{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RAF Desborough | ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg | ensign_size = 90px | native_name = | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = Desborough, Northamptonshire | nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox --> | country = England | image = | alt = | caption = | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Royal Air Force station<br />Parent station{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=79}} | coordinates = {{Coord|52|28|08|N|0|47|51|W|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Northamptonshire#UK | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Northamptonshire | pushpin_label = RAF Desborough | pushpin_label_position = left | ownership = Air Ministry | operator = Royal Air Force | controlledby = RAF Bomber Command<br />* No. 92 (OTU) Group RAF{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=79}} | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = DS{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=79}} | built = {{Start date|1943}} | used = September 1943 - {{End date|1953}} | builder = | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = | battles = European theatre of World War II | events = | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group --> | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | designations = | website = | footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code --> <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|140|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=79}} | r1-number = 00/00 | r1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r1-surface = Tarmac | r2-number = 00/00 | r2-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r2-surface = Tarmac | r3-number = 00/00 | r3-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r3-surface = Tarmac | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> <!-- end airfield information --> }}
'''Royal Air Force Desborough''' or more simply '''RAF Desborough''' is a former Royal Air Force station located near Desborough, Northamptonshire, England
==History== thumb|250x250px|left|T.2 hangar during 2009 The following units were here at some point:<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/desborough/ |title=Desborough |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|accessdate=12 May 2020}}</ref>
* No. 108 Gliding School RAF (September 1945 - June 1949){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=165}} * No. 84 Operational Training Unit RAF (September 1943 - June 1945){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=244}} * No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF (November 1945 - January 1947){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=99}} * Satellite of No. 102 Flying Refresher School RAF (May - November 1951){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=151}}
==Current use==
The site has reverted to farmland.<ref name="ABCT"/> An original Ministry of Aircraft Production B.1 type aircraft hangar was destroyed by fire there in the 1980s
A major fire on 20th March 2025 destroyed one of the remaining T.2 type hangars which was being used for storage.<ref >{{Cite news |title=Fire at ex-RAF base hangar burns through the night |author=Harriet Heywood |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvge9dq8e2po |publisher=BBC News, Northamptonshire |date=21 March 2025 }}</ref>
==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Falconer|first1=J.|title=RAF Airfields of World War 2 |year=2012 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=978-1-85780-349-5}} *{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R.|last2=Hamlin|first2=J.|last3=Halley|first3=J.|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units |year=1997 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=0-85130-252-1}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Desborough}} Desborough Category:Military airbases established in 1943 Category:Military airbases closed in 1953