An Aviation Guide Through East Lindsey Locating Active RAF .

LOCATION / GRID REF:Sheet 122 SK338618; just off the A155Coningsby to Spilsby roadDATES OF OPERATION:1940 to 1958; current Visitor CentreSQUADRONS:57 Sqn; 630 Sqn; 460(RAAF) Sqn; 139 Sqn; 231OCU; [USAF era] – 3931 ABG; 3917 ABS; 62, 63& 64 ARSIn early 1940 East Kirkby was establishedas a decoy airfield site for RAF Manby andwas bombed several times. Formal airfieldconstructions started in 1942 and the base wasready for operations in mid-1943.The first operational unit was 57 Sqn, whicharrived from RAF Scampton on 20 August 1943;they flew their first op from RAF East Kirkby on27 August 1943.In November 1943 the squadron’s ‘B’ Flightwas used to form the nucleus of 630 Sqn atthe base and their first op took place on 18/19November 1943.1From decoy site,through operations,East Kirkby stillreverberates to thefamiliar Lancastersights and sounds.During April 1944 RAF East Kirkby was givenBase Station status and it became responsiblefor major servicing of aircraft from Spilsby andStrubby. The station and its squadrons sufferedseveral sets of heavy losses on ops and on 17April 1945 a bombed-up 57 Sqn Lancasterblew up at dispersal, killing 3 personnel anddestroying 4 other Lancasters.57 Sqn also became a trials unit for thenew Lincoln bomber. Following 630 Sqn’sdisbandment 460(RAAF) Sqn moved to RAF EastKirkby from RAF Binbrook.After a brief spell under Care and Maintenance,RAF East Kirkby re-opened to accommodate139 Sqn & 231 OCU from RAF Coningsby withtheir Mosquitoes.During the early Cold War era of the 1950sEast Kirkby was selected for use by the USAFStrategic Air Command. The runways wereextended and facilities upgraded as the basebegan to accept a series of temporary USAFdeployments. Of particular note were themodified C-47 aircraft of the 62, 63 & 64 ARSsthat trained in the clandestine role of rescuingdowned aircrew from behind enemy lines.East Lindsey East KirkbyEast Lindsey East KirkbyEast KirkbyIn 1958 the USAF started to leave East Kirkbyand significant areas of land were returned toagricultural use, with the land eventually beingsold by the MOD.The memorial at the site to 57 Sqn and 630Sqn was unveiled in 1979 and brothers Fredand Harold Panton established the LincolnshireAviation Heritage Centre on the site just offthe A155 road in 1988, map ref: Sheet 122SK338618. This venue is featured on pages 32and 33.As the war in Europe drew to a close RAF EastKirkby undertook the role of training crews forTiger Force operations in the Far East.21. 57 Sqn and 630 Sqn memorials at the entrance2. 630 Sqn Lancaster I ‘LE-F’ ‘Popeye’, East Kirkby 19443. 630 Sqn Lancaster I LL966 LE-P, East Kirkby 19444. Tributes at East Kirkby’s memorial5. Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ taxies out3104511

During early 1944 RAF Kelstern suffered someof its heaviest losses and 625 Sqn was involvedin the notorious Mailey- le-Camp Raid duringthe run up to D-Day.LOCATION / GRID REF:Sheet 113 SK260920; through Kelstern villagejust off the A631Louth to Market Rasen roadDATES OF OPERATION:By autumn 1944 625 Sqn had expanded tobecome a 3 Flight unit; and then their ‘C’ Fltwas used to form the nucleus of 170 Sqn, whichquickly relocated to RAF Dunholme Lodge.1916 to 1919; 1943 to 1945SQUADRONS:33(HD) Sqn; 625 Sqn; 170 SqnRecords show that military flying first beganat Kelstern in December 1916 when a site wasused by 33 (HD) Sqn through until June 1919,when the site closed.World War II survey work for Kelstern, at one ofthe highest points on the Lincolnshire Wolds,took place in February 1942 and the RAFKelstern site was located about 1 mile from theWorld War I site. Construction work started inAugust 1942 and RAF Kelstern was ready for useby 20 September 1943.With operations inboth wars Kelsternwas one of thehighest airfields in theLincolnshire Wolds.12341. Kelstern’s memorial – one of the first in the county2. 625 Sqn Rigger/ Fitter ground crew at RAF Kelstern3. Clearing snow at RAF Kelstern in WWII4. Unknown bomber crew at RAF Kelstern5. Derelict airfield buildings can still be seen in the area6. “Strike Hard-Strike Sure” tribute at Kelstern512625 Sqn of 1 Group RAF was formed at RAFKelstern from a nucleus of crews from ‘C’ Flight100 Sqn; and was declared operational withLancasters on 9 October 1943. They flew theirfirst op on 18 October 1943 to Hanover and thesquadron was heavily involved in the ‘Battlefor Berlin’.East Lindsey KelsternEast Lindsey KelsternKelsternOver the winter of 1945 heavy snow againdisrupted operations at RAF Kelstern. However,during this period the base was used toundertake trials on the servicing requirementsfor the new larger Lincoln bomber. This includedthe installation at the base of tram tracks fromGrimsby to work out how Lincolns could bejacked onto trolleys and moved sideways intothe T2 hangars.By 9 April 1945 all of RAF Kelstern’s aircrafthad left the base and it was officially closed inOctober 1945. In 1946 RAF Kelstern becameone of the first RAF bases in Lincolnshire to bereturned to agriculture, although some wartimestructures can still be seen in the area today.In 1964 Kelstern achieved another first whenthe site became one of the first in the countyto have a memorial erected and dedicated tothe base’s squadron and personnel. Funded bythe 625 Squadron Association the memorialwas dedicated on 25 October 1964. It is stillthere today, close to the T junction where theLudborough Road meets the North Elkingtonto Binbrook Road, map reference: Sheet 113SK253920.6Despite the often harsh operating conditionsencountered in their remote location, RAFKelstern ground crews were noted for attaininghigh serviceability. This included an occasionin February 1944 when two feet of snow fellacross the Wolds; RAF Kelstern was clear ofsnow and operational some two days quickerthan nearby RAF Binbrook.13

LOCATION / GRID REF:Sheet 113 SK205878; just off the A631Louth toMarket Rasen roadDATES OF OPERATION:1943 to 1945 – bomber base1958 to 1963 – Thor missile baseSQUADRONS:101 Sqn; 1682 BDTF; 104(SM) SqnOperating out of RAF Ludford Magna 101 Sqnundertook a special role from October 1943right through until the end of the war in Europein May 1945. This was flying top secret ABCor ‘Airborne Cigar’ Lancasters; these aircraftwere fitted with an early form of electroniccounter measures. Carrying an 8th crewmember who spoke German, these LancastersPoor groundconditions saw RAFLudford Magnaget the nick name“Mudford Magna”.11. 101 Sqn memorial on the roadside in Ludford villageoperated receiving and transmitting equipmentthat confused the German night fighter radiofrequencies.2. 101 Sqn Battle Honours forWWI and Post 19453. Battle Honours for 101 Sqnin WWII.Like RAF Kelstern, RAF Ludford Magna was highin the Lincolnshire Wolds and often sufferedfrom poor ground conditions, which earned itthe nick name – ‘Mudford Magna’.4. Ground crew pose on a4,000lb bomb5. Air and ground crew in frontof Lancaster D ‘Dog’Another innovation trialled by 101 Sqn wasthe Lincolnshire manufactured Rose Turret, toreplace the Lancaster’s Fraser-Nash rear turrets.These new larger turrets also had larger calibreguns, which enabled the rear gunner to wear hisparachute at all times.101 Sqn remained at base until October 1945,when they moved to RAF Binbrook; and RAFLudford Magna became a sub-base. Brieflyhanded over to the Ministry of Agriculture,RAF Ludford Magna wasreactivated in 1958 as a ThorMissile Site. 104(SM) Sqnwas formed at the base aspart of the RAF HemswellMissile Wing. This nucleardeterrent role came to anend in May 1963, shortlyafter the Cuban Missile Crisisof the previous autumn.5A simple memorial to 101Sqn was dedicated in July 1978, which hasbeen kept up to date with the squadron’sBattle Honours, including the South Atlantic(Falklands); Gulf War I; and Kosovo. Thememorial is on the side of the A631inthe village of Ludford, map ref: Sheet 113SK196890.In December 1943 RAF Ludford Magna becamethe headquarters for 14 Base, assuming controlof RAF Wickenby and RAF Faldingworth. As withother sites this involved further facilities andhangars being added to the site. ABC Lancastersfrom 101 Sqn were heavily involved in providing‘electronic interference’ for the airborne forcesoperations during D-Day.2144airfield to be fitted with FIDO (petrol burningfog dispersal equipment). Sadly, operatingconditions at the base were not ideal for FIDO;foggy conditions often being low cloud ratherthan the ‘radiating’ fog encountered elsewherein the county; plus high winds on the exposedlocation blowing the flames away from therunway.East Lindsey Ludford MagnaEast Lindsey Ludford MagnaLudford Magna3Other innovative uses were found for RAFLudford Magna, which became the first 1 Group15

1 AAS; 2 GAS; ECAS; EAAS; RAFFC; AFS; RAFCAWAt the end of the war aircraft numbers werereduced, but aircraft from RAF Manby touredthe world. The Royal Air Force Flying Collegewas formed at RAF Manby on 1 July 1949, witha mixture of types including: Lincolns, Valettas,Meteors and Vampires. One airframe, the ‘AeriesIII’ Lincoln undertook a famous Polar flight in1951 and RAF Manby specialised in navigationtraining.Construction at Manby began in the RAF’sExpansion phase of the mid-1930s. In 1937the nearly complete Manby was used for anexperimental cross-wind landing screen, but thiswas removed before RAF Manby opened as No 1AAS in August 1938.On 20 March 1951, HQ 25 Group re-formed atRAF Manby to form a new series of jet AdvancedFlying Schools. Between 1949 and 1954 theRAF Handling Squadron operated from the base,usually receiving early new production aircraftto assess their operation and to prepare ‘PilotNotes’.LOCATION / GRID REF:Sheet 122 SK395870; just off the B1200 Louthto Saltfleet roadDATES OF OPERATION:1938 to 1974SQUADRONS:RAF Manby’s many aircraft types: Harts & Hinds;through Wallaces & Overstrands; to FaireyOriginally an ExpansionPhase airfield of themid-1930s, Manbystill sees extensive usetoday.215Battles operated mainly on the bombing rangesof the Lincolnshire coast. This role became moreimportant with the outbreak of war and in July1940 the AAS work was enhanced with theformation of 2 GAS.2Training at RAF Manby was an internationalaffair and 1 AAS achieved ‘Empire’ status on18 April 1943. The Empire Central ArmamentSchool (ECAS) devised and refined newtechniques for bombing leaders / instructorsand armament instructors.31. Former RAF buildings are now used by ELDC2. Former RAF buildings still in use3. You can still sense the RAF presence at Manby4. The Station Commanders board in Guy Gibson House5. Macaws aerobatic team booklet cover6. A Varsity landing at RAF Manby416Additional concrete runways were laid anda wide range of aircraft types operated fromRAF Manby including: Wellingtons, Hudsons,Blenheims and Lancasters. The last wartimechange occurred in November 1944 whenECAS became the Empire Air Armament School(EAAS).East Lindsey ManbyEast Lindsey ManbyManbyFurther ‘Aeries’ series aircraft operated from RAFManby, including Canberras and they undertookseveral record breaking flights.In June 1962 the RAFFC wasrenamed the Royal Air ForceCollege of Aerial Warfare;with new aircraft types likethe Jet Provost and Dominiejet trainer. The college evenhad its own aerobatic displayteam the Macaws.The early 1970s was anunsettled period and RAFManby eventually closed for flying operationson 31 March 1974. Part of the domestic sitewas purchased by East Lindsey District Councilfor their main offices and other parts remainintact but under various different ownerships.6The Station Commanders Board still existsin Guy Gibson House on Manby Park and inspecial circumstances this can be viewed byprior arrangement with the building tenants theEnvironment Agency. Many of the roads stillproudly carry aircraft names that flew from RAFManby.17

LOCATION / GRID REF:North Coates hasseen on and offaviation relatedoperations from1916 through to thepresent day.Sheet 113 SK375025; just off the A1031Tetneyto Marshchapel roadDATES OF OPERATION:1916 to 1919 – fighters;1927 to 1952 – various roles1957 to 1971 – Bloodhound SAMs1976 to 1990 – Bloodhound SAMsSQUADRONS:33 Sqn; 2 AAS; 1 AOS; 235 Sqn; 236 Sqn; 248Sqn; 22 Sqn; 812 Sqn; 816 Sqn; 42 Sqn; 86 Sqn;407 (RCAF) Sqn; 59 Sqn; 53 Sqn; 415 (RCAF)Sqn; 404 (RCAF) Sqn;143 Sqn; 254 Sqn; 236 Sqn;53 MU; 5131 BDW; 275 Sqn; 25 Sqn; 85 SqnA Night Landing Ground was establishedat North Coates Fitties in 1916, which sawoperations of various types until 1919, when thesite reverted to its original owner.The same land was re-purchased in 1927 foruse as a landing ground for bombing trainingcamps at the Donna Nook range. In 1935 NorthCoates Fitties became a permanent base with 2Air Armament School and then 1 Air ObserverSchool.In February 1940 the base transferred to CoastalCommand and was renamed as RAF NorthCoates. Various squadrons arrived including 235Sqn, 236 Sqn and 248 Sqn; their Blenheimsundertook long range maritime patrols. As thesesquadrons moved in April 1940 22 Sqn arrivedwith Beauforts and 812 Sqn with Swordfish.A new Fleet Air Arm unit, 816 Sqn, arrived inMarch 1941 and was soon followed by 42 Sqn.These were both replaced by 86 Sqn in 194112341. The North Coates memorial looks out over the Humber Estuary2. Bloodhound missiles3. Navigator statue, part of the North Coates memorialand was joined by 407 (RCAF) Sqn; both unitsflew ‘Rover’ anti-shipping strike sweeps alongthe European coast. These were daring raids andcasualties were high.Both squadrons were replaced in early 1942with 59 Sqn and 53 Sqn. Other squadronsarrived and operated as a Strike Wing andincluded: 415 (RCAF) Sqn; 404 (RCAF) Sqn; 143Sqn; 254 Sqn; 236 Sqn. Using the Beaufighterthey evolved into a potent force and sanktonnes of enemy shipping.East Lindsey North CoatesEast Lindsey North CoatesNorth CoatesIn July 1945 the base was closed and transferredto Maintenance Command; operation by 53MU and 5131 BDU helped clear Lincolnshire ofairframes and munitions.The base was flooded during the east coastfloods of January 1953 and ironically the nextunit to arrive was ‘B’ Flt 25 Sqn, undertakingsearch and rescue duties with Sycamorehelicopters; before going into Care andMaintenance in July 1956.RAF North Coates reopened in 1957 as aBloodhound I air defence missile site and inMay 1960 it became HQ 148 Wing controllingseveral missile sites in the county. 25 Sqnformed to introduce the Bloodhound II intoservice and the base undertook a lot of missileand radar development work. Eventually theunits dispersed and the base closed on 28February 1971.The missile era re-started in 1976 when ‘B’ Flt85 Sqn arrived with their Bloodhounds andthe base was finally closed in 1990. The NorthCoates Flying Club now operates from the siteand is developing a Heritage Room.A stunning memorial to the RAF North CoatesStrike Wing can be found opposite the RAFAClub in the ground of Ross Castle, above theCentral Promenade car park in Cleethorpes, mapref: Sheet 113 SK305093.4. A moving inscription about the RAF North Coates Strike Wing5. The North Coates Flying Club6. The Heritage Room at North Coates Flying Club518619

LOCATION / GRID REF:Sheet 122 SK450650; just off the B1195 HaltonHolegate to Great Steeping roadDATES OF OPERATION:1943 to 1958SQUADRONS:207 Sqn; 44 Sqn; 75(NZ) Sqn; 7536th MaterialSqn1The construction of RAF Spilsby began in late1942, formally opening as a satellite to RAFEast Kirkby in September 1943. 207 Sqn withLancasters was the first unit to move to RAFSpilsby arriving on 12 October 1943. They werequickly into action with ops over Germany beforethe major 1943-44 ‘Battle of Berlin’ offensive.31. The impressive Spilsby memorial wasdedicated in 20122. Ground crew pose with Lancaster EM-Y3. An unknown aircrew with LancasterEM-W4. RAF Spilsby interpretation panel5. Spilsby memorial and interpretationpanel overlook the former airfield46. The Spilsby memorial commemoratessquadrons and an airfield incident44 Sqn had been earmarked to be part of the‘Tiger Force’ but its aircraft were passed to75(NZ) Sqn at RAF Spilsby. As the ‘Tiger Force’itself was disbanded both squadrons werereduced to non-operational flying.An Armament Practice Station was establishedat RAF Spilsby on 26 October 1945 as part of12 Group Fighter Command; and various visitingsquadrons participated in air firing exercisesout of the base, including: 29 Sqn; 65 Sqn; 129Sqn; 219 Sqn; 264 Sqn; and 222 Sqn with theirMeteor jet fighters.RAF Spilsby went into theCare and Maintenanceprogramme in the mid 1950s,before being allocated foruse by the USAF on 15 June1955; this role was in supportof their operations at RAFEast Kirkby. At this time oneof the runways was extendedand strengthened, only to seethe base returned to the AirMinistry in March 1958.Following its initialsatellite airfield status,RAF Spilsby becamehome to several notedRAF squadrons.2At the end of September 1944, 44 (Rhodesia)Sqn moved to RAF Spilsby from RAF DunholmeLodge. These two noted and long standing 5Group squadrons undertook various ops duringthe winter of 1944-45 and continued rightthrough until the end of hostilities in Europe.East Lindsey SpilsbyEast Lindsey SpilsbySpilsby5In May 1944 the 5 Group Anti-Aircraft Schoolopened at the base to train ground personnelin the use of the Hispano 20mm AA gun; withlive firing exercises taking place on the nearbyWainfleet Sands bombing rang

Bardney LOCATION / GRID REF: Sheet 121SK135708; close to the B1202 Bardney to Wragby road DATES OF OPERATION: 1943 to 19