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RAF Ludford Magna
Airfield Code: LM Google Earth Co-ordinates: 53°22'19.6"N 0°11'51.3"W Wartime Runways: 02/20 = 6000ft x 150ft 11/29 & 15/33 = 4200ft x 150ft Ludford Magna was built to Class A standard, and work commenced in June 1942 and was completed early in 1943 with George Wimpey as the main contractor. Located five miles east of Market Rasen directly south of the A631 and the village for which it was named the site took over land in two other parishes. The usual 36 hardstandings adjoined the perimeter track and all but one were pans. Two other pans were lost due to the erection of four T2 hangars off the southwest perimeter in the technical area. A lone T2 was located on the east side of the airfield and a B1 and T2 on the station technical site near Ludford Magna village, between the heads of runways 15 and 20. A road on the west side from the A631 to A 157 was crossed by dispersals in this area. Domestic and communal sites were dispersed in farmland to the north of the airfield. There were seven domestic, two mess, a communal site and sick quarters. Maximum accommodation was given as 1953 male and 305 female. Opened in June 1943, Ludford Magna was to be the home of the veteran No.101 Squadron, which had served three different groups in Bomber Command. As well as being part of the main force, the squadron was given the additional and unique role operating radio-countermeasures employing the ABC device to jam enemy transmissions. In this battle with Luftwaffe night fighter control, German-speaking operators were carried in some of its Lancaster's to intrude on enemy voice transmissions. No.101 Squadron arrived on 15th June 1943 and commenced offensive bombing operations with a part in a raid on Krefeld on 21st June. On 25th June, No.233 MU at RAF Market Stainton became a subsidiary unit of Ludford Magna. During the same period 3 Flt, No.2706 Squadron RAF Regt was posted to Ludford Magna for airfield defence. In November 1943 the Station prepared to receive a second flying squadron, No.576 Squadron, the nucleus of this squadron was to be formed from 4 crews of No.101 Squadron and other crews from No.103 Sqn at RAF Elsham Wolds. In the end the atrocious mud and limited infrastructure at Ludford Magna led No.576 Squadron to be formed at RAF Elsham Wolds. The other flying unit to be located here was the Station Flight, equipped with Oxfords. At the end of October 1943 beam approach equipment had been installed and was tested but found to be not up to standard. The station was later further enhanced with FIDO for fog dispersal, being the first airfield in No.1 Group and one of the handful of RAF bases to be equipped. Prevailing muddy conditions led to the nickname of 'Mudford Magna'. RAF Ludford Magna became the No.14 Base HQ on 16th December 1943 and had satellite airfields at RAF Wickenby and RAF Faldingworth. However the Base was somewhat below power from its creation until April 1944 as Ludford Magna had only one squadron and RAF Faldingworth had only a HCU. No.101 Squadron became somewhat of a specialist squadron in Electronic Warfare in both jamming and location. The first bomber attack against RAF Ludford Magna took place on 4th March 1945, damage being restricted to a small crater and some canon fire. Soon thereafter the post VE-day drawdown began to effect the Station and in September 1945 an advance party of the No.101 Squadron left for RAF Binbrook, the remainder following in October 1945 thus ending Ludford Magna's use by flying units. Administrative control and parenting of the Station passed to RAF Binbrook. During operations from Ludford Magna, 113 Lancaster's failed to return or crashed. The Station was briefly used as a major transit camp for up to 700 Polish refugees until around 1948 while the land was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture for disposal. Thereafter a dwindling core of around 40 families remained beyond September 1955, leaving by April 1956. The airfield was eventually returned to civil use and gradual decay. However, in 1958 it was selected as one of the sites for Thor missiles, three separate launch pads and stores being constructed in the centre of the airfield. No.104 Squadron, the designated operating unit, was in residence from July 1959 to May 1963 when the unit was disbanded following the removal of the missiles. Each missile was armed with a one-megaton nuclear warhead, controlled by the US Air Force under so-called dual-key arrangements. RAF Hemswell was the headquarters for the 5 Lincolnshire dispersal sites at RAF Hemswell, RAF Bardney, RAF Caistor, RAF Coleby Grange and RAF Ludford Magna. However with only 54 personnel assigned to Ludford Magna the site was quite austere location compared to its wartime role. Thereafter Ludford Magna gradually returned to agricultural use, the land being sold in October 1965. The hangars were sold and dismantled, although many buildings survive for small business use. The most poignant reminder of its existence is the memorial to No.101 Squadron erected in 1978 in Ludford Magna village. Aircraft & Squadrons
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