{{Short description|Former RAF base in Leicestershire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use British English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RAF Lindley | ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg | ensign_size = 90px | native_name = | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = Higham on the Hill, Leicestershire | country = England | image = <!--250px--> | caption = | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Royal Air Force station | coordinates = {{coord|52|33|42|N|001|26|50|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}} | gridref = | pushpin_map = Leicestershire#UK | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Leicestershire | pushpin_label = RAF Lindley | pushpin_label_position = top | ownership = Air Ministry | operator = Royal Air Force | controlledby = RAF Flying Training Command | 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 = <!--facility/installation code --> | built = {{Start date|1940}} | used = 1940 - {{End date|1946}} | builder = | fate = | 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 --> <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|100|m|0}} | r1-number = 00/00 | r1-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} --> | r1-surface = Concrete | r2-number = 00/00 | r2-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} --> | r2-surface = Concrete | r3-number = 00/00 | r3-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} --> | r3-surface = Concrete | 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 Lindley''' or more simply '''RAF Lindley''' is a former Royal Air Force station situated in Leicestershire {{Convert|8.1|mi|0}} south east of Polesworth, Warwickshire, England in close proximity to Watling Street.<ref name="CT">{{cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/N/Nuneaton.htm |title=Lindley/Nuneaton|publisher=Control Towers|accessdate=2 April 2012}}</ref>
The airfield opened in 1943 before closing in 1946.<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/nuneaton-ii|title=Lindley/Nuneaton|publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust |accessdate=1 April 2012}}</ref>
==History== The first unit to use the airfield was No. 1513 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (BAT Flt) flying the Airspeed Oxford based at RAF Bramcote, RAF Bitteswell and Lindley between 31 October 1942 and 13 May 1946.<ref name="AA flying units">{{cite web|url=https://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/marg/flying_units.htm |title=Military flying units in the south west Midlands |publisher=Aviation Archaeology |accessdate=2 April 2012}}</ref> From 7 February 1943 until 27 March 1943 No. 18 (Polish) Operational Training Unit RAF used the airfield as a satellite from RAF Bramcote flying Avro Ansons, Fairey Battles and Vickers Wellingtons<ref name="AA flying units"/> but the airfield was transferred to RAF Transport Command on 25 June 1943 and was home to No. 105 Operational Training Unit flying Vickers Wellingtons and Douglas Dakotas until 21 November 1945. However the unit was renamed No. 1381 (Transport) Conversion Unit RAF before moving to RAF Desborough on 10 August 1943.
===United States Army use=== The airfield was used by the Air Echelon of 250th Field Artillery, United States Army, with the Piper L-4 Cub, 'Grasshopper' between March and June 1944 before 30 November 1945 when the airfield was placed on care and maintenance.
==Current use== The Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) started using the airfield from October 1948<ref name="CT"/> two years after it was founded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mira.co.uk/about-mira/mira-heritage#timeline-milestone_138|title=MIRA Heritage |publisher=MIRA |accessdate=2 April 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/40/a2939240.shtml BBC History -Memories of a Wartime Erk in the RAF] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090709171930/http://www.webspinners.org.uk/weddingtoncastle2/new_page_49.htm Lindley Hall]
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindley}} Category:Royal Air Force stations in Leicestershire Category:Military airbases established in 1943 Category:Military airbases closed in 1946