82nd Airborne Division Footage..Airfield ID????

I've found this footage here of Major General James M Gavin (2nd in command of the 82nd Airborne Division) awarding paratroopers of the 505th Parachute Infantry at a Ceremony.
However it states that this footage was taken at Quorn Airfield, Leicestershire. Now although there was an 82nd presence in Quorn Village there was certainly not an airfield at Quorn,.

It's only a very short bit of film but I was wondering if anybody could identify the airfield? (not an easy task I must admit) My first thought would obviously be RAF Leicester East as it was used frequently by all the locally based 82nd units & perhaps they have just mistakenly called it Quorn Airfield. But then again I suppose it could also be Spanhoe, Saltby etc.



Any ideas anyone?

Thanks
Steve

Closest Airfield with a T2 is Wymeswold but I'm not sure. It looked like there was a ditch running next to the taxiway in the film, I wonder it that would narrow it down.

The only real clue is a T2 hangar. Geographically, Wymeswold was the nearest military airfield to Quorn and it had four T2.

I think that this was the site of the actual Quorn US Army base:

wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=5...grat=None&rgrat=None

Thanks chaps.

I must admit Wymeswold did cross my mind with it being the nearest military airfield with concrete runways and a T-2 to Quorn but as far as I'm aware the 82nd or any of it's units never used the airfield. It certainly looks like they're using this airfield quite heavily in the film. Saying that though, they where based nearby in Nottinghamshire as well as Leicestershire. I know they never used Tollerton (which didn't have a T-2 anyway) so definitely can't rule Wymeswold out.

The T-2 is standing alone on the brief shot of it in the film so if it was Leicester East, of the four T-2's that where there it rules out the two that stood side by side & the one that stills survives to this day as that one has always had trees alongside it so if it's LE it'll be the T-2 that was south of the airfield near the tech site.

That is the site of the 505th's camp in your link Peter.

Thanks again guys.

Could Bottesford be a candidate? The 82 A.Division used this airfield for drops from early 1944 until the time of the invasion.

Regards

Bloodhound1949 wrote:

Could Bottesford be a candidate? The 82 A.Division used this airfield for drops from early 1944 until the time of the invasion.

Regards

Thanks Bloodhound1949,

Yes it could well be Bottesford as well. It also of course had nine T-2 Hangars all standing alone like the one in the clip.

Hmmmm!!! This is going to be a really difficult one to solve.

Steve


.

Great pictures and video Steve.

You're doing a great job of documenting the colourful history of Stoughton airfield.
Well done bud.

Would love to know for sure if that is Leicester.
Keep watching it, hoping to see a glimpse of church or something to confirm its location.
Quorn is pretty doubtful unless landing a Dakota on a railway line is possible,

Quorn is pretty doubtful unless landing a Dakota on a railway line is possible,

It's possible but it makes your teeth rattle:)