USAAF Langford Lodge - Future Museum Fundraiser

The Curator/Chairperson and Trustees, are trying to establish a permanent home for the USAAF Langford Lodge - Heritage Collection, on a piece of land and in buildings, that were once part of the original Langford Lodge airfield complex, to tell the stories of the thousands of USAAF and Lockheed Overseas Corporation personnel, who were stationed there, in Northern Ireland, during World War II.

The collection has a vast amount of original photographs, unit histories, and personal correspondence relating to veterans who served at Langford Lodge during the war, in addition to the above, various uniforms and miscellaneous aircraft and vehicle related items form part of the many varied displays, which represent the large amount of Groups and Squadrons that were stationed at Langford Lodge, during its time as a USAAF installation.

This unique and important collection, much of which originated from Langford Lodge during the war, is ready to be displayed, we just need your help to enable it to be housed in it's rightful place, on a piece of land and in some of the buildings that were once part of the Air Depot, it's rightful home. We already have a Nissen Hut, which is ready to be re-located as part of the project.

Like many of the established USAAF airfield museums that are well represented in the South East of England, we feel that the former USAAF Langford Lodge and all of the units that were stationed there, are worthy of the same investment, time and commitment.

Phase 1. Currently, the Collection does not have Charity Status, in order to meet that goal, we need to acquire over £5000 in donations, within a 12 month period, to be eligible to apply for that status, which will allow us to eventually move onto Phase 2., applying for a Heritage Grant, if required, if donations continue above the £5000 mark to a point where we can acquire the land and buildings, that would be the preferable method, as Heritage Grants aren't guaranteed.

Some of the primary goals of the collection:

1. To educate the public with regards to their local history.

2. A place for veterans and their families to visit/explore where they once served.

3. A permanent memorial to those who served on the airfield during the war years.

All donations are dearly appreciated in helping us to achive our dream of a permanent, self sufficient home for the collection, once established, that is accessible to the general public and our American cousins overseas.