Airfields
SUMMARY OF MILITARY AIRFIELDS IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE IN WW2
ELSHAM WOLDS – OS Ref TA 042135 A site to the north east of Elsham Church was used briefly (6/18 to 6/19) during and shortly after World War 1 as a Home Defence Airfield. The RAF airfield opened World War 2 (7/41) and was built originally as a Heavy Bomber Airfield – OS Ref TA042135.Its Pundit Code was ‘ES’ and it was at a Height of 256 feet above sea level (The airfield had three runways ranging from 1400 yards plus two of over 1000 yards in length with 36 hard-standings, plus one J Type and two T2 type hangars; further T2s were added later in 1944). There was a decoy site for the airfield located at South Ferriby. On) and it became ‘No.13 Base’ in 1943. During the war years it became home to the RAF’s most famous Lancaster (ED888 of 103 Sqn’s ‘M’ and later 576 Sqn’s ‘M2’). When it was retired in early 1945, it had completed no less than 140 operations. It was finally struck off charge in January 1947 and scrapped! 103 Squadron was certainly home to a varied mixture of aircrew including the usual crop of Canadians/Australians and, at least two Belgians of some note, P/O Florent van Rolleghem and P/O ‘Selmo’ Vernieuwe,plus at least two Caribbean airmen; the legendary (Flt/Lt) Cy Grant (from British Guiana/Guyana) and F/Sgt Winston Hynam DFM (from Barbados) (Later P/O DFC), plus the never to be forgotten Sqn/Ldr Ian Cross, who, after ditching, became a PoW and was shot by the Gestapo, following the now infamous ‘Great Escape’ (Cross was the younger brother of ACM Sir Kenneth Cross). Not to mention post-war author Flt. Lt Don’ Charlwood, who wrote about his war-time experiences on 103 Sqn, in the well-known book ‘No Moon Tonight’.
Units were as follows;
103 Conversion Flight 5/42 to 10/42 – Equipped with (four) Halifax Mk.II (This unit converted the squadron from the Wellington and was merged into 1656 HCU at the end of October the conversion of 103 Sqn having been completed).
103 Sqn 7/41 to 11/45 – Lancaster III – including Lancaster ED888 coded ‘M’ – see above). As well as famous aircraft, the unit boasts a number of ‘larger than life’ personalities (see above). Amongst the unit’s last operations were the dropping of food supplies to Holland (Operation Manna) to alleviate starvation and the repatriation of Allied PoWs to the UK (Operation Exodus) in 1945. In 11/45 the unit was officially disbanded and re-numbered as 57 Sqn.
1656 HCU 10/42 to 11/42 (‘B’ Flt) Halifax II.
1662 Heavy Conversion Unit 1/43 to 4/45 – Although having been formed and based at Blyton, the unit used the airfield as a relief landing ground (RLG).
576 Sqn 11/43 to 10/44 (It was formed from ‘C’ flight of 103 Sqn in November 1943. It was equipped with Lancaster I & III) and it was a ‘user’ of ED888 (see above). The unit moved to Fiskerton in October 1944.
100 Sqn 4/45 to 12/45 (Equipped with Lancasters I and III – The unit’s last operation of the war was on 25/4/45 to Hitler’s mountain retreat at Berchtesgarden). In mid-December 1945 the squadron moved to Scampton. (P/O Hynam DFM DFC also served with this squadron and survived the war).
Plus (post war);
21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit 12/45 to 12/46. (Equipped with
Halifax & Albemarle glider tugs and Horsa Gliders). In December the unit moved to North Luffenham.
Post war part of the airfield was taken over by the local authority and became home to many Polish emigres. It was known as the ‘Warsaw Hamlet’ and records show that there were still 40 Polish families living on site as late as 1953!
The airfield was largely demolished in the 1980s, but the ‘J’ Type hangar still remained on site in 2013, as part of what is now an Industrial Estate. A considerable amount of industrial and food processing activity is currently being undertaken and a major water utility has offices on the site. However, large areas have also been returned to agriculture. A memorial plaque and garden can be found at the Water Utilities offices.
GOXHILL – OS Ref TA 115215 The site is thought to have been chosen originally as an RFC landing ground in 1916 (see above) , however there is no evidence of its use as such. It was also later surveyed for use as a Barrage Balloon Centre for the protection of Hull and the Humber Estuary but this didn’t appear to come to anything.
It was chosen as a future bomber airfield, and initially came under the control of 1 Group. Construction of the WW2 airfield began late in 1940. The RAF’s intention was for a Target Towing (TT) Flight (with Lysander aircraft) to be set up at Binbrook for the use by 1 Group during 1941. The site was planned with three concrete runways (between 1100 and 1600 yards), four blister hangars, one ‘J’ Type and two T2 type hangars. Its Pundit Code was ‘GX’ and it was positioned 20 ft above sea level. Due to lack of readiness, the TT Flight (with nine aircraft) was actually formed at Goxhill in September, but left shortly afterwards for Binbrook (in November 1941). Following this, the station was transferred to 12 Group and was used during the early part of 1942 as a relief landing ground by 616 Sqn’s Spitfire Vs (the unit was based at nearby Kirton Lindsey).
Later (in August 1942) it was reserved for use by the USAAF 8th AF as a fighter training base (Base No. 345), which was to house various USAAF units, operating P.38 Lightnings, Spitfires (various marks) , P.39 Airacobras and P.47 Thunderbolts, allowing them to adjust to European conditions. On the official ‘Opening Day’ in August, the great and the good (including General Dwight Eisenhower and Air Marshal Sir Charles Portall) gathered at the airfield. Unfortunately a stray bomber of the Luftwaffe chose that day to drop a bomb on the airfield (a UXB!), which disrupted proceedings somewhat. The USAAF personnel found it easier to call Goxhill ‘Goats Hill’ and the name stuck throughout the war years. Prior planning usually meant that only one unit was ‘working up’ and in residence at one time. In 1943 an independent unit (496th Fighter Training Unit) was set up to train all P.38 (554 Sqn) and P.51 Mustang (555 Sqn) pilots coming into the European Theatre for both the 8th and 9th AF’s. The airfield was handed back to the RAF early in 1945 and after spells of care and maintenance it ended up being a munitions storage facility (various MUs used the site including 233/35/92 and 93 MUs). In its latter years it was used by the RAF and later by the Ministry of Health and even later as Home Office Supply Depot. Part of the airfield was sold off for agricultural purpose in the middle nineteen sixties. The hangars were home to a number of ‘Green Goddess’ fire engines through the late 1970s (the site was retained for storage purposes until 1977). The control tower was dismantled in 2002 and removed to an Aviation Museum in the USA (Virginia), where it was re-constructed. Fishing ponds can now be found on the old runways. There was decoy site for the airfield located at Burnham. In 2013 the former airfield site was being put to both industrial and agricultural use. Some buildings survive and there is a memorial (which incorporates a prop’ blade from a war-time USAAF P38 fighter) in the south-west corner of the airfield recalling the war-time years.
Units were as follows;
No.1 Group Target Towing Flight 9/41 to 12/41 (equipped with Lysander aircraft)
616 Sqn (Detachment of Spitfires from Kirton Lindsey) 12/41 to 5/42
No.15 (P) AFU (Based at Kirmington) used the airfield briefly for their training on Oxford aircraft.
Passed to USAAF Control in May 1942 (as Station 345);
1st FG (27/71/94 FSs) USAAF 6/42 to 8/42.
52nd FG 7/42 to 9/42 (2 & 4 FSs) (equipped with Spitfire Vs).
81 FG (91/92/93 FSs) USAAF (93 FS & HQ) – 10/42 to 11/42.
78 FG (82/83/84 FS’s) USAAF – 12/42 to 4/43.
USAAF No.2 G&TT Flt – 2/43 to 11/44.
USAAF No. 3 G&TT Flt – 10/43 to 1/44.
353 FG (350/351/352 FSs) USAAF 6/43 to 8/43.
356 FG (359/360/361 FSs) USAAF – 8/43 to 10/43.
358 FG (365/366/367 FSs) USAAF – 10/43 to 11/43.
Plus at least the following USAAF ground based units;
13th Station Company; 1004 Signals Company; 1148 Quartermaster’s Company; 1275 Military Police Company; 1771 Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company; 2130 Engineering and Fire Fighting Platoon;
Plus (post war) The RAF took over control once more in January 1945 and the station became a munitions storage base and was home to;
233 Maintenance & Supply Unit (MSU) 5/45 to 12/48 (as a sub-site for the MSU for bomb/explosive Storage) for periods of time it was also home to;
35 MU 4/45 to 9/50.
93 MU 12/48 to 9/50
92 MU 9/52 to 12/53
HIBALDSTOW – OS Ref SE 980010 – Originally built (on a former rabbit warren) with the intention of being a bomber airfield, it was scheduled to open late in 1940. Winter weather however, delayed the opening until the spring of 1941. Some of the first users were 93 Squadron A.20 Bostons/Havocs, detached from Middle Wallop and using their ‘Pandora’ equipment. A.20 Havocs were to be used against the Luftwaffe’s night raiders. The idea was that they would release a small ‘bomb’ on a 2,000 foot wire cable, stabilised by a parachute at the top and the bottom. It was hoped that the enemy bombers would snag the wire and draw the explosive package up onto themselves and be brought down. Unfortunately, the system was not discriminating, it couldn’t tell ‘friend’ from ‘foe’ thus, its use was restricted. At this time the airfield became a satellite of nearby Kirton Lindsey and it was decided to utilise it as ‘Day and Night Operational Fighter and Training Airfield’. It had been built with one Bellman hangar and 12 Blister hangars (O and EO), plus 12 (‘A’ type) hard-standings’. The airfield’s Pundit Code was ‘HE’ and its height above sea level was 25 feet.
Night-fighting was in its infancy at this stage and a variety of ‘night-fighting schemes was being tried out. Based at the airfield at this time were ‘Turbinlite Havoc’ aircraft (again converted A20 Boston bombers). The OC of one of these flights (1459 Flt) was Sqn/Ldr J ‘Nic’ Nicholson VC – the only fighter pilot to be awarded the VC in World War II). The ‘Helmore Turbinlite’ Havocs had the Mk IV radar to allow them to home onto an enemy bomber and’ illuminate’ it. The idea being that the enemy aircraft would then be attacked by one or more of the ‘parasite’ Hurricane fighters, trailing the Havoc. This was a role filled by amongst others, the pilots of 253 Sqn. Posted to the Squadron in November 1941, was Flt/Lt Richard Playne-Stevens DSO DFC and bar (the RAF’s top scoring night-fighter pilot at the time with 14 victories) with his black painted Hurricane IIc. He was quickly detached from Hibaldstow to RAF Manston in Kent, to carry out Intruder sorties over Europe. He unfortunately and crashed and was killed (apparently having shot down yet another Luftwaffe bomber) in unknown circumstances on the 15th of December that year, near Gilze Rijen airfield in occupied Holland. The airfield spent some time on ‘care and maintenance’ before coming under the control of 53 OTU. The unit trained a multi-national group of pilots for the RAF and other Air Forces. Whilst the main part of the unit was based at Kirton Lindsey, Hibaldstow was used by the graduating element, ‘D’ Flight of the OTU, as an operational deployment base (and was utilised for dusk and night flying training).
Units were as follows;
93 Sqn (Detachments) 10/41 to 11/41 (The unit had modified American Boston A.20 bombers, known as ‘Havocs’ which were equipped to drop strings of aerial mines in the path of enemy aircraft formations). These were the so called ‘Long Aerial Mines’ and the Havoc aircraft that carried them were given the codename ‘Pandora’.
Boston aircraft were later modified and equipped with a 2700 million candlepower searchlight in the nose, with batteries carried in the bomb-bay). This aircraft/equipment combination represented the RAF’s next ‘night-fighting’ effort’, following ‘Pandora’. As a result 1458 Flight came into being, although it was later disbanded at Middle Wallop and the aircraft moved to Hibaldstow.
Another unit at the airfield during the early part of 1941, was 255 Sqn (Initially formed at Kirton in 11/40, the unit came to Hibaldstow in 5/41 and remained to 9/41) – It was Equipped initially with Defiant and Hurricane fighters.(The first kill claimed from the airfield, was a Heinkel He.III – on 5/6/41 possibly HeIIIH-5 Wk.No 3793 (coded 5J+FS) of 8/KG4, which came down at South Reston at 0200 hours) – the unit later re-equipped with Beaufighter Mk.IIs, having first received three Blenheims for multi-engine training purposes.
29 Sqn (Detachments) 8/41 to 9/41
409 Sqn (Detachment) 9/41 to 6/42
1459 Flt – arrived from Hunsdon in September 1941 equipped with ‘Turbinlite’ Havocs to combat Luftwaffe bombers at night. The unit was later re-designated 538 Sqn. (9/42) (see below).
253 Sqn 5/40 to 7/40 then 9/41 to 5/42 and 7/42 to 11/42 (the unit moved back and forth to Friston during this latter period) – equipped with Hurricanes to operate in concert with 1459 (Turbinlite) Flt. Also formed at this time at Hibaldstow to service the squadron’s Hurricanes, was 3009 Servicing Echelon. It was disbanded at the end of 1942 when the squadron left for North Africa.
1453 Flt (Detachment) 7/42 to 9/42. (Equipped with ‘Turbinlite’ Havocs – see above), to cooperate firstly with the Hurricanes and Defiants of 151 Sqn, then with the Hurricanes of 486 Sqn. It was later re-designated as 532 Sqn in 9/42 (see below).
486 Sqn (Detachment) 3/42 to 4/42 (Equipped with Hurricanes to operate in concert with 1453 Flt)
538 Sqn 9/42 (formerly 1459 Flt) to 1/43 (see above). It was disbanded in January 1943.
532 Sqn 9/42 (formerly 1453 Flt) to 1/43 (see above). It was disbanded in Jan 1943.
53 OTU (D Flt) 5/43 to 5/45 (Equipped with Spitfires, Masters and Martinets). On 9/2/45 LACW Margaret Hawton was taken into the air on the tail of a Spitfire (AB910) and flown around the circuit, fortunately the aircraft was able to land and Margaret was uninjured. (This aircraft still survives with the RAFs BBMF).
121 ‘Z’ Battery of the Royal Artillery (39 LAA Regiment) 1941, with rocket projectors for the UP3 rocket (see above under New Holland).
Plus (post war);
5(P)AFU (Redesignated when it was absorbed by 7 SFTS a few days later)
7 SFTS 4/46 to 8/47.
Hibaldstow has since 1992, become a major free-fall and parachuting centre and has in recent years hosted British national championships. In mid-2019, a dedicated band of volunteers set about creating the north Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre on site and the work is continuing into 2020.
KIRMINGTON – OS Ref TA 095103 – Operational Heavy Bomber Airfield OS Ref TA095105 (Opened 1942 as part of 1 Group and a satellite for Elsham Wolds – with three concrete runways originally shorter, but eventually ranging from 1400 to 2000 yards in length with two T2 Hangars and one B1 Hangar, plus two blister hangars and 36 hard-standings .The airfield’s Pundit Code in WW2 was ‘KG’ and it is 86 feet above sea level. It should of course not be forgotten that amongst the aircrew that served here was the later well known ‘movie star’ Donald Pleasence. Having been a ‘conscientious objector’ to begin with he later enlisted and served as a wireless operator in the RAF. He was shot down over France in 1944 (Lancaster III – NE112 AS-M of 166 Sqn) and became a PoW in Stalag 1 at Barth. In addition to many other acting roles, he was to achieve almost immortal fame, playing the role of one of the airmen in the post-war movie ‘The Great Escape’. A role for which (given his war-time experience) he was eminently suitable.
Units were as follows;
150 Sqn 10/42 to 12/42 initially used Wellington bombers (It was united in late 1942 with 142 Sqn and personnel of 170 Squadron to form 166 Sqn).
15 (P) AFU – (based at Leconfeld) used the airfield as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) 2/42 to 12/42.
142 Sqn 12/42 to 1/43 initially used Wellington bombers (Unit was merged with 150 Sqn and personnel of 170 Sqn to form 166 Sqn at the end of 1942).
166 Sqn 1/43 to 11/45 (Formed in January 1943 from 142 and 150 Sqns together with personnel from170 Sqn (see above). Wellingtons were used to begin with, but the unit was re-equipped with Lancasters in September 1943).The unit’s last operation was on 25/4/45). The squadron was disbanded in November 1945.
153 Sqn 10/44 (Formed from ‘C’ flight of 166 Sqn. Although the unit carried out its first operation from Kirmington on the night of the 7th of October, once it was deemed ready it moved to Scampton a week later). It was replaced in 166 Sqn by a new ‘C’ Flight formed at Faldingworth.
The airfield was also used initially as a relief landing ground (RLG) for 15 (P) AFU (21 Group Flying Training Command) 3/42/to 10/42
In December 1945 control of the airfield passed to Hemswell and the site was placed on care and maintenance. It became a sub-site of 35 MU and several large sales of military equipment were held. Some crop-spraying and air charter activities (Air Lincs Chauffeurs) took place following the war years. Although largely neglected, in 1970 it was chosen as the best location for a future civil airport for the area. The airfield was duly purchased by Lindsey Council, which also invested in refurbishing the site and it opened as a commercial airport in 1974. The Present day Humberside Airport has regular daily flights, which depart the former bomber base for Scotland and the Netherlands, whilst air charter and helicopter companies and operators use the airfield. In addition it also provides flight training for private pilots. It has also in recent years been used by a Spitfire a Lancaster and a Dakota.
KIRTON LINDSEY – OS Ref SK 945970 – A location just north of the WW2 airfield site (near Manton) was used briefly as a Home Defence Airfield, during and after WW1, by a Flt of 33 Sqn RFC, (the squadron headquarters was in Gainsborough). Initially known as Manton it eventually became known as Kirton in Lindsey. The actual WW2 RAF airfield opened early in the WW 2 (1941) as a fighter and training airfield (it had – three grass runways ranging from 1100 to 2000 yards in length, with three C Type hangars and four Large Blister Hangars, plus 10 hard-standings – it had decoy sites at Thornton Le Moor and at Cadney near Brigg. The Pundit Code of the airfield is unknown, the height above sea level is 200 feet. It was briefly transferred to USAAF control in the spring of 1942 (when nearby Goxhill became crowded), becoming USAAF Station 349. It was returned to the RAF in May 1943. After World War 2 it passed to the army (in 1966) and became Rapier Barracks (Royal Artillery). The RAF took over again in 2004 when the station became home to No.1 Air Control Centre, becoming RAF Kirton Lindsey once again. A gliding club has been in situ since the 1980s.
Units were as follows;
65 Sqn 5/40 to 6/40 and 02/41 to 10/41
222 Sqn 5/40 to 8/40 (The unit’s was involved in the first intercept of an enemy aircraft from Kirton on 26/6/40, by P/O Morant from this unit). (The unit moved back and forth between Kirton and Hornchurch at this time.
253 Sqn 5/40 to 6/40 (with detachments to various airfields). The unit returned to Kirton in 9/41 and once again in the period 5/42 to 8/42.
74 Sqn 8/40 to 9/40
616 Sqn was housed on the airfield early in WW2 (9/40 to 2/41.) and once again in October 1941.
264 Sqn 7/40 to 10/40 (Equipped with Defiant night fighters – first night victory was on 15/8/40. The unit carried out detachments to various airfields (Coleby Grange, Hornchurch and Ringway).
307 (Polish) Sqn was formed at Kirton 9/40 to and remained briefly to 11/40, when it move to RAF Jurby.
85 Sqn 10/40 to 11/40. With detachments to various airfields (Caistor, Debden and Gravesend).
71 Sqn was reformed at Church Fenton in 9/40 (initially established as a training unit for American pilots and equipped with Hurricane aircraft. It was dubbed an ‘Eagle Squadron’, because it was the first RAF squadron staffed with American pilots. It was based at Kirton from the end of November 1940 to April of 1941, when it moved to Martlesham Heath. In September 1942 it was transferred to the USAAF (with its Spitfires) and became 334 Squadron of the 4th
Fighter Group USAAF.
255 Sqn was reformed in 11/40 at Kirton, with a mixture of Defiant and Hurricane fighters. It remained at the station until 5/41, when left for Turnhouse, in Scotland.
452 Sqn (RAAF) was formed at Kirton 4/41 and remained to 7/41, when it moved to Kenley. (It was the first Australian fighter unit to be formed (on 13/4/41 and one of the Flight Commanders was Flt/Lt B E ‘Paddy’ Finucane – a renowned ‘ace’).
121 Sqn was reformed as 121 (Eagle Sqn) in 5/41 after a brief sojourn at Digby in September 1941 it returned to Kirton and was based here to 12/41, when it moved to North Weald. (In September the unit was transferred (with its Spitfires) to the USAAF and became 335 Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group USAAF).
136 Sqn was reformed at Kirton in 8/41 and remained to 10/41, when it re-equipped (with Hurricane IIa’s) and departed for the Far East (Rangoon, Burma).
133 (Eagle) Sqn 1/42 to 5/42 (The unit was staffed with US pilots, it was originally formed at Coltishall 7/41). In May 1942 the unit moved to Biggin Hill. (In September 1942 the squadron was transferred to the USAAF (with its Spitfires) and became 336 Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group USAAF).
486 Sqn (RNZAF) was formed at Kirton in 3/42 (with Hurricane IIbs) and remained to 4/42, when it moved south to Wittering.
409 Sqn (Beaufighter detachments to Kirton and Hibaldstow) 8/41 to 6/42.
306 (Polish) Sqn 5/42 to 6/42, when the unit moved to Northolt.
1st FG (94 FS) USAAF – 6/42 to 8/42.
303 (Polish) Sqn 6/42 to 2/43
457 Sqn 5/42 and the unit departed for Australia in June of that year.
316 (Polish) Sqn (Spitfire equipped) (Detachment) 8/42
43 Sqn brought its Hurricanes to Kirton in 9/42, before leaving for North Africa the following month.
81st FG (91st FS) USAAF 10/42 to 12/42.
302 (Polish) Sqn (Spitfire equipped) arrived (with a detachment to nearby Digby) in 2/43.The unit later moved to Hutton Cranswick in 4/43.
317 (Polish) Sqn (Spitfire equipped) arrived in 2/43 to 4/43, when the unit moved to Martlesham Heath.
The Enemy Aircraft Flight 4/42 (a short visit with Ju.88, He.III and Me.109 aircraft to familiarise anti-aircraft gun crews etc)
53 OTU 5/43 to 5/45 (Equipped with Spitfire, Master and Martinet aircraft) ‘D’ Flight of the unit was based at the satellite airfield of Hibaldstow and Caistor airfield was also used at times.
Plus (post war);
7 SFTS 4/46 to 3 /48 (Equipped with Oxford and later Harvard aircraft).
Note * Under the control of the USAAF Kirton was listed as Station 349;
94th FS, 1st FG USAAF (6/42 to 8/42) Kirton was used as a trainings station with P38 Lightning fighters)
91st FS, 81st FG USAAF (10/42 to 12/42 used as a training station with P39 Airacobra fighters. The unit left in December 1942 for Morocco to become part of the 12th Air Force)
NEW HOLLAND – A former WW1 Landing Ground, it was used during WW2, as a location for elements of 121 ‘Z’ Battery (using
UP-3 anti-aircraft rockets) of the Royal Artillery (RA) (see above under Hibaldstow).
NORTH KILLINGHOLM/ KILLINGHOLM – OS Ref TA 130170 – A base of this name was originally opened in 1912 (see above) and was also in use as an RNAS landing ground (with a landing strip and an adjacent flying boat/seaplane base) for defending the nearby Admiralty Oil Depot and for coastal protection duties.
The nearby WW2 RAF airfield opened in the middle of World War II as an Operational Heavy Bomber Airfield, under the control of 1 Group,
OS Ref TA135170 (Open 11/1943 to 10/1945 – with three concrete runways ranging from 1400 to 3000 yards in length with one B1 type hangar and two T2 type hangars, plus 36 hard-standings). The Pundit code was ‘NK’ and the height above sea level was 31 feet. It was used in post-war years as an overspill site for local MSU’s and finally closed in 1957.
It in use in 2012 as an industrial site and the former runways are currently being used for a variety of storage.
Units were as follows;
550 Sqn 1/44 to 10/45 (Equipped with Lancasters – The unit moved to the airfield from RAF Waltham (it had been formed from ‘C ‘Flight of 100 Sqn) and apart from an extensive operational career (190 Op’s with the loss of 62 aircraft), the squadron took part in the dropping of food supplies to alleviate starvation in Holland (Operation Manna) during the spring of 1945 and later the repatriation from Belgium of PoWs (Operation Exodus). Three aircraft from this unit achieved a large number of Operations, including PA995, which was later shot down crashing to earth at Schauen in March 1945 on its 101st sortie!
No.1 Group Bomb Handling School 4/45 to 12/45.
Plus (post war);
35 MSU (Sub-site) 1/46 to 9/50
93 MSU (Sub-site) 12/48 to 12/50
SANDTOFT – OS Ref SE 755080 an Operational Heavy Bomber and Training Airfield (Open 12/1943 to 1955 – with three concrete runways ranging from1400 to 3500 yards and 36 hard-standings), plus one B1 type hangar and 2 T2 type hangars. Height above sea level 8 feet. It was known to the RAF as ‘Prangtoft’ because of the stations propensity for aircraft crashes. The station’s Pundit Code was ‘SF’.
Initially, bomber crews were trained (1667 HCU ‘A’ Flight) on four engine aircraft (Halifaxes) and the airfield (No. 11 Base) was a satellite of nearby RAF Lindholme, in 1 Group. Around this time is was transferred to 7 Group and retitled as 71 base. This unit was later supplemented by a detachment of 1656 HCU from Lindholme in August 1945. Both of these units were disbanded in November 1945. The airfield continued in use until 1947 as a sub site of 35 MU and later 61 MU, when it was finally closed.
In 1953 the airfield was allocated to the USAF, which never took up the usage and it was duly handed back in September 1955.
Part of the airfield was first sold off in 1968 and one of the T2 Hangars was sold. A new hangar was erected in 1982
It is currently home to a Trolleybus Museum (one of the original T2 hangars) and the airfield is still used on a limited basis (weekends only) for flying by the Sandtoft Flying Club (which uses part of the old western perimeter track as a runway). Use in then new century is mainly as an industrial site (tyle manufacturing), but some WW2 era buildings still exist (including the old tower now converted into a residence).
Units were as follows;
1667 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) 2/44 to 11/45 (operating Halifax II and V, plus Lancaster I and III), disbanded in 11/45..
1656 HCU 8/45 to 11/45 (Detachment initially and the unit was disbanded at the end of 1945.
Plus (post war);
35 MU (Sub-site) 11/45 to 2/46
61 MU (Sub-site) 2/46 to 8/47
Plus the following airfields just outside or on the present day borders of the current Unitary Authority:
BLYTON – Operational Heavy Bomber and Training Airfield OS Ref SK 870960 (Open 1942 to 1954 – three concrete runways ranging from 1,400 to 2,030 yards, with two T2 type hangars and one B1 type hangar plus 36 hard-standings). The stations Pundit Code was ‘AL’. The Height above sea level is 70 feet. It was known as 11 Base in 1943 and this changed to 71 Base in November 1944.
Units were as follows;
1481 Bombing & Gunnery Flt – 9/42 to 11/42
Air Bomber’s Training Flight (1 Group) 9/42 to 11/42
18 (Polish) OTU (B Flt) 11/42 to 2/43 – Equipped with Wellington
Training aircraft.
199 Sqn 11/42 to 2/43 – Equipped with Wellington III aircraft – first
Operation was a raid on Mannheim on 6/12/42.
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School (‘B’ Flight) – 11/43 to 1/44.
1662 HCU 1/43 to 4/45 – A ‘Training Unit’ equipped with Lancaster I and Halifax I, II and V aircraft – during its time at Blyton it lost over 50 aircraft to crashes, mainly in the surrounding area.
No.7 Aircrew Holding Flt – 4/45 to 1/46.
Plus (Post war);
No.1 Refresher Flying School (Finningley) used the airfield as an RLG 10/51 to 54.
CAISTOR – Relief airfield initially for Kirton Lindsey and later for Kirmington and Cranwell OS Ref SK 085020 (Open 1940 to 1945 with four grass runways, ranging from 1100 to 2,200 yards, it had one Double Blister hangar and six fighter hard-standings. Height above sea level was 100 feet). The airfield was used as overspill for Kirton in Lindsey by units such as 307 (Polish) squadron, for storage of their Defiant fighters. It was also briefly a relief landing ground (RLG) for RAF Kirton in Lindsey in 1941. A capacity in which it later served RAF Leconfield and RAF Manby in 1942. Towards the end of WW2, in February 1945,
the airfield became home to an Airfield Construction unit and it was used as a satellite by 233 MU (Market Stainton). A large part of the former airfield was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture post war, for disposal to local farmers. However, part of the WW2 airfield was designated by the Air Ministry in 1958 as a future missile site and it reopened in 7/59 to 5/63 as a Thor missile base housing 269 (SM) Sqn, with three Thor rockets). Following this period most of the airfield finally closed. It was sold off in 1964/65 and became a production set-up for Cherry Valley Farms Ltd. The remaining blister hangar became a farm store.
Units were as follows;
15 (P) AFU 6/1942 to 12/42 under the control of Kirmington
53 OTU 5/43 to 5/45 (Operating Spitfire aircraft)
264 Sqn (A Flight) 9/40/to/10/40 – Equipped with Defiant fighters
85 Sqn (A Flight) 11/40
RAFC Cranwell (Relief Landing Ground) 6/43 to 3/44
346 Engineering Company US Engineers 11/43 to 2/44
948 Company US Ordnance Corps 3/44
17 SFTS 3/44 to 11/44 (Equipped with Harvards)
5354 Airfield Construction Company 2/45.
233 MU (Market Stainton) 2/1945 – 11/1948 the airfield was used as a sub-site by the MU.
Plus (post war);
93 MU 9/52 to 12/53.
269 (SM) Sqn from 7/59 to 5/63.
Compiled by Flt.Lt. J Rennison RAF/RAFVR Ret’d
Last updated 12/2020