RAF Leicester East


Royal Air Force Leicester East, more commonly known as RAF Leicester East,, is a former Royal Air Force station, near the village of Stoughton, east southeast of Leicester, Leicestershire.
It was constructed in 1942 and formally opened in October 1943. The airfield is now Leicester Airport.

History

The following squadrons were posted to the airfield at some point:
On 10 August 1944 General Eisenhower visited RAF Leicester East to review 12000 troops of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was accompanied by Brigadier General James Gavin, Major General Matthew Ridgeway and Lieutenant General Lewis Brereton.
In March 1945 all operational military aircraft left Leicester East, and the airfield was placed on Care and Maintenance until its closure on 31 December 1947.

Current use

Today, the former RAF Leicester East is now known as Leicester Airport, and was previously known as Stoughton Aerodrome.
The airfield, control tower, and other smaller buildings are now used by the Leicestershire Aero Club