RAF Wellingore

Royal Air Force Wellingore or more simply RAF Wellingore is a former Royal Air Force fighter station located 1.9 miles (3.1 km) south of Navenby, Lincolnshire and 10 miles (16 km) south of Lincoln, England.

RAF Wellingore
Technical Site for RAF Wellingore. A few buildings remain including a power house, two large Maycrete type workshops and a blast shelter together with around four building bases.
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationWellingore, Lincolnshire, England
Built1917 (1917)
In use1917-1947 (1947)
Elevation AMSL269 ft / 82 m
Coordinates53°04′42″N 000°31′30″W
Map
RAF Wellingore
Location in Lincolnshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Grass
00/00 0 0 Grass

History

The airfield was originally opened in 1917 as a Royal Naval Air Service station called Wellingore Heath. The airfield reopened in 1935. By the winter of 1939/40, the airfield was fully operational and consisted of two grass runways, a concrete perimeter track and several hangars. It initially operated as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF Cranwell before later operating as a satellite station for RAF Digby. Various squadrons equipped with Spitfires, Hurricanes, Blenheims and Beaufighters frew from the station.

The airfield was closed in 1947.

Squadrons
  • No. 11 Service Flying Training School RAF[1]
  • No. 29 Squadron RAF (Blenheim then Beaufighter night fighters) - July 1940 to April 1941[2]
  • No. 402 Squadron RAF (RCAF Spitfires) - May 1941 to June 1941 & January 1944 to April 1944[3]
  • No. 412 Squadron RAF (RCAF Spitfires) - October 1941 to May 1942[4]
  • No. 54 Squadron RAF - June 1942 to June 1942[5]
  • No. 81 Squadron RAF (Spitfires) - September 1942 to October 1942[6]
  • No. 154 Squadron RAF (Spitfires) - September 1942 to November 1942[7]
  • No. 288 Squadron RAF - December 1942 to January 1943[8]
  • No. 309 Squadron RAF[9]
  • No. 349 Squadron RAF (Spitfires) May 1943[10]
  • No. 416 Squadron RAF (Hurricanes) - May 1943 to June 1943 & September 1943 to October 1943[4]
  • No. 439 Squadron RAF (Hurricanes) - August 1943[11]
  • No. 613 Squadron RAF (Mustangs) - April 1943 to May 1943[12]
  • No. 17 Service Flying Training School RAF (Harvards and Oxfords)- 1944-45

John Gillespie Magee Jr

In December 1941, John Gillespie Magee, Jr., author of the famous aviation poem "High Flight", took off from Wellingore on his final flight, in which he was killed.

Guy Gibson

In November 1940, Guy Gibson, who later led Operation Chastise (better known as the Dambusters Raid), was stationed at Wellingore. Later in November 1940, he flew from here to Cardiff for his wedding. He had his first victories as a nightfighter pilot operating from here. In April 1942, a German intruder aircraft attacked Gibson's aircraft while landing at Wellingore, injuring his navigator.

Post-war use

The station was used as a prisoner of war camp before being handed back to the local land owner. Many of the original buildings, including the control have been demolished. A number of airfield defence concrete bunkers remain dotted around the airfield which has been returned to agricultural use.[1]

See also

References

Citations
  1. "Wellingore". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  2. Jefford 1988, p. 34.
  3. Jefford 1988, p. 89.
  4. Jefford 1988, p. 90.
  5. Jefford 1988, p. 42
  6. Jefford 1988, p. 49.
  7. Jefford 1988, p. 63.
  8. Jefford 1988, p. 83.
  9. Jefford 1988, p. 85.
  10. Jefford 1988, p. 88.
  11. Jefford 1988, p. 92
  12. Jefford 1988, p. 100

Bibliography
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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