Our Friends
NLAHC works with a number of museums and societies and is pleased to promote and assist these organisations.
Brian Riley, Historian at Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, has done much for us and has given valuable support to us. He has launched a fascinating Airborne History Trail which he and Debbie Nicholls of South Kesteven D C have been meticulously working on for a number of years. See the details below
This below is the website link which was launched last October
https://www.soldiersfromthesky.co.uk
below is the A.H.L. Facebook link which gives details of the launching of the new website
https://www.facebook.com/aviationheritagelincs
The Airborne Heritage Trail
‘SOLDIERS FROM THE SKY’ WEBSITE LAUNCHED
A new website – www.soldiersfromthesky.co.uk – documents the remarkable back-stories of how south Lincolnshire hosted Airborne Forces from three nations ahead of two major World War II operations.
This is part of ‘Soldiers From The Sky’, a project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund gathering largely untold accounts of how Allied Airborne soldiers from Britain, America and Poland prepared for D-Day and Operation Market Garden (Arnhem) – two of the most audacious military actions of 1944.
South Kesteven District Council was awarded £147,500 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to illustrate how the District absorbed thousands of troops, witnessed their training and saw paratroopers leave from local airfields aboard giant airborne armadas.
Ferrying them into battle were the unsung heroes of the US IX Troop Carrier Command, launching waves of C-47 transport aircraft from airfields around Grantham at Fulbeck, Folkingham, North Witham, Saltby and Barkston Heath.
Stamford rang to Polish voices and American troops charmed local communities as South Kesteven was transformed into a combat training area with the British 1st Airborne Division centre stage.
The skies were regularly full of US C-47 aircraft manoeuvring for paratrooper practice drops.
Elite US Pathfinders spearheaded the US Airborne assault on D-Day, flying from North Witham airfield to set up dropzone location markers in enemy territory to guide in their countrymen.
Lieutenant General Andrew Harrison, formerly Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment, backed the project from the outset and narrates a video on the website. Watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/fdj1Aj0vgf4?si=OgeZ5mpM-yOldEXI
Thanks to ‘Soldiers From The Sky’, South Kesteven now has a visitor trail of national and international significance. It includes evocative airfields, pubs where Airborne troops of three nations supped English ale, cherished churches where they worshipped, soldiers’ wartime accommodation still welcoming visitors today – and a host of stories.
Lincolnshire: Bomber and Airborne County.
Lest We Forget.