USAAF Station 597 - Langford Lodge - 1942 - 1945

Museum Collection

The 325th Service Group was activated on 5th August 1942. 0n 20th December 1943, commanded by Major Fred A. Deyo, the group was reorganized at BAD1 USAAF Burtonwood, in England. Assigned to the group were two Service Squadrons, the 328th & 343rd Service Squadron. In May 1944, along with its two service squadrons, the group was assigned to BAD3 USAAF Langford Lodge, in Northern Ireland, to essentially replace personnel of the Lockheed Overseas Corporation, and undertake their former tasks, work which was of a third and fourth echelon nature. Assigned to repair and reassemble aircraft, the 325th Service Group in conjunction with the Modification and Technical Control Section Unit (M&TCS - Experimental) carried out the engineering aspect of work, with regards to aircraft modification at Langford Lodge. The group arrived in Northern Ireland on 11th May 1944. The groups accomodation was located at Site 5, furthest away from the airfield and now home to a well known pharmaceutical company. On the 13th August 1944, the group photographed the famous band leader Glenn Miller and his band, at the base theatre, the Proj-Ma-Hall. Some well known modificaitons that were carried out at Langford by the 325th and its assigned Squadrons was the P-38 Dive Flap, and P-38 Droopsnoot modification, that allowed a bombardier to be placed in the nose of the aircraft. This work was taken over by the 325th ASG, when the LOC vacated the base. Other modifications carried out  by the group under the direction of M&TCS, was the conversion of a B-24 into a cargo ship. Assigned to M&TCS for experimental purposes was an aircraft of each type, B-17, B-24, P-38, A-20 and a B-26. As the war progressed, after the D-Day landings, the 325th Air Service Group took possession of hundreds of War-Weary aircraft, these were placed in storage around the airfield, or "pickled" was the term used. A large majority of these aircraft were run up daily and kept in an "as ready" state, in case they were required to replace damaged or lost aircraft. Many of these aircraft, classed as War-Weary, were salvaged at Langford Lodge, suprisingly though, a large amount were also refurbished and flown back to the United States. This was a big undertaking, and the results are impressive, as can be seen by the photographs to the left. Many ex-combat pilots were assigned to the Group to ferry and flight test these war-weary and newly refurbished aircraft, they were Lt. Harold B. Reichert, Lt. William G. Brown, and Lt. Fred A. Barton. This was no easy task, and unfortunately a few pilots assigned to undertake this flight test work, were killed in the closing months of Langford Lodge. They were not to be the only losses the group suffered. On 20th October 1944, an enlisted man, Pvt. Wallace J. Demery, was enroute to AAF Greencastle in a weapons carrier truck to deliver a much needed aircraft part, unfortuantely the truck hit an embankment, and overturned, injuring Pvt . Demery, he was taken to the 36th Station Hospital where he sadly succumbed to his injuries on the same day. His military funeral was held at Lisnabreeny Cemetery on on 22nd October, 30 Officers and enlisted men were in attendance. The second incident involving a 325th Man occurred  In May 1945. Sgt. Frank M. Seitz, a welder, was working on the wing of a salvaged aircraft, using his cutting torch, suddenly without warning there was a huge explosion and sadly Sgt. Seitz was killed instantly. In the weeks leading up to the closing of Langford Lodge, the Group was working increased hours to meet deadlines of getting aircraft completed and flown out of the airfield, any essential items, consisting of engnes and machinery, were crated, and shipped either to the U.S. or over to England, any non essential items and documents were "disposed of ", according to the unit history. On the 2nd July 1945, with heavy hearts, the group bid a final farewell to Langford Lodge and Northern Ireland, as they made their way to the railway station at Site 4. Their destination was Larne and finally back to Burtonwood Air Depot in England. Sadly one member of the group would not be joining them, Lt. Fred A. Barton, a test pilot, had been killed the previous day in an aircraft accident, all who knew and came into contact with him were deeply moved by the news. Upon arriving back at Burtonwood Air Depot, some personnel had earned their points to return back to the States, while others stayed on. In August 1945, a new project was started at Burtonwood by the 325th, titled the A-20 Project, the group was assigned to salvage a large amount of A-20 Havoc type aircraft, of which, was heavily documented in photographs.