RAF Harrington

RAF Harrington first opened in September 1943 and was originally intended for the No. 84 Operational Training Unit.The airfield was later allocated to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force and engineer battalions, from the US Army. They converted the area for heavy bomber use and this work was completed by spring 1944; the airbase became USAAF Station 179.A number of USAAF units were stationed here throughout World War II; the first unit being the 801st Bombardment Group, in March 1944. They were equipped with Consolidated B-24 Liberators (American heavy bomber aircraft). By May, two additional Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress squadrons we’re situated at the base.

The 801st Bombardment Group became well known for their role in Operation Carpetbagger. The Carpetbaggers would fly Special Operations missions, delivering supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied territories. The 801st’s B-24’s were heavily altered to allow them to fly discreetly.

The Carpetbagger missions were stopped in September 1944, and instead the aircraft hauled gasoline to advancing forces in France and Belgium. They also carried out attacks to enemy airfields, oil refineries, seaports, and various other targets. It became apparent, following a series of night bombings, that these altered B-24’s were unsuitable for these missions and they were soon replaced.

The B-17s were used to drop leaflets over Nazi occupied countries. A portion of these leaflets informed the citizens about the war progression and Axis defeats; other leaflets urged Nazi soldiers to surrender, offering them safe passage through Allied lines.

In March 1945, Carpetbagger missions resumed and the 492d Bombardment Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for their operations. The unit flew its last Carpetbagger mission in April 1945 and then transported personnel and equipment to and from mainland Europe until July.

The unit returned to the US during July and August of 1945, with later plans to be deployed to Japan. The Japanese soon surrendered, cancelling these plans and the unit became inactive by October 1945.

Following the Second World War, RAF Harrington gradually fell into disuse and began to return to farmland.

In the aftermath of the war tensions were high between the US and Soviet Union and thus began a terrifying arms race. Fearful that the Soviets would deploy a long-range ballistic missile before the US, the United States Airforce (USAF) and the Douglas Aircraft Corporation began developing the Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile, with thermonuclear warheads, between 1955 and 1956.

This program progressed quickly as a stop-gap measure and within three years of its inception, twenty RAF Thor squadrons (dubbed ‘Project Emily’) became operational in the UK. In 1958, the former airbase at Harrington was repurposed as one of these Thor missile sites, as part of the British nuclear deterrent.

Three concrete, rocket launch pads were constructed (one of which is pictured), as well as a number of ancillary buildings; the perimeter was once again fenced off and the site declared top secret.

The Intercontinental ballistic missile was soon developed and as soon as this became operational in the US, the Thor missiles were quickly retired in the UK. The last of these missiles were withdrawn from operational alert in 1963.

With the end of Project Emily, RAF Harrington was once again returned to agricultural use and many of the concreted areas were removed.

Today, all that remains are the ruins of the three Thor Missile launch pads, the pyrotechnic store and the classified storage building.

In 2011, following the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Thor missile site at Harrington was awarded Grade II listed status. RAF Harrington is considered to be the most intact of the twenty former Thor missile sites and is therefore an important piece of Cold War architecture.