RAF Harlaxton | Education Video by World of Military

<p>Harlaxton was a triangular grass surface landing ground located about a mile South-East of Harlaxton village, and oriented unusually to the north. It originally opened in 1916 as an RFC aerodrome. During WWI it was a busy training airfield and during 1918 was designated as No.40 Training Depot Station. </p><p><br></p><p> No.68 (Australian) Squadron arrived in the UK from Kantara, Egypt, in January 1917, staying at Harlaxton until September 1917, then deploying to France. </p><p><br></p><p> With the onset of WWII, it was decided that Harlaxton was not suitable to the needs of a major station, and was prepared for use as a Relief Landing Ground for No.12 FTS (later re designated No.12(P) AFU) based at RAF Spitalgate. The station was expanded in 1942, to help with it’s roll as a RLG. No.12 FTS, used Harlaxton until February 1945 and were succeeded by No.17 SFTS from RAF Cranwell. In January 1945, a Douglas C-47A-1-DL of the USAAF, crashed at Harlaxton whilst landing. No one was killed in the accident, but the aircraft was subsequently written-off. </p><p><br></p><p> Very little remains of this former fighter station. Today only a single hut and a couple of air raid shelters remain