centre since 1965 and the East Midlands Air Support Unit since 1996.

Architectural Interest

The airfield is an example of Second World War infrastructure. It conformed to the layout of a typical RAF aerodrome conforming to Air Ministry specifications. It was constructed with three runways. Runway No.1 was built aligned east west and measured 1999yds. Runway No. 2 was aligned approx. north-north-west/south-south-east and was 1408yds. in length. Runway No.3 was 1412yds. and aligned north-east/south-west.

Thirty-six dispersal places were strung around the perimeter track and a bomb store was constructed to the north of the site. Four main aircraft hangers were erected.

Following the closure of the aerodrome the subsequent release of land by the British Government, the truncated Sibbertoft Road now lies on what once was the main east-west runway.

Associative Interest

RAF Husbands Bosworth is one of 14 Leicestershire RAF stations active during the Second World War and has links to other wartime architecture in the Harborough district. It is recorded by the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust and the Roll of Honour on site is included in the University of Leicester Poppy Pilgrimage commemorating those who lost their life in wartime.