Built in 1940, it was given the title R.A.F. Lichfield, but to many villagers, it was always ‘Fradley Aerodrome’.
It took only 2 years to build the airfield, including, hangars, runways and taxiways, plane stands, a control tower, fuel stores, guard house, bomb stores, administration buildings, pill-boxes and bomb shelters, accommodation and welfare buildings and sports facilities. RAF Lichfield provided football pitches, a cricket pitch and squash courts.
The airfield was used by Maintenance Units who repaired planes and checked new aircraft coming from factories. There were also Operational Training Units who were responsible for training new pilots and crew, especially those coming from colonies, such as Australia. Lots of different types of plane flew into RAF Lichfield over the years, until April 1958. It was eventually sold off by the Air Ministry on the 1st. of May 1962. After this, the site was converted to commercial use, predominantly used by Lucas Industries, who made car and plane components.
It was the busiest airfield in Staffordshire and was the controlling point for all air traffic passing through Birmingham.
From December 1942 until June 1945, 113,800 landings were made.
